TopTire Review

    Barum Polaris 5 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

    2026 test data · 30 independent tests · 11 head-to-head

    → See full Barum vs BFGoodrich brand comparison

    Barum Polaris 5 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 5 and BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 appear in 30 tests, 11 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 5 performs. It takes the win in dry, ice, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 12 tests.

    How the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, noise / comfort, 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 5 still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.

    Which one should you buy?

    Choose Barum Polaris 5 if

    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise ice
    • You prioritise mileage

    Choose BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 if

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

    Test profile

    MetricBarum Polaris 5BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    SegmentWinterWinter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used1218
    Best rank#1#1
    Avg rank13.49.2
    Latest test20242025
    Tire Lab Score89.791.5

    Tire Lab Score

    89.7
    Very Good · Winter
    91.5
    Excellent · Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryBarum Polaris 5BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 14.4
    11
    Avg rank 9.8
    3
    BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 10.5
    2
    Avg rank 12.8
    Barum Polaris 5
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 12.5
    1
    Avg rank 3.9
    9102
    BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    🧊Ice
    Avg rank 8.5
    Avg rank 12.0
    Barum Polaris 5
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 9.4
    1
    Avg rank 9.1
    22
    BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    📏Mileage
    Avg rank 9.0
    Avg rank 9.6
    1
    Barum Polaris 5
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 15.2
    Avg rank 8.1
    1
    BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

    Tests used in this comparison

    Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 11 independent tests:

    💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 5 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

    The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 9.8, compared to 14.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    ☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 5 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

    The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 10.5, compared to 12.8 for the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2.

    ❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 5 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

    The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 3.9, compared to 12.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 5 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

    The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.5, compared to 12.0 for the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 5 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

    The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 9.1, compared to 9.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 5 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

    The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.0, compared to 9.6 for the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2.

    🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 5 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

    The BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 8.1, compared to 15.2 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 5 or BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 ranks higher on average than the Barum Polaris 5.

    Which has shorter dry braking distance?

    The Barum Polaris 5 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 5.

    Which tire lasts longer?

    Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Barum Polaris 5 shows better mileage performance than the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Barum Polaris 5 appears in 12 independent tests, BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 in 18, with 11 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 →