Test World: Large Winter Tire Test R16 2021

Test World: Large Winter Tire Test R16

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.

  1. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 - Winner Recommended
    Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    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 North America · Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    8.8
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 Recommended
    Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    88 54
    · 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 Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.7
  3. Michelin X-Ice North 4 Recommended
    Michelin X-Ice North 4
    92 52
    · 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 Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.6
  4. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    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 Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.5
  5. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    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 Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.3
  6. Continental IceContact 3
    Continental IceContact 3
    86 51
    · 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 Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.2
  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 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+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8.2
  8. Kumho WinterCraft ice Wi32
    Kumho WinterCraft ice Wi32
    69 28
    · 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 Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    8
  9. Continental VikingContact 7
    Continental VikingContact 7
    90 55
    · 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+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · East Asia East Asia
    Test Score:
    7.9
  10. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    86 40
    · 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+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    7.8
  11. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    84 54
    · 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+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan
    Test Score:
    7.7
  12. Goodride IceMaster Spike Z-506
    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 Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    7.4
  13. Michelin X-Ice Snow
    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+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan · China China
    Test Score:
    7.2
  14. Hankook Winter i*cept iZ 2 W616
    Hankook Winter i*cept iZ 2 W616
    78 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+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    7.1
  15. Kumho WinterCraft Wi51
    Kumho WinterCraft Wi51
    61 29
    · 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 Europe
    Test Score:
    7.1
  16. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    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 Europe
    Test Score:
    6.5
Year
2021
Max Score, points
10
Tire Size
205/55R16
Season
Winter
Auto Type
Passenger
List Type
Professional Tire Test
Region
Europe
Date added
Sep 29, 2021
Date updated
Mar 08, 2022

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