How the tires will behave on wet and dry pavement, as well as on snow and ice, you can find out only by subjecting them to extensive testing. The experts of the German motoring association ADAC in partnership with other European consumer rights organizations, and in full accordance with precisely defined methodology, tested 18 winter tire sets, purchasing them in small quantities from six different tire dealerships.
The purpose of the test was to determine the safest tire models of 2021 to be used in mild winter conditions inherent to Central Europe.
While in the first winter tire test 2021 the ADAC experts tested the popular passenger-car tire size of 195/65 R15, in the second test they opted for 225/50 R17 with speed index V (up to 240 km/h), which may be used, for example, on such cars as Audi A4 or BMW 3 series.
List of winter models tested:
- Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
- Continental WinterContact TS 860
- Dunlop Winter Sport 5
- ESA-Tecar Supergrip Pro
- Firestone Winterhawk 4
- Fulda Kristall Control HP2
- Goodride Z-507 Zuper Snow
- Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
- Kleber Krisalp HP3
- Linglong Green-Max Winter UHP
- Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
- Michelin Alpin 6
- Nexen Winguard Sport 2
- Nokian Snowproof P
- Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
- Sava Eskimo HP2
- Toyo Observe S944
- Vredestein Wintrac Pro
After the selected winter tires were examined literally under a microscope, the testers were amazed at the wide scatter of the results: while three tire models ended up being rated as «good», two 17-inch models received an «unsatisfactory» verdict. At the same time, in the 195/65 R15 winter tire test, earlier conducted by ADAC, the end results were much more homogeneous, without any significant discrepancies.
Nevertheless, the test group recommended paying close attention to the characteristics of all the tested tires because in some specific cases, considering the predominant weather of the region where you live, you can easily get by with «average» tires that can be just the right thing in certain conditions.
The ADAC winter tire test was conducted in Ivalo, Finland; the test car was an Audi A4.
The top three: perfectly balanced
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 and Michelin Alpin 6 tires (2.3 points each), which shared the top line in the final standings, and the bronze-winning UltraGrip Performance+ (2.5 points) are recommended without any reservations.
They all demonstrated excellent results by all the main safety criteria because the designers of these tires obviously invested a lot of effort in ensuring well-balanced performance of their creations. Still, however, the ADAC experts recommend taking a look at specific performance indicators because these tires behave differently in different performance areas.
The Dunlop tire was an unquestionable leader on snow, and, in addition, demonstrated the best fuel saving capabilities amongst the top tire models. The most expensive tire on test, the Michelin Alpin 6, as usual, demonstrated the best resistance to wear, and was good on wet and dry pavement. The well-balanced Goodyear tire with good results in all the performance areas stays in the middle of the tournament bracket, but without any outstanding results.
The dominance of «satisfactory» tires
The fourth line in the final standings is occupied by the inexpensive Kleber Krisalp HP3 (2.7 points), produced by Michelin Group. Its wet performance was slightly worse than that of the leaders but that did not spoil the overall score. Quite as good an option as any other.
Quick Take
Kleber Krisalp HP3
- This tire replaced 🏁 Kleber / Krisalp HP2
- Available Sizes in Line: 179
- Year Released: 2016
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+
The next four tires scored 3.0 points and shared fifth place. Depreciation of the total score of the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 was due to its weak resistance to wear; at the same time, in terms of safety features, there were only minor gripes about its snow grip, while on wet and dry pavement the LM005 was head and shoulders above the others.
Quick Take
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
- This tire has been replaced by Bridgestone / Blizzak 6
- This tire replaced Bridgestone / Blizzak LM001 Evo
- Available Sizes in Line: 224
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • Audi e-tron [2019 .. 2023]
- • Volkswagen T-Cross I (C11) [2018 .. 2023]
- • Audi A3 8Y [2020 .. 2023]
- • Mercedes-Benz C-Class Br205 [2015 .. 2021]
- • Volkswagen Caddy V [2020 .. 2023]
- • Lamborghini Reventon [2007 .. 2009]
- • Audi Q4 e-tron FZ [2022 .. 2024]
- • BMW X7 G07 [2018 .. 2022]
- • Lamborghini Revuelto [2023 .. 2024]
- Year Released: 2019
- Regions for sale: Canada, Europe, Russia+
Devaluation of the final ranking of the Continental WinterContact TS 860 had to do with lack of dry grip; otherwise, no complaints came from the testers. Possibly, its successor, the TS870 model, which has already been launched on the market, will be involved in the future ADAC tests, and will perform better in the dry disciplines.
