Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Firestone Winterhawk 3 and Nexen Winguard Snow G3 appear in 8 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 Firestone Winterhawk 3 performs. It takes the win in snow, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 86/100, based on 4 tests.
How the Nexen Winguard Snow G3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 85/100, 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 Firestone Winterhawk 3 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in snow and Tire Lab Score. The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Firestone Winterhawk 3 if
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise mileage
- You prioritise efficiency
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 4 | 4 |
| Best rank | #2 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 15.3 | 14.0 |
| Latest test | 2020 | 2024 |
| Tire Lab Score | 85.9 | 84.8 |
Tire Lab Score
Firestone Winterhawk 3
Nexen Winguard Snow G3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 22.0 | Avg rank 13.5 1 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 13.0 | Avg rank 8.5 1 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 13.6 | Avg rank 16.5 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 11.0 | Avg rank 8.8 1 | Nexen Winguard Snow G3 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 10.5 | Avg rank 20.0 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 4.0 1 | Avg rank 6.5 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
💧 Wet: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 wins this category with an average rank of 13.5, compared to 22.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
☀️ Dry: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 wins this category with an average rank of 8.5, compared to 13.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
❄️ Snow: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 wins this category with an average rank of 13.6, compared to 16.5 for the Nexen Winguard Snow G3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 wins this category with an average rank of 8.8, compared to 11.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
📏 Mileage: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 wins this category with an average rank of 10.5, compared to 20.0 for the Nexen Winguard Snow G3.
🔋 Efficiency: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 6.5 for the Nexen Winguard Snow G3.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Firestone Winterhawk 3 or Nexen Winguard Snow G3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Nexen Winguard Snow G3 ranks higher on average than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Nexen Winguard Snow G3 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 Nexen Winguard Snow G3 ranks better than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Firestone Winterhawk 3 shows better mileage performance than the Nexen Winguard Snow G3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Firestone Winterhawk 3 appears in 4 independent tests, Nexen Winguard Snow G3 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 →