CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52: 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP52 appear in 15 tests, 1 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP52 performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 11 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP52 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP52 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
Test profile
| Metric | CST Medallion Winter WCP1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 4 | 11 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 16.1 | 10.5 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 78.9 | 91.9 |
Tire Lab Score
CST Medallion Winter WCP1
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | CST Medallion Winter WCP1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 19.7 1 | Avg rank 9.1 14 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Avg rank 4.7 311 | CST Medallion Winter WCP1 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 18.0 2 | Avg rank 12.7 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 15.7 1 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 11.3 1 | Avg rank 9.2 112 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 14.0 | Avg rank 8.7 2 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 3.0 1 | Avg rank 4.7 1 | CST Medallion Winter WCP1 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:
💧 Wet: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 9.1, compared to 19.7 for the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
☀️ Dry: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The CST Medallion Winter WCP1 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 4.7 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
❄️ Snow: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 12.7, compared to 18.0 for the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
🧊 Ice: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 15.7 for the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 8.7, compared to 14.0 for the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
🔋 Efficiency: CST Medallion Winter WCP1 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The CST Medallion Winter WCP1 wins this category with an average rank of 3.0, compared to 4.7 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, CST Medallion Winter WCP1 or Kumho Winter Craft WP52?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP52 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 ranks better than the CST Medallion Winter WCP1.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 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, Kumho Winter Craft WP52 in 11, with 1 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 →