ADAC: Winter Tire Test R15 2019

Traditionally, at the height of the tire industry’s winter season, Germany’s publication ADAC is announcing the results of its comparative tests. This year, just as always, the readers are in for the results of two winter tests that totally involved 31 winter studless tires in the sizes of 185/65 R15 T and 205/65 R16C T (up to 190 km/h). We will start our review with the first test that covered the tires designed to be installed on compact cars.

During the winter tire test 185/65 R15 (which is currently the bestselling tire size in the segment of compact vehicles) the experts tested and evaluated 16 tire models by ADAC’s typical 18 individual criteria.

It must be noted that three out of the 16 chosen models were discarded very early on by the testers themselves. For example, in 2019, Goodyear UltraGrip 9 was updated by the manufacturer up to UltraGrip 9+, Nokian WR Snowproof replaced the outdated WR D4, and Michelin Alpin A4 still in 2018 got a «grandson» named Michelin Alpin A6.

Dunlop Winter Response 2 - Winner Recommended

85 40

· Winter · 2013 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
The undisputable winner of the fresh ADAC winter tire test 185/65 R15 is Dunlop Winter Response 2. Its biggest advantages are dependable grip on snow and wet pavement, coupled with low fuel consumption.
Dry Performance Snow Performance Ice Performance Wet Performance Noise / Comfort Fuel Consumption Treadwear

Europe

Test Score:

2.1
Kleber Krisalp HP3 Recommended

80 52

· Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Top marks on dry roads.
Dry Performance Snow Performance Ice Performance Wet Performance Noise / Comfort Fuel Consumption Treadwear

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

2.3
Pirelli Cinturato Winter Recommended

77 49

· Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Well balanced on dry, wet and snow-covered roads
Dry Performance Snow Performance Ice Performance Wet Performance Fuel Consumption Treadwear

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

2.3
Continental WinterContact TS 860

87 57

· Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Top marks in the wet. A little weaker on ice compared to the best. Good on dry roads and on snow.
Treadwear Wet Performance Dry Performance Snow Performance Fuel Consumption

Europe · Russia+ · South Korea

Test Score:

2.6
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452

82 34

· Winter · 2015 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Good on dry and wet roads. A little weaker on ice compared to the best. Relatively high fuel consumption.
Treadwear Wet Performance Dry Performance Snow Performance

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

2.6
Michelin Alpin A4

82 34

· Winter · 2010 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Top marks in wear. Slight weaknesses on snow. Especially good on dry roads and ice. Relatively high fuel consumption.
Ice Performance Wet Performance Dry Performance Snow Performance Treadwear

USA+ · Canada · Europe

Test Score:

2.8
Falken Eurowinter HS01

73 41

· Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Good in the wet. Slight weaknesses on snow and especially on ice.
Treadwear Wet Performance Fuel Consumption

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

2.9
Vredestein Snowtrac 5

75 22

· Winter · 2014 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Low fuel consumption. Relatively weak on dry roads. Loudest outside noise.
Ice Performance Fuel Consumption Treadwear Outside Noise

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

3
Goodyear UltraGrip 9

82 46

· Winter · 2014 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Especially good on wet. Relatively weak on snow. Good even on dry roads
Ice Performance Wet Performance Dry Performance Treadwear Fuel Consumption Snow Handling

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

3.1
Nokian WR D4

76 37

· Winter · 2015 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Although Nokian WR D4 did show some class on winter surfaces, it was not half as convincing on either wet or dry pavement. The test experts were also disappointed with its relatively weak resistance to wear.
Ice Performance Fuel Consumption Snow Performance

Europe · Russia+ · Oceania

Test Score:

3.1
Gislaved Euro*Frost 6

61 29

· Winter · 2017 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
The product of Gislaved (a subsidiary brand of Continental), the Euro*Frost 6 model, demonstrated its weak sides on snow, in the wet, and in the dry.
Ice Performance Fuel Consumption Treadwear

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

3.2
Kumho WinterCraft WP51

67 19

· Winter · 2014 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Relatively weak on snow.
Ice Performance Fuel Consumption Snow Handling

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+ · Southeast Asia · North Africa

Test Score:

3.2
Viking WinTech

N/A 24

· Winter · 2017 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Viking WinTech was totally weak on wet pavement alone.
Ice Performance Fuel Consumption Snow Performance Treadwear

Europe

Test Score:

3.2
Sava Eskimo S3+

75 16

· Winter · 2010 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
The tires Sava Eskimo S3+ were the only ones on test that got the verdict «average», which, by a certain stretch of the imagination, can be interpreted as «conditionally recommended». Their performance on dry pavement could not convince the test experts in the reverse.
Ice Performance Fuel Consumption Snow Performance Treadwear Dry Performance

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

3.6
Toyo Snowprox S943

74 15

· Winter · 2013 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
In the ADAC winter tire test 2019, the Toyo Snowprox S943 model disappointed the test experts with its performance on snow, particularly during the cornering.
Ice Performance Fuel Consumption Treadwear Dry Performance Snow Performance

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

5.1
Davanti Wintoura

N/A 28

· Winter · 2017 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
The Davanti Wintoura tires, which recently appeared on the German market, demonstrated a lack of grip on wet pavement (mostly lateral), as well as an extremely weak resistance to hydroplaning.
Ice Performance Fuel Consumption Treadwear Wet Performance Dry Performance Snow Performance

USA+ · Canada · Europe

Test Score:

5.5