Teknikens Värld: Big Winter Tire Test R17 2024

Teknikens Värld: Big Winter Tire Test R17

In its most recent Winter Tire Test R17, the Swedish automotive publication Teknikens Värld conducted a thorough examination of 18 winter tire models, spanning studded, Scandinavian friction, and European friction categories. This year's evaluation was particularly significant due to the absence of Russian-made tires, a change indicative of the shifting global tire production and distribution landscape. The test included tires from new sources, including Canada, showcasing the diversifying tire market. Additionally, the review focused on comparing budget-friendly tires against premium ones, underlining the importance of cost-effectiveness in tire selection. A standout model in the test was the Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3, notable for its high stud count, aligning with current trends in winter tire design.

  1. Continental VikingContact 7 - Winner Recommended
    Continental VikingContact 7
    89 56
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Continental VikingContact 7 is a top-performing winter tire, showcasing exceptional capabilities in snow conditions, as evidenced by perfect scores in snow braking and snow handling. It also excels in ice handling, nearly reaching the top mark. The tire's comfort and economy are additional strong suits, providing a balanced driving experience. However, its performance in wet conditions, particularly in resisting straight aquaplaning, and braking on wet and dry pavements is less impressive, indicating room for improvement in these areas.

    Rolling Resistance   Comfort   Snow Handling   Snow Braking   Ice Handling   Dry Braking   Straight Aquaplaning   Wet Braking  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · East Asia East Asia
    Test Score:
    121
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    89 46
    · Winter · 2023 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 demonstrates a well-rounded performance, excelling in wet handling and showing strong resistance to straight aquaplaning. Its performance on dry pavement is also commendable. However, it struggles in ice braking and has room for improvement in snow handling. Despite these drawbacks, the tire maintains an impressive balance of performance, particularly for a "European" tire, indicating its suitability for diverse winter conditions.

    Straight Aquaplaning   Wet Braking   Wet Handling   Dry Braking   Moose Test   Snow Handling   Ice Braking  
    Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    113
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    88 53
    · Winter · 2021 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 shows outstanding performance in winter conditions, particularly excelling in snow braking and handling, as well as ice handling. However, it exhibits weaker performance in wet and dry braking, and its resistance to straight aquaplaning is moderate. While the tire's steering response on ice is not the sharpest, it maintains a balanced overall performance and offers an acceptable level of comfort, even as a studded tire.

    Snow Handling   Snow Braking   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Wet Braking   Wet Handling  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    112
  4. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    86 45
    · Winter · 2021 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 demonstrates strong capabilities in various conditions. It excels in braking on dry pavement and shows impressive wet handling and resistance to straight aquaplaning, indicating reliable performance in both dry and wet conditions. However, the tire's performance in ice braking and snow handling is moderate, suggesting room for improvement in harsher winter conditions. Overall, the tire offers a balanced performance, comparable to summer tires on asphalt, while still managing acceptable performance on snow and ice.

    Straight Aquaplaning   Wet Braking   Wet Handling   Snow Braking   Dry Braking   Moose Test   Snow Handling   Ice Handling   Ice Braking  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    112
  5. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    88 56
    · Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 stands out for its excellent performance on wet and dry pavements, achieving perfect scores in braking in these conditions. It also excels in wet handling and shows strong resistance to straight aquaplaning, highlighting its reliability in wet environments. However, its performance on ice, particularly in ice braking, is a notable weakness. Overall, the tire offers an excellent performance across various conditions, with the exception of ice, which is a common challenge for tires in its category.

    Wet Performance   Dry Performance   Wet Handling   Aquaplaning   Ice Braking  
    Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    110
  6. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    N/A 36
    · Winter · 2023 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 demonstrates strong performance in winter conditions, particularly excelling in ice braking and handling, as well as in snow braking and handling. This tire offers high grip in ice and snow, indicating its suitability for harsh winter environments. It also provides a comfortable ride. However, its performance in wet and dry braking is less impressive, and it shows only moderate resistance to straight aquaplaning. Despite this, the tire maintains an overall balanced performance, especially in snowy and icy conditions.

