Westlake SW 608 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 finished ahead 2 times and the SW 608 not once. The SW 608 was stronger in wet, the WinGuard Sport 2 in snow.
Performance profile
Their shared tests recorded too few of the same measurements to chart, so the chart shows what owners rate each tyre on every question.
Where owners rate each higher
SW 608
Not ahead in any category
WinGuard Sport 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the SW 608 48% from 5 reviews and the WinGuard Sport 2 82% from 35. 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. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | SW 608 | Gap | WinGuard Sport 2 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet SW 608 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 34.2 | 6.3% | 36.5 | 1-0 |
| Snow WinGuard Sport 2 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 28 | 10.4% | 25.1 | 0-1 |
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, 2017 to 2020
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 | SW 608 | Field | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | P27 of 51 | P24 of 51 | |
| 2017 50 Winter Tyre Shoot Out | P29 of 50 | P9 of 50 |
SW 608 vs WinGuard Sport 2: your questions
Is the Westlake SW 608 or the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 the better tyre?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 finished ahead 2 times and the SW 608 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the SW 608 scores 4.6 and the WinGuard Sport 2 8.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the SW 608 or the WinGuard Sport 2?
The SW 608 led 1 of the 1 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The WinGuard Sport 2 led 1 of the 1 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 5.3/10 for the SW 608 and 8.6/10 for the WinGuard Sport 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the SW 608 48% from 5 reviews and the WinGuard Sport 2 82% from 35. 40% of SW 608 owners would buy it again, against 85% for the WinGuard Sport 2.
More comparisons with these tyres
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.

