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 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.

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

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

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.

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.