Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2: 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 Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 appear in 34 tests, 7 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, snow, ice. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 26 tests.
How the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 performs. It takes the win in dry, noise / comfort, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 8 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 Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 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?
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
Choose Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 if
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise mileage
Test profile
| Metric | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 26 | 8 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 8.6 | 10.8 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2023 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.6 | 91.7 |
Tire Lab Score
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 8.0 244 | Avg rank 12.4 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 10.1 1 | Avg rank 7.8 1 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.3 1334 | Avg rank 11.1 1 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 7.4 | No data | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 8.3 543 | Avg rank 7.9 23 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 8.0 14 | Avg rank 5.5 1 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 11.2 | Avg rank 2.6 211 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 7 independent tests:
- 20232023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test
- 20212021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test
- 20202020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test
- 20192019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test
- 20192019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview
- 20182018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test
- 20172017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test
💧 Wet: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.0, compared to 12.4 for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
☀️ Dry: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 wins this category with an average rank of 7.8, compared to 10.1 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
❄️ Snow: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 6.3, compared to 11.1 for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
🧊 Ice: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 7.4, compared to no data for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 wins this category with an average rank of 7.9, compared to 8.3 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
📏 Mileage: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 8.0 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
🔋 Efficiency: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 wins this category with an average rank of 2.6, compared to 11.2 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Dunlop Winter Sport 5 or Nexen WinGuard Sport 2?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 ranks higher on average than the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 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 Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 ranks better than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 shows better mileage performance than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 appears in 26 independent tests, Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 in 8, with 7 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
Also compare
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs…
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 vs…
Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →