Barum Polaris 6 vs Ceat WinterDrive
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Barum Polaris 6 finished ahead 2 times and the WinterDrive not once. The Polaris 6 was stronger in wet and comfort, the WinterDrive in snow.
Performance profile
15 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Polaris 6
WinterDrive
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. The scale stops at 94%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.
Where each scores higher
Polaris 6
WinterDrive
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.
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. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | Polaris 6 | Gap | WinterDrive | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Level | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 46 | 5.4% | 43.5 | 0-1 |
| Dry Handling km/h | 115.1 | 0.3% | 114.7 | 1-0 |
| Wet Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 44.95 | 5% | 47.3 | 2-0 |
| Wet Handling km/h | 80.8 | 1.3% | 79.8 | 1-0 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.62 | 0.6% | 12.69 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 71.4 | 0.7% | 71.9 | 0-1 |
| Curved Aquaplaning m/sec2 | 2.11 | 2.4% | 2.06 | 1-0 |
| Snow WinterDrive ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 28.2 | = | 28.2 | 0-0 |
| Snow Traction N | 2,471 | 3.1% | 2,547 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling km/h | 58 | = | 58 | 0-0 |
| Snow Slalom m/sec2 | 2.76 | 2.9% | 2.84 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Noise dB | 65.2 | 0.3 dB | 65.5 | 1-0 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Wear km | 45,050 | 15.3% | 51,940 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 7.77 | 14.3% | 9.07 | 1-0 |
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.
Head to head in 2 tests in 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 | Polaris 6 | Field | WinterDrive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | P8 of 20 | P15 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | P10 of 51 | P19 of 51 |
Polaris 6 vs WinterDrive: your questions
Is the Barum Polaris 6 or the Ceat WinterDrive the better tyre?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Barum Polaris 6 finished ahead 2 times and the WinterDrive not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Polaris 6 scores 8.6 and the WinterDrive 9.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Polaris 6 or the WinterDrive?
The Polaris 6 led 5 of the 6 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 1-1 between the Polaris 6 and the WinterDrive.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterDrive led 2 of the 5 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Polaris 6 81% from 6 reviews; the WinterDrive has no owner reviews yet.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the two were priced within 1% of each other on average.
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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.