2012 Auto Bild Top 15 Winter Tyre Test

Continuing on from the 42 tyre winter tyres shootout, Auto Bild carried the top 15 tyres across to the more in-depth group tests. Qualifying for this ultimate winter shoot out were tyres from each of the six premium manufacturers, along with eight midrange brands and one brand we consider a high end budget (Maxxis).

As usual, the fifteen tyres were put through sixteen tests, designed to test all aspects of the tyres performance in the snow, on wet and dry roads, as well as wear, fuel consumption and comfort being rated.

The All Season Angle

Perhaps most interestingly for our UK readers, was the inclusion of the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons in all the tests. The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons is one of the strongest all season tyres on the market, and won the latest all season tyre test by Auto Bild. Instead of focusing on all season tyres in this write up, we've written a separate piece - all season tyres, how do they stack up.

Premium Performance

Somewhat unsurprisingly the winner of this group test was the new Continental Winter Contact TS850, as it continued its flawless run in the magazine group tests. Praised for a flawless winter performance, strong in the wet and combined with low rolling resistance it was the clear winner, with only its cost counting against it.

Full Results

	1st: Continental WinterContact TS 850 Total: 51 / Dry: 7 / Wet: 7 / Snow: 9 / Rolling Resistance: 9 / Comfort: 7 / Noise: 6 / Cost: 6 Positive: Best in all winter disciplines, good aquaplaning resistance, low rolling resistance, high comfort Negative: Cost Overall: Exemplary
	2nd: Bridgestone Blizzak LM32 Total: 44 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 7 / Snow: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 5 / Comfort: 6 / Noise: 8 / Cost: 5 Positive: Balanced handling and short braking distances in all weather conditions, high mileage, good comfort Negative: Slightly increased rolling resistance Overall: Exemplary
	3rd: Michelin Alpin A4 Total: 45 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 6 / Snow: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 7 / Comfort: 6 / Noise: 6 / Cost: 8 Positive: Convincing handling on wet and dry conditions, good steering precision, good mileage, low rolling resistance Negative: Cost Overall: Exemplary
	4th: Hankook Winter i cept RS Total: 41 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 5 / Snow: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 6 / Comfort: 5 / Noise: 6 / Cost: 6 Positive: Safe handling with good lateral grip on wet and snowy surfaces Negative: Slightly understeering driving behaviour on wet track Overall: Recommended
	5th: Semperit Speed Grip 2 Total: 41 / Dry: 5 / Wet: 8 / Snow: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 5 / Comfort: 5 / Noise: 8 / Cost: 4 Positive: Dynamic handling in wet and snowy, short wet braking distances, good aquaplaning resistance, quiet Negative: Understeer on a dry track, low mileage Overall: Recommended
	6th: Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D Total: 46 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 6 / Snow: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 8 / Comfort: 8 / Noise: 7 / Cost: 4 Positive: Top results on snow, precise steering response, good ride comfort, low rolling resistance Negative: Moderate grip in the wet, low mileage Overall: Recommended
	7th: Goodyear UltraGrip 8 Total: 39 / Dry: 5 / Wet: 7 / Snow: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 3 / Comfort: 7 / Noise: 6 / Cost: 5 Positive: Balanced snow qualities, good aquaplaning resistance, precise steering response, pleasant comfort Negative: Increased rolling resistance, high cost Overall: Recommended
	8th: Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 Total: 41 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 7 / Snow: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 7 / Comfort: 5 / Noise: 6 / Cost: 4 Positive: Agile handling with excellent cornering on wet track, low rolling resistance Negative: Moderate mileage, high cost Overall: Recommended
	9th: Nokian WR D3 Total: 43 / Dry: 7 / Wet: 5 / Snow: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 7 / Comfort: 6 / Noise: 7 / Cost: 4 Positive: Exemplary handling with more stable cornering on snow and dry conditions, quiet Negative: Reduced mileage Overall: Recommended
	10th: Fulda Kristall Control HP Total: 40 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 5 / Snow: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 6 / Comfort: 5 / Noise: 6 / Cost: 6 Positive: Balanced safe handling and short braking distances on snow-covered slopes, good value for money Negative: Understeering driving behaviour on wet track, moderate comfort Overall: Recommended
	11th: Falken Eurowinter HS449 Total: 38 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 7 / Snow: 4 / Rolling Resistance: 4 / Comfort: 4 / Noise: 8 / Cost: 5 Positive: Stable handling characteristics and short braking distances on wet roads Negative: Limited winter qualities, low mileage , increased fuel consumption Overall: Fair
	12th: Firestone Winterhawk 2 EVO Total: 35 / Dry: 5 / Wet: 5 / Snow: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 2 / Comfort: 4 / Noise: 7 / Cost: 6 Positive: Balanced handling on wet and dry roads, good value for money Negative: Prolonged wet and dry braking distances, moderate comfort, high rolling resistance Overall: Satisfactory
	13th: Kleber Krisalp HP2 Total: 41 / Dry: 5 / Wet: 5 / Snow: 4 / Rolling Resistance: 9 / Comfort: 6 / Noise: 3 / Cost: 9 Positive: Best value for money, high mileage, low rolling resistance Negative: Moderate Winter Properties, slightly increased understeer in the wet, high pass-by noise Overall: Fair
	14th: Uniroyal MS plus 66 Total: 31 / Dry: 5 / Wet: 5 / Snow: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 3 / Comfort: 4 / Noise: 5 / Cost: 3 Positive: Stable handling on snow, good aquaplaning resistance Negative: Unstable handling on wet roads, moderate comfort, poor mileage Overall: Fair
	15th: Maxxis MA PW Presa Snow Total: 39 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 2 / Snow: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 7 / Comfort: 2 / Noise: 9 / Cost: 6 Positive: Short stopping distances and dynamic handling on snow Negative: Weaknesses in driving performance and long braking distances on wet, moderate comfort, low mileage Overall: Conditionally recommendable

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