Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Vredestein Snowtrac 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 Vredestein Snowtrac 5 appear in 19 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 4 performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, ice, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 17 tests.
How the Vredestein Snowtrac 5 performs. It takes the win in dry, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 81/100, based on 2 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 4 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Vredestein Snowtrac 5 still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Firestone Winterhawk 4 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | Vredestein Snowtrac 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 17 | 2 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 10.0 | 8.8 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2018 |
| Tire Lab Score | 88.7 | 81.1 |
Tire Lab Score
Firestone Winterhawk 4
Vredestein Snowtrac 5
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | Vredestein Snowtrac 5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 7.6 138 | Avg rank 12.3 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 14.3 1 | Avg rank 3.8 11 | Vredestein Snowtrac 5 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 9.2 224 | Avg rank 9.8 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 6.7 | No data | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.2 31 | Avg rank 8.3 1 | Vredestein Snowtrac 5 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 10.8 21 | Avg rank 19.0 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.5 1 | Avg rank 10.0 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
💧 Wet: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Vredestein Snowtrac 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.6, compared to 12.3 for the Vredestein Snowtrac 5.
☀️ Dry: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Vredestein Snowtrac 5
The Vredestein Snowtrac 5 wins this category with an average rank of 3.8, compared to 14.3 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
❄️ Snow: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Vredestein Snowtrac 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 9.8 for the Vredestein Snowtrac 5.
🧊 Ice: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Vredestein Snowtrac 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to no data for the Vredestein Snowtrac 5.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Vredestein Snowtrac 5
The Vredestein Snowtrac 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.3, compared to 9.2 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
📏 Mileage: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Vredestein Snowtrac 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 10.8, compared to 19.0 for the Vredestein Snowtrac 5.
🔋 Efficiency: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Vredestein Snowtrac 5
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.5, compared to 10.0 for the Vredestein Snowtrac 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Firestone Winterhawk 4 or Vredestein Snowtrac 5?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 ranks higher on average than the Vredestein Snowtrac 5.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Vredestein Snowtrac 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 Vredestein Snowtrac 5 ranks better than the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 shows better mileage performance than the Vredestein Snowtrac 5.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Firestone Winterhawk 4 appears in 17 independent tests, Vredestein Snowtrac 5 in 2.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →