For their third winter tire test of 2019, Auto Bild have stepped up the fun and fitted an Audi S5 with eleven sets of 255/35 R19 ultra high performance winter tires, and included the usual set of reference summer tires!

Following on from a win in Auto Express, the new Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ takes its second win of 2019, once again proving to have a near flawless blend of qualities. Vredestein have also continued their run of good results with a very strong second place for the Wintrac Pro. This tire is significantly cheaper than the premium winter tires in the UK, so is probably the best choice if you need to save a few pounds.

Rounding out the top three is the Uniroyal MSPlus 77. This tire was extremely strong in the snow, but relatively weak in the dry and wet. This means while the Uniroyal placed higher overall than tires like the Continental WinterContact TS860S, the tires with a better dry and wet performance are far more suitable for the UK climate.

As always, check out all the data below to see which blend of qualities works for your intended driving patterns and budget.

Dry

The new Goodyear tire won the dry braking test, but was significantly behind the summer tire. The midrange tires from Kumho and Toyo also performed excellently.

As with dry braking, the summer tire had a big advantage, this time with Toyo the best of the winter tires.

Wet

The Goodyear continued its excellent braking run in the wet, being the only winter tire to stop better than the summer tire.

As with wet braking, the Goodyear was the only tire to best the summer tire over a fast lap, with Vredestein just able to match it.

Impressively, Goodyear also won the straight aquaplaning testing.

Snow

Snow braking gave Goodyear a clean sweep of braking results, with all the winter tires vastly out performing the summer tire.

Snow handling was very close between the top seven tires, with Kumho coming out on top.

Environment

Continental had a big advantage in fuel use.

Nankang had the lowest external drive by noise.

The most expensive set of tires on test was almost double the price of the cheapest set.

