Season-specific winter tyres may be niche products in the UK but make a lot of sense in certain situations. For example, high-powered performance cars may benefit from the added grip they offer when temperatures drop. Auto Bild Sportscars has evaluated 11 brands of tyre in size 225/40 R18 to gauge performance in snowy, wet and dry conditions. Four tyres gain the motoring publication’s highest recommendation, but Auto Bild Sportscars also warns that some winter products aren’t up to the job.
An interesting point of comparison for UK drivers was that the Auto Bild Sportscars team tested a summer tyre alongside the 11 winter models. This summer tyre cornered “crisper, more dynamic and faster” than its winter counterparts – but only as long as temperatures remained in double digits. The downside of modern summer performance tyres is that when temperatures approach zero, rubber tread compounds harden to the extent that they barely provide any grip. “On snow and ice, they are simply undriveable,” comments Auto Bild Sportscars.
Two tyres jointly won the Auto Bild Sportscars 2023 winter test and a total of four gained the publication’s top ‘exemplary’ rating. It declared a further four ‘good’ and one ‘satisfactory’ but withheld its recommendation for two tyres.
Rated exemplary
Test winner – Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
+ Convincing driving characteristics in all weather conditions, very good aquaplaning safety reserves, dynamic wet handling, moderate purchase price
– Slightly elevated rolling resistance
Test winner – Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
+ Winter specialist with convincing performance on ice & snow, dynamic wet & dry handling, direct turn-in behaviour, short dry braking distances, low ride noise
– High purchase price
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
+ Balanced, high levels of performance, stable handling in all weather conditions, short wet braking distances, low drive-by noise, low rolling resistance
– High purchase price
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3
+ Top safety reserves in aquaplaning, stable handling in all weather conditions, short wet & dry braking distances, moderate purchase price
– Slightly elevated ride noise
Rated good
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
+ Sporty dynamic handling on wet & dry roads, precise turn-in behaviour, short wet braking distances
– Extended braking distances on dry roads
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
+ Convincing driving qualities on snowy & wet roads, good aquaplaning reserves, short wet braking distances, moderate purchase price
– Understeer on dry roads, ride comfort just average
Kumho WinterCraft WP52
+ Good winter qualities, safe handling on dry roads, short wet & dry braking distances, low purchase price
– Limited aquaplaning safety, moderate lateral grip in wet conditions
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
+ Good snow traction, short wet braking distances, dynamically balanced handling on wet & dry surfaces
– Moderate lateral grip on packed snow, elevated rolling resistance
Rated satisfactory
Falken Eurowinter HS02 Pro
+ Safe wet & dry handling, short wet & dry braking distances
– Limited winter qualities with weak lateral control & understeer on snow, moderate ride comfort
Not recommendable
Austone Skadi SP-901
+ Good winter qualities, affordably priced
– Clearly limited driving safety on wet & dry roads, unbalanced handling, spongy steering, dangerously long wet braking distances
Goodride SW608 Snowmaster
+ Very reasonably priced, good comfort
– Autobild Sportscars describes this tyre as dangerous with severely limited grip and little lateral control on snow & ice, unbalanced handling, extended wet & dry braking distances