    Comfort   Ice Braking   Snow Handling   Snow Braking   Ice Handling   Dry Braking   Wet Braking   Aquaplaning  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    110
  7. Michelin Alpin 6
    Michelin Alpin 6
    85 55
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Michelin Alpin 6 exhibits strong performance on snow and asphalt, aligning with the best European winter tires in these conditions. It performs well in wet handling and braking on both wet and dry pavements. However, the tire's performance on ice, both in braking and handling, is less effective, likely due to its stiff rubber compound which reduces grip on ice. Despite this, the tire maintains a good balance between comfort and course stability.

    Snow Performance   Wet Braking   Wet Handling   Comfort   Dry Braking   Ice Performance  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan
    Test Score:
    108
  8. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-03
    Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-03
    N/A 31
    · Winter · 2023 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3 excels in winter conditions, particularly on ice, with perfect scores in ice braking and handling. This demonstrates its exceptional grip and control in icy environments. It also performs reasonably well in snow braking and handling. However, the tire's performance on wet and dry pavement is less impressive, and it shows only moderate resistance to straight aquaplaning. Additionally, the Blizzak Spike 3 has lower scores in comfort, indicating a less smooth ride, potentially due to high noise levels and rolling resistance.

    Snow Handling   Snow Braking   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Dry Braking   Wet Braking   Comfort  
    Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    107
  9. Michelin X-Ice Snow
    Michelin X-Ice Snow
    82 57
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Michelin X-Ice Snow demonstrates excellent performance in snow braking, earning a perfect score and indicating superior control and safety in snowy conditions. It also performs well in ice braking and snow handling. However, the tire significantly underperforms on wet pavement, both in terms of braking and handling. Additionally, it shows weaker performance in dry braking and resistance to straight aquaplaning. The tire's comfort and course stability are moderate. Notably, there is a difference in weight between the tires made in Canada and those made in China, which may affect performance.

    Snow Handling   Snow Braking   Moose Test   Dry Braking   Wet Braking   Aquaplaning  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan · China China
    Test Score:
    102
  10. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    94 58
    · Winter · 2021 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 excels in winter conditions, especially on ice, with a perfect score in ice handling and a high score in ice braking. It also performs well in snow braking and handling. However, its performance significantly drops on wet pavement and in resistance to straight aquaplaning. The tire also shows weaknesses in dry braking and handling. Additionally, it scores low on comfort and course stability, indicating a less smooth and stable driving experience. While its ice performance is outstanding, its overall performance in other winter conditions and comfort levels are areas of concern.

    Snow Handling   Snow Braking   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Dry Braking   Wet Braking   Comfort   Aquaplaning  
    North America North America · Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    100
  11. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    84 43
    · Winter · 2022 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 excels in winter conditions, especially on snow, achieving a perfect score in snow braking and high scores in snow handling and ice handling. This indicates its strong performance and reliability in snowy and icy environments. However, the tire underperforms significantly in wet conditions, with low scores in braking on wet pavement and poor resistance to straight aquaplaning, which led to a substantial penalty. Its performance on dry pavement is moderate, and it has some limitations in course stability, though it offers decent comfort and fuel efficiency.

    Snow Braking   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Wet Braking   Aquaplaning  
    North America North America · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan
    Test Score:
    99
  12. Continental IceContact 3
    Continental IceContact 3
    86 49
    · Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Continental IceContact 3 shows exceptional performance in snow braking, achieving a perfect score, which highlights its effectiveness in snowy conditions. It also performs well in snow handling. However, the tire's performance on ice, particularly in ice braking, is less impressive than expected for a studded tire. Additionally, it struggles in wet and dry braking and shows only moderate resistance to straight aquaplaning. The tire also has a very high rolling resistance, impacting its fuel efficiency significantly.

