2015 Winter Tyre Market Overview

Auto Bild MagazineThe 2015 winter tyre test season is here, and as usual the German magazine Auto Bild have done an excellent job of giving us an overview of this years contenders.

Testing 51 tyres in 185/60R15, Auto Bild put each tyre through a wet braking test, then took the top 28 tyres through to the snow braking test. Once the snow braking results were in, the magazine combined the wet and snow distances to give an over all result, taking the top 15 tyres through to their full 2015 Winter Tyre Test.

The Results

While there's no huge surprises in the top ten, the Pirelli All Season in eleventh place has once against blured the line between winter and all season tyres. In theory, the all season tyre should be weaker in the snow, and stronger in the wet than any full winter tyre, however the Pirelli All Season was only tenth best in the wet, and beat a number of winter tyres in the snow test!

Nokian narrowly missed out on the top 15 for the for the first time ever, finishing seventeenth with the outgoing WR D3, and Bridgestone were the only premium brand not to get through to the final test but placed comparatively strongly in eigthenth. 

As usual, the budget winter tyres prove themselves to be a liability in the wet, with the worst tyre on test stopping a full 16.4 meters further than the best tyre on test from just 50mph, which is around four car lengths and actually larger than the total gap in 2012 and 2014 (14.8 meters.)

Similar patterns

One other point of interest from this test is that the tyres finishing in 45th, 48th, 49th, 50th and 51st all have identical tread patterns. Sadly they weren't tested for snow performance as the wet performance was so poor, but it goes to show that pattern isn't everything in the wet, as 45th to 51st had a 3.4 meter spread.

The full list

1st: Dunlop Winter Response 2

Dunlop Winter Response 2
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 65.1
  2. Wet: 36.8
  3. Snow: 28.3
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2nd: Goodyear UltraGrip 9

Goodyear UltraGrip 9
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 65.5
  2. Wet: 36.9
  3. Snow: 28.6
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3rd: Continental WinterContact TS 850

Continental WinterContact TS 850
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 67.2
  2. Wet: 39.5
  3. Snow: 27.7
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4th: Michelin Alpin A4

Michelin Alpin A4
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 67.6
  2. Wet: 39.7
  3. Snow: 27.9
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5th: Semperit Speed Grip 2

Semperit Speed Grip 2
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 68
  2. Wet: 39.6
  3. Snow: 28.4
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6th: Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3

Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 68.7
  2. Wet: 40.7
  3. Snow: 28
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7th: Falken Eurowinter HS449

Falken Eurowinter HS449
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 68.8
  2. Wet: 40.6
  3. Snow: 28.2
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8th: Apollo Alnac Winter

Apollo Alnac Winter
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 68.9
  2. Wet: 40.2
  3. Snow: 28.7
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9th: Barum Polaris 3

Barum Polaris 3
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 69.4
  2. Wet: 40.8
  3. Snow: 28.6
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10th: Hankook Winter i cept RS2

Hankook Winter i cept RS2
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 70.1
  2. Wet: 41.6
  3. Snow: 28.5
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11th: Pirelli Cinturato AllSeason

Pirelli Cinturato AllSeason
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 70.3
  2. Wet: 41
  3. Snow: 29.3
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12th: Uniroyal MS+ 77

Uniroyal MS Plus 77
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 70.3
  2. Wet: 41.7
  3. Snow: 28.6
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13th: Fulda Kristall Montero 3

Fulda Kristall Montero 3
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 70.5
  2. Wet: 42.8
  3. Snow: 27.7
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14th: Gislaved EuroFrost 5

Gislaved EuroFrost 5
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 70.7
  2. Wet: 41.7
  3. Snow: 29
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15th: Viking Snow Tech II

Viking Snow Tech II
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 70.7
  2. Wet: 42.2
  3. Snow: 28.5
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16th: Firestone Winterhawk 3

Firestone Winterhawk 3
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 70.8
  2. Wet: 41.9
  3. Snow: 28.9
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17th: Nokian WR D3

Nokian WR D3
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 70.9
  2. Wet: 42.7
  3. Snow: 28.2
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18th: Bridgestone Blizzak LM001

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 71.5
  2. Wet: 43.4
  3. Snow: 28.1
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19th: Kleber Krisalp HP2

Kleber Krisalp HP2
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 71.6
  2. Wet: 42.9
  3. Snow: 28.7
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20th: BFGoodrich gForce Winter

BFGoodrich gForce Winter
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 71.7
  2. Wet: 42.9
  3. Snow: 28.8
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21st: Sava Eskimo S3+

