Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nokian WR A4: 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 Nokian WR A4 appear in 9 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 Firestone Winterhawk 3 performs. It takes the win in mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 86/100, based on 4 tests.
How the Nokian WR A4 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 5 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 Nokian WR A4 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Firestone Winterhawk 3 still wins on mileage, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise mileage
- You prioritise efficiency
Choose Nokian WR A4 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Nokian WR A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 4 | 5 |
| Best rank | #2 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 15.3 | 9.3 |
| Latest test | 2020 | 2020 |
| Tire Lab Score | 85.9 | 88.8 |
Tire Lab Score
Firestone Winterhawk 3
Nokian WR A4
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Nokian WR A4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 22.0 | Avg rank 10.2 | Nokian WR A4 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 13.0 | Avg rank 5.0 22 | Nokian WR A4 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 13.6 | Avg rank 10.8 | Nokian WR A4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 11.0 | Avg rank 7.0 11 | Nokian WR A4 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 10.5 | Avg rank 17.0 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 4.0 1 | Avg rank 12.3 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:
💧 Wet: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nokian WR A4
The Nokian WR A4 wins this category with an average rank of 10.2, compared to 22.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
☀️ Dry: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nokian WR A4
The Nokian WR A4 wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 13.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
❄️ Snow: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nokian WR A4
The Nokian WR A4 wins this category with an average rank of 10.8, compared to 13.6 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nokian WR A4
The Nokian WR A4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.0, compared to 11.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
📏 Mileage: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nokian WR A4
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 wins this category with an average rank of 10.5, compared to 17.0 for the Nokian WR A4.
🔋 Efficiency: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nokian WR A4
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 12.3 for the Nokian WR A4.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Firestone Winterhawk 3 or Nokian WR A4?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Nokian WR A4 ranks higher on average than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Nokian WR A4 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 Nokian WR A4 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 Nokian WR A4.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Firestone Winterhawk 3 appears in 4 independent tests, Nokian WR A4 in 5, 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 →