2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test

Dry BrakingNokian WR Snowproof: 27.43 MUniroyal MS Plus 77: 31.61 M
Subj. Dry HandlingContinental WinterContact TS 860: 10 PointsUniroyal MS Plus 77: 4 Points
Wet BrakingMichelin Alpin 6: 33.35 MGislaved Euro Frost 6: 38.18 M
Subj. Wet HandlingYokohama BluEarth Winter V905: 10 PointsDebica Frigo HP2: 5 Points
Straight AquaContinental WinterContact TS 860: 86 Km/HGislaved Euro Frost 6: 76.4 Km/H
Snow BrakingContinental WinterContact TS 860: 15.06 MToyo Snowprox S954: 17.53 M
Snow TractionToyo Snowprox S954: 6.11 NMichelin Alpin 6: 5.06 N
Subj. Snow HandlingNokian WR Snowproof: 10 PointsToyo Snowprox S954: 4 Points
Ice BrakingNokian WR Snowproof: 11.44 MYokohama BluEarth Winter V905: 13.67 M
Ice TractionNokian WR Snowproof: 5.14 sUniroyal MS Plus 77: 6.4 s
Subj. ComfortMichelin Alpin 6: 10 PointsUniroyal MS Plus 77: 5 Points
Rolling ResistanceBarum Polaris 5: 8.148 kg / tYokohama BluEarth Winter V905: 9.426 kg / t
The 2019 Auto Center winter tyre test is both good and bad.

The positive is that out of ten 205/55 R16 patterns, it only includes two premium manufacturers. This means we get a much better look at the midrange bracket of winter tyres, which is great for those of us who want to save a little money, and all ten patterns on test have been tested for ice braking and traction which is now usually omitted from central European tyre testing.

Sadly, Auto Center decided not to provide any data from handling testing, instead giving an overall subjective score, which we assume combines lap time and handling. While this is a little odd, it's better than no test at all.

The final results might not make a buying decision any easier either, as nearly half the tyres on test finished in fourth place. With everything so close in the midrange pack, make sure you drill into the test data to really help you understand which tyre is best for your own driving needs.

 

Dry

During dry braking, the Nokian Snowproof had an unusually large braking advantage, stopping the car nearly two meters shorter than the next best tyre.

The Continental WinterContact TS860 finished joint top with the Gislaved Euro Frost 6. 

Wet

The premium tyres from Michelin and Continental were the best in wet braking.

Yokohama had a strong result in the wet handling tests.

The Continental WinterContact TS860 had another strong result in the wet, winning the aquaplaning test.

Snow

Continental proved to be excellent in snow braking too.

Strangely, the top two tyres from snow braking were near the bottom of the pack in snow traction.

Braking proved to be more important than traction for the snow handling tests, with Continental and Nokian back on top.

Ice

Nokian demonstrated its nordic routes, winning the ice braking and ice traction testing.

Other

The Barum had a very low rolling resistance.

Michelin and Nokian finished the test with the highest subjective comfort scores.

Results

1st: Nokian WR Snowproof

Nokian WR Snowproof
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking1st27.43 M100%
Subj. Dry Handling4th8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Wet Braking6th35.29 M33.35 M+1.94 M94.5%
Subj. Wet Handling3rd8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Straight Aqua9th79.6 Km/H86 Km/H-6.4 Km/H92.56%
Snow Braking2nd15.17 M15.06 M+0.11 M99.27%
Snow Traction7th5.21 N6.11 N-0.9 N85.27%
Subj. Snow Handling1st10 Points100%
Ice Braking1st11.44 M100%
Ice Traction1st5.14 s100%
Subj. Comfort2nd9 Points10 Points-1 Points90%
Rolling Resistance2nd8.543 kg / t8.148 kg / t+0.4 kg / t95.38%
High grip on ice, excellent snow handling, good dry braking.
None mentioned.

