Test World: Large Winter Tire Test R16 2021

The Finns have tested 16 models of studded and friction winter tires (nine studded and seven friction ones), including two important studded newcomers — Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10, and the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2, which ultimately tied with Michelin for the position of an absolute leader.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 - Winner Recommended

94 58

· Winter · 2021 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good grip on ice. Good handling on ice and snow.
Negative: Relatively poor wet performance.
Ice Handling (Subjective) Snow Handling (Subjective) Ice Handling Acceleration on Ice Snow Braking Ice Braking Snow Handling

North America · Europe

Test Score:

8.8
Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 Recommended

88 53

· Winter · 2021 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good traction and good handling on ice. Short braking distances on snow roads.
Ice Handling (Subjective) Snow Handling Ice Handling Acceleration on Ice Snow Braking Acceleration on Snow Ice Braking Road-Holding

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

8.7
Michelin X-Ice North 4 Recommended

92 50

· Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good handling on ice and snow. Good stability on uneven surfaces.
Negative: Poor grip on wet asphalt.
Ice Handling (Subjective) Snow Handling (Subjective) Ice Handling Acceleration on Ice Snow Braking Road-Holding Acceleration on Snow Ice Braking Snow Handling Wet Braking Wet Handling Dry Handling (Subjective) Wet Handling (Subjective)

Canada · Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

8.6
Pirelli Ice Zero 2

81 44

· Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good snow performance. Good handling on wet asphalt.
Negative: Low lateral stability on ice.
Snow Handling Snow Handling (Subjective) Dry Braking Acceleration on Ice Snow Braking Acceleration on Snow Ice Braking Road-Holding

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

8.5
Bridgestone Noranza 001

75 38

· Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good grip on ice. Good handling on snow.
Negative: Poor handling on wet asphalt.
Ice Handling (Subjective) Snow Handling (Subjective) Ice Handling Acceleration on Ice Acceleration on Snow Ice Braking Noise (Subjective) Wet Handling (Subjective)

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

8.3
Continental IceContact 3

86 49

· Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good balance of performance. Good grip and good handling on snow.
Negative: Poor handling on dry asphalt.
Snow Handling (Subjective) Ice Handling Acceleration on Ice Snow Braking Acceleration on Snow Ice Braking Road-Holding Noise (Subjective)

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

8.2
Hankook Winter i*Pike RS2 W429

83 40

· Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good ice performance. Short braking distances on snow.
Negative: Poor dry performance.
Ice Handling (Subjective) Ice Handling Acceleration on Ice Snow Braking Acceleration on Snow Ice Braking Dry Braking Noise (Subjective) Dry Braking (Subjective)

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

8.2
Kumho WinterCraft ice Wi32

N/A 26

· Winter · 2021 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good longitudinal ice grip. Poor wet performance.
Negative: High noise level.
Ice Handling (Subjective) Ice Handling Acceleration on Ice Ice Braking Snow Handling Wet Handling (Subjective) Wet Braking Wet Handling Noise (Subjective)

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

8
Continental VikingContact 7

89 56

· Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good grip and good handling on ice (for studless tires). Very good snow performance. Low noise level.
Negative: Poor wet performance
Snow Handling Snow Handling (Subjective) Snow Braking Noise (Subjective) Acceleration on Snow Road-Holding Wet Handling (Subjective)

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+ · East Asia

Test Score:

7.9
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2

86 42

· Winter · 2014 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good grip on ice (for studless tires). Good results in all disciplines.
Snow Handling (Subjective) Snow Braking Noise (Subjective) Acceleration on Snow Snow Handling

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

7.8
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3

85 56

· Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good performance on snow and ice. Very low rolling resistance.
Negative: Insufficient dry handling.
Fuel Consumption Snow Handling (Subjective) Snow Braking Noise (Subjective) Acceleration on Snow Snow Handling Acceleration on Ice Dry Handling (Subjective)

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+ · Japan

Test Score:

7.7
Goodride IceMaster Spike Z-506

N/A 27

· Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good grip on wet surfaces.
Negative: Lack of good handling on dry surfaces and directional stability on uneven surfaces.
Wet Grip Dry Handling (Subjective) Snow Handling Road-Holding

Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

7.4
Michelin X-Ice Snow

82 57

· Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good longitudinal grip on ice. Good handling on ice and snow.
Negative: Poor dry performance. Long braking distances on wet roads.
Ice Grip Snow Handling Noise (Subjective) Ice Handling (Subjective) Ice Handling Dry Handling (Subjective) Wet Braking

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+ · Japan · China

Test Score:

7.2
Hankook Winter i*cept iZ 2 W616

80 30

· Winter · 2015 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good snow performance. Low rolling resistance.
Negative: Insufficient dry handling.
Rolling Resistance Snow Handling (Subjective) Snow Braking Ice Handling (Subjective) Ice Handling Acceleration on Ice Ice Braking Dry Handling (Subjective)

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+

Test Score:

7.1
Kumho WinterCraft Wi51

62 30

· Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x

Verdict:
Positive: Good grip on snow. Low rolling resistance.
Negative: Poor dry performance. Lack of good directional stability on uneven surfaces.
Rolling Resistance Snow Grip Road-Holding Ice Handling (Subjective) Ice Handling Dry Handling (Subjective)

Europe

Test Score:

7.1
CST Medallion Winter WCP1

N/A 30

· Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Positive: Good performance on asphalt.
Negative: Poor driving performance on snow and ice (close to European type winter tires). High rolling resistance.
Wet Handling (Subjective) Wet Braking Wet Handling Dry Braking Snow Braking Acceleration on Snow Ice Braking Snow Handling (Subjective) Fuel Consumption Ice Handling Snow Handling Acceleration on Ice Ice Handling (Subjective)

Europe

Test Score:

6.5