Barum Polaris 5 vs Gislaved Nord Frost 200: 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 Gislaved Nord Frost 200 appear in 15 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 5 performs. It takes the win in mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 12 tests.
How the Gislaved Nord Frost 200 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 3 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 Gislaved Nord Frost 200 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Barum Polaris 5 still wins on mileage, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise mileage
Choose Gislaved Nord Frost 200 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 5 | Gislaved Nord Frost 200 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 12 | 3 |
| Best rank | #1 | #2 |
| Avg rank | 13.4 | 5.2 |
| Latest test | 2024 | 2021 |
| Tire Lab Score | 89.7 | 90.3 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 5
Gislaved Nord Frost 200
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 5 | Gislaved Nord Frost 200 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 14.4 11 | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Gislaved Nord Frost 200 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 10.5 2 | Avg rank 5.7 1 | Gislaved Nord Frost 200 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 12.5 1 | Avg rank 4.7 11 | Gislaved Nord Frost 200 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 8.5 | Avg rank 5.0 | Gislaved Nord Frost 200 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.4 1 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Gislaved Nord Frost 200 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 9.0 | No data | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 15.2 | Avg rank 6.0 | Gislaved Nord Frost 200 |
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 5 vs Gislaved Nord Frost 200
The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 14.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 5 vs Gislaved Nord Frost 200
The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 wins this category with an average rank of 5.7, compared to 10.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 5 vs Gislaved Nord Frost 200
The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 wins this category with an average rank of 4.7, compared to 12.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 5 vs Gislaved Nord Frost 200
The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 8.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 5 vs Gislaved Nord Frost 200
The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 9.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 5 vs Gislaved Nord Frost 200
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.0, compared to no data for the Gislaved Nord Frost 200.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 5 vs Gislaved Nord Frost 200
The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 15.2 for the Barum Polaris 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 5 or Gislaved Nord Frost 200?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Gislaved Nord Frost 200 ranks higher on average than the Barum Polaris 5.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Barum Polaris 5 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Gislaved Nord Frost 200 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 Gislaved Nord Frost 200.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Barum Polaris 5 appears in 12 independent tests, Gislaved Nord Frost 200 in 3.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →