31 tire models were involved in a large tire test conducted by Germany’s Auto Bild publication. The test experts decided to keep it simple and tested the tires in size 225/45 R17. Yes, the exact same size, in which they already compared winter and summer tires in 2019. Don’t be surprised! After all, this is one of the best-selling sizes for compact and medium-sized cars.

All of the tires for the 225/45 R17 all-season tire test were bought anonymously in various retail points. Their list included premium-class models, subsidiary brands of the world’s largest tire makers, as well as «no-name» Chinese tires.

List of all-season tire models tested:

• BFGoodrich g-Grip All Season 2
• Bridgestone Weather Control A005
• Continental AllSeasonContact
• Cooper Discoverer All Season — a new model 2019
• Falken EuroAll Season AS210
• Fulda MultiControl
• General Tire Altimax A/S 365
• Goodride SW602 All Season
• Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-2
• GT Radial 4Seasons — a test debute
• Hankook Kinergy 4S²
• King Meiler All Season Tact AS1
• Kleber Quadraxer 2
• Kumho Solus 4S HA31
• Linglong Green-Max All Season — a test debut
• Matador MP 62 All Weather Evo — a test debut
• Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3 — a new model 2019
• Michelin CrossClimate+
• Nankang Cross Seasons AW-6
• Nexen N’Blue 4Season
• Nokian Weatherproof
• Pirelli Cinturato All Season Plus
• Rotalla Setula 4 Season RA03 — a new model 2019
• Star Performer SPTS AS
• Toyo Celsius
• Tristar All Season Power
• Tyfoon 4-season
• Uniroyal AllSeasonExpert 2
• Viking FourTech
• Vredestein Quatrac Pro
• Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21 — a test debut

In the first elimination round, due to the fact that the number of models tested was not as large as in winter tire tests, all of the models were tested for wet and dry braking from 100 km/h.

While the difference between the shortest braking distance (suddenly, Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3 — 39.5 meters) and the longest braking distance (GT Radial 4Seasons — 46.5 meters) constituted only 7 meters, on wet pavement this gap increased to 15 meters, where the shortest braking distance was demonstrated by Bridgestone Weather Control A005 (46.3 m), and the longest braking distance was shown by the retreaded King Meiler All Season Tact AS1 (62.2 meters).

Adding up the braking distances on both wet and dry pavement, the Auto Bild expert team shortlisted the ten all-season tire models that reached the main part of the competition. What is interesting, says our technical expert, is the fact that the ranks of the tires whose total sum of braking distances exceeded 100 meters were joined by Fulda MultiControl, which, incidentally, not so long ago, in 2016, scored a fourth place in a similar test. What a slump!

Only ten tires with the shortest total braking distances reached the final.

Final: Test Results

In the final round, the ten best models were subjected to extra tests on wet and dry pavement, as well as on snow. These measurements tipped the balance in the top ten.

Snow Pavement

Wet Pavement

Dry Pavement

Auto Bild Ranking of All-Season Tires 2019

The result summary of 225/45 R17 all-season tire test. Auto Bild, 2019. Places 1–10. Click to enlarge.

The Experts’ Feedback

10th place — Cooper Discoverer AllSeason

Cooper Discoverer AllSeason

Pros: Good hydroplaning resistance, effective braking performance on snow and on dry pavement, budget-friendly.

Cons: Poor handling response coupled with an increased braking distance on wet pavement, and delayed steering response in the dry.

Verdict: Not recommended.

9th place — Bridgestone Weather Control A005

Bridgestone Weather Control A005

Pros: Short braking distances and good handling response on both wet and dry pavement, a good hydroplaning safety margin, low rolling resistance.

Cons: Only average performance on snow, limited mileage.

Verdict: Satisfactory.

8th place — Kumho Solus 4S HA31

Kumho Solus 4S HA31

Pros: All-season tires with great hydroplaning resistance and large mileage, effective braking on snow, and low noise emission.

