Barum Polaris 5 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3: 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 Nexen Winguard Snow G3 appear in 16 tests, 3 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 snow, ice, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 12 tests.
How the Nexen Winguard Snow G3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 85/100, 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 snow and Tire Lab Score. The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 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
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise mileage
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 5 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 12 | 4 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 13.4 | 14.0 |
| Latest test | 2024 | 2024 |
| Tire Lab Score | 89.7 | 84.8 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 5
Nexen Winguard Snow G3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 5 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 14.4 11 | Avg rank 13.5 1 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 10.5 2 | Avg rank 8.5 1 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 12.5 1 | Avg rank 16.5 | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 8.5 | No data | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.4 1 | Avg rank 8.8 1 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 9.0 | Avg rank 20.0 | Barum Polaris 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 15.2 | Avg rank 6.5 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 3 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 5 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 wins this category with an average rank of 13.5, compared to 14.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 5 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 wins this category with an average rank of 8.5, compared to 10.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 5 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 12.5, compared to 16.5 for the Nexen Winguard Snow G3.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 5 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.5, compared to no data for the Nexen Winguard Snow G3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 5 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 wins this category with an average rank of 8.8, compared to 9.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 5 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Barum Polaris 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.0, compared to 20.0 for the Nexen Winguard Snow G3.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 5 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.5, compared to 15.2 for the Barum Polaris 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 5 or Nexen Winguard Snow G3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Nexen Winguard Snow G3 ranks higher on average than the Barum Polaris 5.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 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 Nexen Winguard Snow G3 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 Nexen Winguard Snow G3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Barum Polaris 5 appears in 12 independent tests, Nexen Winguard Snow G3 in 4, with 3 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 →