Barum Polaris 3 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4: 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 Firestone Winterhawk 4 appear in 19 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. 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, snow. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 87/100, based on 2 tests.
How the Firestone Winterhawk 4 performs. It takes the win in wet, ice, noise / comfort, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 17 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 Firestone Winterhawk 4 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
- You prioritise snow
Choose Firestone Winterhawk 4 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 3 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 2 | 17 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 12.1 | 10.0 |
| Latest test | 2018 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 86.7 | 88.7 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 3
Firestone Winterhawk 4
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 3 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 16.5 | Avg rank 7.6 138 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 12.0 1 | Avg rank 14.3 1 | Barum Polaris 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Avg rank 9.2 224 | Barum Polaris 3 |
| 🧊Ice | No data | Avg rank 6.7 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 10.8 1 | Avg rank 9.2 31 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 12.0 | Avg rank 10.8 21 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 17.0 | Avg rank 9.5 1 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 3 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.6, compared to 16.5 for the Barum Polaris 3.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 3 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Barum Polaris 3 wins this category with an average rank of 12.0, compared to 14.3 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 3 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Barum Polaris 3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 9.2 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 3 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to no data for the Barum Polaris 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 3 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 10.8 for the Barum Polaris 3.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 3 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 10.8, compared to 12.0 for the Barum Polaris 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 3 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.5, compared to 17.0 for the Barum Polaris 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 3 or Firestone Winterhawk 4?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 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 Firestone Winterhawk 4 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 ranks better than the Barum Polaris 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 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, Firestone Winterhawk 4 in 17.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →