Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3: 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 Firestone Winterhawk 3 appear in 16 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 5 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 12 tests.
How the Firestone Winterhawk 3 performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 86/100, based on 4 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 Barum Polaris 5 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Firestone Winterhawk 3 still wins on efficiency, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Barum Polaris 5 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 5 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 12 | 4 |
| Best rank | #1 | #2 |
| Avg rank | 13.4 | 15.3 |
| Latest test | 2024 | 2020 |
| Tire Lab Score | 89.7 | 85.9 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 5
Firestone Winterhawk 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 5 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 14.4 11 | Avg rank 22.0 | Barum Polaris 5 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 10.5 2 | Avg rank 13.0 | Barum Polaris 5 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 12.5 1 | Avg rank 13.6 | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 8.5 | No data | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.4 1 | Avg rank 11.0 | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 9.0 | Avg rank 10.5 | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 15.2 | Avg rank 4.0 1 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 2 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 14.4, compared to 22.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 10.5, compared to 13.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 12.5, compared to 13.6 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.5, compared to no data for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.4, compared to 11.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.0, compared to 10.5 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 15.2 for the Barum Polaris 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 5 or Firestone Winterhawk 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Barum Polaris 5 ranks higher on average than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Barum Polaris 5 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Firestone Winterhawk 3 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Barum Polaris 5 ranks better than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Barum Polaris 5 shows better mileage performance than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Barum Polaris 5 appears in 12 independent tests, Firestone Winterhawk 3 in 4, with 2 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 →