As with this years Tire Reviews winter tire test, Auto Bild Sportscars conducted a winter tire test in the 235/35 R19 size.
While we had a slightly different test field, the good tires were still good, which is always nice. The cheap tires in this test, a Radar and Auto Green, again prove that you get what you pay for, with both tires doing well in one category (snow) but then being complete disasters in the dry and wet.
5 categories (12 tests)
Test Category | Best Performer | Worst Performer | Difference |
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Dry (2 tests) | |||
Dry Braking | ▲ Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3: 41.5 M | ▼ Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08: 48.5 M | 7.0 M (14.4%) |
Dry Handling | ▲ Michelin Pilot Alpin 5: 103.1 Km/H | ▼ Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08: 93.5 Km/H | 9.6 Km/H (10.3%) |
Wet (4 tests) | |||
Wet Braking | ▲ Bridgestone Blizzak LM005: 48.2 M | ▼ Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08: 81.1 M | 32.9 M (40.6%) |
Wet Handling | ▲ Bridgestone Blizzak LM005: 83.7 Km/H | ▼ Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08: 71.5 Km/H | 12.2 Km/H (17.1%) |
Straight Aqua | ▲ Dunlop Winter Sport 5: 89.2 Km/H | ▼ Radar Dimax Alpine: 79.5 Km/H | 9.7 Km/H (12.2%) |
Curved Aquaplaning | ▲ Dunlop Winter Sport 5: 3.69 m/sec2 | ▼ Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08: 1.42 m/sec2 | 2.3 m/sec2 (159.9%) |
Snow (4 tests) | |||
Snow Braking | ▲ Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08: 29.7 M | ▼ Ceat WinterDrive Sport: 31.8 M | 2.1 M (6.6%) |
Snow Traction | ▲ Michelin Pilot Alpin 5: 2260 N | ▼ Hankook Winter i cept evo3: 2037 N | 223.0 N (10.9%) |
Snow Handling | ▲ Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08: 62.3 Km/H | ▼ Hankook Winter i cept evo3: 59.1 Km/H | 3.2 Km/H (5.4%) |
Snow Circle | ▲ Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08: 3.02 ms/2 | ▼ Hankook Winter i cept evo3: 2.85 ms/2 | 0.2 ms/2 (6.0%) |
Comfort (1 tests) | |||
Noise | ▲ Radar Dimax Alpine: 69.7 dB | ▼ Hankook Winter i cept evo3: 73.2 dB | 3.5 dB (4.8%) |
Value (1 tests) | |||
Rolling Resistance | ▲ Continental WinterContact TS 870 P: 8.19 kg / t | ▼ Radar Dimax Alpine: 9.92 kg / t | 1.7 kg / t (17.4%) |
Dry
In the dry braking test, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 performed best among winter tires, stopping in 41.5 meters from 100 km/h. The worst-performing winter tire was the Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08, which took 48.5 meters to stop - a difference of 7 meters or about 17% longer. Notably, the reference summer tire outperformed all winter tires, stopping in just 37.2 meters. This highlights the superior dry performance of summer tires, with even the best winter tire needing over 4 meters more to stop.
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 achieved the highest average speed of 103.1 km/h in the dry handling test among winter tires, while the Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08 again performed worst at 93.5 km/h - a significant 9.6 km/h difference. The reference summer tire excelled here too, managing 105.9 km/h, demonstrating its superior dry grip and handling characteristics. The gap between summer and winter performance is less pronounced in handling than in braking, but still noticeable.
Wet
In wet conditions, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 stopped in the shortest distance of 48.2 meters among winter tires, while the Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08 required a dangerous 81.1 meters - an alarming difference of 32.9 meters or about 68% longer. Interestingly, the reference summer tire's performance (49.1 meters) was very close to the best winter tires, showing that top winter tires can match or even exceed summer tires in wet braking.
The Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 again led the winter tires with an average speed of 83.7 km/h in wet handling, while the Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08 struggled at 71.5 km/h - a difference of 12.2 km/h. The reference summer tire achieved 81.8 km/h, falling between the best and average winter tires. This suggests that while summer tires generally excel in dry conditions, specialized winter tires can outperform them in the wet.
