Kumho Winter Craft WP52 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3: 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 WP52 and Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 appear in 12 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 Kumho Winter Craft WP52 performs. It takes the win in mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 11 tests.
How the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 1 test.
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 WP52 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in mileage and Tire Lab Score. The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Kumho Winter Craft WP52 if
- You prioritise mileage
- You prioritise efficiency
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Studded Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 11 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 10.5 | 4.3 |
| Latest test | 2025 | — |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.9 | 90 |
Tire Lab Score
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 9.1 14 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.7 311 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 12.7 | Avg rank 3.7 11 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Avg rank 4.5 | Tie |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.2 112 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 8.7 2 | No data | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 4.7 1 | Avg rank 5.0 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
💧 Wet: Kumho Winter Craft WP52 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 9.1 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
☀️ Dry: Kumho Winter Craft WP52 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 4.7 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
❄️ Snow: Kumho Winter Craft WP52 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 wins this category with an average rank of 3.7, compared to 12.7 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
🧊 Ice: Kumho Winter Craft WP52 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
Both tires perform similarly in ice, with average ranks of 4.5 and 4.5.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Kumho Winter Craft WP52 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 9.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
📏 Mileage: Kumho Winter Craft WP52 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 8.7, compared to no data for the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Kumho Winter Craft WP52 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 4.7, compared to 5.0 for the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Kumho Winter Craft WP52 or Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 ranks higher on average than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 ranks better than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 shows better mileage performance than the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Kumho Winter Craft WP52 appears in 11 independent tests, Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 in 1.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →