Barum Polaris 6 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Barum Polaris 6 and Dunlop Winter Sport 5 appear in 29 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 6 performs. It takes the win in dry. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 3 tests.
How the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 26 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 6 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in dry and Tire Lab Score. The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Barum Polaris 6 if
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 6 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Touring Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 3 | 26 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 9.6 | 8.6 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.8 | 91.6 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 6
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 6 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 8.7 | Avg rank 8.0 244 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 7.5 1 | Avg rank 10.1 1 | Barum Polaris 6 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 8.1 1 | Avg rank 6.3 1334 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🧊Ice | No data | Avg rank 7.4 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 8.6 1 | Avg rank 8.3 543 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 13.0 | Avg rank 8.0 14 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 13.0 | Avg rank 11.2 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 6 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.0, compared to 8.7 for the Barum Polaris 6.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 6 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Barum Polaris 6 wins this category with an average rank of 7.5, compared to 10.1 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 6 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 6.3, compared to 8.1 for the Barum Polaris 6.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 6 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 7.4, compared to no data for the Barum Polaris 6.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 6 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.3, compared to 8.6 for the Barum Polaris 6.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 6 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.0, compared to 13.0 for the Barum Polaris 6.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 6 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 11.2, compared to 13.0 for the Barum Polaris 6.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 6 or Dunlop Winter Sport 5?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 ranks higher on average than the Barum Polaris 6.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Barum Polaris 6 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 ranks better than the Barum Polaris 6.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 shows better mileage performance than the Barum Polaris 6.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Barum Polaris 6 appears in 3 independent tests, Dunlop Winter Sport 5 in 26.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →