Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 and Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV appear in 2 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 WinterCraft Ice Wi51 performs. It takes the win in dry. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 85/100, based on 1 test.
How the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. 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 WinterCraft WS51 SUV is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise dry
Choose Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
Test profile
| Metric | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Nordic Winter | Nordic Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 1 | 1 |
| Best rank | #2 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 7.5 | 4.4 |
| Latest test | 2021 | 2022 |
| Tire Lab Score | 85.1 | 90.1 |
Tire Lab Score
Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.0 | Avg rank 2.5 11 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 6.0 | Avg rank 6.5 | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 7.0 1 | Avg rank 3.3 11 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 7.5 1 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 7.0 | Avg rank 4.5 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV |
| 🔋Efficiency | No data | Avg rank 4.0 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV |
💧 Wet: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 2.5, compared to 5.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
☀️ Dry: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 6.5 for the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV.
❄️ Snow: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 3.3, compared to 7.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
🧊 Ice: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 7.5 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 7.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
🔋 Efficiency: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to no data for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 or Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV ranks higher on average than the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV ranks better than the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 appears in 1 independent tests, Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV 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 →
