2010 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test

Auto Bild are known for their excellent tire tests, so when they take 14 winter tires, 1 summer tire and 13 different tests you know you're in for a good write up!

This year Auto Bild chose the 195/65 R15 tire size and used a fleet of FWD VW Golfs as the test beds. All 6 premium tire manufacturer were represented along with 4 mid range brand tires (Vredestein, Toyo, Kumho and Firestone) and 4 budget brands.

The Summer Tire

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the test was the inclusion of a control summer tire.

The summer tire won every aspect of the dry tests, braking 4 meters shorter than the best winter and managing .1km/h faster on the handling course. In the wet the results were more even, with the best winter tire convincingly beating the summer tire in both aquaplaning tests and stopping only 1 meter short from 100km/h.

Unsurprisingly the winter tire dominated the snow and ice section of the test stopping a full 11 meters shorter from 40km/h and completing a handling with relative ease when the summer tire failed to post a time.

Subjectively Auto Bild found nothing wrong with the winter tires comfort, with the leading winter tire being a fair bit quieter than the summer tire. In the rolling resistance test the summer tire finished 3rd from last, being beaten by 12 of the winter tires proving winter tires won't destroy your fuel economy.

The Results

Please note, the final results were weighted in favour of wet weather and snow performance

1st: Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 37
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 9
  4. Snow: 9
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
Excellent winter tires with peak performance in any weather, short braking distances on dry track, good aquaplaning.
High rolling resistance.
Exemplary

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2nd: Continental WinterContact TS830

Continental WinterContact TS830
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 37
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 9
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
Convincing all-round talent with dynamic driving characteristics on wet roads, exemplary safety reserves with aquaplaning.
Only moderate comfort.
Exemplary.

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3rd: Goodyear UltraGrip 7+

Goodyear UltraGrip 7 Plus
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 40
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 9
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 10
Winter sports specialist with the best traction and dynamic performance on snow, low pass-by noise and lowest rolling resistance in the test.
Slight understeer in dry conditions.
Exemplary.

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4th: Vredestein Snowtrac 3

Vredestein Snowtrac 3
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 37
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
Well-balanced winter tire with outstanding handling characteristics in all weather conditions, short braking distances on wet and dry road surface.
High road noise.
Exemplary.

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5th: Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II

Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 41
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 9
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 10
Top snow performance with short stopping distances and safer cornering, good ride comfort, low rolling resistance.
Extended dry braking distances, poor aquaplaning results.
Good.

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6th: Michelin Alpin A4

Michelin Alpin A4
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 38
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 9
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 10
Convincing winter tires with safe handling characteristics on snowy slopes, short wet braking distances, low rolling resistance.
Understeer handling on wet roads.
Good.

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7th: Sava Eskimo S3

Sava Eskimo S3
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 37
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 9
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
Snow specialist with harmonious safe handling and stable cornering in the snow, pleasant comfort, low rolling resistance.
Extended braking distances on dry roads.
Good

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8th: Bridgestone Blizzak LM32

Bridgestone Blizzak LM32
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 33
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
Good traction on snowy slopes, large safety margins to hydroplaning, agile handling on dry roads.
Strong understeer in the wet, extended braking distances on dry roads.
Satisfactory.

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9th: Toyo SNOWPROX S 942

Toyo SNOWPROX S 942
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 31
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 5
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
Balanced and safe handling characteristics on wet and dry roads.
Moderate cornering in the snow, long dry braking distances, loud road noise.
Satisfactory.

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10th: Fulda Kristall Montero 3

Fulda Kristall Montero 3
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 34
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 9
Safe handling qualities in the wet, low rolling resistance, good ride comfort.
Limited traction in the snow, extended wet and dry braking distances.
Satisfactory.

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11th: Kumho IZen KW23

Kumho IZen KW23
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 29
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
Good traction on snowy slopes, low rolling resistance.
Moderate cornering on snow, slow steering response and long braking distances on dry roads.
Satisfactory.

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12th: Firestone Winterhawk 2 EVO

Firestone Winterhawk 2 EVO
  • 195/65 r15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 31
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
Good handling in wet conditions.
Weak cornering on snow-covered slope, low reserves to aquaplaning, long braking distances on dry roads.
Conditionally recommended.

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The Duro DW9000 snow fox and Profil WinterMaxx placed 13th and 14th and were the only given the "not recommended" status thanks to dangerous wet weather performance.

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