TopTire Review

    Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4

    2026 test data · 29 independent tests · 8 head-to-head

    → See full Barum vs Firestone brand comparison

    Barum Polaris 5 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 5 and Firestone Winterhawk 4 appear in 29 tests, 8 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, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 12 tests.

    How the Firestone Winterhawk 4 performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, ice, noise / comfort, 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 Barum Polaris 5 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in dry and Tire Lab Score. The Firestone Winterhawk 4 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.

    Which one should you buy?

    Choose Barum Polaris 5 if

    Overall winner
    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise mileage

    Choose Firestone Winterhawk 4 if

    • You prioritise wet
    • You prioritise snow
    • You prioritise ice

    Test profile

    MetricBarum Polaris 5Firestone Winterhawk 4
    SegmentWinterWinter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used1217
    Best rank#1#1
    Avg rank13.410.0
    Latest test20242025
    Tire Lab Score89.788.7

    Tire Lab Score

    89.7
    Very Good · Winter
    88.7
    Very Good · Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryBarum Polaris 5Firestone Winterhawk 4Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 14.4
    11
    Avg rank 7.6
    138
    Firestone Winterhawk 4
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 10.5
    2
    Avg rank 14.3
    1
    Barum Polaris 5
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 12.5
    1
    Avg rank 9.2
    224
    Firestone Winterhawk 4
    🧊Ice
    Avg rank 8.5
    Avg rank 6.7
    Firestone Winterhawk 4
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 9.4
    1
    Avg rank 9.2
    31
    Firestone Winterhawk 4
    📏Mileage
    Avg rank 9.0
    Avg rank 10.8
    21
    Barum Polaris 5
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 15.2
    Avg rank 9.5
    1
    Firestone Winterhawk 4

    Tests used in this comparison

    Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 8 independent tests:

    💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4

    The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.6, compared to 14.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    ☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4

    The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 10.5, compared to 14.3 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.

    ❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4

    The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 12.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4

    The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to 8.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4

    The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 9.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4

    The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.0, compared to 10.8 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.

    🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4

    The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.5, compared to 15.2 for the Barum Polaris 5.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 5 or Firestone Winterhawk 4?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 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 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 5.

    Which tire lasts longer?

    Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Barum Polaris 5 shows better mileage performance than the Firestone Winterhawk 4.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Barum Polaris 5 appears in 12 independent tests, Firestone Winterhawk 4 in 17, with 8 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 →