Each year, the German automotive publication Autobild trump all the other European magazines by putting out a huge winter tyre test, and this year is no different.
Starting out with fifty tyre patterns, Autobild tested all the tyres wet braking performance. Once the wet braking order was set, Autobild took the twenty seven patterns which stopped the car within 20% of the best through to snow braking, then the top twenty wet and snow braking results combined to this, the full tyre test.
The top twenty tyres 205/55 R16 tyres were tested over a number of days using a VW Golf, and went through the usual dry, wet, snow, comfort, noise and fuel economy tests. Autobild also tested wear, which means this winter tyre test is one of the few yearly tests to give you the complete picture of a winter tyres performance.
The Top Three
If you followed the dominance of the TS850, it will come as no surprise that the new Continental WinterContact TS860 aces the test. It's amongst the best, or the best in the dry, wet and snow testing, has a low rolling resistance and a good level of comfort. The real surprise of the test was wear, with the TS860 proving to be the best wearing tyre on test, something Continental have historically struggled with. As a premium winter tyre, there's no beating the TS860.
The run of good performances for the updated Michelin Alpin A5 continues, with the French manufacturer taking second place overall. The A5 is the strongest tyre on snow and ice, has an excellent wet handling and braking performance, and is strong in the dry. The only the initial purchase price drew criticism, Michelins are often the most expensive tyres on the market.
Rounding out the top three is the Goodyear UltraGrip 9. It matched the Michelin in the dry and wet, only losing out in a little snow performance when compared to the best on test.
The Full Results
The full results, with comments are below. Autobild weight the overall scores as follow.
Dry - 14%. Wet - 30%, Snow - 30%, Comfort - 3%, Rolling Resistance - 4%, Noise - 3%, Wear - 10%, Price - 6%
A class leading winter tyre with no real negative points. Dynamic handling in all weather, precise steering with good feedback and best economy
None mentioned
Total: 59
Dry
6
Wet
8
Snow
7
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
9
Noise
7
Wear
10
Cost
6
Winter specialist with the best snow results. Stable wet and dry handling with short wet braking distances. Low noise
Quite expensive
Total: 51
Dry
6
Wet
7
Snow
8
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
7
Wear
6
Cost
4
Excellent performance on snow and in the wet, excellent aquaplaning resistance, low noise
Quite expensive
Total: 47
Dry
6
Wet
7
Snow
7
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
6
Wear
4
Cost
4
Top performance on snow and in the wet, low rolling resistance.
Average performance in the dry
Total: 53
Dry
5
Wet
7
Snow
8
Comfort
7
Rolling Resistance
9
Noise
6
Wear
6
Cost
5
Dynamic handling in the snow and wet roads, low wear
Average performance in the dry
Total: 52
Dry
5
Wet
7
Snow
6
Comfort
7
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
7
Wear
8
Cost
5
Good wet handling and short wet braking distances
Weak handling on snow
Total: 50
Dry
6
Wet
6
Snow
6
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
6
Wear
6
Cost
6
Excellent snow performance, low rolling resistance
Average performance in the dry, high wear
Total: 42
Dry
5
Wet
6
Snow
7
Comfort
3
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
5
Wear
4
Cost
4
Excellent aquaplaning resistance, good dry handling, well priced
Average wet grip, long wet braking
Total: 48
Dry
6
Wet
5
Snow
6
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
7
Wear
6
Cost
7
Excellent in the snow, high aquaplaning resistance, very good fuel economy
Poor dry handling, long dry braking distances
Total: 50
Dry
4
Wet
6
Snow
7
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
6
Wear
9
Cost
7
Strong in the snow, stable wet handling, good value for money
Low dry grip
Total: 50
Dry
4
Wet
6
Snow
7
Comfort
4
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
6
Wear
6
Cost
9
Excellent snow performance, low rolling resistance
Average wet grip, low aquaplaning resistance
Total: 52
Dry
5
Wet
4
Snow
7
Comfort
7
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
5
Wear
8
Cost
9
Strong winter performance, good comfort, good value
Average grip in wet and dry
Total: 47
Dry
3
Wet
5
Snow
8
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
6
Wear
7
Cost
7
Good winter performance, good comfort, low price
Average wet grip, long dry braking
Total: 50
Dry
4
Wet
4
Snow
7
Comfort
8
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
6
Wear
6
Cost
9
Good snow handling, good in the dry, good value for money
Average wet grip, high rolling resistance
Total: 47
Dry
6
Wet
4
Snow
6
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
3
Noise
6
Wear
7
Cost
9
Good traction and short braking distances on snow. Cheap to buy
Long wet braking
Total: 47
Dry
5
Wet
3
Snow
7
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
6
Wear
6
Cost
7
Ok performance on snow and on wet roads
Long dry braking, poor wear
Total: 38
Dry
4
Wet
6
Snow
6
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
6
Wear
2
Cost
4
Good value, ok in the snow
Low aquaplaning resistance, poor dry performance
Total: 44
Dry
4
Wet
5
Snow
5
Comfort
4
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
7
Wear
5
Cost
9
Good dry handling
Average snow, poor aquaplaning resistance, long wet braking
Total: 40
Dry
6
Wet
4
Snow
5
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
5
Wear
4
Cost
5
Very good fuel economy
Average aquaplaning resistance, poor wet handling, long wet and dry braking
Total: 50
Dry
4
Wet
3
Snow
6
Comfort
7
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
7
Wear
8
Cost
7
Safe snow performance
Poor wet grip
Total: 45
Dry
6
Wet
3
Snow
6
Comfort
7
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
6
Wear
5
Cost
5
