Test Summary
Wet Braking	Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Dry Braking	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
Wet Handling	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Wear	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
Noise	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Testing 10 premium UHP winter tyres in 225/50 R17, including three patterns released in 2015, Auto Motor und Sport put the tyres through the usual range of dry, wet, snow and environmental tests across Finland and Germany.

The test was won by the new Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen-1. Launched at the start of 2015, the UltraGrip Performance Gen-1 continues Goodyears excellent results in winter tyre tests, and proves its quality by being the most balanced tyre on test. Scoring highly in the snow, wet and dry testing, the tyre had good steering precision, a quiet ride and a low rolling resistance. The only negative of the tyre was a slight oversteer balance in the snow, causing the Mercedes C Class to be a little unstable at the limit.

Second place was taken by the Pirelli Sottozero Series 3 and third by the new Dunlop Winter Sport 5. The Pirelli enjoyed a good all round balance, and very direct steering leading to excellent stability, plus strong braking results in the dry and wet. The Dunlop had excellent aquaplaning results, making it particularly suited to the UK's winters, and strong braking in the dry and wet.

Strangely Continental found itself in fourth place overall with the WinterContact TS850. While the successor to the TS850 has now been announced, the TS850 still provided excellent aquaplaning resistance and a good all round balance of qualities, it was just bested by the top three newer patterns under braking tests.

The new Nokian WR D4 proved to be extremely strong on snow, but failed a little in the dry to end in fourth, while the cheapest tyre on test, the GT Radial, had an excellent result in fifth with the Champiro Winterpro HP having a good overall balance.  Yokohama rounded out the top six, proving to be strong where the Nokian was weak in the dry, but weaker in the snow.

Results

Please note, the "comfort" score in this test includes noise, comfort and fuel efficiency.

1st: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 45.8 Dry: 8.8 Wet: 9.4 Snow: 9.3 Comfort: 9.1 Overall: 9.2 Read Reviews
2nd: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 45.4 Dry: 9.2 Wet: 8.7 Snow: 9.3 Comfort: 9.1 Overall: 9.1 Read Reviews    Buy from £156.38
3rd: Dunlop Winter Sport 5
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 44.8 Dry: 9 Wet: 9.2 Snow: 9.2 Comfort: 8.4 Overall: 9 Read Reviews    Buy from £127.42
4th: Continental WinterContact TS 850
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 43.7 Dry: 8.6 Wet: 9.1 Snow: 8.6 Comfort: 8.7 Overall: 8.7 Read Reviews
5th: Nokian WR D4
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 41.2 Dry: 7.9 Wet: 8 Snow: 8.7 Comfort: 8.4 Overall: 8.2 Read Reviews
6th: GT Radial Champiro WinterPro HP
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 38.8 Dry: 7.8 Wet: 7.2 Snow: 8.2 Comfort: 7.9 Overall: 7.7 Read Reviews
7th: Yokohama W drive V905
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 37.8 Dry: 8.5 Wet: 6.7 Snow: 8 Comfort: 7 Overall: 7.6 Read Reviews
8th: Bridgestone Blizzak LM32 S
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 37 Dry: 7.7 Wet: 6.6 Snow: 8 Comfort: 7.3 Overall: 7.4 Read Reviews
9th: Falken Eurowinter HS449
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 34.4 Dry: 7.9 Wet: 7.8 Snow: 5.8 Comfort: 5.9 Overall: 7 Read Reviews
10th: Cooper WM SA2
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 34.3 Dry: 7.3 Wet: 7.6 Snow: 6.5 Comfort: 5.9 Overall: 7 Read Reviews