Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    2026 test data · 3 independent tests

    → See full Kumho vs Nexen brand comparison

    Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43: 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 Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 appear in 3 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 wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 85/100, based on 1 test.

    How the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, 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 Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in efficiency and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 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 dry
    • You prioritise snow
    • You prioritise efficiency

    Test profile

    MetricKumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43
    SegmentNordic WinterNordic Winter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used12
    Best rank#2#1
    Avg rank7.58.8
    Latest test20212020
    Tire Lab Score85.192

    Tire Lab Score

    85.1
    Very Good · Nordic Winter
    92
    Excellent · Nordic Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryKumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 5.0
    Avg rank 10.2
    1
    Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 6.0
    Avg rank 11.0
    Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 7.0
    1
    Avg rank 8.5
    11
    Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    🧊Ice
    Avg rank 7.5
    1
    Avg rank 8.6
    1
    Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 7.0
    Avg rank 8.5
    Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    🔋EfficiencyNo data
    Avg rank 2.0
    1
    Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    💧 Wet: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 10.2 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    ☀️ Dry: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 11.0 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    ❄️ Snow: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 7.0, compared to 8.5 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🧊 Ice: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 7.5, compared to 8.6 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 7.0, compared to 8.5 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🔋 Efficiency: Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to no data for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 or Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 ranks higher on average than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    Which has shorter dry braking distance?

    The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 across the tests where both appeared.

    Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?

    On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 ranks better than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 appears in 1 independent tests, Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 in 2.

    Also compare

    Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →