With many of the major big brands introducing new winter tyres for the 2011 season, winter tyre tests have never seen so interesting. This year, Auto-mobile Club Europe [ACE] tested 8 winter tyres in the popular 205/55 R16 91H size on a VW Golf.
Five of the tyres on tests were all new for 2011, with the Dunlop Winter Sport 4d, Goodyear Ultra Grip 8, Nokian WR D3, Pirelli Snowcontrol Serie3 and Semperit Speed Grip 2 all having their first test outings. They were joined by the Continental Winter Contract TS830, Fulda Kristall Control HP, and Michelin Aplin A4.
ACE grouped their test results into 4 major sections - Snow, Wet and Dry performances were each in their own group with the usual braking, traction and steering tests, and 'Cost / Comfort' was given its own section which took into consideration pass by noise, rolling resistance and approx retail price (listed as 'Misc' below).
The Results
- 3PMSF: no
Top scores in the snow, best dry braking and a good subjective feel means the Goodyear Ultra Grip 8 wins overall.
Total: 225
Dry
45
Wet
72
Snow
80
Rolling Resistance
14
Noise
9
Misc
5
- 3PMSF: no
Surprisingly strong in the wet and snow, the Semperit Speed Grip 2 is only slightly let down by its dry performance. As the cheapest tyre on test with the lowest rolling resistance it scores very well in the 'comfort' section.
Total: 223
Dry
43
Wet
72
Snow
70
Rolling Resistance
20
Noise
9
Misc
9
- 3PMSF: no
Slightly let down by its snow performance, the Continental Winter Contact TS830 wins the wet and dry tests by scoring top in each subjective test
Total: 218
Dry
47
Wet
75
Snow
68
Rolling Resistance
15
Noise
9
Misc
4
- 3PMSF: no
The new Dunlop Winter Sport 4D places a strong 4th, only slightly let down by its curved aquaplaning properties
Total: 215
Dry
45
Wet
66
Snow
77
Rolling Resistance
14
Noise
9
Misc
4
- 3PMSF: no
The new Pirelli Winter Snow Control Serie3 has a good all round performance, only slightly let down by its snow braking and price
Total: 215
Dry
45
Wet
67
Snow
72
Rolling Resistance
17
Noise
9
Misc
5
- 3PMSF: no
As with most Nokians aimed at the European market, the Nokian WR D3 scores well in the wet and dry tests but is a little let down by its snow handling. Top marks in subjective dry handling indicates this will be an excellent cold weather tyre for the less snowy areas
Total: 205
Dry
46
Wet
56
Snow
68
Rolling Resistance
18
Noise
9
Misc
8
- 3PMSF: no
While the Michelin Alpin A4 finished 7th, there was no single area the tyre was weak in. The position was more a reflection of how far the competition had come with their new patterns.
Total: 193
Dry
45
Wet
56
Snow
66
Rolling Resistance
15
Noise
8
Misc
3
- 3PMSF: no
Rounding out the test was the Fulda Kristall Control HP. The Fulda struggled with both wet and dry grip, and scored poorly subjectively in all tests.
Total: 171
Dry
37
Wet
50
Snow
56
Rolling Resistance
13
Noise
8
Misc
7