The Auto Bild experts conducted a test of low-profile winter tires.
For their next tire test, the Auto Bild Sportscars experts went to the Ivalo proving ground in Finland, located just north of the Arctic Circle, taking along nine sets of low-profile winter tires in size 245/40 R19, which during the tests were fitted on a front-drive Cupra Formentor VZ5.
On snow, the experts evaluated traction, lateral grip, and braking performance, and in all of the three disciplines the victory was confidently won by the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5. Furthermore, after the handling test was performed, it became clear that in such conditions this tire was head and shoulders above the competition. The AB representatives even said that this Michelin model would be quite OK for the Scandinavian market, even though in the northern latitudes it is better to opt for the more appropriate Nordic tires (and Michelin offers the X–Ice Snow model in that category).
Despite the fact that the Michelin PA5 demonstrated truly impressive results on snow, on wet pavement it was only able to score a 2- (on a 6- to 1+ scale), while the Hankook, Bridgestone, and Continental models demonstrated a much better balanced performance, thanks to which they were able to score top positions in the final standings, accompanied by an «Exemplary» ranking. The economy segment this time was represented by the cheap Minerva Ice-Plus S210, which demonstrated snow and wet traction so poor that it ended up with a «Not recommended» verdict.
1 Place Exemplary: Bridgestone / Blizzak LM005
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Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
An exemplary premium-class tire characterized by excellent snow traction, precise steering response, short braking distances on snow and wet pavement, good ride comfort, and low rolling resistance. Disadvantage: high price.
1 Place Exemplary Hankook / Winter i*cept evo3 W330
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Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 W330
A tire with a very well balanced performance that ensures short stopping distances on snow and wet pavement, as well as crisp handling response in any weather conditions. This Hankook model also comes at an attractive price; one of its few disadvantages is an average ride comfort.
3 Place Exemplary Continental / WinterContact TS 870 P
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Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
A premium-class tire that ensures excellent handling response in any weather, and is characterized by low noise emission and low rolling resistance. At the same time, this Continental model comes at a fairly high price.
4 Place Good Michelin / Pilot Alpin 5
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Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
This Michelin model combines very strong snow grip with excellent dry handling response (and low noise emission), but it has a relatively long wet stopping distance, and it comes at a fairly expensive price.
5 Place Good Falken / Eurowinter HS01
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Falken Eurowinter HS01
This Falken model is packed with cool features, such as good snow performance, short braking distance in any weather conditions, good handling response on dry pavement, low noise emission, and attractive price. At the same time, it was not without weaknesses: this Falken tire is prone to understeer on wet pavement, and it has strong rolling resistance.
6 Place Satisfactory Vredestein / Wintrac Pro
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Vredestein Wintrac Pro
This Vredestein tire allows you to quickly accelerate and stop the car on snow; on tarmac, it ensures good handling performance and crisp steering response. At the same time, however, this tire is prone to understeer on snow, and it also has strong rolling resistance, which directly affects fuel consumption by the vehicle.
7 Place Satisfactory Cooper / Discoverer Winter
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Cooper Discoverer Winter
This Cooper tire delivers an impressive snow performance, and it also ensures a smooth and noiseless ride. Its weaknesses include long dry and wet braking distances, less-than-perfect grip, being prone to understeer on dry pavement, and increased rolling resistance.
8 Place Satisfactory Maxxis / Premitra Snow WP6
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Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
This inexpensive Maxxis tire has a short snow braking distance and has a strong hydroplaning resistance. At the same time, there were some complaints about its handling response on snow and dry braking, as well as about its braking performance on tarmac. In addition, this Maxxis tire is characterized by increased rolling resistance.
9 Place Not recommended Minerva / S210
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Minerva S210
This cheap Minerva tire has a good handling response on dry pavement, and it is pretty quiet, but that about wraps it up for its list of strong sides: the tire has a dangerously long braking distance on all types of surfaces, and has a very poor snow and wet handling performance due to fuzzy steering response. In addition, this Minerva model has poor hydroplaning resistance.
