2013 Auto Bild Sports Winter Tyre Test

Test Summary
Best tyre for dry roads	Nokian WR D3
Best tyre for wet roads	Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 Continental WinterContact TS 850
Best tyre for snow	Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D
The lowest fuel use	Rockstone Ice plus s210
The most comfortable	Continental WinterContact TS 850 Michelin Alpin A4 Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D Toyo Snowprox S953 Hankook Winter i cept evo
The quietest tyre	Rockstone Ice plus s210 Goodyear UltraGrip 8 Performance Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D

Nine different performance winter tyres on an F10 3 Series in 225/50 R17 have been put through their paces by Auto Bild magazine.

The surprise this year is Pirelli have finally produced a strong winter tyre, with the updated Sottozero 3 winning the test thanks to a strong snow and wet performance. The excellent Continental WinterContact TS850 has been relegated to an unusual second, with the new Goodyear Ultragrip Performance rounding out the top three.

As proven countless times, budget tyres just don't work in the wet, with the Rockstone S210 Ice+ being regarded as dangerous, despite a good snow performance. With wet braking from 100km/h over 20 metres longer than the best in test, this is one to avoid for the wet UK winters...

Results

1st: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
225/50 R17	Total: 41 Dry: 6 Wet: 7 Snow: 9 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 6 A top class winter tyre with excellent handling and short braking on snowy and wet roads. Comfortable steering feel, good safety margins when aquaplaning, low rolling resistance Slightly longer dry braking distances Read Reviews Buy from £96.00
2nd: Continental WinterContact TS 850
225/50 R17	Total: 41 Dry: 7 Wet: 7 Snow: 8 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 5 A strong winter tire with good road handling in all weather conditions. Stable cornering and short braking distance in snowy and dry conditions. Fuel Efficient rolling resistance, optimal comfort Slightly louder than the best in the test Read Reviews
3rd: Goodyear UltraGrip 8 Performance
225/50 R17	Total: 40 Dry: 6 Wet: 6 Snow: 7 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 9 A convincing all-rounder with good winter properties. Balanced handling with safe and good steering response on wet and dry roads. Very quiet Only average snow handling Read Reviews
4th: Michelin Alpin A4
225/50 R17	Total: 40 Dry: 6 Wet: 5 Snow: 8 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 7 Top handling qualities on snowy slopes. Good steering precision and short braking distances on dry roads and snowy slopes. Pleasant ride comfort, with a low rolling resistance Average in the wet Read Reviews Buy from £175.00
5th: Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D
225/50 R17	Total: 42 Dry: 5 Wet: 6 Snow: 9 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 9 Excellent traction and shortest braking distances on snow. Stable running with safe driving characteristics on wet roads, smooth ride Slight oversteer on dry roads Read Reviews Buy from £106.30
6th: Nokian WR D3
225/50 R17	Total: 38 Dry: 8 Wet: 6 Snow: 6 Comfort: 5 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 6 Dynamic sporty handling qualities with precise steering on dry roads, short dry braking distances. Balanced safe driving in the wet. Low rolling resistance Reduced cornering and driving balance on snow Read Reviews
7th: Toyo Snowprox S953
225/50 R17	Total: 34 Dry: 6 Wet: 6 Snow: 5 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 5 Noise: 5 Best safety margins when aquaplaning. Stable cornering and safe handling qualities on dry roads. Good comfort Average winter properties. Delayed steering response and driving behavior on wet and snowy roads Read Reviews
8th: Hankook Winter i cept evo
225/50 R17	Total: 36 Dry: 6 Wet: 4 Snow: 6 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 7 Short braking distances and stable handling on snowy roads. Good ride comfort, quiet pass-by noise Delayed steering response and driving behavior in wet and dry conditions, slightly longer wet braking distances Read Reviews
9th: Rockstone Ice plus s210
225/50 R17	Total: 33 Dry: 5 Wet: 1 Snow: 6 Comfort: 3 Rolling Resistance: 9 Noise: 9 Stable running and short braking distances on snow, low rolling resistance Very limited capability with low aquaplaning resistance, long braking distances on dry and wet roads and inharmonious understeering handling Read Reviews