Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 and Firestone Winterhawk 3 appear in 30 tests, 4 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 Dunlop Winter Sport 5 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 26 tests.
How the Firestone Winterhawk 3 performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 86/100, 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 Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Firestone Winterhawk 3 still wins on efficiency, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Dunlop Winter Sport 5 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 26 | 4 |
| Best rank | #1 | #2 |
| Avg rank | 8.6 | 15.3 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2020 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.6 | 85.9 |
Tire Lab Score
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Firestone Winterhawk 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 8.0 244 | Avg rank 22.0 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 10.1 1 | Avg rank 13.0 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.3 1334 | Avg rank 13.6 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 7.4 | No data | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 8.3 543 | Avg rank 11.0 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 8.0 14 | Avg rank 10.5 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 11.2 | Avg rank 4.0 1 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 4 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.0, compared to 22.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
☀️ Dry: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 10.1, compared to 13.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
❄️ Snow: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 6.3, compared to 13.6 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🧊 Ice: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 7.4, compared to no data for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.3, compared to 11.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
📏 Mileage: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.0, compared to 10.5 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 11.2 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Dunlop Winter Sport 5 or Firestone Winterhawk 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 ranks higher on average than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Firestone Winterhawk 3 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 Firestone Winterhawk 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 shows better mileage performance than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 appears in 26 independent tests, Firestone Winterhawk 3 in 4, with 4 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 →