Results

1st: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 40.2 M 100% Dry Handling 8th 119.4 Km/H 121.9 Km/H -2.5 Km/H 97.95% Wet Braking 1st 45.7 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 95.3 Km/H 100% Straight Aqua 1st 73.7 Km/H 100% Snow Braking 1st 27.6 M 100% Snow Handling 4th 48.9 Km/H 49.4 Km/H -0.5 Km/H 98.99% Noise 8th 74.1 dB 70.7 dB +3.4 dB 95.41% Price 9th 880 515 +365 58.52% Rolling Resistance 4th 8.66 kg / t 8.06 kg / t +0.6 kg / t 93.07% Exemplary driving characteristics in all weather conditions, sporty wet handling, very good grip in the snow, low rolling resistance. Expensive. Read Reviews
2nd: Vredestein Wintrac Pro
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 41.8 M 40.2 M +1.6 M 96.17% Dry Handling 4th 120.2 Km/H 121.9 Km/H -1.7 Km/H 98.61% Wet Braking 4th 48.1 M 45.7 M +2.4 M 95.01% Wet Handling 2nd 94.9 Km/H 95.3 Km/H -0.4 Km/H 99.58% Straight Aqua 2nd 73.2 Km/H 73.7 Km/H -0.5 Km/H 99.32% Snow Braking 8th 29.1 M 27.6 M +1.5 M 94.85% Snow Handling 2nd 49.1 Km/H 49.4 Km/H -0.3 Km/H 99.39% Noise 7th 73.7 dB 70.7 dB +3 dB 95.93% Price 7th 760 515 +245 67.76% Rolling Resistance 10th 10.32 kg / t 8.06 kg / t +2.26 kg / t 78.1% Excellent performance in the snow, and on wet roads, good aquaplaning resistance, sporty steering feel, short wet braking, stable dry handling. High rolling resistance. Read Reviews
3rd: Uniroyal MS+ 77
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 10th 43.7 M 40.2 M +3.5 M 91.99% Dry Handling 5th 119.7 Km/H 121.9 Km/H -2.2 Km/H 98.2% Wet Braking 7th 50.4 M 45.7 M +4.7 M 90.67% Wet Handling 6th 92 Km/H 95.3 Km/H -3.3 Km/H 96.54% Straight Aqua 5th 71.8 Km/H 73.7 Km/H -1.9 Km/H 97.42% Snow Braking 2nd 28 M 27.6 M +0.4 M 98.57% Snow Handling 3rd 49 Km/H 49.4 Km/H -0.4 Km/H 99.19% Noise 4th 72.2 dB 70.7 dB +1.5 dB 97.92% Price 6th 700 515 +185 73.57% Rolling Resistance 5th 9.02 kg / t 8.06 kg / t +0.96 kg / t 89.36% Excellent in the snow, high aquaplaning resistance, safe dry handling balance. Long wet and dry braking, average comfort. Read Reviews
4th: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 41.2 M 40.2 M +1 M 97.57% Dry Handling 2nd 120.7 Km/H 121.9 Km/H -1.2 Km/H 99.02% Wet Braking 6th 50 M 45.7 M +4.3 M 91.4% Wet Handling 4th 92.8 Km/H 95.3 Km/H -2.5 Km/H 97.38% Straight Aqua 10th 66.1 Km/H 73.7 Km/H -7.6 Km/H 89.69% Snow Braking 7th 28.9 M 27.6 M +1.3 M 95.5% Snow Handling 7th 48.4 Km/H 49.4 Km/H -1 Km/H 97.98% Noise 5th 72.5 dB 70.7 dB +1.8 dB 97.52% Price 10th 935 515 +420 55.08% Rolling Resistance 1st 8.06 kg / t 100% Sporty dry handling, precise steering, good feedback, low rolling resistance. Slightly long wet braking, average comfort, expensive. Read Reviews
5th: Hankook Winter i cept evo2
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 11th 44 M 40.2 M +3.8 M 91.36% Dry Handling 7th 119.5 Km/H 121.9 Km/H -2.4 Km/H 98.03% Wet Braking 3rd 47.6 M 45.7 M +1.9 M 96.01% Wet Handling 3rd 93.2 Km/H 95.3 Km/H -2.1 Km/H 97.8% Straight Aqua 8th 68.5 Km/H 73.7 Km/H -5.2 Km/H 92.94% Snow Braking 5th 28.6 M 27.6 M +1 M 96.5% Snow Handling 5th 48.7 Km/H 49.4 Km/H -0.7 Km/H 98.58% Noise 11th 75.7 dB 70.7 dB +5 dB 93.39% Price 5th 685 515 +170 75.18% Rolling Resistance 11th 10.35 kg / t 8.06 kg / t +2.29 kg / t 77.87% A well balanced winter tire with safe wet and dry handling, short wet braking distances. Slightly long dry braking, high rolling resistance, average comfort. Read Reviews