Quick Take
Continental WinterContact TS 860
- This tire has been replaced by Continental / WinterContact TS 870
- This tire replaced Continental / ContiWinterContact TS 850
- This tire has run-flat model:
- Available Sizes in Line: 108
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • Mercedes-Benz A-Class Br177 [2018 .. 2023]
- • BMW 1 Series III (F40) [2019 .. 2023]
- • Skoda Octavia Mk3 A7 (5E) Facelift [2017 .. 2020]
- • Hyundai ix20 JC Facelift [2015 .. 2020]
- • Hyundai i30 III (PD) [2017 .. 2020]
- • Hyundai Ioniq AE [2016 .. 2021]
- • Ford Ka+ I [2016 .. 2018]
- • Ford Ka+ Active [2018 .. 2020]
- • Ford Fiesta VII [2017 .. 2023]
- • Ford Puma II (J2K) [2019 .. 2023]
- Year Released: 2016
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+, South Korea
The Nexen Winguard Sport 2 also forfeited its chance to score a higher line in the tournament bracket because of relatively low wear, and, in addition, its grip on snow, which, as well as wet and dry traction, was only average. Generally speaking, this is probably the least attractive tire from the four ones that scored 3 points, because even the Vredestein Wintrac Pro, which ultimately suffered because of poor resistance to wear, received higher scores for handling performance (except on ice).
Quick Take
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
- This tire replaced 🏁 Nexen / Winguard Sport
- Available Sizes in Line: 91
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • Volkswagen Golf Mk8 (CD1) [2019 .. 2023]
- • Audi A3 8Y [2020 .. 2023]
- • Audi A6 C8 [2018 .. 2023]
- Year Released: 2016
- Regions for sale: USA+, Canada, Europe, Russia+, East Asia
The overall ranking of the Esa-Tecar Supergrip Pro, Sava Eskimo HP2 (3.1 points each, 9th place), and Fulda Kristall Control HP2 (3.2 points, 11th place) was lowered due to issues found in wet and dry road conditions. In the case of the Supergrip Pro, which is usually sold in Germany by the Tecar trading company through affiliated car dealerships, one must note that it showed the best results in terms of fuel saving.
Quick Take
ESA-Tecar Supergrip Pro
- Available Sizes in Line: 45
- Year Released: 2019
- Regions for sale: Europe
The Eskimo HP2 from the Slovenian company Sava (a subsidiary of Goodyear) turned out to be the noisiest model on test.
Yet another four winter models scoring 3.3 points each and occupying one shared twelfth place came to their average end results by different ways, the TiresVote expert comments on the situation. The Firestone Winterhawk 4 lost it on dry pavement but scored good points by all the other safety criteria. The Nokian WR Snowproof P was good on dry pavement, but average in the wet; the tire also was nothing special on snow, being at odds with its own name.
Quick Take
Sava Eskimo HP2
- This tire replaced 🏁 Sava / Eskimo HP
- Available Sizes in Line: 23
- Year Released: 2016
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 handling performance on dry and wet pavement, as well as on ice, this time around was only rated as «satisfactory». The Toyo Observe S944 revealed weaknesses on wet pavement and snow.