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2nd: Continental WinterContact TS 860

Continental WinterContact TS 860
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking7th30.46 M27.43 M+3.03 M90.05%
Subj. Dry Handling1st10 Points100%
Wet Braking2nd33.85 M33.35 M+0.5 M98.52%
Subj. Wet Handling3rd8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Straight Aqua1st86 Km/H100%
Snow Braking1st15.06 M100%
Snow Traction8th5.12 N6.11 N-0.99 N83.8%
Subj. Snow Handling2nd9 Points10 Points-1 Points90%
Ice Braking6th12.26 M11.44 M+0.82 M93.31%
Ice Traction8th6 s5.14 s+0.86 s85.67%
Subj. Comfort4th8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Rolling Resistance3rd8.618 kg / t8.148 kg / t+0.47 kg / t94.55%
High aquaplaning resistance, very well balanced tyre, excellent snow braking.
None mentioned.

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3rd: Michelin Alpin 6

Michelin Alpin 6
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking2nd29.41 M27.43 M+1.98 M93.27%
Subj. Dry Handling6th7 Points10 Points-3 Points70%
Wet Braking1st33.35 M100%
Subj. Wet Handling3rd8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Straight Aqua4th81.5 Km/H86 Km/H-4.5 Km/H94.77%
Snow Braking8th15.58 M15.06 M+0.52 M96.66%
Snow Traction10th5.06 N6.11 N-1.05 N82.82%
Subj. Snow Handling5th7 Points10 Points-3 Points70%
Ice Braking5th11.96 M11.44 M+0.52 M95.65%
Ice Traction5th5.63 s5.14 s+0.49 s91.3%
Subj. Comfort1st10 Points100%
Rolling Resistance9th9.184 kg / t8.148 kg / t+1.04 kg / t88.72%
Excellent wet braking, low noise.
Average ice performance.

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4th: Gislaved Euro Frost 6

Gislaved Euro Frost 6
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking5th30.32 M27.43 M+2.89 M90.47%
Subj. Dry Handling1st10 Points100%
Wet Braking10th38.18 M33.35 M+4.83 M87.35%
Subj. Wet Handling7th6 Points10 Points-4 Points60%
Straight Aqua10th76.4 Km/H86 Km/H-9.6 Km/H88.84%
Snow Braking6th15.36 M15.06 M+0.3 M98.05%
Snow Traction9th5.08 N6.11 N-1.03 N83.14%
Subj. Snow Handling3rd8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Ice Braking2nd11.84 M11.44 M+0.4 M96.62%
Ice Traction2nd5.39 s5.14 s+0.25 s95.36%
Subj. Comfort8th6 Points10 Points-4 Points60%
Rolling Resistance8th9.076 kg / t8.148 kg / t+0.93 kg / t89.78%
Good dry handling, short ice braking, good snow and ice traction.
Long wet braking.

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4th: Fulda Kristall Control HP2

Fulda Kristall Control HP2
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th30.43 M27.43 M+3 M90.14%
Subj. Dry Handling8th5 Points10 Points-5 Points50%
Wet Braking7th36.15 M33.35 M+2.8 M92.25%
Subj. Wet Handling7th6 Points10 Points-4 Points60%
Straight Aqua3rd82.5 Km/H86 Km/H-3.5 Km/H95.93%
Snow Braking3rd15.19 M15.06 M+0.13 M99.14%
Snow Traction5th5.3 N6.11 N-0.81 N86.74%
Subj. Snow Handling7th6 Points10 Points-4 Points60%
Ice Braking4th11.95 M11.44 M+0.51 M95.73%
Ice Traction3rd5.43 s5.14 s+0.29 s94.66%
Subj. Comfort9th5 Points10 Points-5 Points50%
Rolling Resistance5th8.672 kg / t8.148 kg / t+0.52 kg / t93.96%
Short snow and ice braking, good ice traction, high aquaplaning resistance.
Poor dry handling, average wet grip.

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4th: Debica Frigo HP2

Debica Frigo HP2
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking9th31.22 M27.43 M+3.79 M87.86%
Subj. Dry Handling7th6 Points10 Points-4 Points60%
Wet Braking9th36.5 M33.35 M+3.15 M91.37%
Subj. Wet Handling10th5 Points10 Points-5 Points50%
Straight Aqua6th80.7 Km/H86 Km/H-5.3 Km/H93.84%
Snow Braking3rd15.19 M15.06 M+0.13 M99.14%
Snow Traction4th5.32 N6.11 N-0.79 N87.07%
Subj. Snow Handling5th7 Points10 Points-3 Points70%
Ice Braking3rd11.88 M11.44 M+0.44 M96.3%
Ice Traction4th5.55 s5.14 s+0.41 s92.61%
Subj. Comfort2nd9 Points10 Points-1 Points90%
Rolling Resistance4th8.635 kg / t8.148 kg / t+0.49 kg / t94.36%
Short ice braking, good ice traction, low noise.
Poor wet handling.