6th: Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 42.1 M 40.2 M +1.9 M 95.49% Dry Handling 3rd 120.5 Km/H 121.9 Km/H -1.4 Km/H 98.85% Wet Braking 2nd 47.1 M 45.7 M +1.4 M 97.03% Wet Handling 4th 92.8 Km/H 95.3 Km/H -2.5 Km/H 97.38% Straight Aqua 8th 68.5 Km/H 73.7 Km/H -5.2 Km/H 92.94% Snow Braking 6th 28.8 M 27.6 M +1.2 M 95.83% Snow Handling 9th 47.4 Km/H 49.4 Km/H -2 Km/H 95.95% Noise 9th 74.9 dB 70.7 dB +4.2 dB 94.39% Price 11th 960 515 +445 53.65% Rolling Resistance 8th 9.39 kg / t 8.06 kg / t +1.33 kg / t 85.84% Stable safe handling on wet and dry roads, precise steering, good feedback, short snow braking. Understeer in the snow, average comfort, expensive. Read Reviews
7th: Kumho WinterCraft WP71
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 40.7 M 40.2 M +0.5 M 98.77% Dry Handling 11th 118.5 Km/H 121.9 Km/H -3.4 Km/H 97.21% Wet Braking 8th 51.8 M 45.7 M +6.1 M 88.22% Wet Handling 9th 90.6 Km/H 95.3 Km/H -4.7 Km/H 95.07% Straight Aqua 4th 72.2 Km/H 73.7 Km/H -1.5 Km/H 97.96% Snow Braking 2nd 28 M 27.6 M +0.4 M 98.57% Snow Handling 1st 49.4 Km/H 100% Noise 3rd 72 dB 70.7 dB +1.3 dB 98.19% Price 3rd 605 515 +90 85.12% Rolling Resistance 7th 9.35 kg / t 8.06 kg / t +1.29 kg / t 86.2% Sporty driving qualities in the snow, short dry braking distances, low noise. Understeer in the dry and wet, long wet braking. Read Reviews
8th: Toyo Snowprox S954
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 41.2 M 40.2 M +1 M 97.57% Dry Handling 1st 121.9 Km/H 100% Wet Braking 5th 49.6 M 45.7 M +3.9 M 92.14% Wet Handling 7th 91.6 Km/H 95.3 Km/H -3.7 Km/H 96.12% Straight Aqua 3rd 72.6 Km/H 73.7 Km/H -1.1 Km/H 98.51% Snow Braking 10th 30.5 M 27.6 M +2.9 M 90.49% Snow Handling 10th 46.5 Km/H 49.4 Km/H -2.9 Km/H 94.13% Noise 6th 73.5 dB 70.7 dB +2.8 dB 96.19% Price 4th 650 515 +135 79.23% Rolling Resistance 6th 9.25 kg / t 8.06 kg / t +1.19 kg / t 87.14% High aquaplaning resistance, stable wet handling, good steering in the dry. Average grip on snow, long wet braking distances. Read Reviews
9th: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 42.3 M 40.2 M +2.1 M 95.04% Dry Handling 6th 119.6 Km/H 121.9 Km/H -2.3 Km/H 98.11% Wet Braking 9th 53.4 M 45.7 M +7.7 M 85.58% Wet Handling 7th 91.6 Km/H 95.3 Km/H -3.7 Km/H 96.12% Straight Aqua 7th 69.1 Km/H 73.7 Km/H -4.6 Km/H 93.76% Snow Braking 9th 29.4 M 27.6 M +1.8 M 93.88% Snow Handling 8th 47.6 Km/H 49.4 Km/H -1.8 Km/H 96.36% Noise 2nd 71.1 dB 70.7 dB +0.4 dB 99.44% Price 2nd 535 515 +20 96.26% Rolling Resistance 9th 9.99 kg / t 8.06 kg / t +1.93 kg / t 80.68% Short snow braking, stable dry handling, good comfort, low price. Average grip with understeer on snow, very long wet braking, high rolling resistance. Read Reviews
10th: Nokian WR A4
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 41.9 M 40.2 M +1.7 M 95.94% Dry Handling 9th 119.3 Km/H 121.9 Km/H -2.6 Km/H 97.87% Wet Braking 11th 54.8 M 45.7 M +9.1 M 83.39% Wet Handling 10th 90.2 Km/H 95.3 Km/H -5.1 Km/H 94.65% Straight Aqua 11th 59.9 Km/H 73.7 Km/H -13.8 Km/H 81.28% Snow Braking 4th 28.5 M 27.6 M +0.9 M 96.84% Snow Handling 5th 48.7 Km/H 49.4 Km/H -0.7 Km/H 98.58% Noise 10th 75 dB 70.7 dB +4.3 dB 94.27% Price 8th 780 515 +265 66.03% Rolling Resistance 2nd 8.5 kg / t 8.06 kg / t +0.44 kg / t 94.82% Balance snow performance. Low wet grip, low aquaplaning resistance, long wet braking, understeer in the dry and wet. Read Reviews
11th: Nankang SV2
255/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 9th 43 M 40.2 M +2.8 M 93.49% Dry Handling 10th 118.8 Km/H 121.9 Km/H -3.1 Km/H 97.46% Wet Braking 10th 53.8 M 45.7 M +8.1 M 84.94% Wet Handling 11th 89.9 Km/H 95.3 Km/H -5.4 Km/H 94.33% Straight Aqua 6th 71.3 Km/H 73.7 Km/H -2.4 Km/H 96.74% Snow Braking 11th 30.8 M 27.6 M +3.2 M 89.61% Snow Handling 11th 45 Km/H 49.4 Km/H -4.4 Km/H 91.09% Noise 1st 70.7 dB 100% Price 1st 515 100% Rolling Resistance 2nd 8.5 kg / t 8.06 kg / t +0.44 kg / t 94.82% Low rolling resistance, low price. Very low wet grip, long wet braking, slow steering response with understeer in the dry and wet. Read Reviews