Tested 5 times by independent publications, the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ averages a finish of 8th. Its strongest discipline is Wet Braking, beating 78% of the field across 5 tests; its weakest is Snow Braking, at 46% across 5 tests.
2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test P8 of 20
The Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ shares eighth place with a 'good' verdict. Its dry braking and wet braking make it a strong lower-cost option, and Auto Bild names it as a good-value pick, with snow braking its main weakness.
Where the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tyres. Field beaten is the share of the other tyres it outranked in that measurement.
| Discipline | Tests | Avg finish | Field beaten | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ||||
| Dry Braking | 4 | P4 of 18.8 | 84% | - |
| Dry Handling | 2 | P10.5 of 22 | 55% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking Strong | 5 | P5.6 of 25 | 78% | - |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | 1 | P2 of 16 | 93% | - |
| Wet Handling | 2 | P7.5 of 22 | 69% | - |
| Wet Circle | 2 | P10.5 of 22 | 55% | - |
| Straight Aqua | 3 | P12 of 20 | 43% | - |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 3 | P12 of 20 | 42% | - |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking Weak | 5 | P12.4 of 21 | 46% | - |
| Snow Traction | 3 | P9.3 of 20 | 58% | - |
| Snow Handling | 2 | P6.5 of 21.5 | 73% | - |
| Snow Slalom | 2 | P9 of 22 | 62% | - |
| Ice | ||||
| Ice Braking | 1 | P9 of 16 | 47% | - |
| Comfort | ||||
| Subj. Comfort | 2 | P9 of 20 | 58% | - |
| Noise | 3 | P13.7 of 20 | 30% | - |
| Value | ||||
| Wear | 4 | P8.3 of 17.8 | 59% | 1 |
| Value | 4 | P5.3 of 17.8 | 75% | 1 |
| Rolling Resistance | 3 | P9.3 of 19 | 52% | - |
| Fuel Consumption | 1 | P11 of 16 | 33% | - |
| Abrasion | 1 | P11 of 16 | 33% | - |
Overall finishing position against the tyres that have most often shared a test with the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+. Only tyres tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
5 shared: 1 ahead, 4 behind
|
5 | 1 | 4 | - | 20% |
 Linglong Sport Master Winter
4 shared: 3 ahead, 1 behind
Compare with Sport Master Winter |
4 | 3 | 1 | - | 75% |
 Barum Polaris 6
4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind
|
4 | 2 | 2 | - | 50% |
 Bridgestone Blizzak 6
4 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
|
4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0% |
 Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Giti GitiWinterW2
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Semperit Speed Grip 5
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Firestone Winterhawk 4
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
3 shared: 2 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
 Viking WinTech NewGen
3 shared: 2 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
 Kleber Krisalp HP3
3 shared: 1 ahead, 2 behind
|
3 | 1 | 2 | - | 33% |
 Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
3 shared: 1 ahead, 2 behind
|
3 | 1 | 2 | - | 33% |
 Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
3 shared: 1 ahead, 1 behind
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
|
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
Drawn from 4 tests. Updated October 13, 2026.
Across four winter tests, the Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus shows notably strong braking and capable snow performance, but its results vary by test and size. It was second for wet braking on both surfaces in the 2026 ADAC test, third for dry braking in the AvD test and fourth for snow handling in the 2025 Auto Bild test. Auto Bild awarded it a price-performance accolade and third place in 2025; AvD also called it a strong braking tyre at an attractive price. Testers repeatedly praised its snow traction and handling, while the 2025 report highlighted its high W-speed rating.
The overall results are less consistent: it placed third in the 2025 Auto Bild test and sixth in AvD, but twelfth in ADAC and tenth in the 2026 Auto Bild braking qualifier. Dry handling is a recurring concern: ADAC described imprecision, frequent corrections and oversteer, and Auto Bild found it slow through the handling course. Curved aquaplaning was weak in both ADAC and AvD, and ADAC found it the loudest tyre in the test. Tread-life findings conflict, from best in the ADAC test to bottom five in 2025 Auto Bild, so they do not establish a consistent pattern.
was good on snow, with strong traction and precise handling- 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
impresses particularly on snow with strong grip and confident handling- 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test (2025)
It was second-best for braking in the wet on both surfaces- 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
and on dry roads- 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
was good on snow, with strong traction and precise handling- 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
impresses particularly on snow with strong grip and confident handling- 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test (2025)
is imprecise on dry roads, needs frequent corrections and oversteers in evasive manoeuvres- 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
slightly less sharp in dry handling compared to the most sporty options- 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test (2025)
below average for curved aquaplaning- 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
is the loudest tyre in the test- 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
The Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ shares eighth place with a 'good' verdict. Its dry braking and wet braking make it a strong lower-cost option, and Auto Bild names it as a good-value pick, with snow braking its main weakness.
The Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus finished sixth, the best of the tyres rated good. It is a strong braking tyre at an attractive price, with weaker aquaplaning protection the main thing to accept.
The Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ shares twelfth place. It combines good wet and winter performance with the best tread life, but ADAC marked it down to adequate for its dry handling.
The Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ delivers a remarkable combination of performance and value, earning its place as a price-performance winner. This Korean tyre impresses particularly on snow with strong grip and confident handling, while also performing admirably on wet roads. Its standout feature is the W-speed rating (270 km/h), making it suitable for high-performance compact sports cars that might occasionally be driven at higher speeds. The tyre maintains balanced characteristics across all conditions without any major weaknesses, though it's slightly less sharp in dry handling compared to the most sporty options. At approximately €430 per set, it represents exceptional value, offering near-premium performance at a mid-range price. This makes it an ideal choice for budget-conscious drivers who refuse to compromise significantly on safety and performance during winter.
Editorial picks by other publications, based on published data rather than measurements held on this site.
Owner reviews, sizes and EU label data, comparisons and the Tyre Reviews score. All Kumho tyres