After conducting half a dozen all-season and winter tyre tests this year, Auto Bild is well positioned to identify and acknowledge the manufacturers who have consistently produced safe, well-performing tyres. It has now done so, naming Pirelli its star amongst the all-season tyre makers for 2024/25 and Michelin the leading manufacturer of winter tyres. Continental and Goodyear secure a podium place for both categories.
Turning our attention first to all-season tyres. Auto Bild and its two specialist publications – Auto Bild Sportscars and Auto Bild Allrad – evaluated 59 products in total, looking at a 17-inch and two 18-inch sizes. From these candidates, it awarded 12 tyres its highest ‘exemplary’ rating for delivering top safety as well as driving pleasure.
All-season: The winner is Pirelli
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 participated in all three all-season tests, winning the Auto Bild Sportscars evaluation of 11 size 225/40 R18 tyres and picking up an ‘exemplary’ rating in both this and the Auto Bild Allrad comparison of ten size 245/45 R18 tyres. The Pirelli tyre missed this top rating by the narrowest of margins in the Auto Bild test of 37 products in size 225/50 R17, where it finished 5th.
“Whether sports car or SUV – the Cinturato All Season SF3 offers exemplary driving dynamics, ample safety reserves and, as the icing on the cake, low rolling resistance – that makes Pirelli a top manufacturer,” comments Auto Bild.
The publication jointly named Continental, Goodyear and Michelin as runner-up manufacturers in the all-season segment.
All-season Green Tyre & Economy Champion
Additionally, Auto Bild declared the Michelin CrossClimate 2 its all-season segment Green Tyre 2024/25. “For its commitment to a clean environment while ensuring safe mobility, we present the CrossClimate 2 all-season tyre from long-established manufacturer Michelin with our special ‘Green Tyre of the Year 2024’ award. Congratulations!”
Acknowledging the importance of providing customers with tyres that offer value for money, Auto Bild also named its Economy Champions for 2024. In the all-season category, the publication declared the Dunlop All Season 2 its product for this year. “The All Season 2 from Dunlop achieves the highest mileage, gets top marks in the cost section – and secures the honorary title of ‘Eco Champion 2024’.”
Michelin the top winter tyre maker
In the winter segment, Auto Bild looked at 75 individual tyres in 16-, 18- and 19-inch dimensions. One product – the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 – was victorious in both the Auto Bild Sportscars test of ten size 235/35 R19 tyres and the Auto Bild Allrad evaluation of 12 size 245/45 R18 products. The tyre gained Auto Bild’s top ‘exemplary’ rating on both occasions, and this is also the rating given to another Michelin tyre, the Alpin 6, which placed fifth in the publication’s main test of 53 winter tyres in size 205/55 R16.
“The ice-cold winner among winter tyres comes from Michelin: The Pilot Alpin 5 and Alpin 6 model series impress in various dimensions with exemplary performance at the highest level. Whether on snow, in the rain or on a dry course, they offer the best safety reserves for a good journey through the cold season.”
Auto Bild rounded out the top winter tyre manufacturers’ podium with Continental and Goodyear.
Winter Green Tyre & Economy Champion
Not only did the Alpin 6 help Michelin become Auto Bild’s winter tyre maker of the year, but the tyre also gains the status of Green Winter Tyre 2024/25. “Our environmental label aims to support the environmentally conscious use, production and marketing of tyres. The Alpin 6 from Michelin is particularly environmentally conscious and has been awarded the title ‘Green Tyre’,” states Auto Bild.
For its winter Economy Champion, Auto Bild looks to Hankook and its Winter i*cept RS3. “Thrift foxes watch out: The Winter i*cept RS3 from Hankook impresses with its outstanding mileage and pleasingly low rolling resistance, which means many extra kilometres and is easy on the wallet when refuelling. It therefore deserves the ‘Eco Champion’ award.”
