Test Summary
Wet Braking	Nokian WR A4
Dry Braking	Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
Wet Handling	Semperit Speed Grip 3
Wear	Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
Noise	Continental WinterContact TS 850 P Fulda Kristall Control HP2 Nokian WR A4
Snow Handling	Kumho WinterCraft WP71 Semperit Speed Grip 3 Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 Fulda Kristall Control HP2 Nokian WR A4
Ice Braking	Nokian WR A4

The first winter tire test of 2017 has been published! The German publication Auto Motor und Sport [AMS] have tested ten ultra high performance winter tires in 225/40 R18. This extremely popular 18" tire sizes is fitted to performance saloons such as the Audi A4, Skoda Octavia VRS, and the 232 bhp BMW 430i Grand Coupe used for this testing.

While AMS chose not to test on ice, they did a very thorough job covering dry, wet and snow running, while also evaluating subjective comfort, external noise and rolling resistance. The use of a heavier, powerful saloon car makes this test more applicable to the standard "executive commuter car" found in the UK.

The highlights of the test and overall results can be found below, and as always, please feel free to leave any questions or comments at the bottom of the page. The results are once again incredibly close, especially between the top five tires.

Dry

In the dry, the Nokian dominated, winning both the braking and handling tests. The test winning Continental managed top three in each test, while the Kumho scored a strong second place in dry braking, but could only manage ninth place in dry handling.

Wet

If you follow tire testing, it will come as no surprise that the Continental dominated the wet grip testing, winning both the braking and handling tests, with the second placed overall Dunlop tire following up the Continental in both tests. In the high water aquaplaning tests the Continental struggled a little more, only managing seventh overall, and where the Fulda tire struggled in the wet grip testing, it won the aquaplaning tests, highlighting the opposing design qualities of wet grip and wet aquaplaning performance. Nokian had a weak showing in the wet.

Snow

Where the Dunlop couldn't quite match the Continental in the dry, it led the pack in the snow tests, with the Continental just ahead of the mid pack in fourth and fifth.

Other

The new Semperit was the quietest tire on test, and the Nokian had the lowest rolling resistance.

Results

1st: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 61.4 Dry: 9.1 Wet: 9.6 Snow: 8.7 Comfort: 9 Noise: 8 Cost: 8 Overall: 9 Good performance in the snow, high level of safety on wet surfaces, predictable behavior and good handling on dry surfaces Relatively weak resistance to aquaplaning Highly Recommended Read Reviews
2nd: Dunlop Winter Sport 5
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 57.9 Dry: 8.5 Wet: 8.9 Snow: 8.9 Comfort: 8 Noise: 8 Cost: 7 Overall: 8.6 Short braking distance in the snow, good performance on dry and wet surfaces Relatively long braking distances in the dry, low lateral stability in snow (snow circle test not listed) Recommended Read Reviews    Buy from £148.58
3rd: Semperit Speed Grip 3
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 57.9 Dry: 7.6 Wet: 7.2 Snow: 9.9 Comfort: 7 Noise: 10 Cost: 8 Overall: 8.2 High tractive effort and short braking distance in the snow, good lateral stability on wet surfaces, acceptable results on dry surfaces Relatively low lateral stability at high loads on dry surfaces Recommended Read Reviews
4th: Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 55.8 Dry: 8.1 Wet: 7.7 Snow: 8 Comfort: 8 Noise: 10 Cost: 6 Overall: 8 Reliable grip on snow, balanced behavior on wet surfaces, very well balanced on dry surfaces Relatively long braking distances on wet surfaces, weak resistance to transverse aquaplaning Recommended Read Reviews
5th: Fulda Kristall Control HP2
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 57.5 Dry: 7.3 Wet: 6.8 Snow: 9.5 Comfort: 9 Noise: 10 Cost: 7 Overall: 7.9 High traction and short braking distance in the snow, good resistance to aquaplaning Relatively low grip and slow reactions to steering movements on dry and wet surfaces Recommended with restrictions Read Reviews
5th: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 52.7 Dry: 8.2 Wet: 7.9 Snow: 7.8 Comfort: 7 Noise: 8 Cost: 6 Overall: 7.8 Accurate reactions to steering movements and good information in all conditions Relatively long braking distances on wet surfaces, increased rolling resistance, increased noise level Recommended with restrictions Read Reviews    Buy from £158.28
5th: Nokian WR A4
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 59.4 Dry: 9.2 Wet: 6.3 Snow: 7.1 Comfort: 9 Noise: 10 Cost: 10 Overall: 7.8 Excellent grip on dry surfaces, very low rolling resistance Low lateral stability and understeer on snow. Weak grip, unstable behavior and a long braking distance on wet surfaces Recommended with restrictions Read Reviews
8th: Hankook Winter i cept evo2
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 52.9 Dry: 8.3 Wet: 6.8 Snow: 8.1 Comfort: 7 Noise: 8 Cost: 7 Overall: 7.7 Acceptable braking on snow, stable behavior and precise reactions to steering movements on dry surfaces Low lateral stability and poor handling on the snow, long braking distance on wet roads Recommended with restrictions Read Reviews
9th: Kumho WinterCraft WP71
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 51.1 Dry: 7.8 Wet: 7.1 Snow: 7.8 Comfort: 6 Noise: 10 Cost: 5 Overall: 7.4 Short stopping distance on snow and dry surfaces, acceptable braking and balanced behavior on wet surfaces Unstable behavior during an emergency maneuver on dry surfaces, increased noise level Recommended with restrictions Read Reviews
10th: Cooper Weather Master SA2+
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 47.6 Dry: 7.1 Wet: 6.8 Snow: 6.9 Comfort: 7 Noise: 8 Cost: 5 Overall: 6.8 Acceptable braking performance on dry surfaces and good traction in the snow Slow steering in the dry, unstable behavior at the limit of wet grip, reduced comfort level, high rolling resistance, increased noise level Conditionally recommended Read Reviews