Comparison: Barum Polaris 5 vs. Firestone Winterhawk 4

In this comparison, we are comparing a tyre from a manufacturer from Czech Republic (Barum) against a tyre from a manufacturer from USA (Firestone). Barum is a brand that belongs to the Continental group. Generally, Barum winter tyres are slightly better rated (73%) than Firestone (56%). In this particular case, the Barum Polaris 5 has a better rating of 63% compared to 56% of the Firestone Winterhawk 4. The first tyre test of Barum Polaris 5 was done in 2019, compared to 2020 when was the Firestone Winterhawk 4 first tested. Important for this comparison is also the AUTOBILD 2024 205/55 R16 test, where both the Polaris 5 and the Winterhawk 4 were tested. See more mutual tests below. When it comes to comparison, eu labels can be also interesting - 100% of Barum Polaris 5 has C wet grip rating, whereas 100% of Firestone Winterhawk 4 has B rating. If you wonder where the tyres in question are made, the Polaris 5 is made in Czech Republic and Winterhawk 4 is made in Italy.

#	Barum Polaris 5 /63%	Firestone Winterhawk 4 /56%	Add to comparison Make Model New comparison

Dimensions	R13 - R19	R14 - R20
Price	Set dimension to see prices	Set dimension to see prices
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Barum Polaris 5

/63%

Firestone Winterhawk 4

/56%

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Make

Model

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Dimensions

R13 - R19

R14 - R20

Price

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Segment

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 Upper-middle

2. Barum Polaris 5 Lowcost

Number of sizes available

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 101

2. Barum Polaris 5 76

Number of tests

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 19x

2. Barum Polaris 5 13x

Best position in test

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 5.

2. Barum Polaris 5 9.

Worst position in test

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 20.

2. Barum Polaris 5 26.

Average position in tests

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 10.74

2. Barum Polaris 5 15.15

Year of the last test

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 2025

2. Barum Polaris 5 2023

Best rating in test

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 Highly recommended

2. Barum Polaris 5 Good

Worst rating in test

1. Barum Polaris 5 Sufficient

2. Firestone Winterhawk 4 Sufficient

Wet

(Overall rating)

Firestone
Winterhawk 4

77

Barum
Polaris 5

62%

Aquaplaning - cross

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 75%

2. Barum Polaris 5 61%

Wet braking

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 84%

2. Barum Polaris 5 61%

Wet handling

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 74%

2. Barum Polaris 5 58%

Aquaplaning - longitudal

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 83%

2. Barum Polaris 5 57%

Wet circle cornering

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 70%

2. Barum Polaris 5 70%

Wet braking according to EU label

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 B

2. Barum Polaris 5 C

Snow

(Overall rating)

Firestone
Winterhawk 4

77

Barum
Polaris 5

75%

Snow braking

1. Barum Polaris 5 77%

2. Firestone Winterhawk 4 73%

Snow traction

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 78%

2. Barum Polaris 5 79%

Snow handling

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 80%

2. Barum Polaris 5 74%

Snow cornering

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 76%

2. Barum Polaris 5 71%

Dry

(Overall rating)

Firestone
Winterhawk 4

58

Barum
Polaris 5

57%

Dry braking

1. Barum Polaris 5 67%

2. Firestone Winterhawk 4 61%

Dry handling

1. Barum Polaris 5 80%

2. Firestone Winterhawk 4 49%

Comfort

(Overall rating)

Firestone
Winterhawk 4

68

Barum
Polaris 5

66%

Exterior noise

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 79%

2. Barum Polaris 5 69%

Comfort

1. Barum Polaris 5 69%

2. Firestone Winterhawk 4 65%

Outside noise accoring to EU label

1. Barum Polaris 5 ?

2. Firestone Winterhawk 4 ?

Costs

(Overall rating)

Barum
Polaris 5

84%

Firestone
Winterhawk 4

72

Mileage

1. Barum Polaris 5 74%

2. Firestone Winterhawk 4 63%

Price/value

1. Barum Polaris 5 85%

2. Firestone Winterhawk 4 72%

Rolling resistance

1. Barum Polaris 5 94%

2. Firestone Winterhawk 4 81%

Fuel consumption according to EU label

1. Firestone Winterhawk 4 C

2. Barum Polaris 5 E

Ice

(Overall rating)

Firestone
Winterhawk 4

82

Barum
Polaris 5

67%

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Dimensions and prices

Mutual Tests Available

These tyres were tested together in 9 test(s). Click to view detailed head-to-head results.

Mutual tests

AUTOBILD Winter tyre test 2024 205/55 R16

Name	Wet	Dry	Snow	Running costs
Best values in test	2+	2+	1	2+
Barum Polaris 5 Rating: Satisfactory	3	3+	3	2
Firestone Winterhawk 4 Rating: Satisfactory	3	3	3	3
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AUTOBILD Winter tyre test 2024 205/55 R16

Name	Stopping distance on wet	Stopping distance on snow
Best values in test	34.6	28.9
Barum Polaris 5	37.7	30.0
Firestone Winterhawk 4	35.5	30.9
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ADAC Winter tyre test 2023 205/60 R16

Name	Enviromental impact	Driving safety
Best values in test	2	2.1
Barum Polaris 5 Rating: Satisfactory	2.3	3.4
Firestone Winterhawk 4 Rating: Good	3	2.3
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Autobild Winter tyre test 2023 225/45 R18

Name	Wet	Dry	Snow	Running costs
Best values in test	2+	2+	1	2+
Barum Polaris 5 Rating: Satisfactory	2-	2	2+	1-
Firestone Winterhawk 4 Rating: Not recommended	2+	3	2	2
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Autobild Winter tyre test 2023 225/45 R18

Name	Stopping distance on wet	Stopping distance on snow
Best values in test	31,4	29,2
Barum Polaris 5	35,6	31,0
Firestone Winterhawk 4	33,9	31,0
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Autobild Winter tyre test 2022 215/55 R17

Name	Stopping distance on wet	Stopping distance on snow
Best values in test	32,8	25,4
Barum Polaris 5	37,5	26,9
Firestone Winterhawk 4	36	26,4
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ADAC Winter tyre test 2022 185/65 R15

Name	Wet	Dry	Snow	Ice	Rolling resistance	Noise	Wear
Best values in test	1,7	1,9	1,8	1,9	1,7	2,5	1,5
Barum Polaris 5 Rating: Sufficient	3,2	3,9	2,4	2,8	2,0	3,0	2,0
Firestone Winterhawk 4 Rating: Satisfactory	2,0	3,2	2,2	2,1	1,7	2,8	2,5
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