Sava Eskimo S3 Plus
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 71.7
  2. Wet: 43
  3. Snow: 28.7
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22nd: Torque TQ022

Torque TQ022
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 71.8
  2. Wet: 42.9
  3. Snow: 28.9
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23rd: Matador MP 92 Sibir Snow

Matador MP 92 Sibir Snow
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 72
  2. Wet: 43.1
  3. Snow: 28.9
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24th: Yokohama W drive V905

Yokohama W drive V905
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 72
  2. Wet: 42.6
  3. Snow: 29.4
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25th: Sportiva Snow Winter

Sportiva Snow Winter
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 72.1
  2. Wet: 43
  3. Snow: 29.1
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26th: Kumho Winter Craft WP51

Kumho Winter Craft WP51
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 72.7
  2. Wet: 42.5
  3. Snow: 30.2
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27th: Ovation W 586

Ovation W 586
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 72.8
  2. Wet: 43.9
  3. Snow: 28.9
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28th: Goodyear Vector 4Seasons

Goodyear Vector 4Seasons
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 74.3
  2. Wet: 44.3
  3. Snow: 30
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29th: Hifly Win Turi

Hifly Win Turi
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 44.5
  2. Wet: 44.4
  3. Snow: 0.1
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30th: Vredestein Snowtrac 5

Vredestein Snowtrac 5
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 44.9
  2. Wet: 44.8
  3. Snow: 0.1
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31st: Nexen Winguard Sport

Nexen Winguard Sport
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 45.7
  2. Wet: 45.6
  3. Snow: 0.1
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32nd: Toyo Snowprox S943

Toyo Snowprox S943
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 45.8
  2. Wet: 45.7
  3. Snow: 0.1
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33rd: Nordexx Nivius Snow

Nordexx Nivius Snow
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 46.6
  2. Wet: 46.5
  3. Snow: 0.1
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34th: Cooper WM SA2

Cooper WM SA2
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 46.7
  2. Wet: 46.6
  3. Snow: 0.1
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35th: Achilles Winter 101

Achilles Winter 101
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 47.1
  2. Wet: 47
  3. Snow: 0.1
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36th: Tigar Winter 1

Tigar Winter 1
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 47.3
  2. Wet: 47.2
  3. Snow: 0.1
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37th: Marshal i Zen MW15

Marshal i Zen MW15
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 47.5
  2. Wet: 47.4
  3. Snow: 0.1
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38th: Taurus Winter 601

Taurus Winter 601
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 47.7
  2. Wet: 47.6
  3. Snow: 0.1
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39th: Avon Ice Touring

Avon Ice Touring
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 48
  2. Wet: 47.9
  3. Snow: 0.1
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40th: Sailun Ice Blazer WSL 2

Sailun Ice Blazer WSL 2
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 48.5
  2. Wet: 48.4
  3. Snow: 0.1
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41st: Linglong Winter Hero Radial 650

Linglong Winter Hero Radial 650
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 48.6
  2. Wet: 48.5
  3. Snow: 0.1
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42nd: Kormoran Snowpro B2

Kormoran Snowpro B2
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 48.7
  2. Wet: 48.6
  3. Snow: 0.1
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43rd: Zeetex ICE 1000

Zeetex ICE 1000
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 48.9
  2. Wet: 48.8
  3. Snow: 0.1
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44th: Aeolus SNOWACE AW02

Aeolus SNOWACE AW02
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 49.3
  2. Wet: 49.2
  3. Snow: 0.1
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45th: Rotalla S110 Ice+

Rotalla S110 Ice Plus
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 49.9
  2. Wet: 49.8
  3. Snow: 0.1
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46th: Nankang SV2

Nankang SV2
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 50.2
  2. Wet: 50.1
  3. Snow: 0.1
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47th: Maxxis MA PW Presa Snow

Maxxis MA PW Presa Snow
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 50.6
  2. Wet: 50.5
  3. Snow: 0.1
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48th: Imperial Snowdragon 2

Imperial Snowdragon 2
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 50.7
  2. Wet: 50.6
  3. Snow: 0.1
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49th: Tracmax IcePlus S110

Tracmax IcePlus S110
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 51.4
  2. Wet: 51.3
  3. Snow: 0.1
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50th: Tristar Ice+ S110 SnowPower

Tristar Ice Plus S110 SnowPower
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 51.7
  2. Wet: 51.6
  3. Snow: 0.1
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51st: Minerva Ice+ S 110

Minerva Ice Plus S 110
  • 185/60 R14
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 53.3
  2. Wet: 53.2
  3. Snow: 0.1
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