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Dunlop Winter Response 2 View Gallery (1)
155-195/50-70 R14-16 22 sizes 2021 Winter rated

Dunlop Winter Response 2

The Dunlop Winter Response 2 is a Premium Touring Winter tyre designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

6.1
Tyre Reviews Score Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews
Limited Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
86%
Wet Grip
90%
Road Feedback
92%
Handling
82%
Wear
87%
Comfort
93%
Buy again
97%
Snow Grip
100%
Ice Grip
100%
10 Reviews
92% Average
74,000 miles driven
15 Tests (avg: 4th)
Dunlop Winter Response 2

Dunlop Winter Response 2

Winter Premium
BETA
6.1 / 10
Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews · Limited Confidence · Updated 30 Jan 2026

The Tyre Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tyre scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Snow
99
1.5x / 1 test
Wet
88.8
2x / 1 test

Cross-category scores are derived metrics that combine data from multiple test disciplines to evaluate real-world performance characteristics.

Braking
94.1
2 tests
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 15
Publications: 4
Period: 2013 - 2025
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 10
Avg Rating: 91.9%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.45
History Points: 6
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tyre tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.8 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 8 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.1 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
Data Sources
TestPublicationDateSizePositionMetrics
2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! Auto Bild 2025 225/40 R18 1/52 2 metrics
2022 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 ADAC 2022 185/65 R15 12/15 0 metrics
2021 ADAC 15 Inch Winter Tyre Test ADAC 2021 195/65 R15 1/16 0 metrics
2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tyre Test ADAC 2019 185/65 R15 1/16 0 metrics
2018 ACE All Season and Winter Tyre Test ACE 2018 185/65 R15 6/12 0 metrics
2018 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 175/65 R14 ADAC 2018 175/65 R14 2/12 0 metrics
2017 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 195/65 R15 ADAC 2017 195/65 R15 4/16 0 metrics
2016 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 ADAC 2016 185/65 R15 9/15 0 metrics
2015 Auto Bild Top 18 Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild 2015 185/60 R15 4/18 0 metrics
2015 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 165/70 R14 ADAC 2015 165/70 R14 3/16 0 metrics
2015 Winter Tyre Market Overview Auto Bild 2015 185/60 R14 1/51 0 metrics
2014 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 175/65 R14 ADAC 2014 175/65 R14 2/14 0 metrics
2013 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test Auto Zeitung 2013 195/65 R15 7/8 0 metrics
2013 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/60 R15 ADAC 2013 185/60 R15 2/17 0 metrics
2013 ACE Winter Tyre Test ACE 2013 185/60 R15 2/9 0 metrics
15
Tests
4th
Average
1st
Best
12th
Worst
Latest Tyre Test Results
12th/15
Good on wet roads, ice and snow (top mark), low fuel consumption.
Significant weaknesses on dry roads (devaluation.)
In the current test, the DUNLOP Winter Response 2 cannot match the result of the previous year (195/65 R15). In the dry, it does not show the usual/expected performance and is downgraded to sufficient in the overall rating due to the only moderate driving characteristics. Even if the Dunlop convinces in the other criteria such as in the wet, in the snow or in terms of wear and tear, it still only receives the rating "conditionally recommended" due to its dry properties.
1st/16
Very balanced, good on all surfaces, especially good on dry roads, low fuel consumption.
None mentioned.
Size Fuel Wet Noise
14 inch
165/70R14 81 T C B 69
175/65R14 82 T C B 70
185/60R14 82 T D B 70
175/65R14 82 T D C 71
165/70R14 81 T C B 69
15 inch
195/65R15 91 T C C 70
195/65R15 95 T XL C B 69
185/65R15 88 T C C 70
185/65R15 92 T XL C B 71
View All Sizes and EU Label Scores for the Dunlop Winter Response 2 >>

Questions and Answers for the Dunlop Winter Response 2

Ask a question
October 2, 2019

Can you pleas help me with dilemma I have regarding purchase of premium winter tires. I can not decide between Dunlop Winter Response 2 and Hankook Winter i cept RS2? Price difference is 50e per set of 4.(Dunlop being more expensive) Is it worth extra money? I live in Balkans and winters here can be from mild to extremely harsh in some months (snow ,ice, full pack)!

