Auto Bild: Winter Tire Test R16 2021

Auto Bild: Winter Tire Test R16

The biggest test of 2021 conducted by the expert team of the German publication Auto Bild was devoted to winter tires of one of Europe’s most popular sizes, 205/55 R16. The test began with a qualification round, during which the experts evaluated the snow and wet braking performance of 50 models, purchased anonymously in a retail network.

  1. Continental WinterContact TS 870 - Winner
    Continental WinterContact TS 870
    90 60
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The test was won by the new model of the upcoming winter season, Continental WinterContact TS 870, which, in addition, received the «Eco-Master» title for the best fuel saving performance.
    Pros: excellent handling performance in any weather conditions, short stopping distance, crisp steering response, strong aquaplaning resistance, high wear, long mileage.

    Dry Handling   Noise   Wet Handling   Straight Aquaplaning   Rolling Resistance   Snow Braking   Lateral Aquaplaning   Mileage   Slalom   Snow Traction   Snow Handling  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  2. Michelin Alpin 6
    Michelin Alpin 6
    85 55
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The second place was scored by the premium-class Michelin Alpin 6, which also demonstrated good grip on all winter surfaces and a long expected mileage.
    Pros: well-balanced performance, good handling response, long mileage.
    Cons: prone to slight understeer on wet pavement.

    Mileage   Dry Braking   Snow Traction   Steering Response  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan
  3. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    Kleber Krisalp HP3
    80 52
    · Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The relatively inexpensive Kleber Krisalp HP3 model from one of Michelin’s subsidiaries demonstrated a good winter performance and scored the third place in the final standings.
    Pros: dynamic handling performance on snow, strong aquaplaning resistance, low noise.
    Cons: prone to slight understeer on wet pavement

    Snow Handling   Noise   Straight Aquaplaning   Steering Response  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  4. Vredestein Wintrac
    Vredestein Wintrac
    82 40
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Michelin tires shared the third stair of the winners’ pedestal with the Vredestein Wintrac model, produced by the Indian Apollo Tyres.
    Pros: a convincing versatile «talent» with dynamic wet and dry performance, precise steering response, low rolling resistance.
    Cons: average mileage.

    Noise   Dry Handling   Wet Braking   Wet Handling   Dry Braking   Rolling Resistance   Mileage  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe
  5. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    88 56
    · Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The fifth line of the final standings was occupied by the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005.
    Pros: the best snow performance on test, a good aquaplaning safety margin, a short wet braking distance, quiet ride.
    Cons: expected mileage below average.

    Snow Traction   Straight Aquaplaning   Noise   Slalom   Wet Braking   Wet Handling   Lateral Aquaplaning   Snow Handling   Mileage  
    Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  6. Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452
    Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452
    82 38
    · Winter · 2015 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The sixth to cross the finish line was the Hankook Winter i*Cept RS2 W452.
    Pros: excellent snow and wet performance, very good aquaplaning resistance, short wet braking distance, affordable price.
    Cons: prone to understeer on dry pavement.

    Straight Aquaplaning   Noise   Slalom   Wet Braking   Wet Handling   Dry Braking   Lateral Aquaplaning   Snow Handling   Steering Response  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  7. Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
    Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
    86 51
    · Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ model scored only the seventh line in the final standings.
    Pros: convincing performance and stable handling response on snow and wet pavement, smooth ride, good value for the money.
    Cons: prone to understeer on dry pavement.

    Snow Braking   Snow Traction   Straight Aquaplaning   Wet Handling   Lateral Aquaplaning   Snow Handling   Steering Response  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  8. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    82 57
    · Winter · 2015 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 model occupied the eighth line of the tournament bracket.
    Pros: dynamic performance and efficient braking on wet and snow-covered surfaces, good ride comfort.
    Cons: delayed steering response, limited mileage.

    Snow Braking   Wet Braking   Wet Handling   Mileage   Steering Response  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  9. Semperit Speed-Grip 3
    Semperit Speed-Grip 3
    70 39
    · Winter · 2017 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The ninth place was scored by the Speed-Grip 3 tire of the Semperit brand, owned, as is known, by the German tire giant Continental.
    Pros: short braking distance on snow, dynamic handling performance on dry pavement, quiet ride, long mileage.
    Cons: average snow grip, increased dry braking distance.

    Mileage   Noise   Snow Braking   Dry Handling   Dry Braking   Snow Traction  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  10. Firestone Winterhawk 4
    Firestone Winterhawk 4
    70 41
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The tenth place in the tournament bracket was occupied by the Firestone Winterhawk 4 (a product from a Bridgestone subsidiary).
    Pros: very good overall winter performance, short stopping distance on snow and wet pavement, long expected mileage, affordable price.
    Cons: understeer and increased stopping distance on dry pavement.

    Mileage   Snow Braking   Price   Slalom   Wet Braking   Snow Traction   Rolling Resistance   Steering Response   Dry Braking  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  11. BFGoodrich g-Force Winter 2
    BFGoodrich g-Force Winter 2
    79 39
    · Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The next ten of the final twenty is topped by the BFGoodrich G-Force Winter 2.
    Pros: convincing ice and snow performance, consistent handling response on wet pavement, good aquaplaning resistance.
    Cons: delayed steering response on dry pavement.

