Auto Bild: Large Winter Tire Test R18 2020

Each year, more and more new tire models are launched on the market, and buying a set of such new tires is often fraught with a number of risks. According to the results of the winter tire test 2020 conducted in size 245/45 R18 by the German industry publication Auto Bild, many tires have serious issues in terms of dependability and driving safety. Therefore, if you do not want to buy the wrong set of tires, instead of proceeding solely from the budget considerations or the reputation of the brand, make a thorough research on the tires’ performance in those conditions, in which you are most likely to drive.
For yet another annual large-scale tire test, where more than 50 sets of tires are aligned at the start, the Auto Bild experts anonymously bought these tire sets online or in retail tire dealerships.Thanks to the price variance among the test participants, those who are looking to save money can clearly see that safety usually does not come cheap.
Thanks to the price variance among the test participants, those who are looking to save money can clearly see that safety usually does not come cheap. First things first, though!

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 - Winner Recommended

93 44

· Winter · 2014 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Excellent snow grip, dynamic handling performance on dry and wet pavement, efficient braking, long expected mileage, good price/quality ratio. Winner of the Auto Bild winter tire test 2020/2021.
Cons: Very high price.However weird this may sound, this is the first independent tire test of the Pilot Alpin 5 model, which has been out for three years.
Noise Dry Braking Snow Traction Snow Braking Treadwear Slalom (Snow Surface) Wet Braking Lateral Stability (Wet Surface) Dry Handling Wet Handling

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+ · Japan
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 Recommended

88 56

· Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: great overall winter performance, high level of driving safety on wet and dry pavement, good riding comfort, low rolling resistance.
Cons: Average tread life.
Rolling Resistance Snow Traction Snow Braking Slalom (Snow Surface) Wet Braking Lateral Stability (Wet Surface) Dry Handling Wet Handling Snow Handling

Canada · Europe · Russia+
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ Recommended

88 55

· Winter · 2019 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Excellent performance on snow-covered and dry roads, good handling response on wet pavement, good hydroplaning safety margin.
Cons: Average riding comfort.
Straight Aquaplaning Lateral Aquaplaning Snow Traction Dry Handling Snow Handling

Europe · Russia+ · China
BFGoodrich g-Force Winter 2 Recommended

79 39

· Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: good environmental performance, convincing handling response on snow, good hydroplaning resistance, high resistance to wear and long tread life.
Cons: Increased rolling resistance
Noise Snow Traction Snow Braking Treadwear Slalom (Snow Surface) Rolling Resistance

Europe · Russia+
Kleber Krisalp HP3 Recommended

80 52

· Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: affordable price, great overall performance, well-balanced handling response in any weather conditions, long expected mileage.
Cons: Increased rolling resistance
Lateral Aquaplaning Noise Snow Braking Treadwear Slalom (Snow Surface) Rolling Resistance

Europe · Russia+
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 W330 Recommended

90 44

· Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: sporty handling response on wet and dry pavement, good mobility on snow, short stopping distance on snow and wet pavement.
Cons: Increased rolling resistance
Straight Aquaplaning Dry Braking Wet Braking Rolling Resistance Noise

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+ · South Korea
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P

79 43

· Winter · 2014 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Sporty and dynamic handling response in any weather conditions, crisp steering response, long tread life.
Cons: Increased braking distance on dry pavement, expensive price.
Noise Treadwear Slalom (Snow Surface) Wet Braking Lateral Stability (Wet Surface) Dry Handling Wet Handling Snow Handling Dry Braking

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+ · South Korea
Dunlop Winter Sport 5

82 57

· Winter · 2015 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Well-balanced performance with impressive handling response on snow, high hydroplaning safety margin, good riding comfort.
Cons: Increased braking distance on wet pavement, expensive price.
Straight Aquaplaning Lateral Aquaplaning Snow Handling Rolling Resistance Noise Wet Braking

Europe · Russia+
Apollo Aspire XP Winter

N/A 25

· Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Convincing traction and short stopping distance on snow, good hydroplaning resistance, and dynamic handling response on dry pavement.
Cons: Poor mobility on snow, increased braking distance on wet pavement.
Dry Braking Lateral Aquaplaning Dry Handling Noise Slalom (Snow Surface) Wet Braking

