2011 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test

Auto Bild Performance, the German version of EVO magazine have put together the tyre test EVO should have. 7 wide 225/40 R18 tyres on a 260bhp Mazda 3 MPS.

On test are the usual premium brands, with only Bridgestone missing from the "big 6". Also included a midrange Hankook and a budget Rockstone.

Do budget winters work in the UK?

Perhaps the most interesting part of the test was the inclusion of a performance budget winter tyre. The UK, known as one of the largest buyers of budget tyres, has been importing budget winter tyres in masses this year. With the UK winters being appropriately 40% dry, 45% wet and 15% snow, seriously sacrificing wet weather performance for snow performance would be an oversight, yet that's exactly what this test shows with the Rockstone getting the lowest possible wet performance score.

While not all budgets are equal, it's important to do research when considering any tyre to ensure you get balanced performance.

Results

1st: Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D

Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 24
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 9
Excellent winter tyres with dynamic handling characteristics. Highest safety reserves in aquaplaning, with short braking distances on both wet and dry roads.

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2nd: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 2

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 2
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 23
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 9
Top winter tyres with excellent traction and shortest braking distances on snow covered slopes. Stable cornering with safe driving characteristics. Excellent aquaplaning properties

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3rd: Pirelli Sottozero Serie II

Pirelli Sottozero Serie II
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 21
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 7
Balanced sports winter tyre. Stable cornering and safe qualities on snow, excellent steering precision with good dynamic response and handling

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4th: Continental WinterContact TS 830 P

Continental WinterContact TS 830 P
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 21
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 7
Sport handling qualities on wet and dry track, short braking distance and pleasant ride comfort
Understeer on snow, only average aquaplaning result

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5th: Hankook Winter i cept evo

Hankook Winter i cept evo
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 21
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 8
Impressive handling qualities on snow, good stering precision and short braking distances on dry roads
Slightly longer braking distances on wet roads and a high rolling resistance

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6th: Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3

Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 18
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 4
  4. Snow: 6
Good on snow, high steering precision and cornering stability on dry roads. Low rolling resistance
Understeer and long braking in the wet, average aquaplaning results

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7th: Rockstone Ice plus s210

Rockstone Ice plus s210
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 18.1
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 0.1
  4. Snow: 10
Good snow performance
Perhaps the perfect example of why budget winter tyres struggle in the UK climate. While this tyre was excellent in the snow it was rated dangerous in the wet with massive braking distances and terrible aquaplaning properties. Overall Autobild called the tyre "defective"!

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