I believe the Dunlops to be worth the extra money, they won the ADAC test this year.
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Review Summary

Based on 9 user reviews

Drivers widely praise the Dunlop Winter Response 2 for outstanding snow and ice traction, excellent wet grip and stability, and quiet, comfortable running with low rolling resistance. Dry grip and handling are viewed as good to very good, often comparable to summer tyres in cold temps. Wear is generally acceptable to strong, with one mid-scoring review noting faster wear. Overall, it's a highly recommended winter tyre for its balanced performance and value.

Strengths
  • Snow and ice grip
  • Wet grip and stability
  • Low noise/quiet
  • Comfort/ride quality
  • Value for money
  • Fuel efficiency/low rolling resistance
  • Handling/road feedback
  • Dry grip (in cold)
Areas for Improvement
  • Potentially faster wear (minority)

Top 3 Dunlop Winter Response 2 Reviews

Given 100% while driving a Volkswagen Touran 2.0 TDI 170HP DSG (195/65 R16) on a combination of roads for 5,000 average miles
One of the best tires for winter conditions. When I drove in snow I had felling like I drive on dry surface. Highly recommended. I will by again for sure.
Ask a question | Helpful 815
October 17, 2021
Given 94% while driving a Volkswagen Golf Mk5 1.9 TDI (195/65 R15) on a combination of roads for 500 average miles
Great tyres.
October 27, 2018
Given 69% while driving a Citroën c2 (175/65 R14 T) on mostly town for 12,000 average miles
Winter tyre which is very good on the snow but also have a pretty decent behavior in the the dry and in the wet, especially for a winter tyre.

Seems to wear a little too fast for me.

Best value for money on winter tyre.

November 8, 2018
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Latest Dunlop Winter Response 2 Reviews

Given 97% while driving a Mercedes Benz A140 (225/45 R17) on mostly motorways for 2,000 average miles
Bought these tyres especially for their wet grip performance, which according to several tests is about as good as the grip of Continental ts850 or Goodyear Ultragrip9. Snow performance also seems to be great but the Dutch winters are pretty mild so we hardly get any snow.

Driving in wet conditions I have to conclude these tyres are outstanding; very good grip and they feel very 'planted'. Compared to winter response 1 which I had before I feel the wet grip is better. Compared to my summer tyres (michelin energy saver +) these tyres offer (much) better grip in the rain/ on wet roads and for sure when there would be any snow or ice the winter tyres would offer much much better grip. When the temperature goes down I will anyway benefit from the Dunlop winter tyres, whether we get snow or not.

On the dry these tyres perform about the same as the summer tyres, with less understeer. On the wet they offer better grip and the handling is truly excellent. The rolling resistance is low and so far I don't notice any difference in fuel economy with my summer tyres, which is great. Very much recommended!

November 23, 2017
Given 88% while driving a Opel vectra c (195/65 R15) on track for 15,000 average miles
Very good at snow. Didn t slip at all. I would buy it again
May 8, 2017
Check out how the BEST all seasons tyres perform against premium summer and winter tyres!
Given 98% while driving a Renault Clio 1.4 16v (185/55 R15 T) on mostly country roads for 3,500 easy going miles
I bought two of these in October 2015 for my Clio. In the dry below 7 degrees these tyres are grippy but also allow good progress for when you want to get moving :) In addition to this, dry braking is not an issue as I have done a few emergency stops in the dry and wet and have had enough room spare when I came to a halt. There is a bit of roll in the corners above 50mph but if driven sensibly you wouldn`t notice it.

In the wet, these tyres are the best for 185 55 R15, I have driven in heavy rain at -1 at 4am for work and I did not experience any aquaplaning or loss of control on the motorway doing 70. My dad also had a drive in my car (legally of course) and he said how much better the car handles compared to his Mondeo with Nexen summer tyres on them. This pretty much says everything, as my dad didn`t believe winter tyres were any good- Since he has bought 4 winters for his car.

In snow, these tyres are brilliant for FWD as there are plenty of sipes for the snow but also how the tread is angled in the middle to 45 degrees to help with snow clearance.
https://www.dunlop.eu/en_gb/consumer/tires/winter_response_2.WINRESP2.html

Wear- I have only driven 3500 miles on them and they are down to 7mm but I am happy with this as I have summer tyres (conti premium 5) so these tyres will last a few years until they get to 4mm then I`ll change them. They also have a winter marker in the tread so you know to replace them at 4mm since traction wears off significantly after this.

Noise wise, they are silent at 66 Decibels I couldn`t find a tyre any quieter with the fuel economy and wet grip ratings.
https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/dunlop/winter-response-2/185-55-r15-82t-74210

The EU tyre label for this size is Fuel- C Wet grip B noise 66 decibels.

The comfort is excellent being a winter the compound is softer so pot holes are dealt with nicely. Compared to the Dunlop winter response 1 that were on the front the response 2 wipe the floor with the previous make in every aspect, noise wet grip, dry grip fuel economy especially.

Fuel wise, I used to get around 33mpg for my 7 mile commute to work now when the tyres were on I get 40mpg!

So at £80 a corner fully fitted and balanced I feel these tyres are good value for money, just remember to get one for a spare if you have the space!
March 17, 2017
Given 91% while driving a Renault Megane (175/65 R14 T) on a combination of roads for 29,000 average miles
Very good tyres in condition middle Europe winter.Excellent grip in snow and wet,silence in the car,fuel consumption the same like Falken Sincera 832.After 46000 km still 4 mm left,but no more for snow available...Very good tyres from Dunlop,highly recommend.Good value for money.
February 7, 2017
Given 90% while driving a Kia Motors (185/65 R14 T) on a combination of roads for 5,000 average miles
After having some mid range winter tyres with only decent characteristics, I decided to try a set of premium tyres in this size group. I must say that, they are definetely worth the higher price, due to their performance in every aspect.

Although tyres with only 185 width are generally on the quiet side, first thing I noticed is how quiet they run, even on motorways. Grip in dry and wet is great and pretty similar, but in bad conditions like snow and ice you really start to appreciate the excellent performance. They are very predictable in all conditions due to great progressiveness and excellent road feedback, so there are never any sudden suprises.

After around 5000 miles of mostly average driving and sometimes some spirited driving, there is almost no sign of wear. I would recommend these tyres and would buy again.
October 4, 2015
Given 84% while driving a Opel Astra G (185/65 R15 T) on mostly town for 2,000 average miles
I wanted a winter tyre with good snow properties and low rolling resistance. It's hard to find something which matches your expectations, but fortunately that's what I got.
I bought them because I wanted Dunlop tyres for the car's OEM Dunlop steel rims, and the tread design looked strange for me, so I wanted to give them a shot despite the controversial test results (good in 185/60, bad in 195/65, so buying 185/65 was nothing but a gamble).
The test results said that wet grip is where you might be let down, but I think my set is good enough in rainy conditions. Dry grip is good as well, but I believe these properties could have been a bit better. That said, the dry and wet grip levels are still much higher than what I would call unsafe.
However when it comes to snow and ice, the Winter Response 2 starts to shine like a diamond. When the white stuff came, I had to act like a yobbo to get them misbehave.
The rolling resistance seems to be worse than the 195/60 Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance (my summer set, read my review of them), but only a tiny bit. But at least I got more road feedback, which is good when the conditions are tricky. Yes, the ride is a bit harsher as well, but it's a price I can live with.
One other thing: these tyres are very sensitive to tyre pressure. According to my experience in this size 5°C change in ambient tmeperature means 0.1 bar change in tyre pressure, so if you set your tyres to 2.5 bars in 0°C to get the best out of them in snow, it becomes 2.7 bars in 10°C. Combine the pressure increase with the out-of-comfort-zone temps, and you will get a car with much less traction. This might happen with other winter tyres as well, so I don't really blame my Dunlops, but more experiments are needed to be more accurate on this.
Overall, I have to say these are not the best all-rounder winter tyres out there, but if you want excellent snow and ice performance, it's a very good choice. For continental Europe I believe the Goodyear UltraGrip 9 or the Nokian WR D4 should be better because of their better all-round performance, but if you can get the Winter Response 2 for a good price, you shouldn't be disappointed.
April 5, 2015