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4th: Barum Polaris 5

Barum Polaris 5
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking8th30.5 M27.43 M+3.07 M89.93%
Subj. Dry Handling8th5 Points10 Points-5 Points50%
Wet Braking5th35.21 M33.35 M+1.86 M94.72%
Subj. Wet Handling2nd9 Points10 Points-1 Points90%
Straight Aqua8th80.6 Km/H86 Km/H-5.4 Km/H93.72%
Snow Braking7th15.46 M15.06 M+0.4 M97.41%
Snow Traction6th5.22 N6.11 N-0.89 N85.43%
Subj. Snow Handling9th5 Points10 Points-5 Points50%
Ice Braking7th12.52 M11.44 M+1.08 M91.37%
Ice Traction7th5.77 s5.14 s+0.63 s89.08%
Subj. Comfort4th8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Rolling Resistance1st8.148 kg / t100%
Low price, good wet handling.
Poor snow handling.

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8th: Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905

Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking4th29.5 M27.43 M+2.07 M92.98%
Subj. Dry Handling3rd9 Points10 Points-1 Points90%
Wet Braking3rd33.91 M33.35 M+0.56 M98.35%
Subj. Wet Handling1st10 Points100%
Straight Aqua5th80.8 Km/H86 Km/H-5.2 Km/H93.95%
Snow Braking9th15.91 M15.06 M+0.85 M94.66%
Snow Traction2nd5.6 N6.11 N-0.51 N91.65%
Subj. Snow Handling7th6 Points10 Points-4 Points60%
Ice Braking10th13.67 M11.44 M+2.23 M83.69%
Ice Traction9th6.17 s5.14 s+1.03 s83.31%
Subj. Comfort4th8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Rolling Resistance10th9.426 kg / t8.148 kg / t+1.28 kg / t86.44%
Good wet and dry handling, short wet braking distances.
Poor ice braking and handling, high fuel use.

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9th: Toyo Snowprox S954

Toyo Snowprox S954
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd29.47 M27.43 M+2.04 M93.08%
Subj. Dry Handling4th8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Wet Braking4th34.74 M33.35 M+1.39 M96%
Subj. Wet Handling6th7 Points10 Points-3 Points70%
Straight Aqua6th80.7 Km/H86 Km/H-5.3 Km/H93.84%
Snow Braking10th17.53 M15.06 M+2.47 M85.91%
Snow Traction1st6.11 N100%
Subj. Snow Handling10th4 Points10 Points-6 Points40%
Ice Braking8th12.66 M11.44 M+1.22 M90.36%
Ice Traction6th5.67 s5.14 s+0.53 s90.65%
Subj. Comfort7th7 Points10 Points-3 Points70%
Rolling Resistance7th9.057 kg / t8.148 kg / t+0.91 kg / t89.96%
Good in the dry and wet.
Long snow braking, low ice grip.

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10th: Uniroyal MS+ 77

Uniroyal MS Plus 77
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking10th31.61 M27.43 M+4.18 M86.78%
Subj. Dry Handling10th4 Points10 Points-6 Points40%
Wet Braking8th36.27 M33.35 M+2.92 M91.95%
Subj. Wet Handling7th6 Points10 Points-4 Points60%
Straight Aqua2nd83.5 Km/H86 Km/H-2.5 Km/H97.09%
Snow Braking5th15.32 M15.06 M+0.26 M98.3%
Snow Traction3rd5.41 N6.11 N-0.7 N88.54%
Subj. Snow Handling3rd8 Points10 Points-2 Points80%
Ice Braking9th13.4 M11.44 M+1.96 M85.37%
Ice Traction10th6.4 s5.14 s+1.26 s80.31%
Subj. Comfort9th5 Points10 Points-5 Points50%
Rolling Resistance6th9.009 kg / t8.148 kg / t+0.86 kg / t90.44%
High aquaplaning resistance, good ice handling.
Long braking distances on all surfaces, low ice traction, poor handling.

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