2011 AMS Winter Tyre Test

We might be well into the winter tyre season, but this excellent winter tyre test from Auto Motor und Sport was too good to ignore.

Covering 14 of the leading winter tyres in 205/55 R16, AMS puts them through their paces with the typical thoroughness of a German magazine.

	1st: Goodyear UltraGrip 8 Positive: Very good handling, good traction and short braking distances on snow, good wet performances, good comfort. Negative: Stopping distance in dry conditions are not optimal
	2nd: Continental WinterContact TS830 Positive: Very good handling characteristics and short braking distances on wet, snow-good characteristics, low noise. Negative: Stopping distance in dry conditions are not optimal.
	3rd: Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 Positive: Well-balanced driving characteristics under all conditions, very short wet braking, good comfort. Negative: Only moderate aquaplaning properties.
	4th: Nokian WR D3 Positive: Currently the best properties in the winter-competitive environment, good handling in dry conditions. Negative: Only moderate wet performances.
	5th: Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D Positive: Well-balanced driving characteristics under all conditions, wet braking distances short, good comfort, low noise. Negative: Snow traction is not optimal.
	6th: Vredestein Snowtrac 3 Positive: Good handling characteristics, short braking distance and snow traction, good wet performances. Negative: Only moderate aquaplaning properties.
	7th: Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 Positive: Good handling characteristics and short braking distances and good traction on snow, very low rolling resistance. Negative: Poor aquaplaning properties.
	8th: Toyo Snowprox S953 Positive: Good handling on dry roads, good comfort, low noise levels. Negative: Only average snow traction, moderate aquaplaning properties.
	9th: Sava eskimo hp Positive: Very good handling, good traction and short braking distances on snow. Negative: Average properties in wet and dry, high rolling resistance.
	10th: Fulda Kristall Control HP Positive: Very good handling, good traction and short braking distances on snow. Negative: Average properties in wet and dry, high rolling resistance.
	11th: Bridgestone Blizzak LM32 Positive: Good driving comfort and low road noise, satisfactory performance on snow. Negative: Long dry braking distance, high rolling resistance.
	12th: Apollo Acelere Winter Negative: Good handling and very good braking performance on dry roads. Overall: Poor handling on snow.
	13th: Falken Eurowinter HS439 Positive: Very good driving characteristics on dry roads, good comfort. Negative: Unsatisfactory handling on snow, just average in the wet.
	14th: GT Radial Champiro Winterpro Positive: Good handling characteristics on dry roads, good comfort. Negative: Unsatisfactory handling on snow, average in the wet.

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