Barum Polaris 6 vs Nokian WR D4: 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 Nokian WR D4 appear in 7 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 wet, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 3 tests.
How the Nokian WR D4 performs. It takes the win in dry, snow, ice, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 87/100, 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 6 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Nokian WR D4 still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Barum Polaris 6 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
Test profile
| Metric | Barum Polaris 6 | Nokian WR D4 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Touring Winter | Touring Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 3 | 4 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 9.6 | 7.5 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2018 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.8 | 86.5 |
Tire Lab Score
Barum Polaris 6
Nokian WR D4
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Barum Polaris 6 | Nokian WR D4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 8.7 | Avg rank 9.5 1 | Barum Polaris 6 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 7.5 1 | Avg rank 7.1 111 | Nokian WR D4 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 8.1 1 | Avg rank 5.8 21 | Nokian WR D4 |
| 🧊Ice | No data | Avg rank 3.5 1 | Nokian WR D4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 8.6 1 | Avg rank 9.2 | Barum Polaris 6 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 13.0 | Avg rank 12.5 | Nokian WR D4 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 13.0 | Avg rank 11.8 | Nokian WR D4 |
💧 Wet: Barum Polaris 6 vs Nokian WR D4
The Barum Polaris 6 wins this category with an average rank of 8.7, compared to 9.5 for the Nokian WR D4.
☀️ Dry: Barum Polaris 6 vs Nokian WR D4
The Nokian WR D4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.1, compared to 7.5 for the Barum Polaris 6.
❄️ Snow: Barum Polaris 6 vs Nokian WR D4
The Nokian WR D4 wins this category with an average rank of 5.8, compared to 8.1 for the Barum Polaris 6.
🧊 Ice: Barum Polaris 6 vs Nokian WR D4
The Nokian WR D4 wins this category with an average rank of 3.5, compared to no data for the Barum Polaris 6.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Barum Polaris 6 vs Nokian WR D4
The Barum Polaris 6 wins this category with an average rank of 8.6, compared to 9.2 for the Nokian WR D4.
📏 Mileage: Barum Polaris 6 vs Nokian WR D4
The Nokian WR D4 wins this category with an average rank of 12.5, compared to 13.0 for the Barum Polaris 6.
🔋 Efficiency: Barum Polaris 6 vs Nokian WR D4
The Nokian WR D4 wins this category with an average rank of 11.8, compared to 13.0 for the Barum Polaris 6.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Barum Polaris 6 or Nokian WR D4?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Barum Polaris 6 ranks higher on average than the Nokian WR D4.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Nokian WR D4 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Barum Polaris 6 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Barum Polaris 6 ranks better than the Nokian WR D4.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Nokian WR D4 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, Nokian WR D4 in 4.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →