Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
- TR Score
- 9.3/10
- Owners say
- 80% · 3
- TR Score
- 8.5/10
- Owners say
- 92% · 3
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 finished ahead 8 times and the Speed Grip 5 3 times. The Cinturato Winter 2 stopped 3.7% shorter in the wet; the Speed Grip 5 had 8.9% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 for safety-first buyers in wet/mild winters who want confident snow capability; Semperit Speed-Grip 5 for high-mileage or budget-minded drivers prioritizing aquaplaning resistance, fuel economy and long wear over ultimate wet grip.
Where the Cinturato Winter 2 is stronger
- Class-leading wet braking across all shared tests
- Strong wet handling and wet lateral grip
- Confident snow traction/handling with competitive ice braking
Where the Speed Grip 5 is stronger
- Excellent aquaplaning resistance (straight and curved)
- Low rolling resistance and strong fuel efficiency
- High mileage and lower abrasion for better lifecycle cost
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Cinturato Winter 2 vs Speed Grip 5 at a glance
| Category | Cinturato Winter 2 | Gap | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won11 shared tests | 8 | 3 | |
| Dry13 measurements | 6 | The Speed Grip 5 averaged a 0.8% higher speed on the dry handling course (4 tests) | 7 |
| Wet36 measurements | 23 | The Cinturato Winter 2 stopped 3.7% shorter in the wet (11 tests) | 12 |
| Snow28 measurements | 19 | The Cinturato Winter 2 averaged a 1% higher speed on the snow handling course (4 tests) | 8 |
| Ice2 measurements | 2 | The Cinturato Winter 2 stopped 5.9% shorter on ice (2 tests) | 0 |
| Comfort8 measurements | 7 | 1 | |
| Value14 measurements | 2 | The Speed Grip 5 had 8.9% lower rolling resistance (5 tests) | 11 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.3/10 | The Cinturato Winter 2 by 0.8 | 8.5/10 |
| Owner rating3 and 3 reviews | 80% | The Speed Grip 5 by 12 points | 92% |
| Pricein the 7 tests that listed prices | +26.6% | The Cinturato Winter 2 was dearer in 7 of 7 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 41 | 35 sizes made in both | 90 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 11 tests, 2022 to 2025
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Cinturato Winter 2 | Field | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | P10 of 20 | P11 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | P9 of 51 | P15 of 51 | |
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P13 of 20 | P3 of 20 | |
| 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 16 | P4 of 16 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test | P4 of 55 | P6 of 55 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 20 | P16 of 20 | |
| 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | P9 of 54 | P19 of 54 | |
| 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | P12 of 15 | P6 of 15 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P1 of 20 | P9 of 20 | |
| 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P5 of 56 | P10 of 56 | |
| 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 9 | P5 of 9 |
Performance profile
17 measurements from the 11 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Cinturato Winter 2
Speed Grip 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. 9 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Cinturato Winter 2
Speed Grip 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Cinturato Winter 2
Not ahead in any category
Speed Grip 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Cinturato Winter 2 80% from 3 reviews and the Speed Grip 5 92% from 3. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Cinturato Winter 2 | Gap | Speed Grip 5 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.31 | 1.9% | 44.19 | 5-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 80.4 | 0.6% | 79.9 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 113.7 | 0.8% | 114.6 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| scored | 5.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 41.65 | 3.7% | 43.18 | 11-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 37.7 | 6.2% | 40.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 99 | 3.1% | 102.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 78.77 | 3.3% | 76.23 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| scored | 17.6% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 12.36 | 2.1% | 12.63 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 79.86 | 2% | 81.37 | 1-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 3.21 | 12.5% | 3.64 | 1-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 25.57 | 0.5% | 25.42 | 5-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 5.1 | 5.6% | 5.4 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 1,790 | 2.6% | 1,757 | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 114.9 | 1.4% | 116.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 57.93 | 1% | 57.33 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 11.1% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 3.28 | 1.7% | 3.23 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 17.95 | 5.9% | 19.05 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 15.3% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 70.4 | 0.4 dB | 70.83 | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 44,060 | 5.4% | 46,513 | 2-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 8.82 | 8.9% | 8.03 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.7 | = | 5.7 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 73.45 | 12.4% | 64.35 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Cinturato Winter 2 scores 9.3 and the Speed Grip 5 8.5 out of 10.
| Cinturato Winter 2 | Category | Speed Grip 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | Dry | 62 | ||
| 90 | Wet | 80 | ||
| 42 | Comfort | 25 | ||
| 33 | Value | 73 | ||
| 64 | Snow | 51 | ||
| 76 | Ice | 32 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Cinturato Winter 2 | Category | Speed Grip 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Dry Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 8.7 | Wet Grip | 9.7 | ||
| 8 | Road Feedback | 9 | ||
| 7.7 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 6 | Wear | 9 | ||
| 7.7 | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | Snow Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 7 | Ice Grip | 9.3 | ||
Owners rate the Cinturato Winter 2 80% from 3 reviews and the Speed Grip 5 92% from 3. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
- 80%from 3 reviews
- 20,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Cinturato Winter 2 reviewsIt’s the best winter tire I’ve had so far great wet and snow traction also the tire is very quiet (test say otherwise but on my car this tire is quiet) big downfall is the wear of the tire after 1 winter the tires lost almost half of their tread . Last winter was weak so maybe that’s because but I’ve heard that pirelli don’t last that long. Other than that great tire
Semperit Speed Grip 5
- 92%from 3 reviews
- 20,500 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Speed Grip 5 reviewsSehr guter Winterreifen im mittleren Preissegment. Fahre 100 km täglich durchs Mittelgebirge (Stadt, BAB, Bundesstraßen) und hatte nun alle Bedingungen: Schnee, Eis, Regen, Trockene Fahrbahn. Toller Grip auf Schnee und Eis bedeckten Straßen. Habe mich stehts sicher gefühlt.
215/55 R18 99V XL. Made in France. Neuprofiltiefe gemessene 8,7 mm. Nach 10500 km vorn 8,2 mm, hinten 8,0 mm bei sehr ruhigem, entspanntem Fahrstil. D. h. sehr wenig Verschleiß und hohe zu erwartende Laufleistung. Laufgeräusch ist wie bei allen Winterreifen hörbar, aber nicht sonderlich auffällig.
Bin sehr zufrieden, würde sie wieder kaufen.
Meine vorherigen Reifen Bridgestone LM001 mit 5 mm Profil, 2 Jahre alt, waren auf nasser und trockener Fahrbahn top, hatten aber bei Schnee und Matsch null Grip und drehten durch.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 41 sizes of the Cinturato Winter 2 and 90 of the Speed Grip 5, 35 of them made in both.
| Category | Cinturato Winter 2 | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 41 sizes, 16 to 20 inch | 90 sizes, 14 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 35 sizes 195/55 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16215/55 R16215/60 R16215/65 R16175/65 R17205/45 R17205/50 R17205/55 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17and 23 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B91%A9% | C76%B24% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C78%B16%D5% | C70%D18%B12% |
| EU label noise | 69-72 dB B84%A16% | 71-75 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 74 of 74 | 137 of 137 |
| On the market since | 2021 | 2021 |
| Replaced | Pirelli Cinturato Winter (2015) | Semperit Speed Grip 3 (2017) |
| Replaced by | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Cinturato Winter 2 was the dearer tyre in 7 of the 7 tests that listed prices, by 26.6% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head puts Pirelli's Cinturato Winter 2, a premium touring winter tyre, against Semperit's Speed-Grip 5, a high-performance winter option from Continental's second tier. Across 11 shared tests in sizes 16-18 inch, the Pirelli consistently asserts itself as a wet-road specialist with solid snow capability and strong subjective comfort, while the Semperit trades a touch of ultimate grip for standout efficiency, aquaplaning security and value.
Results show a clear pattern: Pirelli dominates wet braking in every test and often leads wet handling and snow traction/handling, but can feel vague on dry roads and is typically pricier. Semperit counters with better straight and curved aquaplaning, lower rolling resistance, longer wear and stronger value scores, though it can lag in wet grip and occasionally in snow lateral control.
Conclusion
If your winter is predominantly wet with occasional cold snaps, the Cinturato Winter 2 is the safer bet: it wins all 11 wet braking matchups, frequently tops wet handling, and is consistently composed on snow in traction and handling. Its drawbacks are higher purchase price and occasional dry-road imprecision noted by testers.
The Speed-Grip 5 suits cost-conscious drivers covering higher mileages or mixed motorway use: it typically lasts longer, rolls easier (better fuel economy), and is more resistant to aquaplaning-useful in heavy standing water. Its compromises are modestly longer wet stopping distances and, in some tests, weaker snow lateral grip.
Bottom line: choose Pirelli for maximum wet-road safety and balanced winter drivability; choose Semperit for value, efficiency and high-speed rain resilience-provided you accept a margin of wet-grip and snow-handling trade-off.
Cinturato Winter 2 vs Speed Grip 5: your questions
Is the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 or the Semperit Speed Grip 5 the better tyre?
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 finished ahead 8 times and the Speed Grip 5 3 times. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Cinturato Winter 2 scores 9.3 and the Speed Grip 5 8.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Cinturato Winter 2 or the Speed Grip 5?
The Cinturato Winter 2 led 23 of the 36 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.7% shorter in the wet across 11 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Speed Grip 5 led 7 of the 13 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 0.8% higher speed on the dry handling course across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Cinturato Winter 2 led 19 of the 28 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 1% higher speed on the snow handling course across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Speed Grip 5 lasted 5.4% longer in the wear tests (6 tests), had 8.9% lower rolling resistance (5 tests) and shed 12.4% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests). Owners rate wear 6/10 for the Cinturato Winter 2 and 9/10 for the Speed Grip 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the Cinturato Winter 2 and 8.3/10 for the Speed Grip 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Cinturato Winter 2 80% from 3 reviews and the Speed Grip 5 92% from 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 7 tests that listed prices, the Cinturato Winter 2 was the dearer tyre in 7 of them, by 26.6% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Cinturato Winter 2 is made in 41 sizes (16 to 20 inch) and the Speed Grip 5 in 90 (14 to 21 inch). 35 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Cinturato Winter 2 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Speed Grip 5 C and C.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.
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