Test World: Winter Tire Test R16 2020

Test World: Winter Tire Test R16

The Finnish organization ran a comparative test of 21 studded and friction winter tires.

The new test conducted by the independent Finnish organization Test World involved more than twenty studded and friction winter tires belonging to different price brackets. As always, the tires were tested on ice, snow, and wet and dry pavement. In addition, the experts were evaluating their noise emission, environmental performance, and road holding ability on uneven surfaces.

  1. Continental IceContact 3 - Winner Recommended
    Continental IceContact 3
    86 49
    · Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Short stopping distance and good lateral stability on ice (but a risk of a skid during an emergency maneuver). Good handling and overall control on snow. Good handling response on asphalt.

    Snow Braking   Wet Braking   Dry Handling   Acceleration on Ice   Ice Handling   Wet Handling   Ice Braking   Snow Handling   Acceleration on Snow  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.9
  2. Michelin X-Ice North 4 Recommended
    Michelin X-Ice North 4
    92 50
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Excellent handling response on ice — the tires maintain dependable grip in any situation, for example, when unexpectedly hitting an ice-covered surface while cornering. Good handling response and high safety level on snow. On wet pavement, the tires keep reliable grip during an emergency maneuver.
    Negative: Prone to understeer on dry pavement. Increased rolling resistance.

    Dry Braking   Snow Braking   Wet Braking   Dry Handling   Acceleration on Ice   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Lateral Stability   Snow Handling   Acceleration on Snow   Fuel Consumption   Noise   Wet Handling  
    Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.9
  3. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 Recommended
    Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
    83 52
    · Winter · 2017 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Excellent grip and very good handling response on ice. Good handling response on snow (the tires will not bring you any unpleasant surprises in any situation). Good road holding ability.
    Negative: Inaccurate steering response and prone to abrupt loss of grip on dry pavement.

    Acceleration on Ice   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Lateral Stability   Snow Handling   Acceleration on Snow   Dry Handling   Noise  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.6
  4. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    85 56
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: No prominent issues found. Short braking distance and great handling response on ice. The tires ensure reliable grip in any situation. Very good handling response and confident behavior on snow. On dry and wet pavement, the tire’s performance was above average, which can be considered a serious achievement because successfully combining high traction on ice/snow and asphalt is quite a tall order. The steering response was somewhat delayed, but the tires kept up stable grip on the rear axle during an emergency maneuver. Low noise emission. Low rolling resistance.
    Negative: The road holding ability could have been better.

    Noise   Dry Braking   Dry Handling   Wet Handling   Ice Handling   Fuel Consumption   Snow Handling   Lateral Stability  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan
    Test Score:
    8.3
  5. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    Bridgestone Noranza 001
    75 38
    · Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Good overall performance on ice (but if you make an abrupt turn of the steering wheel, the grip on the rear axle is not reliable enough). Confident behavior on snow.
    Negative: Long braking distance on snow, dry, and wet pavementInaccurate steering response, and prominently prone to rear axle skid when driving on asphalt. Already an old model, and this is beginning to show through.

    Acceleration on Ice   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Snow Handling   Acceleration on Snow   Dry Braking   Fuel Consumption   Noise   Wet Handling  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.2
  6. Continental VikingContact 7
    Continental VikingContact 7
    89 56
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Short braking distance and great handling response on ice. Optimum control in any situation on snow. Good handling response on wet pavement — the steering response is somewhat delayed but the tires ensure stable performance without any unpleasant surprises.
    Negative: Prone to grip loss on the rear axle during an emergency maneuver on dry pavement.

    Noise   Snow Braking   Wet Handling   Ice Handling   Fuel Consumption   Lateral Stability   Snow Handling   Acceleration on Snow   Dry Handling  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · East Asia East Asia
    Test Score:
    8.1
  7. Hankook Winter i*Pike RS2 W429
    Hankook Winter i*Pike RS2 W429
    83 40
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Good traction on ice. Good handling response and reliable grip on wet pavement.
    Negative: Relatively long braking distance and prone to oversteer on ice. Prone to oversteer on snow. Delayed steering response and average braking performance on dry pavement.

    Wet Traction   Dry Handling   Ice Traction   Wet Braking   Dry Braking   Noise   Ice Braking  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.1
  8. Michelin X-Ice Snow
    Michelin X-Ice Snow
    82 57
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Short braking distance on ice (for non-studded tires). Good handling response and high safety level on snow. The tires keep up reliable grip on asphalt during an emergency maneuver (even though the steering response is somewhat inaccurate).
    Negative: The steering response on ice is somewhat delayed — but the tires ensure stable performance in any situation. Relatively long braking distance on asphalt.

    Snow Braking   Dry Handling   Wet Handling   Fuel Consumption   Lateral Stability   Snow Handling   Acceleration on Snow   Dry Braking   Wet Braking  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan · China China
    Test Score:
    8
  9. Linglong GREEN-Max Winter Grip 2
    Linglong GREEN-Max Winter Grip 2
    N/A 25
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Short braking distance on ice. Logic behavior on snow. Short braking distance on dry pavement.
    Negative: Insufficient steering feedback and handling response on ice. Delayed steering response on asphalt. High rolling resistance. Unbalanced overall performance.

    Lateral Stability   Dry Braking   Acceleration on Ice   Ice Braking   Dry Handling   Fuel Consumption   Wet Handling  
    Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    7.9
  10. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    86 42
    · Winter · 2014 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Excellent traction and short braking distance on ice. Short stopping distance and good handling response on wet pavement. Low rolling resistance.
    Negative: Relatively low lateral stability on ice, due to which the tires may lose grip during an emergency maneuver. Prone to understeer on snowInaccurate steering response on dry pavement (yet the tires tackle emergency maneuvers with no problem).

    Snow Braking   Dry Handling   Wet Handling   Fuel Consumption   Lateral Stability   Dry Braking   Snow Handling   Ice Traction  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    7.8
  11. Pirelli Ice Zero FR
    Pirelli Ice Zero FR
    85 40
    · Winter · 2015 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Short braking distance on dry pavement.
    Negative: Unstable behavior on ice and snow. At first, the tires demonstrate excellent lateral stability and handling response but then they may abruptly lose grip — and may recover it just as abruptly. Very long braking distance, relatively weak lateral stability and inaccurate steering response on wet pavement. Insufficient road holding ability.

    Ice Handling   Noise   Acceleration on Snow   Lateral Stability   Wet Braking  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · China China
    Test Score:
    7.8
  12. Hankook Winter i*cept iZ 2 W616
    Hankook Winter i*cept iZ 2 W616
    80 30
    · Winter · 2015 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Logic behavior without any unpleasant surprises on snow. Low rolling resistance. On dry pavement, the tires demonstrate delayed response to the driver’s actions, at the same time ensuring dependable grip on the rear axis.
    Negative: Unstable behavior on wet pavement. Risk of going into a skid during an emergency maneuver on ice.

    Lateral Stability   Dry Handling   Wet Handling   Fuel Consumption   Ice Handling   Wet Braking  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    7.7
  13. Kontio IcePaw
    Kontio IcePaw
    N/A 19
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Excellent traction and short braking distance on ice. Good road holding ability.
    Negative: Low lateral stability on ice, due to which the tires lose grip on the rear axle during an emergency maneuver. Long braking distance, and prone to skidding on snow. Weak lateral grip on asphalt. High noise emission.

    Lateral Stability   Acceleration on Ice   Ice Braking   Noise   Snow Braking   Dry Handling   Wet Handling   Snow Handling  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    7.6
  14. Sava Eskimo Ice
    Sava Eskimo Ice
    N/A 25
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Good braking efficiency on ice. On dry pavement, the tires ensure confident overall performance, keeping stable grip on the rear axle.
    Negative: Prone to grip loss on ice (at high speeds). Inaccurate steering response on wet pavement (but the tires’ overall behavior is stable). Long braking distance on dry pavement.

