Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5: 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 Semperit Speed Grip 5 appear in 16 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 mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 86/100, based on 4 tests.
How the Semperit Speed Grip 5 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 12 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 Semperit Speed Grip 5 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 Semperit Speed Grip 5 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 4 | 12 |
| Best rank | #2 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 15.3 | 11.0 |
| Latest test | 2020 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 85.9 | 89.7 |
Tire Lab Score
Firestone Winterhawk 3
Semperit Speed Grip 5
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 22.0 | Avg rank 9.3 221 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 13.0 | Avg rank 9.6 12 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 13.6 | Avg rank 11.1 112 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 |
| 🧊Ice | No data | Avg rank 12.7 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 11.0 | Avg rank 10.6 1 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 10.5 | Avg rank 10.6 1 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 4.0 1 | Avg rank 12.1 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
💧 Wet: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Semperit Speed Grip 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.3, compared to 22.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
☀️ Dry: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Semperit Speed Grip 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.6, compared to 13.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
❄️ Snow: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Semperit Speed Grip 5 wins this category with an average rank of 11.1, compared to 13.6 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🧊 Ice: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Semperit Speed Grip 5 wins this category with an average rank of 12.7, compared to no data for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Semperit Speed Grip 5 wins this category with an average rank of 10.6, compared to 11.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
📏 Mileage: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 wins this category with an average rank of 10.5, compared to 10.6 for the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
🔋 Efficiency: Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 12.1 for the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Firestone Winterhawk 3 or Semperit Speed Grip 5?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 ranks higher on average than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Semperit Speed Grip 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 Semperit Speed Grip 5 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 Semperit Speed Grip 5.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Firestone Winterhawk 3 appears in 4 independent tests, Semperit Speed Grip 5 in 12.
Also compare
Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs…
Semperit Speed Grip 5 vs…
Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →