Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
- TR Score
- 8.1/10
- Owners say
- 72% · 6
- TR Score
- 8.5/10
- Owners say
- 92% · 3
In the 13 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 finished ahead 11 times and the Winterhawk 4 twice. The Winterhawk 4 stopped 1.1% shorter in the wet; the Speed Grip 5 lasted 9.1% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Buy the Semperit Speed Grip 5 for the better all-round tyre: it won nine of eleven shared tests, brakes shorter in the dry, handles better and rolls easier. Buy the Firestone Winterhawk 4 if wet stopping distance is the number you buy on, since it braked shorter in the wet in all ten measurements, or if you want the quieter tyre with more snow traction.
Where the Winterhawk 4 is stronger
- Shorter wet braking in all ten measurements
- Quieter in all five noise measurements and shorter ice braking in both
- Better snow traction in four of five runs, 2577N against 2436N
Where the Speed Grip 5 is stronger
- Won nine of the eleven shared tests, including 1st of 15 at ADAC in 2022
- Shorter dry braking in five of six measurements and all four dry handling comparisons
- Lower rolling resistance in all four measurements and better straight aquaplaning in five of six
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.
Winterhawk 4 vs Speed Grip 5 at a glance
| Category | Winterhawk 4 | Gap | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won13 shared tests | 2 | 11 | |
| Dry12 measurements | 2 | The Speed Grip 5 stopped 1.6% shorter in the dry (7 tests) | 10 |
| Wet38 measurements | 20 | The Winterhawk 4 stopped 1.1% shorter in the wet (12 tests) | 18 |
| Snow29 measurements | 18 | The Winterhawk 4 stopped 0.6% shorter on snow (12 tests) | 8 |
| Ice2 measurements | 2 | The Winterhawk 4 stopped 3.2% shorter on ice (2 tests) | 0 |
| Comfort8 measurements | 7 | The Winterhawk 4 was 1 dB quieter (6 tests) | 1 |
| Value15 measurements | 5 | The Speed Grip 5 lasted 9.1% longer in the wear tests (7 tests) | 10 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.1/10 | The Speed Grip 5 by 0.4 | 8.5/10 |
| Owner rating6 and 3 reviews | 72% | The Speed Grip 5 by 20 points | 92% |
| Pricein the 7 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Speed Grip 5 was dearer in 5 of 7 | +4.1% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 83 | 64 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 13 tests, 2022 to 2026
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 | Winterhawk 4 | Field | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P16 of 20 | P12 of 20 | |
| 2026 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 50 Sets | P19 of 50 | P13 of 50 | |
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | P16 of 20 | P11 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | P7 of 51 | P15 of 51 | |
| 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | P17 of 31 | P15 of 31 | |
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P18 of 20 | P3 of 20 | |
| 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | P10 of 16 | P4 of 16 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test | P10 of 55 | P6 of 55 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P20 of 20 | P16 of 20 | |
| 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | P6 of 54 | P19 of 54 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P16 of 20 | P9 of 20 | |
| 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P14 of 56 | P10 of 56 | |
| 2022 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | P9 of 15 | P1 of 15 |
Performance profile
18 measurements from the 13 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winterhawk 4
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. The scale stops at 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 2 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winterhawk 4
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
Winterhawk 4
Not ahead in any category
Speed Grip 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6 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 | Winterhawk 4 | Gap | Speed Grip 5 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46.19 | 1.6% | 45.47 | 2-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 111.9 | 1.7% | 113.8 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 44.19 | 1.1% | 44.63 | 10-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 38.8 | 0.2% | 38.9 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 77.57 | 1.4% | 76.51 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 2.3 | 13% | 2.6 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 12.58 | 0.6% | 12.66 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 81.54 | 1.2% | 82.54 | 1-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 2.61 | 9.7% | 2.85 | 2-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 25.92 | 0.6% | 25.73 | 7-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 2,296 | 2.6% | 2,226 | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 57.34 | 0.4% | 57.12 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 3.3 | 0.9% | 3.27 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 16.6 | 3.2% | 17.15 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| scored | 3.2% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 70.8 | 1 dB | 71.77 | 6-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 42,231 | 9.1% | 45,754 | 3-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 8.26 | 3.1% | 8 | 1-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 5.7 | 1.7% | 5.8 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 77.5 | 18.6% | 62.5 | 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 Winterhawk 4 scores 8.1 and the Speed Grip 5 8.5 out of 10.
| Winterhawk 4 | Category | Speed Grip 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Dry | 62 | ||
| 86 | Wet | 80 | ||
| 66 | Comfort | 25 | ||
| 49 | Value | 73 | ||
| 69 | Snow | 51 | ||
| 54 | 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
| Winterhawk 4 | Category | Speed Grip 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.3 | Dry Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 7.3 | Wet Grip | 9.7 | ||
| 6.2 | Road Feedback | 9 | ||
| 5.5 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 7.6 | Wear | 9 | ||
| 7.7 | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
| 7.5 | Snow Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 6.8 | Ice Grip | 9.3 | ||
Owners rate the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6 reviews and the Speed Grip 5 92% from 3. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Firestone Winterhawk 4
- 72%from 6 reviews
- 67%would buy again
- 25,300 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally rate the Firestone Winterhawk 4 highly for everyday winter use, with strong confidence in snow and rain, short braking distances, and reassuring all-round performance. Many highlight its good value versus premium brands, along with a quiet, comfortable ride and responsive feel. Overall satisfaction is high across the majority of reviews.
- strong snow performance
- good wet grip and braking
- quiet and comfortable ride
- good value for money
Summarised by AI from 5 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 6 Winterhawk 4 reviewsGood quality for mid-range brand, cover winter needs. In general there is no high potential of performance for winter tyres independently of brand!
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: 83 sizes of the Winterhawk 4 and 90 of the Speed Grip 5, 64 of them made in both.
| Category | Winterhawk 4 | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 83 sizes, 14 to 20 inch | 90 sizes, 14 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 64 sizes 165/70 R14175/70 R14165/60 R15165/65 R15185/55 R15185/60 R15185/65 R15195/50 R15195/55 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15195/50 R16and 52 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B100% | C76%B24% |
| EU label rolling resistance | D50%C50% | C70%D18%B12% |
| EU label noise | 71 dB B100% | 71-75 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 101 of 101 | 137 of 137 |
| On the market since | 2020 | 2021 |
| Replaced | Firestone Winterhawk 3 (2013) | Semperit Speed Grip 3 (2017) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Speed Grip 5 was the dearer tyre in 5 of the 7 tests that listed prices, by 4.1% 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.
Eleven shared tests, nine wins for the Semperit Speed Grip 5, and one statistic that seems to contradict all of them: the Firestone Winterhawk 4 braked shorter in the wet in all ten measurements.
The explanation is in everything else. The Semperit braked shorter in the dry in five of six measurements, won all four dry handling comparisons, resisted straight aquaplaning better in five of six runs and rolled with less resistance in all four measurements. That is what puts it 3rd of 23 against the Firestone's 18th at Auto Bild in 2024, 1st of 15 against 9th at ADAC in 2022, 4th of 16 against 10th at ADAC in 2024 and 9th of 22 against 16th in 2022.
The Firestone's other strengths are real too. It was quieter in all five noise measurements, pulled harder in four of five snow traction runs, won three of four snow slaloms and stopped shorter on ice in both measurements, and its two test wins are both braking shootouts, 7th of 52 against 15th and 6th of 54 against 19th.
Conclusion
The Semperit Speed Grip 5 wins this on the overall record, nine of eleven shared tests, with an outright win at ADAC in 2022, 1st of 15 with the Firestone Winterhawk 4 9th. Add 3rd of 23 against 18th at Auto Bild in 2024, 4th of 16 against 10th at ADAC in 2024, 6th of 55 against 10th in the 2024 braking test, 9th of 22 against 16th in 2022, 10th of 57 against 14th in the market overview, 11th of 22 against 16th in 2025 and 15th of 31 against 17th at ADAC in 2025. Its measured advantages are dry braking, five of six, dry handling, four to nil, straight aquaplaning, five of six, rolling resistance, four to nil, and abrasion, two to nil, 66 against 72mg/km/t.
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 owns wet braking outright, ten measurements to nil, though several are close, 34.8m against 34.9m in the 2025 braking test. It also won both of the braking-only comparisons, 7th of 52 against 15th in 2025 and 6th of 54 against 19th in 2023, was quieter in all five noise measurements, pulled harder in four of five snow traction runs, 2577N against 2436N, won three of four snow slaloms and stopped shorter on ice in both measurements.
This is the clearest case in the archive of a tyre that brakes well in a straight line on wet tarmac but does not convert it into test results, because handling, dry braking and efficiency are also scored. If wet stopping distance and snow traction are your priorities, the Firestone has a genuine case. On the whole picture, the Semperit is the better tyre.
Winterhawk 4 vs Speed Grip 5: your questions
Is the Firestone Winterhawk 4 or the Semperit Speed Grip 5 the better tyre?
In the 13 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 finished ahead 11 times and the Winterhawk 4 twice. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winterhawk 4 scores 8.1 and the Speed Grip 5 8.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winterhawk 4 or the Speed Grip 5?
The Winterhawk 4 led 20 of the 38 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.1% shorter in the wet across 12 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Speed Grip 5 led 10 of the 12 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.6% shorter in the dry across 7 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Winterhawk 4 led 18 of the 29 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.6% shorter on snow across 12 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Speed Grip 5 lasted 9.1% longer in the wear tests (7 tests), had 3.1% lower rolling resistance (5 tests) and shed 18.6% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winterhawk 4 and 9/10 for the Speed Grip 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Winterhawk 4 was 1 dB quieter (6 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the Winterhawk 4 and 8.3/10 for the Speed Grip 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6 reviews and the Speed Grip 5 92% from 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 7 tests that listed prices, the Speed Grip 5 was the dearer tyre in 5 of them, by 4.1% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winterhawk 4 is made in 83 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the Speed Grip 5 in 90 (14 to 21 inch). 64 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winterhawk 4 is graded B for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Speed Grip 5 C and C.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Speed Grip 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Winterhawk 4 in 2020. The Winterhawk 4 replaced the Firestone Winterhawk 3. The Speed Grip 5 replaced the Semperit Speed Grip 3.
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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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