205/55R16

Auto Bild 2021: Winter Tire Test R16 (Elimination Round)

The German industry magazine Auto Bild has published the results of the elimination round of the large test of winter tires in size 205/55 R16. Twenty best tires were shortlisted that would continue to struggle for the leadership in the main series of test disciplines. These tires showed the best results in safety tests based on calculating the sum of dry and wet braking distances (the shorter the better).

The main heroes of the elimination stage, however, are low- and mid-budget models that competed for lines 21–50 in the tournament bracket.

The tires were tested using VW Golf.
The tires were tested using VW Golf.

The COVID-19 restrictions thwarted the plans of most of the industry publications in terms of choosing the size of the tested tires. And, while in the last two years the Auto Bild testers would run 50 tire sets in sizes 245/45 R18 (2020) and 225/45 R17 (2019), this year they made a decision to get back to the classic size of 205/55 R16. A similar situation is to be observed in most of the tests of the winter season 2021/2022: the testers prefer to play it safe and opt for the most popular tire sizes.

Size 205/55 R16 fits most compact cars, such as VW Golf, Opel Astra, and Ford Focus, as well as many older mid-class models. The starting list included 50 various «Euro» friction tires bought anonymously retail in order to eliminate the possibility of the manufacturers submitting some kind of «improved» models for the test.

PLACES 36–50

First, the Auto Bild experts tested the braking performance of all the tires when braking from 80 km/h on wet pavement. Fifteen of the competitors with the longest stopping distances were disqualified at once, notes the Tiresvote technical expert. Most of them, quite expectedly, were low-budget tires of Chinese origin. But not all of them.

List of the tires eliminated at the start
Place Brand and Model Wet Braking, m
36 Toyo Observe S944 38.2
37 Kormoran Snow 39.1
38 Syron Everest 1 39.9
39 Goodride SW608 40.8
40 Zeetex WH 1000 41.0
41 Imperial Snowdragon HP 41.1
42 Tourador Winter Pro TS1 41.2
43 Hifly Win-Turi 212 41.3
44 Nordexx Wintersafe 42.8
45 Platin RP60 Winter 43.1
46 Tristar Snowpower HP 43.2
47 Sunny Winter-Max A1 NW211 43.6
48 Premiorri Via Maggiore Z Plus 44.1
49 Superia Bluewin UHP 44.8
50 Petlas Snowmaster W651 45.4

Other tires that kept company to the «Chinese comrades» were Kormoran Snow (produced by Michelin Group), Platin RP60 Winter (tires owned by a private brand of the German distributor Interpneu), Toyo Observe S944, Snowmaster W651 from Turkey’s Petlas, and the Ukrainian Premiorri Via Maggiore Z Plus. Speaking specifically about the latter, the difference in stopping distances with the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005, which showed the best performance, amounted to 12 meters. Seems like one hell of a distance for a tire that somehow managed to surpass Michelin and Continental in other tests!

The test group strongly recommends staying away from places 36–50. For your own good.

PLACES 1–20

Tires that will claim the victory in the final
Place Brand and Model Wet Braking from 80 km/h, m Snow Braking from 50 km/h, m Total
1 Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 32.1 28.1 60.2
2 Dunlop Winter Sport 5 33.6 27.3 60.9
3 Hankook Winter i * cept RS2 33.4 28.2 61.6
4 Continental WinterContact TS 870 34.2 27.7 61.9
5 Firestone Winterhawk 4 33.5 28.6 62.1
6 Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ 35.2 27.5 62.7
7 BF-Goodrich G-Force Winter 2 35.6 27.9 63.5
8 Semperit Speed-Grip 3 35.1 28.5 63.6
9 Vredestein Wintrac 33.5 30.3 63.8
10 Laufenn i-Fit+ 35.2 28.6 63.8
11 Kleber Krisalp HP3 35.6 28.4 64.0
12 Michelin Alpin 6 34.9 29.1 64.0
13 Sava Eskimo HP2 36.5 28.0 64.5
14 Uniroyal MS Plus 77 36.1 28.6 64.7
15 Barum Polaris 5 36.1 28.8 64.9
16 Nexen Winguard Snow G3 35.6 29.4 65.0
17 Yokohama BluEarth-Winter V906 35.9 29.2 65.1
18 Fulda Kristall Control HP2 36.8 28.6 65.4
19 Falken Eurowinter HS01 36.2 29.5 65.7
20 Nokian Snowproof 36.5 29.2 65.7

The remaining 35 models competed on hard-packed snow, where their braking performance was tested from 50 km/h. Only the best 20 tires reached the final, where in 13 test disciplines they will be tested more thoroughly for hydroplaning resistance, handling response, resistance to wear, etc.

The list of finalists quite predictably consisted of premium brands, including the newcomer of the winter season 2021/2022, Continental WinterContact TS 870, as well as some tires of the medium segment that bravely withstood the preliminary safety test. These, for example, are the Nexen Winguard Snow G3, Laufenn I Fit Plus, Barum Polaris 5, and the test’s debutant, Vredestein Wintrac.

We will stress once again that the order of winter tires in the top twenty of the rating is preliminary, and only the detailed tests of the final will reveal the ultimate winner.

Continental WinterContact TS 870
Continental WinterContact TS 870

PLACES 21–35

As for the tires that were left «overboard» and did not reach the final (places 21–34), we will only mention Giti GitiWinter W2 (just launched retail), Pirelli Cinturato Winter (because this model has already been replaced by the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2, and we cannot make out just why it was included in the test at all), and General Altimax Winter 3, which, since the time it was last tested by Auto Bild, has made a powerful leap upwards, but still not as high as to make it into the final round.

Tires whose extra meters stopped them from reaching the finals
Place Brand and Model Wet Braking from 80 km/h, m Snow Braking from 50 km/h, m Total
21 Matador MP92 Sibir Snow 37.4 28.6 66.0
22 Cooper Weather-Master SA2 + 35.9 30.2 66.1
23 Avon WV 7 Snow 36.4 29.8 66.2
24 General Altimax Winter 3 37.7 28.6 66.3
25 Radar Dimax Alpine 37.7 28.6 66.3
26 Tyfoon Eurosnow II 37.7 28.7 66.4
27 Pirelli Cinturato Winter 37.3 29.2 66.5
28 Giti Winter W2 38.0 29.1 67.1
29 Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 38.0 29.1 67.1
30 Apollo Alnac 4G winter 38.0 29.5 67.5
31 Kumho WinterCraft WP51 37.8 29.8 67.6
32 CST Medallion Winter WCP1 37.6 30.5 68.1
33 Landsail Winter Lander 35.3 37.9 73.2
34 Mastersteel Winter plus 36.1 37.2 73.3
35 Roadhog Winter + 37.5 40.4 77.9

The results of the final part of the comparative test of winter tires in size 205/55 R16, where the top twenty tires will be subjected to thorough testing, will be published in the near future.