TopTire Review

    Barum Polaris 3 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2

    2026 test data · 23 independent tests · 2 head-to-head

    → See full Barum vs Fulda brand comparison

    Barum Polaris 3 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2: 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 Fulda Kristall Control HP2 appear in 23 tests, 2 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, snow. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 87/100, based on 2 tests.

    How the Fulda Kristall Control HP2 performs. It takes the win in wet, ice, noise / comfort, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 21 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 Fulda Kristall Control HP2 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?

    Choose Barum Polaris 3 if

    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise snow

    Choose Fulda Kristall Control HP2 if

    Overall winner
    • You prioritise wet
    • You prioritise ice
    • You prioritise noise / comfort

    Test profile

    MetricBarum Polaris 3Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    SegmentWinterWinter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used221
    Best rank#1#1
    Avg rank12.111.4
    Latest test20182025
    Tire Lab Score86.789.9

    Tire Lab Score

    86.7
    Very Good · Winter
    89.9
    Very Good · Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryBarum Polaris 3Fulda Kristall Control HP2Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 16.5
    Avg rank 12.9
    331
    Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 12.0
    1
    Avg rank 12.8
    1
    Barum Polaris 3
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 6.0
    1
    Avg rank 8.5
    54
    Barum Polaris 3
    🧊IceNo data
    Avg rank 9.3
    Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 10.8
    1
    Avg rank 9.2
    422
    Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    📏Mileage
    Avg rank 12.0
    Avg rank 9.0
    111
    Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 17.0
    Avg rank 11.0
    Fulda Kristall Control HP2

    Tests used in this comparison

    Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 2 independent tests:

    💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 3 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2

    The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 wins this category with an average rank of 12.9, compared to 16.5 for the Barum Polaris 3.

    ☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 3 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2

    The Barum Polaris 3 wins this category with an average rank of 12.0, compared to 12.8 for the Fulda Kristall Control HP2.

    ❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 3 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2

    The Barum Polaris 3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 8.5 for the Fulda Kristall Control HP2.

    🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 3 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2

    The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 wins this category with an average rank of 9.3, compared to no data for the Barum Polaris 3.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 3 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2

    The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 10.8 for the Barum Polaris 3.

    📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 3 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2

    The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 wins this category with an average rank of 9.0, compared to 12.0 for the Barum Polaris 3.

    🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 3 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2

    The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 wins this category with an average rank of 11.0, compared to 17.0 for the Barum Polaris 3.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 3 or Fulda Kristall Control HP2?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Fulda Kristall Control HP2 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 Fulda Kristall Control HP2 across the tests where both appeared.

    Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?

    On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Fulda Kristall Control HP2 ranks better than the Barum Polaris 3.

    Which tire lasts longer?

    Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Fulda Kristall Control HP2 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, Fulda Kristall Control HP2 in 21, with 2 head-to-head tests where both were measured.

    Also compare

    Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →