Kumho Winter Craft WP52 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
Test Results
Independent comparison tyre tests are the best source of data to get tyre information from, and the good news is there have been ten tests which compare both tyres directly!
| Tyre | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Kumho Winter Craft WP52 | three | |
| Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 | seven |
While it might look like the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 is better than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tyres are very complicated objects which means where one tyre is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tyres compare across multiple tyre test categories.
Key Strengths
- Class-leading dry braking across sizes (e.g., 42.1 m vs. 43.6 m in ADAC 2024; 43.0 m vs. 44.5 m in Auto Bild 2024)
- Strong value and lower purchase price (often 25-35% cheaper; repeated 'Value' wins)
- Competitive longevity in several tests (e.g., 64,000 km predicted in ADAC 2023; low abrasion)
- Sporty, secure feel in the dry with short cold-dry and often short wet stops in simple braking tests
- Superior wet performance and aquaplaning reserves (e.g., +60% better lateral aqua in Auto Bild 2024; shorter wet braking in most tests)
- Stronger snow/ice traction, braking and handling across the board
- Quieter and more refined ride in multiple tests
- Often lower rolling resistance and solid efficiency
Dry Braking
Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during six dry braking tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 stopped the vehicle in 2.92% less distance than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Dry Braking: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was 0.57% faster around a lap than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during three dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was 1.28% faster around a lap than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 scored 5% more points than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from ten tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during seven wet braking tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 stopped the vehicle in 2.78% less distance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wet Braking: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 stopped the vehicle in 6.91% less distance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was 3.69% faster around a wet lap than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during two wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was 2.16% faster around a wet lap than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 scored 3.06% more points than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during two wet circle tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was 1.89% faster around a wet circle than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wet Circle: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during five straight aqua tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 floated at a 5.1% higher speed than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Straight Aqua: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during four curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 slipped out at a 15.25% higher speed than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from ten tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during eight snow braking tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 stopped the vehicle in 1.26% less distance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Braking: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during one snow traction tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 accelerated 3.18% faster than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Traction: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during five snow traction tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 had 3.52% better snow traction than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Traction: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was 2.06% faster around a lap than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during three snow handling [km/h] tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was 1.07% faster around a lap than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Handling [Km/H]: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during one subj. snow handling tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 scored 3.16% more points than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during two snow slalom tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was 1.7% faster through a slalom than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Slalom: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during one ice braking tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 stopped the vehicle 2.45% shorter than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Ice Braking: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 and Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 performed equally well in subj. comfort tests.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during three noise tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 measured 0.46% quieter than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Noise: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during two wear tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 is predicted to cover 5.97% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Wear: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during three value tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 proved to have a 28.76% better value based on price/1000km than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Value: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during three price tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 cost 29.86% less than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Price: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during three rolling resistance tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 had a 1.34% lower rolling resistance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 and Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 performed equally well in fuel consumption tests.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during two abrasion tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 emitted 11.64% less particle wear matter than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Abrasion: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tyre Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 and Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
In total the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 has been reviewed 8 times and drivers have given the tyre 69% overall.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 has been reviewed 3 times and drivers have given the tyre 78% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Conclusion
Key Differences
- Wet safety: Pirelli regularly stops shorter in the wet (up to 7.5% in Tyre Reviews 2023) and provides crisper wet handling.
- Aquaplaning: Pirelli has markedly higher reserves (e.g., +59.6% lateral in Auto Bild 2024; repeated straight-line wins), while Kumho shows a clear weakness here.
- Snow/ice: Pirelli edges Kumho in snow braking, traction and handling in most tests; ice braking advantages also appear (ADAC 2024).
- Dry braking/feel: Kumho consistently brakes shorter on dry roads (often ~2-4% advantage) and feels sporty/stable in cold-dry conditions.
- Comfort/noise: Pirelli tends to run quieter and more refined; Kumho is a bit louder in several tests.
- Value/ownership: Kumho is substantially cheaper and often strong in wear/abrasion, while Pirelli can offer better efficiency (rolling resistance) depending on size.
Overall Winner: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
Based on the tyre test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tyre has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tyre buying choice.Similar Comparisons
Looking for more tyre comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tyres:
Footnote
This page has been developed using tyre industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tyres in the same test.
Why is this important? Tyre testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tyre test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tyre tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tyre Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tyre comparison, Tyre Reviews doesn't.