Europe · Russia+
Semperit Speed-Grip 3

70 39

· Winter · 2017 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Short stopping distance and dynamic handling response on wet pavement, long tread life, good fuel saving properties.
Cons: Low hydroplaning safety margin.
Treadwear Wet Handling Wet Braking Straight Aquaplaning Snow Braking Lateral Aquaplaning

Europe · Russia+
Fulda Kristall Control HP2

69 37

· Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Good traction on snow, great hydroplaning resistance, good riding comfort, long tread life.
Cons: poor handling response on dry and wet pavement, increased braking distance on wet pavement.
Straight Aquaplaning Lateral Aquaplaning Rolling Resistance Snow Braking Snow Handling Dry Braking Wet Braking Lateral Stability (Wet Surface) Dry Handling Wet Handling

Europe · Russia+
Vredestein Wintrac Pro

82 46

· Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Well-balanced performance in any weather conditions, short braking distance on snow, dynamic handling on wet pavement.
Cons: Average fuel saving capabilities, increased rolling resistance.
Dry Braking Snow Braking Wet Handling Lateral Stability (Wet Surface) Rolling Resistance

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+
Giti GitiWinter W1

66 25

· Winter · 2017 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Short stopping distance and good handling response on snow, long tread life, affordable price.
Cons: Average hydroplaning resistance, increased stopping distance on wet pavement.
Price Snow Braking Treadwear Lateral Stability (Wet Surface) Snow Handling Straight Aquaplaning Lateral Aquaplaning Wet Braking Dry Handling Snow Handling

Europe
Uniroyal MS Plus 77

80 28

· Winter · 2013 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Great performance on snow, high hydroplaning safety margin, pleasant riding comfort.
Cons: Moderate traction and handling response in the wet, average tread life.
Snow Traction Snow Handling Slalom Treadwear

Europe · Russia+
Barum Polaris 5

62 37

· Winter · 2018 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Well-balanced handling response on snow and dry pavement, good hydroplaning resistance.
Cons: Increased braking distance on wet pavement, moderate expected mileage, increased rolling resistance.
Dry Handling Snow Handling Rolling Resistance Treadwear Wet Braking

Europe · Russia+
Laufenn I FIT+

55 37

· Winter · 2020 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Good traction on snow, confident cornering, efficient braking performance, long tread life.
Cons: Insufficient traction on wet pavement, prone to understeer on wet and dry pavement.
Dry Braking Treadwear Noise Rolling Resistance Snow Traction Wet Braking Lateral Stability (Wet Surface) Dry Handling Wet Handling

Europe · Russia+
Nokian WR A4

70 22

· Winter · 2016 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Well-balanced and safe handling response on dry pavement, low noise, low rolling resistance.
Cons: Poor handling response on snow, average hydroplaning resistance.
Rolling Resistance Dry Handling Noise Straight Aquaplaning Lateral Aquaplaning Snow Handling Slalom (Snow Surface)

Europe · Russia+
General Altimax Winter 3

N/A 25

· Winter · 2017 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Good snow traction, good price/quality ratio, low noise.
Cons: Poor handling response on wet and dry pavement, average hydroplaning resistance.
Snow Traction Noise Price / Quality Straight Aquaplaning Lateral Aquaplaning Rolling Resistance Wet Braking Dry Handling Wet Handling

Europe · Russia+
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

81 59

· Winter · 2014 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Convincing performance on snow-covered and dry surfaces, low rolling resistance.
Cons: Moderate traction and handling response in the wet, expensive price, average tread life.
Dry Braking Rolling Resistance Snow Traction Snow Braking Wet Braking Lateral Stability (Wet Surface)

USA+ · Canada · Europe · Russia+ · East Asia
Cooper Weather-Master SA2+

52 22

· Winter · 2015 · Passenger - Performance Winter / Snow

Verdict:
Pros: Good hydroplaning safety margin, low noise, inexpensive price.
Cons: average snow and ice traction, prone to understeer on dry pavement, short tread life.
Straight Aquaplaning Price Noise Rolling Resistance Dry Braking Snow Traction Snow Braking Treadwear Slalom (Snow Surface) Dry Handling Snow Handling

Europe