Cons: Average level of lateral grip on snow, slightly increased braking distances on wet and dry pavement, relatively weak handling response in the dry, limited riding comfort.

Verdict: Satisfactory.

7th place — Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3

Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3

Pros: a new all-season tire model of Chinese origin with safe handling on snow and dry pavement, great hydroplaning resistance, and a short braking distance on dry pavement.

Cons: Average traction coupled with an increased braking distance on wet pavement, average mileage.

Verdict: Good.

6th place — Nexen N’Blue 4Season

Nexen N’Blue 4Season

Pros: budget-friendly low-noise all-season tires with safe handling in any wintertime weather conditions, outstanding lateral grip, and effective snow braking, large mileage, and a good price/quality ratio.

Cons: A slightly increased braking distance on wet pavement; increased rolling resistance.

Verdict: Good.

5th place — Hankook Kinergy 4S2 H750

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 H750

Pros: Extremely dependable performance on snow, including traction, and dynamic handling, great hydroplaning resistance, safe handling response on wet and dry pavement, good price/quality ratio.

Cons: A slightly increased braking distance on wet pavement.

Verdict: Good.

4th place — Continental AllSeason Contact

Continental AllSeason Contact

Pros: well-balanced premium-class tires with a sporty dynamic feel on wet pavement and a long running life, effective braking, and great lateral stability on snow, low rolling resistance, and a good price/quality ratio.

Cons: A slightly increased braking distance on wet pavement.

Verdict: Good.

3rd place — Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen-2

Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen-2

Pros: all-season classic with very convincing winter performance, safe handling response on wet pavement, a pleasantly smooth ride, high resistance to wear, and a decent price/quality ratio.

Cons: Delayed steering response and a slightly increased braking distance on dry pavement.

Verdict: Good.

2nd place — Vredestein Quatrac Pro

Vredestein Quatrac Pro

Pros: exemplary all-season tires with impressive snow performance, dynamic handling on dry and wet pavement, crisp steering response with a great feedback, and efficient wet braking.

Cons: Average mileage.

Verdict: Exemplarily.

1st place — Michelin CrossClimate+

Michelin CrossClimate+

The Auto Bild ranking of all-season tires 2019 was topped by a model that is marketed by its manufacturer as not quite an all-season tire. For CrossClimate+, the Michelin marketing experts specifically came up with a category named «summer+», rather extrapolating the use of this tires to spring and fall, than to the wintertime.

Pros: «all-rounded» talent for dynamic driving in any weather conditions, crisp steering response, efficient braking on wet and dry pavement, maximum mileage on test, and a smooth pleasant ride.
Verdict: Exemplary (test winner and Eco Master).

Price

Conclusion

Currently, there are at least two all-season tires that the Auto Bild expert group can recommend with an easy heart for safe year-round operation — these are Michelin CrossClimate+, and Vredestein Quatrac Pro, who earned the «exemplary» status at the finish line.

Side Notes

As a rule, the consumers benefit from independent comparative tire tests, but sometimes different kinds of advice come in respect to one and the same tire. While the experts of GTÜ/ACE/ARBÖ claim that, when it comes to choosing their all-season tires, motorists should go for a compromise, chiefly proceeding from the weather conditions of the area where they are most likely to drive, the experts of Auto Bild contend that all-season tires are a totally safe solution for year-round driving.

One may also find interesting comparing the result of Auto Bild test 2019 to the last year’s, which involved all-season tires of a smaller size — 195/65 R15. For example, the Nokian model, which won bronze in 2018, was not even able to reach the final in this year’s test. Just as surprisingly, Pirelli Cinturato All Season Plus also didn’t make it to the top ten.

Michelin CrossClimate+ made a huge leap from the fourth line to the first, while the 2018 leader Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen-2 dropped down two lines.

Stability in both sizes was only demonstrated by Hankook Kinergy 4S2 that was able to hold its fifth place, and by Bridgestone, which, as usual, popped up at the bottom of the ranking of all-season tires.