Firestone Winterhawk 4 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 4 and Semperit Speed Grip 5 appear in 29 tests, 10 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, snow, ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 17 tests.
How the Semperit Speed Grip 5 performs. It takes the win in dry, mileage. 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 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 snow
- You prioritise ice
Choose Semperit Speed Grip 5 if
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise mileage
Test profile
| Metric | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 17 | 12 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 10.0 | 11.0 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 88.7 | 89.7 |
Tire Lab Score
Firestone Winterhawk 4
Semperit Speed Grip 5
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 7.6 138 | Avg rank 9.3 221 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 14.3 1 | Avg rank 9.6 12 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 9.2 224 | Avg rank 11.1 112 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 6.7 | Avg rank 12.7 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.2 31 | Avg rank 10.6 1 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 10.8 21 | Avg rank 10.6 1 | Semperit Speed Grip 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.5 1 | Avg rank 12.1 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 10 independent tests:
- 20252025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test
- 20252025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test
- 20252025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets!
- 20242024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test
- 20242024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test
- 20242024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test
- 20232023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test
- 20232023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test
- 20222022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test
- 20222022 Winter Tyre Market Overview
💧 Wet: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.6, compared to 9.3 for the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
☀️ Dry: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Semperit Speed Grip 5 wins this category with an average rank of 9.6, compared to 14.3 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
❄️ Snow: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 11.1 for the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
🧊 Ice: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to 12.7 for the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 10.6 for the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
📏 Mileage: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Semperit Speed Grip 5 wins this category with an average rank of 10.6, compared to 10.8 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
🔋 Efficiency: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.5, compared to 12.1 for the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Firestone Winterhawk 4 or Semperit Speed Grip 5?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 ranks higher on average than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Semperit Speed Grip 5 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Firestone Winterhawk 4 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 ranks better than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 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, Semperit Speed Grip 5 in 12, with 10 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 →