Continental WinterContact TS 870 P secures a clear all-round win with the safest wet grip in the group and rock-solid manners on dry roads. Steering feel is confident and immediate, emergency stops are class-leading, and curved-water aquaplaning control is outstanding. In snow it stays predictable and easy to place—more safe than sporty—delivering stable laps and reassuring braking, though ultimate lateral bite trails the very best. Road noise is low for the category; ride comfort is firmer over sharp joints.

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 takes a podium finish by pairing winter pace with rare polish. On snow it feels planted and neutral, flowing through corners with confident rotation and clear feedback; on wet asphalt it stays composed at high yaw with strong aquaplaning reserves and precise throttle-on exits. Dry balance is tidy and predictable with ample reserve grip, making rapid lane changes easy to place. Day to day it’s unusually civil: best-in-test noise suppression and plush rolling comfort smooth out rough surfaces. Efficiency is the only real trade-off—the casing rolls a bit heavier than the class leaders—and its snow and wet stops are a shade longer than the very shortest.

Michelin Alpin 7 blends secure winter traction with confident, tidy manners. It shines in emergency stops on wet roads and delivers the strongest lateral grip on snow in this group, keeping the car planted through long, loaded corners. Steering feel on dry asphalt is clean and consistent, though outright dry braking trails the leaders. In the wet, balance tends to safe understeer and feedback is muted, and it shows some aquaplaning sensitivity at higher speeds. Ride is firm over sharp joints, but efficiency is strong and Michelin’s hallmark longevity adds ownership value.

Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 delivers sharp steering and strong wet-road security, feeling almost summer-tire precise in quick transitions. Its aquaplaning resistance is a standout—stable through deep water and composed in sweepers—and snow stopping distances are among the very best. On dry asphalt it carries healthy cornering reserves, though outright braking trails the leaders. Balance on snow tends toward safe understeer, and on wet surfaces it can react nervously to abrupt load changes. Ride is firm over sharp joints, cabin noise is noticeable, and efficiency isn’t its forte.

Vredestein Wintrac Pro+ skews toward wet-road pace with surefooted, agile responses and confident turn-in. It feels stable and predictable in the rain, with strong braking and reassuring aquaplaning margins. On dry tarmac the steering remains responsive, though outright braking and lap speed lag the best. In snow it’s serviceable but not a specialist—traction and control are fine, yet stopping distances and cornering bite trail the front-runners. Ride comfort is a plus; efficiency and cabin hush are merely average. Solid value for milder winters where wet grip matters most.

Bridgestone Blizzak 6 leans into classic winter strength: surefooted on snow, settled on dry, and easy to place when the pace rises. Steering builds confidence with predictable balance and clear reserves, and on packed snow it carves clean, controllable arcs with short, repeatable stops. The weak spot is rain—grip fades earlier than rivals and stability wavers in quick, wet direction changes. Day to day it rides neatly enough, but cabin hush and efficiency are merely average. Best for regions that see real winter, less ideal for long, wet motorway seasons.

Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 is a safe, all-round winter option that favors cold-wet climates. On dry roads it steers neatly and stays composed in quick transitions, with predictable braking and generous reserves. In the wet it feels surefooted—corner entry is stable, exits are tidy, and aquaplaning protection is reassuring both straight and through sweepers. Its weak spot is snow: grip comes early but fades sooner than the leaders, so stopping distances lengthen and cornering bite is modest with limited margin at the limit. Day to day, rolling feels a bit coarse and profile noise seeps in; efficiency is only mid-pack.

The Linglong Sport Master Winter delivers balanced performance on reduced grip levels overall, but has pronounced weaknesses that limit its appeal. It provides decent braking on both wet and dry asphalt with good aquaplaning protection, and shows sluggish but easily controllable handling on dry roads. However, on snow it demonstrates weak performance across all disciplines except cornering grip. On wet surfaces, the tire exhibits sluggish steering with limited reserves and a tendency toward lift-off oversteer, which is concerning. In dry conditions, while cornering stability is weak, it maintains some basic competence. The tire feels somewhat harsh over cross joints. Most critically, the EU label's optimistic A-rating for wet grip proved misleading - the actual performance doesn't match this claim, and process stability in the Serbian manufacturing facility appears questionable based on follow-up testing showing significant variation between production batches.

Falken Eurowinter HS02 aims for value but misses the mark where a winter tire matters most. Steering feel is vague on dry roads and corrections pile up in longer bends, though straight-line braking remains acceptable. In the wet it stops decently, yet direction changes are sluggish and lift-off responses unsettle the rear, trimming confidence. Snow is the weak link: low reserves, longer stops, and modest cornering bite demand gentle, measured inputs. Ride is on the firm side and interior noise is noticeable; efficiency is only mid-pack.