2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test

Test Summary
Wet BrakingBridgestone Blizzak LM001
Dry BrakingGoodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
Wet HandlingContinental WinterContact TS 850 P
Rolling ResistanceBridgestone Blizzak LM001
NoiseGoodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
Snow HandlingPace Antarctica 5 Pace
For 2017, the "All Road" edition of the German publication Auto Bild has tested ten 225/55 R17 winter tires. This size is commonly used by compact crossovers, such as the BMW X1 used in this test.

The biggest interest in this test was the Chinese budget winter tire from Pace. With the most expensive set of winter tires costing 660 euros at time of test, the budget Pace tires were a full 400 euros cheaper, at just 260 euros. Are the savings worth the performance drop? Read on below to find out.

Dry

In the dry, the summer tire dominates braking, and wins the handling test. The Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 is the best of the winter tires, while the test-topping Goodyear and Continental tires could only manage mid-pack. The budget Pace tire is acceptable under dry braking conditions, but is by far the worst during the dry handling lap.

Wet

For the top five winter tires, wet braking was closely contested with the summer tire, with the Goodyear winter tire finishing top. Wet handling puts the summer reference back on top, with the Goodyear winter being the best of the winter tires on test. In both tests, the budget Pace tire again performs the worst.

Snow

Surprisingly the Pace budget tire wins the snow braking test, proving that it's easy for a budget tire manufacturer to make a tire which works well in one road condition, but not all three. Snow handling is also closely contested, with only the Maxxis and Vredestein noticeably behind the rest.

Environmental

Both the Continental and Bridgestone winter tires have a lower rolling resistance than the summer tire on test, and every winter tire proves to be quieter than the summer.

Result

Auto Bild started the test asking whether the huge cost saving of a budget winter tire was worth the risk? Their answer is a firm no, unless you only ever drive it on snow covered roads - the dry and wet penalty is too vast.

1st: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
  • 225/55 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 53
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 11
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 10
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 8
Very good results on snow, High resistance to aquaplaning, Very high grip on wet surfaces, High level of comfort, Precise steering on dry surfaces
Slightly high noise level, expensive
Test winner

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2nd: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P

Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
  • 225/55 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 50
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 10
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 8
Good balance of performance, Very good results on snow, especially in terms of lateral stability, Low noise level
Average braking performance on dry surfaces, Average ride comfort, High price
Recommended

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3rd: Michelin Alpin 5

Michelin Alpin 5
  • 225/55 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 50
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 10
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 8
Good results on snow, High resistance to aquaplaning, Short braking distance on wet roads
Average braking performance on dry surfaces, High price
Recommended

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4th: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
  • 225/55 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 50
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 10
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 8
Short braking distance on dry and wet surfaces, Good lateral stability on wet surfaces
Medium traction and lateral stability in snow, Increased noise level
Recommended

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5th: Bridgestone Blizzak LM001

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
  • 225/55 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 51
  2. Dry: 10
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 9
  7. Noise: 8
Close to a summer tire in the dry, good snow traction, low rolling resistance
Average aquaplaning resistance, poor snow handling
Good

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6th: Hankook Winter i cept evo2

Hankook Winter i cept evo2
  • 225/55 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 44
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 8
Short braking distance and general well balanced snow performance, well priced
Long braking distances in the dry and wet, average comfort
Satisfactory

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7th: Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S

Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S
  • 225/55 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 46
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 10
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
  7. Noise: 8
Short braking distance and generally high wet grip, Low noise level
Poor snow grip, poor dry grip, high rolling resistance
Satisfactory

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8th: Kumho WinterCraft WP71

Kumho WinterCraft WP71
  • 225/55 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 46
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 8
Good snow handling, Low price
Average aquaplaning resistance, low wet grip, poor dry grip and handling
Satisfactory

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9th: Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05

Maxxis Arctictrekker WP05
  • 225/55 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 44
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
  7. Noise: 8
Good resistance to aquaplaning, Good grip on dry surfaces, Low noise level
Relatively weak grip and a long stopping distance on snow and wet surfaces, High rolling resistance
Not Recommended

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10th: Pace Antarctica 5 Pace

Pace Antarctica 5 Pace
  • 225/55 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 39
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 4
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
  7. Noise: 9
Very good results on snow, Very low price, Very low noise level
Weak grip on dry and wet surfaces, Very long braking distances on wet surfaces, High rolling resistance
Not Recommended

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