Auto Motor und Sport: Winter Tire Test R18 2025
In their 2024 winter tire test, Auto Motor und Sport quickly became the first to release a ranking for the upcoming winter season. This time, they focused on non-studded winter tires sized 235/55R18, commonly fitted to popular SUVs like the Audi A6 Allroad, Peugeot 308, and Toyota Rav4. Testing began in Scandinavia's snowy conditions back in February, followed by wet and dry road evaluations in Germany as soon as the winter frost had cleared.
As Timo Fleck, an Auto Motor und Sport journalist, explained, "For tire testers, winter stretches all the way into summer. The real testing season only wraps up when the heat is making everyone sweat." The process included rigorous road and lab tests for rolling resistance and durability, along with spot checks to ensure tire availability and quality matches what’s sold to consumers.
Among the tested models were newcomers like Bridgestone’s Blizzak 6, successor to the highly regarded LM005, and Continental’s WinterContact TS 870 P. Other contenders included Falken Eurowinter HS02 Pro, GT Radial WinterPro 2 Sport, and Goodyear UltraGrip Performance + SUV. Hankook Winter i*cept Evo 3 X, Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV, Nokian Snowproof 2 SUV, Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2, and Vredestein Wintrac Pro completed the lineup.
Interestingly, the Kumho WinterCraft WP52 was tested but didn’t make the final ranking. After conducting selective purchases, the team discovered that the tires available in stores were outdated compared to those tested earlier in the year. Kumho confirmed that new batches with DOT 2624 were expected by mid-September, but the delayed supply left the publication wary of the difference in quality, leading to the exclusion of this model from the final results.
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Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV - Winner Recommended
- Year
- 2025
- Max Score, points
- 10
- Tire Size
- 235/55R18
- Season
- Winter
- Auto Type
- Light Truck / SUV / 4*4
- List Type
- Professional Tire Test
- Region
- Europe
- Date added
- Aug 21, 2024
- Date updated
- Oct 21, 2024