    Noise   Dry Handling   Wet Handling   Lateral Stability   Acceleration on Snow   Dry Braking   Wet Braking  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada
    Test Score:
    7.6
  15. Linglong Winter Unicorn
    N/A 22
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Negative: Delayed steering response on ice and snow (but the grip is rather strong). Poor grip and insufficient handling response on dry and wet pavement — the tires have problems tackling emergency maneuvers. High rolling resistance.

    Snow Handling   Noise   Dry Handling   Fuel Consumption   Wet Braking  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    7.5
  16. Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
    Bridgestone Blizzak Ice
    69 48
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Good handling response on snow (but the grip is generally lower than that of the leaders). Well-balanced behavior and short braking distance on dry pavement.
    Negative: Prone to understeer on ice and wet pavement.

    Lateral Stability   Dry Handling   Snow Braking   Snow Handling   Wet Handling   Wet Braking  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · South Korea South Korea
    Test Score:
    7.4
  17. Nankang Ice Activa 2
    Nankang Ice Activa 2
    N/A 26
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Acceptable handling response on snow (but the tires may lose grip too suddenly). Acceptable handling on wet pavement (even though the tires demonstrate a slightly delayed response to the driver’s actions).
    Negative: Poor longitudinal grip on ice (lateral stability is slightly better). Poor traction and inaccurate steering response on dry pavement.

    Snow Handling   Wet Handling   Noise   Acceleration on Snow   Dry Braking   Dry Handling   Acceleration on Ice   Ice Braking   Lateral Stability  
    Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    7.3
  18. Nexen Winguard Ice Plus
    Nexen Winguard Ice Plus
    69 39
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Negative: Poor grip on ice, both longitudinal and lateral. On ice, prone to skidding both on front and rear axles. Poor grip on snow during an emergency maneuver. Long braking distance and lack of control on dry and wet pavement. Insufficient road holding ability. Increased rolling resistance.

    Dry Handling   Wet Braking   Acceleration on Ice   Ice Handling   Wet Handling   Ice Braking   Snow Handling  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    7
  19. Petlas Glacier W661
    Petlas Glacier W661
    N/A 26
    · Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    Positive: Very high braking efficiency on wet and dry pavement. Very quick and accurate steering response on wet pavement (almost like summer tires); on dry pavement the situation is even better.
    Negative: Very weak traction on ice. The tires can suddenly go into a skid, taking forever to recover grip and bring the car to a standstill. When cornering on snow, the tires on the front axle quickly lose grip, after which the rear wheels go into a skid as well. Insufficient road holding ability.

    Dry Braking   Dry Handling   Wet Handling   Wet Braking   Snow Braking   Acceleration on Ice   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Snow Handling  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada
    Test Score:
    7
  20. Toyo Observe GSi-6
    Toyo Observe GSi-6
    69 40
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Stable behavior on snow, including during emergency maneuvers (although the frip could be stronger). Short braking distance and good lateral stability on wet pavement (but delayed steering response). Stable behavior and short braking distance on dry pavement.
    Negative: On ice, the tires lose grip too suddenly, which is detrimental to handling response. Insufficient road holding ability. High rolling resistance. Increased noise.

    Dry Braking   Dry Handling   Wet Braking   Noise   Acceleration on Ice   Fuel Consumption   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Lateral Stability  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan · China China
    Test Score:
    7
  21. Sunny SN3860
    Sunny SN3860
    N/A 4
    · Winter · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    Positive: Very short braking distance on wet pavement.
    Negative: The grip on ice is virtually nonexistent, and the car keeps on drifting to different sides. On snow, the situation is just as bad. Poor lateral stability, delayed steering response, and unstable behavior on wet pavement (on dry pavement the situation slightly improves).

    Lateral Stability   Dry Handling   Wet Braking   Snow Braking   Fuel Consumption   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Snow Handling   Acceleration on Snow  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    6.3
Year
2020
Tire Test Original Link
Visit Website
Max Score, points
10
Tire Size
205/55R16
Season
Winter
Auto Type
Passenger
List Type
Professional Tire Test
Region
Europe
Date added
Oct 17, 2020
Date updated
Feb 17, 2021

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