CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the CST Medallion Winter WCP1 and Firestone Winterhawk 4 appear in 21 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 CST Medallion Winter WCP1 performs. It takes the win in dry, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 79/100, based on 4 tests.
How the Firestone Winterhawk 4 performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 17 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 Firestone Winterhawk 4 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The CST Medallion Winter WCP1 still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise efficiency
Choose Firestone Winterhawk 4 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
Test profile
| Metric | CST Medallion Winter WCP1 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 4 | 17 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 16.1 | 10.0 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 78.9 | 88.7 |
Tire Lab Score
CST Medallion Winter WCP1
Firestone Winterhawk 4
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | CST Medallion Winter WCP1 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 19.7 1 | Avg rank 7.6 138 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Avg rank 14.3 1 | CST Medallion Winter WCP1 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 18.0 2 | Avg rank 9.2 224 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 15.7 1 | Avg rank 6.7 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 11.3 1 | Avg rank 9.2 31 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 14.0 | Avg rank 10.8 21 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 3.0 1 | Avg rank 9.5 1 | CST Medallion Winter WCP1 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 3 independent tests:
💧 Wet: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.6, compared to 19.7 for the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
☀️ Dry: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The CST Medallion Winter WCP1 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 14.3 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
❄️ Snow: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 18.0 for the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
🧊 Ice: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to 15.7 for the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 11.3 for the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
📏 Mileage: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 10.8, compared to 14.0 for the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
🔋 Efficiency: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
The CST Medallion Winter WCP1 wins this category with an average rank of 3.0, compared to 9.5 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, CST Medallion Winter WCP1 or Firestone Winterhawk 4?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 ranks higher on average than the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The CST Medallion Winter WCP1 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Firestone Winterhawk 4 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 ranks better than the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 shows better mileage performance than the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
CST Medallion Winter WCP1 appears in 4 independent tests, Firestone Winterhawk 4 in 17, with 3 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
Also compare
CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs…
Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs…
Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →