This years Auto Bild 4x4 and SUV winter tyre test covers a 215/65 R16 tyre size using a VW Toureg and 10 different winter tyre patterns. As usual, they are put through dry, wet and snow testing.
The Summer Tyre
To make things interesting Auto Bild have included a summer tyre in the test. Unsurprisingly the summer tyre lost every snow test, and won the dry handling and braking test (with Nokian a very close second), it was slightly more interesting in the wet.
The summer tyre took the advantage in wet handling and braking, but again the best winter wasn't far behind, with the Dunlop and Goodyear almost matching the summer tyre in the handling and braking tests respectively. During the curved aquaplaning tests the winter tyres dominated, proving they're far more effective at dealing with the standing water we experience in our long, wet winters.
Surprisingly the summer had the highest rolling resistance of all the winter tyres, save for the Nexen, and the noise test was extremely close with the top 5 tyres within 1/2 db of each other.
The Results
1st: Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D | |
| Very balanced winter tyre with few weaknesses, particularly good cornering grip in wet conditions Relatively high price, average aquaplaning safety Read Reviews |
2nd: Michelin Alpin A4 | |
| Very balanced winter tyre, great cornering force in snowy conditions Highest price in this comparison Read Reviews |
3rd: Continental ContiCrossContact Winter | |
| Balanced and very good performance in snow, lowest rolling resistance in the test Average performance when braking on wet and dry roads, increased tyre noise Read Reviews |
4th: Goodyear UltraGrip 8 | |
| Outstanding aquaplaning, maximum traction on snow, wet shortest braking distance Prolonged dry braking distance, average braking on snow, not particularly quiet or cheap Read Reviews |
5th: Pirelli Scorpion Winter | |
| Very good in the snow tests, low rolling noise Prolonged dry braking distance, average rolling resistance and aquaplaning results, expensive Read Reviews Buy from £127.99 |
6th: Semperit Speed Grip 2 | |
| Good price/performance ratio, very quiet, well above average in the wet Only average lateral grip in snow Read Reviews |
7th: Nokian WR D3 | |
| Very high aquaplaning safety, almost as good as a summer tyre in the dry Moderate ride comfort, relatively expensive, average on snow, not too quiet Read Reviews |
8th: Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO | |
| A very short braking distance on wet roads, good braking on dry roads, low noise level Moderate traction on snow, average cornering in the wet, average comfort Read Reviews |
9th: Nexen WinGuard SUV | |
| Cheap, best value when braking on snow and generally good on snow, fairly quiet Slow on dry pavement, below average in the wet, the highest rolling resistance test Read Reviews |
10th: Imperial Snowdragon 2 | |
| Very low price, very good braking on snow and generally good on snow, low rolling resistance Disastrous in the wet, especially when braking, average dry roads, hard ride Read Reviews |
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Best Winter Tyres
