Barum Polaris 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2: 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 Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 appear in 31 tests, 5 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 does not lead any single category outright in this matchup. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 12 tests.
How the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 91/100, based on 19 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 Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Barum Polaris 5 making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prefer the Barum Polaris 5's brand, sizing or price
Choose Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 5 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 12 | 19 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 13.4 | 7.5 |
| Latest test | 2024 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 89.7 | 91.2 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 5
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 5 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 14.4 11 | Avg rank 6.8 26 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 10.5 2 | Avg rank 7.0 123 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 12.5 1 | Avg rank 8.0 152 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 8.5 | Avg rank 2.7 11 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.4 1 | Avg rank 7.2 241 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 9.0 | Avg rank 7.5 1 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 15.2 | Avg rank 4.6 6 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 5 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 6.8, compared to 14.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 7.0, compared to 10.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 8.0, compared to 12.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 2.7, compared to 8.5 for the Barum Polaris 5.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 7.2, compared to 9.4 for the Barum Polaris 5.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 7.5, compared to 9.0 for the Barum Polaris 5.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 5 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 4.6, compared to 15.2 for the Barum Polaris 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 5 or Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 ranks higher on average than the Barum Polaris 5.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 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 Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 ranks better than the Barum Polaris 5.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 shows better mileage performance than the Barum Polaris 5.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Barum Polaris 5 appears in 12 independent tests, Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 in 19, with 5 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 →