Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Nokian WR D4: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 and Nokian WR D4 appear in 7 tests, 2 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP51 performs. It takes the win in ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 88/100, based on 3 tests.
How the Nokian WR D4 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 87/100, based on 4 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP51 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in ice and Tire Lab Score. The Nokian WR D4 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Kumho Winter Craft WP51 if
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise efficiency
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | Nokian WR D4 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Touring Winter | Touring Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 3 | 4 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 9.4 | 7.5 |
| Latest test | 2021 | 2018 |
| Tire Lab Score | 87.5 | 86.5 |
Tire Lab Score
Kumho Winter Craft WP51
Nokian WR D4
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | Nokian WR D4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 12.2 1 | Avg rank 9.5 1 | Nokian WR D4 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 8.3 | Avg rank 7.1 111 | Nokian WR D4 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 9.2 11 | Avg rank 5.8 21 | Nokian WR D4 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 2.5 1 | Avg rank 3.5 1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Avg rank 9.2 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
| 📏Mileage | No data | Avg rank 12.5 | Nokian WR D4 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 2.0 11 | Avg rank 11.8 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 2 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Nokian WR D4
The Nokian WR D4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.5, compared to 12.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
☀️ Dry: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Nokian WR D4
The Nokian WR D4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.1, compared to 8.3 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
❄️ Snow: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Nokian WR D4
The Nokian WR D4 wins this category with an average rank of 5.8, compared to 9.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
🧊 Ice: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Nokian WR D4
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 2.5, compared to 3.5 for the Nokian WR D4.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Nokian WR D4
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 9.2 for the Nokian WR D4.
📏 Mileage: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Nokian WR D4
The Nokian WR D4 wins this category with an average rank of 12.5, compared to no data for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
🔋 Efficiency: Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Nokian WR D4
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 11.8 for the Nokian WR D4.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Kumho Winter Craft WP51 or Nokian WR D4?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Nokian WR D4 ranks higher on average than the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Nokian WR D4 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 ranks better than the Nokian WR D4.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Nokian WR D4 shows better mileage performance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Kumho Winter Craft WP51 appears in 3 independent tests, Nokian WR D4 in 4, with 2 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 →