Menu

2012 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
4 min read Updated
Contents
  1. Introduction
  2. The Results
  3. Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D
  4. Pirelli Sottozero Serie II
  5. Continental WinterContact TS 830 P
  6. Michelin Alpin A4
  7. Hankook Winter i cept RS
  8. Nokian WR A3
  9. Toyo Snowprox S953
  10. Bridgestone Blizzak LM32
  11. Semperit Speed Grip 2
Winter tyres shouldn't mean limited performance, and many modern winter tyres are rated up to V which means they're safe to run at 149mph for extended periods.

To test nine of the best, Auto Bild equipped a Golf GTI with the recommended 225/45 R17 winter tyre size in V rating, and subjected them to handling, braking and comfort tests in the dry, wet and snowy conditions.

The Results

1st

Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D

225/45 R17
Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 46
Dry 7
Wet 8
Snow 9
Comfort 7
Rolling Resistance 7
Noise 8
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 43
Dry 7
Wet 7
Snow 9
Comfort 7
Rolling Resistance 6
Noise 7
Continental WinterContact TS 830 P
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 47
Dry 8
Wet 7
Snow 7
Comfort 8
Rolling Resistance 10
Noise 7
4th

Michelin Alpin A4

225/45 R17
Michelin Alpin A4
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 41
Dry 7
Wet 6
Snow 8
Comfort 6
Rolling Resistance 7
Noise 7
5th

Hankook Winter i cept RS

225/45 R17
Hankook Winter i cept RS
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 38
Dry 6
Wet 6
Snow 7
Comfort 5
Rolling Resistance 7
Noise 7
6th

Nokian WR A3

225/45 R17
Nokian WR A3
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 41
Dry 8
Wet 6
Snow 6
Comfort 7
Rolling Resistance 8
Noise 6
7th

Toyo Snowprox S953

225/45 R17
Toyo Snowprox S953
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 38
Dry 6
Wet 6
Snow 8
Comfort 5
Rolling Resistance 5
Noise 8
8th

Bridgestone Blizzak LM32

225/45 R17
Bridgestone Blizzak LM32
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 39
Dry 5
Wet 6
Snow 7
Comfort 5
Rolling Resistance 10
Noise 6
9th

Semperit Speed Grip 2

225/45 R17
Semperit Speed Grip 2
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 41
Dry 6
Wet 7
Snow 6
Comfort 6
Rolling Resistance 8
Noise 8
comments powered by Disqus