Barum Polaris 3 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Barum Polaris 3 and BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 appear in 20 tests, 1 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Barum Polaris 3 performs. It takes the win in dry. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 87/100, based on 2 tests.
How the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 18 tests.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Barum Polaris 3 still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise dry
Choose BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 3 | BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 2 | 18 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 12.1 | 9.2 |
| Latest test | 2018 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 86.7 | 91.5 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 3
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 3 | BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 16.5 | Avg rank 9.8 3 | BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 12.0 1 | Avg rank 12.8 | Barum Polaris 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Avg rank 3.9 9102 | BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 |
| 🧊Ice | No data | Avg rank 12.0 | BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 10.8 1 | Avg rank 9.1 22 | BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 12.0 | Avg rank 9.6 1 | BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 17.0 | Avg rank 8.1 1 | BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 3 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 9.8, compared to 16.5 for the Barum Polaris 3.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 3 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
The Barum Polaris 3 wins this category with an average rank of 12.0, compared to 12.8 for the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 3 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 3.9, compared to 6.0 for the Barum Polaris 3.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 3 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 12.0, compared to no data for the Barum Polaris 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 3 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 9.1, compared to 10.8 for the Barum Polaris 3.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 3 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 9.6, compared to 12.0 for the Barum Polaris 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 3 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 8.1, compared to 17.0 for the Barum Polaris 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 3 or BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 ranks higher on average than the Barum Polaris 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Barum Polaris 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 ranks better than the Barum Polaris 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 shows better mileage performance than the Barum Polaris 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Barum Polaris 3 appears in 2 independent tests, BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 in 18, with 1 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →