Barum Polaris 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52: 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP52 appear in 13 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 snow. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 87/100, based on 2 tests.
How the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, ice, noise / comfort, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 11 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP52 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Barum Polaris 3 still wins on snow, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise snow
Choose Kumho Winter Craft WP52 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise ice
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 3 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 2 | 11 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 12.1 | 10.5 |
| Latest test | 2018 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 86.7 | 91.9 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 3
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 3 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 16.5 | Avg rank 9.1 14 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 12.0 1 | Avg rank 4.7 311 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Avg rank 12.7 | Barum Polaris 3 |
| 🧊Ice | No data | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 10.8 1 | Avg rank 9.2 112 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 12.0 | Avg rank 8.7 2 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 17.0 | Avg rank 4.7 1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 9.1, compared to 16.5 for the Barum Polaris 3.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 4.7, compared to 12.0 for the Barum Polaris 3.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Barum Polaris 3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 12.7 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to no data for the Barum Polaris 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 10.8 for the Barum Polaris 3.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 8.7, compared to 12.0 for the Barum Polaris 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 4.7, compared to 17.0 for the Barum Polaris 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 3 or Kumho Winter Craft WP52?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 ranks higher on average than the Barum Polaris 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Barum Polaris 3 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 ranks better than the Barum Polaris 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 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, Kumho Winter Craft WP52 in 11.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →