2013 Auto Bild SUV / 4x4 Winter Tyre Test

Test Summary
Wet BrakingNokian WR D3
Dry BrakingGoodyear UltraGrip 8
Wet HandlingContinental ContiCrossContact Winter
Pirelli Scorpion Winter
Rolling ResistanceDunlop SP WinterSport 4D
Continental ContiCrossContact Winter
NoiseMichelin Alpin A4
Continental ContiCrossContact Winter
Snow HandlingDunlop SP WinterSport 4D
Nexen WinGuard SUV
Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
Semperit Speed Grip 2
Pirelli Scorpion Winter
Imperial Snowdragon 2

This years Auto Bild 4x4 and SUV winter tyre test covers a 215/65 R16 tyre size using a VW Toureg and 10 different winter tyre patterns. As usual, they are put through dry, wet and snow testing.

 

The Summer Tyre

To make things interesting Auto Bild have included a summer tyre in the test. Unsurprisingly the summer tyre lost every snow test, and won the dry handling and braking test (with Nokian a very close second), it was slightly more interesting in the wet.

 

The summer tyre took the advantage in wet handling and braking, but again the best winter wasn't far behind, with the Dunlop and Goodyear almost matching the summer tyre in the handling and braking tests respectively. During the curved aquaplaning tests the winter tyres dominated, proving they're far more effective at dealing with the standing water we experience in our long, wet winters.

 

Surprisingly the summer had the highest rolling resistance of all the winter tyres, save for the Nexen, and the noise test was extremely close with the top 5 tyres within 1/2 db of each other.

 

The Results 

1st: Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D

Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D
  • 215/65 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 39
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
  7. Noise: 7
Very balanced winter tyre with few weaknesses, particularly good cornering grip in wet conditions
Relatively high price, average aquaplaning safety

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2nd: Michelin Alpin A4

Michelin Alpin A4
  • 215/65 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 38
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
  7. Noise: 6
Very balanced winter tyre, great cornering force in snowy conditions
Highest price in this comparison

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3rd: Continental ContiCrossContact Winter

Continental ContiCrossContact Winter
  • 215/65 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 38
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
  7. Noise: 4
Balanced and very good performance in snow, lowest rolling resistance in the test
Average performance when braking on wet and dry roads, increased tyre noise

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4th: Goodyear UltraGrip 8

Goodyear UltraGrip 8
  • 215/65 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 36
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 5
  7. Noise: 5
Outstanding aquaplaning, maximum traction on snow, wet shortest braking distance
Prolonged dry braking distance, average braking on snow, not particularly quiet or cheap

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5th: Pirelli Scorpion Winter

Pirelli Scorpion Winter
  • 215/65 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 37
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 5
  7. Noise: 7
Very good in the snow tests, low rolling noise
Prolonged dry braking distance, average rolling resistance and aquaplaning results, expensive

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6th: Semperit Speed Grip 2

Semperit Speed Grip 2
  • 215/65 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 36
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
  7. Noise: 7
Good price/performance ratio, very quiet, well above average in the wet
Only average lateral grip in snow

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7th: Nokian WR D3

Nokian WR D3
  • 215/65 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 33
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 5
  5. Comfort: 4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 5
  7. Noise: 5
Very high aquaplaning safety, almost as good as a summer tyre in the dry
Moderate ride comfort, relatively expensive, average on snow, not too quiet

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8th: Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO

Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
  • 215/65 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 36
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 5
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
  7. Noise: 7
A very short braking distance on wet roads, good braking on dry roads, low noise level
Moderate traction on snow, average cornering in the wet, average comfort

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9th: Nexen WinGuard SUV

Nexen WinGuard SUV
  • 215/65 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 26
  2. Dry: 1
  3. Wet: 3
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4
  7. Noise: 7
Cheap, best value when braking on snow and generally good on snow, fairly quiet
Slow on dry pavement, below average in the wet, the highest rolling resistance test

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10th: Imperial Snowdragon 2

Imperial Snowdragon 2
  • 215/65 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 25
  2. Dry: 4
  3. Wet: 1
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 1
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
  7. Noise: 7
Very low price, very good braking on snow and generally good on snow, low rolling resistance
Disastrous in the wet, especially when braking, average dry roads, hard ride

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