Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 and Fulda Kristall Control HP2 appear in 38 tests, 11 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 4 performs. It takes the win in wet, ice, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 17 tests.
How the Fulda Kristall Control HP2 performs. It takes the win in dry, snow, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 21 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 Fulda Kristall Control HP2 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in dry and Tire Lab Score. The Firestone Winterhawk 4 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 ice
- You prioritise efficiency
Choose Fulda Kristall Control HP2 if
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise mileage
Test profile
| Metric | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | Fulda Kristall Control HP2 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 17 | 21 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 10.0 | 11.4 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 88.7 | 89.9 |
Tire Lab Score
Firestone Winterhawk 4
Fulda Kristall Control HP2
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | Fulda Kristall Control HP2 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 7.6 138 | Avg rank 12.9 331 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 14.3 1 | Avg rank 12.8 1 | Fulda Kristall Control HP2 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 9.2 224 | Avg rank 8.5 54 | Fulda Kristall Control HP2 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 6.7 | Avg rank 9.3 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.2 31 | Avg rank 9.2 422 | Tie |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 10.8 21 | Avg rank 9.0 111 | Fulda Kristall Control HP2 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.5 1 | Avg rank 11.0 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 11 independent tests:
- 20252025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test
- 20252025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test
- 20252025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets!
- 20242024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test
- 20242024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test
- 20232023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test
- 20232023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test
- 20222022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test
- 20222022 Winter Tyre Market Overview
- 20212021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test
💧 Wet: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.6, compared to 12.9 for the Fulda Kristall Control HP2.
☀️ Dry: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2
The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 wins this category with an average rank of 12.8, compared to 14.3 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
❄️ Snow: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2
The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 wins this category with an average rank of 8.5, compared to 9.2 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
🧊 Ice: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to 9.3 for the Fulda Kristall Control HP2.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2
Both tires perform similarly in noise / comfort, with average ranks of 9.2 and 9.2.
📏 Mileage: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2
The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 wins this category with an average rank of 9.0, compared to 10.8 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
🔋 Efficiency: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.5, compared to 11.0 for the Fulda Kristall Control HP2.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Firestone Winterhawk 4 or Fulda Kristall Control HP2?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 ranks higher on average than the Fulda Kristall Control HP2.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Firestone Winterhawk 4 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Fulda Kristall Control HP2 shows better mileage performance than the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Firestone Winterhawk 4 appears in 17 independent tests, Fulda Kristall Control HP2 in 21, with 11 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 →