In the straight aquaplaning test, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 performed best among winter tires, maintaining control up to 89.2 km/h. The Radar Dimax Alpine fared worst, losing control at 79.5 km/h - a 9.7 km/h difference. The reference summer tire outperformed all winter tires at 91.6 km/h, indicating superior water dispersion in straight-line aquaplaning situations.
Snow
In snow conditions, the Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08, which struggled in dry and wet tests, excelled with the shortest braking distance of 29.7 meters. The Ceat WinterDrive Sport had the longest distance at 31.8 meters - a relatively small 2.1-meter difference among winter tires. The reference summer tire performed poorly, needing 59.9 meters to stop, more than double the distance of winter tires, highlighting the crucial need for winter tires in snowy conditions.
The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 demonstrated the best snow traction with 2260 N of pulling force, while the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 produced the least at 2037 N - a difference of 223 N or about 11%. The reference summer tire was vastly outperformed, managing only 760 N, less than a third of the best winter tire's traction. This enormous difference underscores the importance of winter tires for acceleration and hill-climbing in snowy conditions.
The Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08 continued its strong snow performance, achieving the highest average speed of 62.3 km/h in snow handling. The Hankook Winter i cept evo3 was slowest at 59.1 km/h - a relatively small 3.2 km/h difference. The reference summer tire's performance was not reported, but based on other snow tests, it would likely be significantly worse than all winter tires.
Comfort
The Radar Dimax Alpine was the quietest tire, producing 69.7 dB of external noise, while the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 was loudest at 73.2 dB - a 3.5 dB difference that would be noticeable to most people. The reference summer tire measured 70.9 dB, placing it in the middle of the range for winter tires, suggesting that winter tread patterns don't necessarily result in increased noise.
Value
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P had the lowest rolling resistance at 8.19 kg/t, potentially offering the best fuel efficiency. The Radar Dimax Alpine had the highest at 9.92 kg/t - a significant 21% difference that could impact fuel consumption. Interestingly, the reference summer tire had a very low rolling resistance of 8.15 kg/t, slightly better than the best winter tire, indicating that the specialized winter tread compounds and patterns generally increase rolling resistance compared to summer tires.
Results
1st: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The winter champion. Dynamic handling characteristics in all weather conditions. Best traction in snow. Precise steering behavior with good feedback. Only average in cornering aquaplaning. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Winter profile with balanced performance at a high level. Always at the forefront in snow. Excellent wet and dry handling with precise steering response. Braking in snow. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Very convincing winter tire with exemplary qualities on wet and dry roads. One of the best in snow handling. Good, safe aquaplaning behavior. High price point. Read Reviews Buy from £250.27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dunlop excels particularly in wet disciplines, sometimes performing as well as summer tires here. Mid-range in snow performance. The most affordable tire in the "Exemplary" group. Slightly increased rolling resistance. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th: Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The best in wet handling and wet braking. A reliable, precise performer in snow. Loses the "Exemplary" seal due to poor dry braking performance. Read Reviews Buy from £245.42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6th: Hankook Winter i cept evo3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Convincing driving qualities on dry and wet roads. Good aquaplaning resistance. Short wet braking distances. Moderate price. Limited winter qualities with a tendency to understeer. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th: Vredestein Wintrac Pro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stable lateral guidance. Precise handling and high traction in snow. Good cornering aquaplaning performance. Unbalanced driving behavior in dry handling. High rolling resistance. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8th: Ceat WinterDrive Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Surprisingly good snow traction. Dynamically balanced handling behavior on dry roads. Affordable price. Limited wet performance. Moderate aquaplaning resistance. Moderate lateral guidance. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9th: Radar Dimax Alpine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Very good winter qualities. Good dry braking. The quietest tire in the comparison. Very affordable price. Limited driving safety in wet conditions. Very high rolling resistance. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10th: Autogreen Snow Chaser 2 AW08 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Outperforms the entire competition in snow. Offers relatively quiet rolling noise. The most affordable option, but that's about it. Catastrophic in wet and dry conditions. Over 30 meters longer braking distance in wet conditions - dangerous!. Read Reviews |