For the 2020 Vi Bilägare Winter studded tire test, the Swedish magazine has tested 8 of the most extreme studded winter tyres in 205/60 R16.

As this is a studded winter tyre test, the testers placed much more emphasis on snow and ice performance, so if you're in a region that sees a lot of compacted snow and ice on the road during normal winters, this is a very useful test.

Scroll down to see the full results.

Dry

The GT Radial IcePro 3 had a significant advantage during dry braking, with the next best Continental IceContact 3 nearly 2 meters behind.

The magazine didn't give dry handling lap times, instead just awarding the tyres subjective handling scores.

Wet

In the wet the GT Radial held onto its advantage, with the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 a meter behind in second place.

The GT Radial continued its advantage during a wet handling lap.

Pirelli and GT again scored well during straight aquaplaning testing.

Snow

GT Radial couldn't continue its wins in the braking test, this time finishing last during snow braking. It's not unusual for a tyre that performs well in the dry and wet to lack grip during snow and ice testing, however the Continental IceContact 3 proved to have a rounded ability.

Snow traction showed a similar story.

The winter specialists Nokian took their first win with the Hakkapeliita 9 during the important snow handling test.

Ice

Ice braking had the Nokian and Michelin leading with a significant advantage.

Michelin and Nokian continued to lead during the ice traction testing.

Rounding off their excellent snow performance, Michelin and Nokian also led in ice handling.

Environment

Michelin proved to have the lowest rolling resistance on test.

Michelin also had the lowest subjective noise, being the only tyre awarded 5/5.