    Snow Handling   Snow Braking   Wet Handling   Straight Aquaplaning   Steering Response  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  12. Falken Eurowinter HS01
    Falken Eurowinter HS01
    73 41
    · Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Falken Eurowinter HS01 crowded the Uniroyal model in the twelfth position.
    Pros: consistent performance on dry and wet surfaces, long expected mileage, good aquaplaning resistance.
    Cons: relatively weak snow traction, poor lateral grip and long braking distance on wet pavement.

    Mileage   Dry Handling   Dry Braking   Wet Braking   Lateral Stability   Snow Traction  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  13. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    80 28
    · Winter · 2013 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The twelfth place was scored by the Speed-Grip 3. This model can be arguably considered to be the esteemed veteran of the tire industry, but it’s definitely not going to make way for the young to make way.
    Pros: stable handling response on wet and dry pavement, good aquaplaning resistance, long expected mileage.
    Cons: only moderate grip on winter surfaces with a clear tendency for understeer, relatively long wet braking distance.

    Mileage   Dry Handling   Wet Handling   Lateral Aquaplaning   Snow Handling   Wet Braking   Snow Traction  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  14. Yokohama BluEarth*Winter V906
    Yokohama BluEarth*Winter V906
    68 33
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The fourteenth overall result was demonstrated by the Yokohama BluEarth*Winter V906.
    Pros: short braking distance on snow, dynamic handling response in the dry, smooth ride, affordable price.
    Cons: prone to understeer on snow, a slightly increased wet braking distance, limited mileage.

    Snow Braking   Noise   Price   Dry Handling   Mileage   Wet Braking   Snow Handling  
    USA+ USA+ · Europe Europe
  15. Barum Polaris 5
    Barum Polaris 5
    62 37
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The budget Barum Polaris 5 (another Continental subsidiary) scored the fifteenth line of the tournament bracket.
    Pros: inexpensive winter profile offering good snow performance, long mileage, low rolling resistance.
    Cons: limited safety margin in terms of aquaplaning resistance; increased stopping distance on dry and wet pavement alike.

    Snow Handling   Rolling Resistance   Mileage   Wet Braking   Dry Braking   Lateral Aquaplaning  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  16. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    69 37
    · Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The sixteenth place was scored by a Goodyear product, the Fulda Kristall Control HP2 model.
    Pros: good traction and short braking distance on snow, very good mileage, low price.
    Cons: fuzzy handling response, weak lateral stability and a long braking distance on dry and wet pavement alike.

    Mileage   Snow Braking   Price   Lateral Aquaplaning   Snow Traction   Steering Response   Wet Braking   Lateral Stability   Dry Braking  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  17. Sava Eskimo HP2
    Sava Eskimo HP2
    68 32
    · Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    One of the most budget-friendly tires on test, Sava Eskimo HP2, just as Fulda tires, is produced at the European facilities owned by Goodyear. This time around, it scored the seventeenth line in the final standings.
    Pros: good traction and a short braking distance on snow, long expected mileage, affordable price.
    Cons: average traction, prone to understeer on wet pavement, long braking distance on dry and wet pavement alike.

    Snow Braking   Price   Mileage   Snow Traction   Dry Braking   Wet Braking   Wet Handling  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  18. Nokian WR Snowproof
    Nokian WR Snowproof
    68 44
    · Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    Although this may come as a surprise, the WR Snowproof tire made by Nokian, priced almost the same as the bronze-winning model, could only land the eighteenth line in the tournament bracket.
    Pros: well-balanced dry performance, long expected mileage, low rolling resistance.
    Cons: poor lateral grip on snow and wet surfaces, relatively weak aquaplaning resistance.

    Mileage   Dry Handling   Rolling Resistance   Dry Braking   Lateral Stability   Straight Aquaplaning  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
  19. Nexen Winguard Snow G 3
    Nexen Winguard Snow G 3
    69 32
    · Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    One of the cheapest tires on test (along with the Barum model), the Nexen Winguard Snow G3, came nineteenth.
    Pros: short braking distance on snow, smooth and quiet ride, low price.
    Cons: prone to fuzzy handling response, short mileage, poor aquaplaning resistance, strong rolling resistance.

    Snow Braking   Noise   Price   Mileage   Handling   Rolling Resistance   Lateral Aquaplaning  
    Europe Europe
  20. Laufenn I FIT+
    Laufenn I FIT+
    55 37
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Laufenn i-Fit+, which demonstrated only average performance in the ADAC test in size 195/65 R15, scored the last place in the Auto Bild comparative test, and was «conditionally recommended» by the experts, which essentially means that it can indeed be used in certain weather conditions and with a play-it-safe driving style. The tire is manufactured by Hankook.
    Pros: convincing snow grip, dynamic handling response in the dry, low price.
    Cons: poor resistance to lateral aquaplaning, average lateral stability on wet pavement, short mileage.

    Snow Handling   Slalom   Dry Handling   Dry Braking   Mileage   Lateral Stability   Lateral Aquaplaning  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
Year
2021
Tire Test Original Link
Visit Website
Tire Size
205/55R16
Season
Winter
Auto Type
Passenger
List Type
Professional Tire Test
Region
Europe
Date added
Oct 21, 2021
Date updated
Mar 08, 2022

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