If the tabloids have got it right, the Beast from the East will soon return to give us a chill, the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades. Best pay attention then to this season’s winter tyre tests. Auto Bild has got in early and published the results of its winter 2019 elimination round.
The German motoring magazine likes a thorough test. For winter 2019, it looked at 53 tyres in the compact/D-segment size 225/45 R17. All were purchased anonymously to eliminate the possibility of product manipulation. Auto Bild then set about reducing the group of candidates to a more manageable size.
To do this, Auto Bild tested how each tyre influences a car’s ability to stop. The first braking test, from 80km/h in the wet, eliminated 23 tyres with lengthy braking distances. Auto Bild shares that its BMW 1 Series test car came to a standstill in just 29.2 metres when fitted with Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 tyres. The poorest result was delivered by the Laufenn I Fit LW31, which extended the BMW’s stopping distance by ten metres.
The remaining 30 tyres were then evaluated for their braking from 50km/h on snow. The Kleber Krisalp HP3 gave the best performance here, stopping in 24.0 metres. Results were added to the wet braking result to find the best overall performance. A further ten tyres were eliminated at this point.
Auto Bild then subjected the 20 survivors to a further 14 test disciplines. It will publish the results of its winter 2019 tyre test final later this month.