    Snow Handling   Snow Braking   Ice Handling   Wet Braking   Rolling Resistance   Ice Braking  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    96
  13. Nexen Winguard Ice Plus
    Nexen Winguard Ice Plus
    69 39
    · Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Studless Ice & Snow · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 demonstrates strong performance in snow braking, achieving a perfect score, which indicates its reliability and effectiveness in snowy conditions. However, its performance in other areas is moderate. The tire shows average capabilities in ice braking and handling, as well as in snow handling. It underperforms in wet and dry braking, and its resistance to straight aquaplaning is subpar. Additionally, the tire offers moderate comfort and course stability. While Nexen is a developing brand, this particular model is characterized as mediocre, with room for improvement in grip and comfort.

    Snow Braking   Moose Test   Dry Braking   Wet Braking   Aquaplaning  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    94
  14. Kumho WinterCraft ice Wi32
    Kumho WinterCraft ice Wi32
    N/A 26
    · Winter · 2021 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi32 is a studded tire that shows decent performance in ice and snow conditions, with respectable scores in ice braking, handling on ice, and snow handling. However, it significantly underperforms in wet handling and has extremely poor resistance to straight aquaplaning, indicating substantial weaknesses in wet conditions. Additionally, its performance on dry pavement is below average, and the tire offers minimal comfort. The increased stud protrusion, while enhancing ice grip, adversely affects its performance on asphalt. Overall, despite improvements in ice grip, the tire's performance in other areas, particularly in wet conditions and comfort, is lacking.

    Snow Braking   Comfort   Dry Performance   Wet Handling   Aquaplaning  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    78
  15. Kontio IcePaw
    Kontio IcePaw
    N/A 19
    · Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Kontio IcePaw, a tire manufactured in China and studded in Finland, exhibits strong performance in winter conditions, with good scores in ice and snow braking, and handling on both ice and snow. However, its performance significantly declines in wet and dry conditions, particularly in braking. The tire also struggles with resistance to straight aquaplaning, indicating limited effectiveness in wet environments. Additionally, it scores low in comfort, course stability, and fuel efficiency due to higher rolling resistance. While it performs well on snow and ice, its overall performance is hampered by poor traction in wet conditions and high rolling resistance.

    Snow Braking   Ice Handling   Ice Braking   Comfort   Wet Performance   Dry Performance   Rolling Resistance   Aquaplaning  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    77
  16. Winrun Winter-Max S1 WR60
    Winrun Winter-Max S1 WR60
    N/A 28
    · Winter · 2022 · Passenger - Studdable Winter / Snow · Studded · For Nordic Winter x
    Verdict:

    The Winrun Winter-Max S1 WR60, despite its high stud count, delivers mediocre performance on ice, reflected in its average scores in ice braking and handling. It shows a slightly better performance in snow braking and handling. However, the tire significantly underperforms in terms of comfort and course stability, scoring exceptionally low in these areas. Its performance in wet and dry conditions is also below average, and it demonstrates limited fuel efficiency. Overall, the Winrun Winter-Max S1 WR60's performance is hampered by its poor comfort and economy, making it one of the less recommended options in the market for winter tires.

    Snow Braking   Wet Performance   Dry Performance   Rolling Resistance   Comfort  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    69
  17. Rotalla S210
    Rotalla S210
    N/A 19
    · Winter · 2014 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Rotalla S210 is an extremely budget-friendly tire, but its performance in winter conditions is notably poor. It scores exceptionally low in ice and snow braking, as well as in handling on both ice and snow, indicating a significant safety hazard in these conditions. In contrast, it performs well in dry conditions, with perfect scores in braking on dry pavement and the moose test for obstacle avoidance. The tire also has good scores in wet handling and aquaplaning resistance. Additionally, it offers decent comfort and excellent course stability, with good fuel efficiency. However, the tire's severe underperformance in winter conditions suggests it may be more akin to a rebadged summer model than a true winter tire.

    Wet Handling   Dry Performance   Price   Moose Test   Rolling Resistance   Snow Handling   Snow Braking   Ice Handling   Ice Braking  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+
    Test Score:
    36
Year
2024
Tire Test Original Link
Visit Website
Max Score, points
160
Tire Size
225/50R17
Season
Winter
Auto Type
Passenger
List Type
Professional Tire Test
Region
Europe
Date added
Nov 10, 2023
Date updated
Nov 17, 2023

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