Quick Take
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
- This tire has run-flat model:
- Available Sizes in Line: 141
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • Audi RS6 C7 [2013 .. 2018]
- • Audi A3 8P [2003 .. 2005]
- • Audi Q3 8U [2011 .. 2015]
- • BMW M5 V (F10) [2011 .. 2013]
- • Jaguar F-Type X152 [2012 .. 2017]
- • Jaguar XF X250 [2007 .. 2011]
- • Lamborghini Huracan [2014 .. 2019]
- • Maserati Quattroporte VI (M156) [2013 .. 2016]
- • Maserati Ghibli M157 [2013 .. 2020]
- • McLaren P1 [2013 .. 2016]
- • Mercedes-Benz S-Class W222 [2013 .. 2020]
- • Mercedes-Benz S-Class AMG W221 [2006 .. 2013]
- • Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class AMG R172 [2011 .. 2016]
- • Mercedes-Benz C-Class Br204 [2008 .. 2015]
- • Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG Br204 [2008 .. 2011]
- • Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class AMG Br117 [2013 .. 2019]
- • Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG W176 [2013 .. 2018]
- • Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class AMG X156 [2013 .. 2019]
- • Volvo S80 II [2006 .. 2016]
- • Volvo V70 II [2008 .. 2016]
- • Volvo V40 Cross Country I [2012 .. 2017]
- • Audi A4 B9 Facelift [2019 .. 2023]
- • Audi A5 F5 [2016 .. 2020]
- • Audi A6 C8 [2018 .. 2023]
- • Audi A7 4K8 [2018 .. 2023]
- • Audi A8 D5 [2018 .. 2021]
- • Audi TT RS FV Facelift [2019 .. 2023]
- • Volvo V60 I [2010 .. 2018]
- • Volvo S60 II [2010 .. 2013]
- • Volkswagen Passat
- • Jaguar XE X760 [2015 .. 2019]
- • Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class X156 [2013 .. 2021]
- • Volkswagen Golf Mk7 (5G) [2012 .. 2017]
- • BMW 5 Series
- • MINI Clubman
- • Mercedes-Benz B-Class
- • Volkswagen Touran
- • Ford Focus
- • Volvo V40 Cross Country
- • BMW 3 Series
- • Mercedes-Benz B-Class
- • Porsche 911
- • Porsche 928
- • Porsche 944
- • Porsche 968
- • BMW X1
- • BMW X2
- • BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
- • BMW 7 Series
- • BMW 8 Series
- • Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
- • Volkswagen Beetle
- • Tesla Model 3 [2017 .. 2023]
- • Audi TT
- • Lamborghini Aventador [2011 .. 2023]
- • Bentley Continental GT
- • BMW X4 G02 LCI [2021 .. 2024]
- • Hyundai IONIQ 5 N NE [2023 .. 2025]
- Year Released: 2014
- Regions for sale: USA+, Canada, Europe, Russia+, East Asia
The shortcomings of the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6, occupying the sixteenth line of the final standings, were revealed on snow and ice.
Quick Take
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
- Available Sizes in Line: 47
- Year Released: 2019
- Regions for sale: Canada, Europe, Russia+
Careful! Poor performance!
The ADAC expert team strongly recommends refraining from buying only two of the models they tested. The Chinese Linglong Green-Max Winter UHP and the Goodride Z-507 Zuper Snow turned out to be the real outsiders of the test that brought an unpleasant surprise by total lack of snow grip and wet traction.
Quick Take
Linglong GREEN-Max Winter UHP
- Available Sizes in Line: 33
- Year Released: 2014
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+
The Goodride tire demonstrated the worst braking performance. These tires have big problems when starting off in the snow, where they can only be driven very slowly, and even then inaccurately, which clearly does not meet the strict requirements of the German testers. An example from the test: one circle on a snow-covered track 1.2 km long was covered by the Zuper Snow model in a time about 25 seconds longer than what was needed by the best tires in this discipline. This is nothing but a failure.
Quick Take
Goodride Zuper Snow Z-507
- Available Sizes in Line: 45
- Year Released: 2019
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+
The «Achilles heel» of the Linglong tire is extremely weak wet grip. Be that braking, hydroplaning resistance or slalom, the Green-Max Winter UHP model will never score above average. Here is another example from the test: compared to the Japanese tires Bridgestone Blizzak LM005, the stopping distance of the Chinese Linglong from 80 km/h is 11 meters longer. And this means that at the moment when the car on the LM005 tires has already stopped, the speedometer needle of the vehicle equipped with Linglong winter tires will still be showing 40 km/h.
ADAC recommends installing new tires when the tread depth reaches the minimum legal limit of four millimeters. The motorists also need to pay special attention to the three peak mountain snowflake symbol (3PMSF), because in Europe you are only allowed to drive on winter roads on such tires. Also, according to the experts of this motoring association, it is important that all the four tires have the same production date and therefore the same technical standard.
