Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 vs Toyo Observe S 944
Ahead in each discipline
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 and the Toyo Observe S 944 have met in 2 independent tests and the record is level at 1-1. The Observe S 944 was stronger in wet and snow.
Performance profile
Their shared tests recorded too few of the same measurements to chart, so the chart starts from each tyre's Tyre Reviews Score categories: its whole record, not shared tests.
Where each scores higher
WinGuard Sport 2
Observe S 944
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 | WinGuard Sport 2 | Gap | Observe S 944 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet Observe S 944 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 37.9 | 5.8% | 35.7 | 0-1 |
| Snow Observe S 944 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 31 | 0.6% | 30.8 | 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, 2021 to 2023
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 | WinGuard Sport 2 | Field | Observe S 944 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | P27 of 54 | P13 of 54 | |
| 2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 18 | P12 of 18 |
WinGuard Sport 2 vs Observe S 944: your questions
Is the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 or the Toyo Observe S 944 the better tyre?
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 and the Toyo Observe S 944 have met in 2 independent tests and the record is level at 1-1. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinGuard Sport 2 scores 8.1 and the Observe S 944 8.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WinGuard Sport 2 or the Observe S 944?
The Observe S 944 led 1 of the 1 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The Observe S 944 led 1 of the 1 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WinGuard Sport 2 82% from 35 reviews; the Observe S 944 has no owner reviews yet.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The WinGuard Sport 2 is made in 61 sizes (15 to 20 inch) and the Observe S 944 in 53 (14 to 20 inch). 27 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the WinGuard Sport 2 is graded C for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Observe S 944 B and D.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Observe S 944 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2019, the WinGuard Sport 2 in 2017. The WinGuard Sport 2 replaced the Nexen Winguard Sport.
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.