2016 AutoBild 4x4 Winter Tyre Test

Test Summary
Wet BrakingGoodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1
Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
Pirelli Scorpion Winter
Hankook Winter i cept evo2 SUV
Dry BrakingGoodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1
Wet HandlingContinental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
Pirelli Scorpion Winter
Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
Rolling ResistanceGoodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1
Nokian WR SUV 3
NoiseGoodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1
Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
Snow HandlingMichelin Latitude Alpin 2
While the four wheel drive systems and extra weight of large SUVs can give you a traction advantage in snow and ice over "normal" cars, you have roughly the same braking and turning ability as any other car on the road, which makes winter tyres a sensible option for anyone with an SUV requiring safe, year round motoring.

This year, Auto Bild have tested eight winter tyre patterns in 255/55 R18 using a BMW X5 in Northern Finland, across the usual array of dry, wet and snow tests, all while looking at the tyres comfort, rolling resistance and noise levels.

Results

1st: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 43
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 9
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 6
Good in the snow, excellent wet traction, short braking distances in the wet and dry, good comfort, low rolling resistance.
Expensive, average snow braking

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2nd: Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV

Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 41
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
  7. Noise: 6
Very good on snow, excellent wet grip, good dry handling, good comfort
High Price, longer dry braking when compared to the best

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3rd: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV

Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 40
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
  7. Noise: 6
Very good on snow, excellent wet grip with short wet braking, low rolling resistance
Expensive, average aquaplaning scores

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4th: Pirelli Scorpion Winter

Pirelli Scorpion Winter
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 40
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
  7. Noise: 7
Good in the snow, good comfort, low rolling resistance, low noise
Poor aquaplaning results

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5th: Michelin Latitude Alpin 2

Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 36
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4
  7. Noise: 8
Very good in the snow, quiet, good aquaplaning result
High rolling resistance, average wet grip, long stopping distances, expensive

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6th: Hankook Winter i cept evo2 SUV

Hankook Winter i cept evo2 SUV
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 33
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 5
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4
  7. Noise: 6
Good on snow, very good aquaplaning resistance results, low price
High rolling resistance, high levels of noise, poor ride quality

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7th: Nokian WR SUV 3

Nokian WR SUV 3
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 36
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 4
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 6
Low rolling resistance, good levels of comfort, short braking distances on dry roads, good aquaplaning results
Average grip in snow, average cornering grip in the wet and dry

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8th: Gripmax Stature MS

Gripmax Stature MS
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 26
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 1
  4. Snow: 5
  5. Comfort: 4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
  7. Noise: 5
Very low price, excellent snow traction
Average cornering in the dry, very low wet grip, extremely long wet braking distances, low aquaplaning resistance, high noise

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