2012 Auto Bild Top 15 Winter Tire Test

Continuing on from the 42 tire winter tires shootout, Auto Bild carried the top 15 tires across to the more in-depth group tests. Qualifying for this ultimate winter shoot out were tires from each of the six premium manufacturers, along with eight midrange brands and one brand we consider a high end budget (Maxxis).

As usual, the fifteen tires were put through sixteen tests, designed to test all aspects of the tires performance in the snow, on wet and dry roads, as well as wear, fuel consumption and comfort being rated.

The All Season Angle

Perhaps most interestingly for our UK readers, was the inclusion of the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons in all the tests. The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons is one of the strongest all season tires on the market, and won the latest all season tire test by Auto Bild. Instead of focusing on all season tires in this write up, we've written a separate piece - all season tires, how do they stack up.

Premium Performance

Somewhat unsurprisingly the winner of this group test was the new Continental Winter Contact TS850, as it continued its flawless run in the magazine group tests. Praised for a flawless winter performance, strong in the wet and combined with low rolling resistance it was the clear winner, with only its cost counting against it.

Full Results

Click here to view Results as a single table and adjust the score weighting based on your own driving needs!

1st: Continental WinterContact TS 850
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 51 Dry: 7 Wet: 7 Snow: 9 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 9 Noise: 6 Cost: 6 Best in all winter disciplines, good aquaplaning resistance, low rolling resistance, high comfort Cost Exemplary Read Reviews
2nd: Bridgestone Blizzak LM32
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 44 Dry: 6 Wet: 7 Snow: 7 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 5 Noise: 8 Cost: 5 Balanced handling and short braking distances in all weather conditions, high mileage, good comfort Slightly increased rolling resistance Exemplary Read Reviews
3rd: Michelin Alpin A4
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 45 Dry: 6 Wet: 6 Snow: 6 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 6 Cost: 8 Convincing handling on wet and dry conditions, good steering precision, good mileage, low rolling resistance Cost Exemplary Read Reviews
4th: Hankook Winter i cept RS
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 41 Dry: 6 Wet: 5 Snow: 7 Comfort: 5 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 6 Cost: 6 Safe handling with good lateral grip on wet and snowy surfaces Slightly understeering driving behaviour on wet track Recommended Read Reviews
5th: Semperit Speed Grip 2
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 41 Dry: 5 Wet: 8 Snow: 6 Comfort: 5 Rolling Resistance: 5 Noise: 8 Cost: 4 Dynamic handling in wet and snowy, short wet braking distances, good aquaplaning resistance, quiet Understeer on a dry track, low mileage Recommended Read Reviews
6th: Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 46 Dry: 6 Wet: 6 Snow: 7 Comfort: 8 Rolling Resistance: 8 Noise: 7 Cost: 4 Top results on snow, precise steering response, good ride comfort, low rolling resistance Moderate grip in the wet, low mileage Recommended Read Reviews Buy from £109.48
7th: Goodyear UltraGrip 8
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 39 Dry: 5 Wet: 7 Snow: 6 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 3 Noise: 6 Cost: 5 Balanced snow qualities, good aquaplaning resistance, precise steering response, pleasant comfort Increased rolling resistance, high cost Recommended Read Reviews
8th: Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 41 Dry: 6 Wet: 7 Snow: 6 Comfort: 5 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 6 Cost: 4 Agile handling with excellent cornering on wet track, low rolling resistance Moderate mileage, high cost Recommended Read Reviews
9th: Nokian WR D3
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 43 Dry: 7 Wet: 5 Snow: 7 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 7 Cost: 4 Exemplary handling with more stable cornering on snow and dry conditions, quiet Reduced mileage Recommended Read Reviews
10th: Fulda Kristall Control HP
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 40 Dry: 6 Wet: 5 Snow: 6 Comfort: 5 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 6 Cost: 6 Balanced safe handling and short braking distances on snow-covered slopes, good value for money Understeering driving behaviour on wet track, moderate comfort Recommended Read Reviews
11th: Falken Eurowinter HS449
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 38 Dry: 6 Wet: 7 Snow: 4 Comfort: 4 Rolling Resistance: 4 Noise: 8 Cost: 5 Stable handling characteristics and short braking distances on wet roads Limited winter qualities, low mileage , increased fuel consumption Fair Read Reviews Buy from £121.99
12th: Firestone Winterhawk 2 EVO
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 35 Dry: 5 Wet: 5 Snow: 6 Comfort: 4 Rolling Resistance: 2 Noise: 7 Cost: 6 Balanced handling on wet and dry roads, good value for money Prolonged wet and dry braking distances, moderate comfort, high rolling resistance Satisfactory Read Reviews
13th: Kleber Krisalp HP2
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 41 Dry: 5 Wet: 5 Snow: 4 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 9 Noise: 3 Cost: 9 Best value for money, high mileage, low rolling resistance Moderate Winter Properties, slightly increased understeer in the wet, high pass-by noise Fair Read Reviews
14th: Uniroyal MS plus 66
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 31 Dry: 5 Wet: 5 Snow: 6 Comfort: 4 Rolling Resistance: 3 Noise: 5 Cost: 3 Stable handling on snow, good aquaplaning resistance Unstable handling on wet roads, moderate comfort, poor mileage Fair Read Reviews
15th: Maxxis MA PW Presa Snow
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Total: 39 Dry: 6 Wet: 2 Snow: 7 Comfort: 2 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 9 Cost: 6 Short stopping distances and dynamic handling on snow Weaknesses in driving performance and long braking distances on wet, moderate comfort, low mileage Conditionally recommendable Read Reviews