Tyrereviews's latest test puts six top all-season tires through their paces in the 235/35 R19 size, all on the iconic MK8 VW Golf GTI. They didn’t stop there—six high-performance winter tires and a summer model joined the lineup for a head-to-head challenge. This unified testing approach ensures accurate data cross-referencing, showing exactly how the best all-season tires stack up against summer and winter counterparts on snow, ice, wet, and dry surfaces. The findings? A deep dive into what you can expect from all-season tires in every driving condition.
Snow Performance
In snow handling, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 dominated, delivering a performance close to that of a dedicated winter tire. Pirelli and Continental followed closely, with Pirelli adding a touch of excitement to the drive, although its braking could use some improvement. Surprisingly, the budget option held its own, showing decent grip despite being a bit sluggish in response.
Snow Braking
- Winter
- Winter AVG
- Michelin
- Greenlander
- Pirelli
- Continental
- Bridgestone
- Vredestein
- Summer
Info! Snow braking from 40 to 5 km/h, m. Average temperature -6c.
Snow Traction
- Winter
- Michelin
- Winter AVG
- Pirelli
- Grenlander
- Continental
- Bridgestone
- Vredestein
- Summer
Info! Snow acceleration from 5 to 35 km/h. Average temperature -5c.
Bridgestone and Vredestein were at the lower end of the premium spectrum, both lacking sharpness. Vredestein, in particular, felt overly soft, resulting in a delayed response. Every all-season tire outperformed the summer tire in snow, which struggled so much that it couldn’t even handle a gentle slope during traction and braking tests.
Snow Handling
- Winter
- Michelin
- Winter AVG
- Pirelli
- Continental
- Grenlander
- Bridgestone
- Vredestein
- Summer
Info! Snow handling time, sec.
Ice Performance
This year's test included ice traction, and Pirelli took the lead, with Continental right on its heels. Surprisingly, the budget option, Grenlander, showed impressive ice traction, hinting that it might be using a winter compound in an all-season design. It also delivered solid results in ice braking, keeping up with premium brands. Among the top-tier options, Continental and Pirelli outperformed the rest, with Michelin closely trailing behind.
Ice Traction
- Winter
- Grenlander
- Pirelli
- Michelin
- Winter AVG
- Bridgestone
- Continental
- Vredestein
- Summer
Info! Ice acceleration time from 5 to 25, sec.
Ice Braking
- Grenlander
- Winter
- Michelin
- Winter AVG
- Continental
- Pirelli
- Bridgestone
- Vredestein
- Summer
Info! Ice braking from 25 to 5 km/h, m.
Wet Performance
In wet conditions, the budget tire fell far behind, clocking in over 23 seconds slower than the other models. Its poor wet performance, contrasted with strong ice capabilities, suggests it might be using a winter compound across various designs. The Michelin CrossClimate 2 landed in 5th place, trailing the top performers by roughly 5%. Bridgestone, Pirelli, Vredestein, and Continental were neck-and-neck, separated by just a tenth of a second. Bridgestone stood out for its stability and predictability, while Pirelli offered excellent turn-in and grip but was a bit slower in recovering from slides. Vredestein felt slightly vague on the front axle but remained solid overall. Continental claimed the fastest time, though it lacked the sporty feel of Bridgestone and Pirelli.
Wet Handling
- Summer
- Winter
- Continental
- Vredestein
- Pirelli
- Bridgestone
- Winter AVG
- Michelin
- Grenlander
Info! Wet handling time in seconds. Average temperature 21.5 c.
Wet Braking
- Summer
- Pirelli
- Bridgestone
- Continental
- Michelin
- Vredestein
- Winter
- Winter AVG
- Grenlander
Info! Wet Braking from 80 to 5 km/h, m. Average temperature 26.5 c.
Wet braking tests highlighted significant differences. Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 dominated, stopping at 25.14 meters, followed by Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 at 26.6 meters and Continental AllSeasonContact 2 at 27.04 meters. Michelin CrossClimate 2, despite its strong showing elsewhere, had slightly longer stopping distances at 27.25 meters. Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus ranked lowest among premium models with 27.47 meters. The budget Grenlander GreenWing AS fared the worst, needing 35.36 meters to stop, a considerable gap of over 10 meters compared to the best performer, raising serious safety concerns in wet conditions.
Wet Braking - Cool
- Pirelli
- Bridgestone
- Summer
- Continental
- Michelin
- Vredestein
- Winter
- Winter AVG
- Grenlander
Info! Wet braking from 80 to 5 km/h, m. Average temperature 8 c.
Straight Hydroplaning
- Pirelli
- Michelin
- Continental
- Bridgestone
- Summer
- Vredestein
- Winter
- Winter AVG
- Grenlander
Info! Float speed, km/h.
In deeper water, Pirelli also excelled in hydroplaning resistance, proving its overall dominance in wet weather.
Curved Hydroplaning
- Bridgestone
- Pirelli
- Summer
- Continental
- Michelin
- Vredestein
- Winter AVG
- Grenlander
- Winter
Info! Remaining lateral acceleration.
Dry Performance
Dry conditions brought some notable findings. The budget tire struggled, showing instability during lane changes. Michelin and Vredestein were passable but lacked the precision needed for performance driving. Vredestein offered decent grip but lacked sharpness, while Michelin was controlled but understeered heavily at the limit.
Continental felt more laid-back due to a broader steering dead zone but delivered solid grip, especially on uneven surfaces. Pirelli impressed with its strong braking and front-end grip. Surprisingly, Bridgestone came the closest to matching summer tire performance, offering exceptional grip despite a minor steering dead spot.
Dry Handling
- Summer
- Bridgestone
- Pirelli
- Continental
- Winter
- Vredestein
- Michelin
- Winter AVG
- Grenlander
Info! Dry handling time, sec.
Dry Braking
- Summer
- Pirelli
- Michelin
- Bridgestone
- Continental
- Winter
- Vredestein
- Winter AVG
- Grenlander
Info! Dry braking from 100 to 5 km/h, m. Average temperature 25.5 c.
While summer tires still lead in braking and mid-corner dynamics, the gap has significantly narrowed. Bridgestone and Pirelli, in particular, showed remarkable performance in this 19" category. Pirelli also topped the dry braking tests, followed closely by Michelin and Bridgestone.
Comfort
Noise levels across all tested tires were fairly consistent, with only minor differences in decibel readings. The Michelin CrossClimate 2 and Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus stood out as the quietest, while the Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 was slightly above the group average in noise levels.
Noise
- Winter
- Michelin
- Vredestein
- Grenlander
- Winter AVG
- Pirelli
- Continental
- Summer
- Bridgestone
Info! External noise, dB.
Subj. Comfort
- Continental
- Pirelli
- Vredestein
- Michelin
- Grenlander
- Bridgestone
Info! Subjective comfort score.
Due to weather limitations, a full comfort analysis couldn’t be conducted. However, based on subjective feedback, Pirelli and Continental emerged as the most comfortable options, effectively absorbing both minor and major road impacts. Given that all models tested were low-profile 19" tires, the variations in comfort were less pronounced than expected.
Value
Rolling resistance tests revealed key insights into the energy efficiency of these tires. The Michelin CrossClimate 2 led the pack with the lowest rolling resistance, promising enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 followed closely, maintaining impressive energy-saving credentials.
Rolling Resistance
- Michelin
- Pirelli
- Continental
- Grenlander
- Winter
- Winter AVG
- Bridgestone
- Vredestein
- Summer
Info! Rolling resistance, kg/t.
Bridgestone displayed moderate rolling resistance, while the Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus showed the highest among the tested models. Surprisingly, the budget Grenlander performed better than expected, outpacing some premium brands in this category, making it a noteworthy contender in terms of value.
Results
Here’s the overall ranking from the all-season tire test. Stay tuned to TiresVote for the upcoming Tyrereviews winter test and an in-depth comparison between all-season, winter, and summer tires.
1st Place: Pirelli / Cinturato All Season SF 3 — Test Winner
Quick Take
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 didn’t just participate—it dominated. Claiming first place in dry and wet braking, it also took the top spot for straight-line hydroplaning resistance. Handling on snow and ice was solid, securing top-three positions in nearly every category. While it could improve on ice braking and noise, its overall performance left little room for rivals to catch up. This tire proved it’s ready for anything, whether you’re navigating through sudden downpours or tackling snowy roads.
2nd Place: Michelin / CrossClimate 2 — Highly Recommended
Quick Take
Michelin CrossClimate 2
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 carved its way to the top in snow handling, braking, and traction, making it a clear choice for harsh winter conditions. It secured the best rolling resistance and noise ratings, proving it’s not just about grip but also efficiency and comfort. On dry roads, it delivered solid performance, taking second place in braking, but struggled a bit on wet surfaces. While it wasn’t the fastest on wet tracks, its strengths in snow and overall quiet ride make it an excellent pick for those who prioritize winter safety and a smooth drive.
3rd Place: Continental / AllSeasonContact 2 — Highly Recommended
Quick Take
Continental AllSeasonContact 2
The Continental AllSeasonContact 2 showed remarkable consistency across the board, placing in the top three in nearly every test. Its wet handling performance was unbeatable, taking first place in that category. On dry roads, it secured third in handling and fourth in braking, proving reliable on multiple surfaces. Snow and ice performance was steady, though it didn't lead in these areas. While it may not have dominated any single category, its well-rounded capabilities make it a dependable choice for drivers seeking stability and reliability year-round.
4th Place: Bridgestone / Turanza All Season 6 — Highly Recommended
Quick Take
Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
The Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 was all about precision and control, leading the pack in dry handling and subjective wet handling. It came close to the top in wet braking, showing its strength on damp roads. Its performance was comparable to a summer tire, making it a great choice for those in milder climates. However, its weaknesses surfaced in snowy conditions, where it lagged behind in braking and traction, and the firmer ride and higher rolling resistance might not suit everyone. For those prioritizing dry and wet handling over winter grip, this tire hits the mark.
5th Place: Vredestein / Quatrac Pro+ — Recommended
Quick Take
Vredestein Quatrac Pro+
The Vredestein Quatrac Pro+ shined on wet roads, securing a solid second place in wet handling. Its dry performance was respectable, but braking distances were noticeably longer compared to the top performers. In snowy and icy conditions, it lagged behind, with traction and braking falling short of expectations. Despite this, it still outperformed summer tires in winter tests, making it a decent choice for milder climates. While it didn’t dominate, it held its own against big players, proving that Vredestein can deliver solid mid-range options.
6th Place: Grenlander GreenWing AS — Not recommended
The Grenlander Greenwing AS showed strong performance on snow and excelled on ice, standing out for its quiet ride. However, its shortcomings are significant. Its dry grip was poor, and wet grip was notably underwhelming, performing 45% worse than the best tire in its category. Aquaplaning resistance was also weak, and the overall ride quality was below average. Additionally, it had the highest rolling resistance in the test group. Despite being labeled as an all-season tire, it only seems effective in extreme winter conditions, suggesting it may be a soft winter compound marketed as an all-season option.
