Barum Polaris 5 vs Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05: 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 Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 appear in 14 tests, 1 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, ice, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 12 tests.
How the Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 performs. It takes the win in dry, snow, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 88/100, based on 2 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 Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 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 wet
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise mileage
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 5 | Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 12 | 2 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 13.4 | 10.7 |
| Latest test | 2024 | 2019 |
| Tire Lab Score | 89.7 | 87.9 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 5
Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 5 | Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 14.4 11 | Avg rank 15.3 | Barum Polaris 5 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 10.5 2 | Avg rank 5.5 1 | Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 12.5 1 | Avg rank 11.7 | Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 8.5 | No data | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.4 1 | Avg rank 5.5 | Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 9.0 | No data | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 15.2 | Avg rank 1.0 1 | Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 5 vs Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 14.4, compared to 15.3 for the Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 5 vs Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05
The Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 10.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 5 vs Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05
The Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 wins this category with an average rank of 11.7, compared to 12.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 5 vs Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.5, compared to no data for the Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 5 vs Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05
The Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 9.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 5 vs Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.0, compared to no data for the Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 5 vs Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05
The Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 wins this category with an average rank of 1.0, compared to 15.2 for the Barum Polaris 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 5 or Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Barum Polaris 5 ranks higher on average than the Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 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 Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 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 Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Barum Polaris 5 appears in 12 independent tests, Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05 in 2, with 1 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 →