2009 Sport Auto Performance Winter Tyre Test

It might still be August, but after an unusually snowy start to 2010 talk has already turned to winter tyres in the UK.

While we're waiting for the magazines to put together their 2010 winter tyre tests, here's one of the more interesting articles from 2009. This test is particularly good as it uses a powerful RWD car (Mercedes SLK350) which wears relatively wide 225/45 r17 performance tyres.

Each of the 8 tyres were tested in the snow, on wet roads and in the dry with the scoring emphasis bias towards wet weather and snow performance (these are winter tyres after all!)

While there's little difference between the tyres in the dry, the differences become more obvious in the wet and on snow. Sport Auto give four of the tyres the their ??highly recommended?? award - Continental Winter Contact TS 830, P Pirelli Sottozero Series 2, Dunlop SP Wintersport 3D and the Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 2.

Here are the full results:

	1st: Continental WinterContact TS 830 P Total: 248 / Dry: 66 / Wet: 87 / Snow: 95 Positive: Very good braking performance in snow, rain and the dry. Consistently high level of grip in wet and snow. Negative: Average aquaplaning performance
	2nd: Pirelli Sottozero Serie II Total: 242 / Dry: 65 / Wet: 89 / Snow: 88 Positive: Very balanced and good grip levels. High traction and braking performance in snow and rain Negative: Light compromising steering precision on dry roads
	3rd: Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D Total: 240 / Dry: 62 / Wet: 96 / Snow: 82 Positive: Excellent level of grip and very good handling in wet conditions. Good aquaplaning properties Negative: Not very balanced handling in snow
	4th: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 2 Total: 235 / Dry: 57 / Wet: 81 / Snow: 97 Positive: Excellent winter performance, aquaplaning best performance in the test. Good level of grip when wet Negative: Average braking performance on dry roads
	5th: Nokian WRG2 Total: 206 / Dry: 64 / Wet: 68 / Snow: 74 Positive: Balanced handling and acceptable delay on snow. Good handling characteristics in drought Negative: Poor aquaplaning properties. Gentle traction on snow
	6th: Firestone Winterhawk 2 Total: 197 / Dry: 65 / Wet: 52 / Snow: 80 Positive: Precise handling and good braking performance in dry conditions. Good traction on snow Negative: Lower grip levels and poor brake performance in wet conditions
	7th: Kumho IZen KW27 Total: 191 / Dry: 53 / Wet: 71 / Snow: 67 Positive: Good aquaplaning performance. Safe, understeer bias in the wet and snow Negative: Poor wet and snow grip levels
	8th: Michelin Pilot Alpin Total: 189 / Dry: 61 / Wet: 71 / Snow: 57 Positive: Very precise handling and grip in the dry Negative: Average grip, traction and braking performance in snow and rain