The Continental VikingContact 8 is a premium winter tire engineered for SUVs, delivering elite and balanced performance across winter conditions. It secured a decisive test victory by demonstrating exceptional control and predictability, particularly on ice and snow. The tire excels at complex driving maneuvers, managing acceleration and braking while cornering with composure. While its dry performance is competent, the focus is clearly on superior traction in low-grip environments, making it a top-tier choice for severe winter driving.

The Pirelli Ice Friction marks a significant leap forward, earning a standout reputation as a top-tier winter performer. It dominates on dry pavement and excels in wet conditions with best-in-class aquaplaning resistance. This tire maintains a remarkably high and consistent performance level across all test disciplines, securing its second-place finish through versatile excellence rather than a single specialty.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 remains a formidable winter tire, delivering a refined and capable driving experience. It combines high winter grip with class-leading quietness and excellent dry-road manners. Its sharp steering response and stable cornering on asphalt are matched by confident handling on snow and ice, though it exhibits a slight understeer at the limit. This balance of low noise, strong dry handling, and consistent winter performance secures its top-tier status.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV represents a strategic recalibration, prioritizing wet asphalt performance to address past criticisms. This focus yields the test's shortest wet braking distance, a significant achievement. However, this comes with a trade-off, as the tire exhibits a more nervous and less predictable character on ice compared to its predecessors. It offers decent overall winter grip but can lose traction more abruptly at the limit.

The Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, now one of the older models in its class, demonstrates a clear performance dichotomy. It achieves elite, class-leading braking on ice, a testament to its core winter design. However, this strength is offset by a pronounced understeering character and a general lack of cornering grip across all surfaces, from ice to wet asphalt. Its steering response is sluggish, and it falls behind newer competitors in wet performance and aquaplaning resistance.

The Nordman North RS3 SUV is a value-oriented tire based on a previous-generation Nokian design. It delivers surprisingly competent winter performance, challenging more expensive models on ice and snow with predictable handling at the limit. However, its age is revealed in significantly weaker wet and dry asphalt performance, where braking distances grow long and steering feel becomes inconsistent. It is a budget-conscious choice for drivers who prioritize core winter traction over all-season refinement.

The Hankook Winter i*cept IZ3 X is a mid-range SUV winter tire that demonstrates competent, all-around performance without excelling in any single discipline. It delivers reasonable braking distances on most surfaces and maintains a natural steering feel on asphalt. However, it struggles with limited cornering grip and predictability on ice and snow, where the rear can break away unexpectedly. While an improvement over its predecessor, it remains a step behind the premium contenders, particularly in icy conditions and noise suppression.

The Maxtrek Trek M7 Plus occupies the budget segment and delivers a performance to match its price. It demonstrates a profound lack of capability across nearly all test disciplines, finishing last or next-to-last in ten of thirteen categories. Its sole redeeming quality is adequate straight-line traction and braking on snow, a function of its coarse tread pattern. However, it fails completely in any situation requiring cornering, balance, or controlled braking, especially on ice and wet asphalt.