Results

1st: Michelin X Ice North 4
205/60 R16 96T Origin: Russia 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 32.31 M 28.88 M +3.43 M 89.38% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 5 Points 100% Wet Braking 3rd 35.06 M 33.87 M +1.19 M 96.61% Wet Handling 7th 45.75 s 43.11 s +2.64 s 94.23% Straight Aqua 8th 59.4 Km/H 64.6 Km/H -5.2 Km/H 91.95% Snow Braking 1st 10.5 M 100% Snow Traction 2nd 3.67 s 3.62 s +0.05 s 98.64% Snow Handling 5th 75.69 s 74.62 s +1.07 s 98.59% Ice Braking 2nd 3.47 M 3.43 M +0.04 M 98.85% Ice Traction 1st 1.89 s 100% Ice Handling 1st 51.23 s 100% Subj. Noise 1st 5 Points 100% Fuel Consumption 1st 5.66 l/100km 100% High grip on ice, good handling on dry asphalt, low noise level. Low resistance to aquaplaning, relatively long braking distances on wet surfaces Read Reviews
2nd: Continental IceContact 3
205/60 R16 96T Origin: Germany 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 30.75 M 28.88 M +1.87 M 93.92% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 3 Points 5 Points -2 Points 60% Wet Braking 5th 36.92 M 33.87 M +3.05 M 91.74% Wet Handling 2nd 43.77 s 43.11 s +0.66 s 98.49% Straight Aqua 3rd 63.7 Km/H 64.6 Km/H -0.9 Km/H 98.61% Snow Braking 1st 10.5 M 100% Snow Traction 2nd 3.67 s 3.62 s +0.05 s 98.64% Snow Handling 2nd 75.04 s 74.62 s +0.42 s 99.44% Ice Braking 4th 4.2 M 3.43 M +0.77 M 81.67% Ice Traction 4th 2.18 s 1.89 s +0.29 s 86.7% Ice Handling 3rd 52.24 s 51.23 s +1.01 s 98.07% Subj. Noise 2nd 4 Points 5 Points -1 Points 80% Fuel Consumption 3rd 5.69 l/100km 5.66 l/100km +0.03 l/100km 99.47% Good ride quality on any type of surface. Not the best ice performance on test. Read Reviews
2nd: Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
205/60 R16 96T Origin: Finland 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 31.94 M 28.88 M +3.06 M 90.42% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 3 Points 5 Points -2 Points 60% Wet Braking 5th 36.92 M 33.87 M +3.05 M 91.74% Wet Handling 4th 44.12 s 43.11 s +1.01 s 97.71% Straight Aqua 6th 62.1 Km/H 64.6 Km/H -2.5 Km/H 96.13% Snow Braking 4th 10.58 M 10.5 M +0.08 M 99.24% Snow Traction 5th 3.75 s 3.62 s +0.13 s 96.53% Snow Handling 1st 74.62 s 100% Ice Braking 1st 3.43 M 100% Ice Traction 2nd 1.94 s 1.89 s +0.05 s 97.42% Ice Handling 2nd 51.4 s 51.23 s +0.17 s 99.67% Subj. Noise 5th 2 Points 5 Points -3 Points 40% Fuel Consumption 6th 5.76 l/100km 5.66 l/100km +0.1 l/100km 98.26% High grip and good handling on snow and ice. Insufficient grip in the dry, high noise. Read Reviews
4th: Hankook Winter i pike RS2
205/60 R16 96T Origin: South Korea 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 31.11 M 28.88 M +2.23 M 92.83% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 3 Points 5 Points -2 Points 60% Wet Braking 4th 36.15 M 33.87 M +2.28 M 93.69% Wet Handling 5th 44.75 s 43.11 s +1.64 s 96.34% Straight Aqua 4th 62.9 Km/H 64.6 Km/H -1.7 Km/H 97.37% Snow Braking 5th 10.6 M 10.5 M +0.1 M 99.06% Snow Traction 6th 3.79 s 3.62 s +0.17 s 95.51% Snow Handling 3rd 75.19 s 74.62 s +0.57 s 99.24% Ice Braking 6th 4.68 M 3.43 M +1.25 M 73.29% Ice Traction 3rd 2.08 s 1.89 s +0.19 s 90.87% Ice Handling 4th 53.52 s 51.23 s +2.29 s 95.72% Subj. Noise 3rd 3 Points 5 Points -2 Points 60% Fuel Consumption 2nd 5.67 l/100km 5.66 l/100km +0.01 l/100km 99.82% Good grip on snow and ice, good braking in the dry and wet. Unbalanced handling at the limit. Read Reviews
5th: Pirelli Ice Zero 2
205/60 R16 96T Origin: Russia 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 31.02 M 28.88 M +2.14 M 93.1% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 4 Points 5 Points -1 Points 80% Wet Braking 2nd 34.8 M 33.87 M +0.93 M 97.33% Wet Handling 3rd 44.1 s 43.11 s +0.99 s 97.76% Straight Aqua 1st 64.6 Km/H 100% Snow Braking 6th 10.71 M 10.5 M +0.21 M 98.04% Snow Traction 1st 3.62 s 100% Snow Handling 6th 75.74 s 74.62 s +1.12 s 98.52% Ice Braking 7th 5.2 M 3.43 M +1.77 M 65.96% Ice Traction 6th 2.42 s 1.89 s +0.53 s 78.1% Ice Handling 6th 56.42 s 51.23 s +5.19 s 90.8% Subj. Noise 3rd 3 Points 5 Points -2 Points 60% Fuel Consumption 4th 5.71 l/100km 5.66 l/100km +0.05 l/100km 99.12% Good handling and braking on in the dry and wet. Weak grip on ice, average snow handling. Read Reviews
6th: Nokian Nordman 7
205/60 R16 96T Origin: Russia 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 33.3 M 28.88 M +4.42 M 86.73% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 2 Points 5 Points -3 Points 40% Wet Braking 8th 38.91 M 33.87 M +5.04 M 87.05% Wet Handling 7th 45.75 s 43.11 s +2.64 s 94.23% Straight Aqua 7th 61.7 Km/H 64.6 Km/H -2.9 Km/H 95.51% Snow Braking 3rd 10.51 M 10.5 M +0.01 M 99.9% Snow Traction 4th 3.72 s 3.62 s +0.1 s 97.31% Snow Handling 3rd 75.19 s 74.62 s +0.57 s 99.24% Ice Braking 5th 4.31 M 3.43 M +0.88 M 79.58% Ice Traction 5th 2.22 s 1.89 s +0.33 s 85.14% Ice Handling 5th 55.11 s 51.23 s +3.88 s 92.96% Subj. Noise 5th 2 Points 5 Points -3 Points 40% Fuel Consumption 5th 5.74 l/100km 5.66 l/100km +0.08 l/100km 98.61% Good performance on snow and ice, predictable behavior at the grip limit. Poor braking performance and generally poor traction in the dry and wet, high fuel consumption, high noise. Read Reviews
7th: Toyo Observe Ice Freezer
205/60 R16 96T Origin: Malaysia 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 31.6 M 28.88 M +2.72 M 91.39% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 3 Points 5 Points -2 Points 60% Wet Braking 7th 37.18 M 33.87 M +3.31 M 91.1% Wet Handling 6th 45.17 s 43.11 s +2.06 s 95.44% Straight Aqua 5th 62.4 Km/H 64.6 Km/H -2.2 Km/H 96.59% Snow Braking 6th 10.71 M 10.5 M +0.21 M 98.04% Snow Traction 8th 3.92 s 3.62 s +0.3 s 92.35% Snow Handling 7th 76.85 s 74.62 s +2.23 s 97.1% Ice Braking 3rd 4.07 M 3.43 M +0.64 M 84.28% Ice Traction 7th 2.8 s 1.89 s +0.91 s 67.5% Ice Handling 7th 59.02 s 51.23 s +7.79 s 86.8% Subj. Noise 5th 2 Points 5 Points -3 Points 40% Fuel Consumption 6th 5.76 l/100km 5.66 l/100km +0.1 l/100km 98.26% Good handling at the limit. Weak grip on snow and ice. Read Reviews
8th: GT Radial IcePro 3
205/60 R16 96T Origin: China 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 28.88 M 100% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 2 Points 5 Points -3 Points 40% Wet Braking 1st 33.87 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 43.11 s 100% Straight Aqua 2nd 64.1 Km/H 64.6 Km/H -0.5 Km/H 99.23% Snow Braking 8th 10.73 M 10.5 M +0.23 M 97.86% Snow Traction 7th 3.83 s 3.62 s +0.21 s 94.52% Snow Handling 8th 78.81 s 74.62 s +4.19 s 94.68% Ice Braking 8th 5.31 M 3.43 M +1.88 M 64.6% Ice Traction 8th 3.29 s 1.89 s +1.4 s 57.45% Ice Handling 8th 61.42 s 51.23 s +10.19 s 83.41% Subj. Noise 5th 2 Points 5 Points -3 Points 40% Fuel Consumption 8th 5.78 l/100km 5.66 l/100km +0.12 l/100km 97.92% Good braking in the dry and wet. Weak grip on snow and ice, poor handling at the limit. Read Reviews