2019 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test

Test Summary
Wet BrakingContinental Premium Contact 6
Dry BrakingContinental Premium Contact 6
Wet HandlingGoodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
WearGoodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
Rolling ResistanceNokian WR Snowproof
Snow HandlingGoodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
The 2019 Auto Express winter tyre test has tested ten 225/45 R17 winter tyres, and included a summer and all season product as a benchmark.

The newest winter tyre from Goodyear is shaping up to be an excellent winter product. Thanks to a near perfect all round performance, it wins another tyre test, narrowly beating the established king of winter motoring, the Continental WinterContact TS860.

Michelin will be happy with a third place overall, as they're the only manufacturer publicly designing their tyres to work as they wear, with tread blocks that open up as the miles go on. This means the Michelin Alpin 6 might be the best tyre at 50% tread wear, it's something we will try and test in the future.

Vredestein again look to be a good option for a southern UK climate, with the Wintrac Pro performing well the dry and wet, but a little weaker in the snow, while the winter specialists at Nokian might be a little disappointed with seventh overall, seemingly trading the best fuel use on test for lower wet grip.

As for the summer and all season benchmark tyres, there's no huge surprises. The summer tyre had a huge dry and wet braking advantage, stopping the car seven meters shorter than the best winter tyre and ten meters shorter than the worst tyre in the dry, with a similar gap in the wet. The all season tyre placed third overall in this winter test, with its bias slightly more towards dry and wet running, but it still had acceptable snow performance when compared to the summer tyre.

We've said it before, and we'll say it again. A good all season tyre is a better option for the most of the UK than a full winter tyre.

Results

Sadly Auto Express don't provide any raw data, instead scoring the best in each test one hundred percent, and working down from there. You can check out the full test on the Auto Express website here.

1st: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1372.7
  2. Dry: 194.5
  3. Wet: 489.2
  4. Snow: 400
  5. Rolling Resistance: 89
  6. Noise: 100
  7. Overall: 100
The new benchmark for a winter tyre. Best in snow testing, excellent in the wet, sport handling in all conditions. Quietest tyre on test.
Kış lastiği için yeni ölçüt. Kar testinde en iyisi, ıslak zeminde mükemmel, tüm koşullarda spor yol tutuşu. Testteki en sessiz lastik.
Der neue Maßstab für Winterreifen. Bester im Schneetest, hervorragend bei Nässe, sportliches Handling unter allen Bedingungen. Leiser Reifen im Test.
La nouvelle référence en matière de pneus hiver. Meilleur sur neige, excellent sur sol mouillé, tenue de route sportive dans toutes les conditions. Pneu le plus silencieux du test.
Only seventh in the dry, however the margins are very close.
Kuru zeminde ancak yedinci sıradayız ancak farklar çok yakın.
Im Trockenen zwar nur Platz sieben, die Abstände sind jedoch sehr gering.
Seulement septième sur le sec, mais les marges sont très serrées.

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2nd: Continental WinterContact TS 860

Continental WinterContact TS 860
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1357.4
  2. Dry: 195
  3. Wet: 488.9
  4. Snow: 390
  5. Rolling Resistance: 91
  6. Noise: 93
  7. Overall: 99.5
Best in dry handling, excellent in the wet, best wet braking, good in snow, low fuel use.
Kuru zeminde en iyi yol tutuşu, ıslak zeminde mükemmel performans, ıslak zeminde en iyi frenleme, karda iyi performans, düşük yakıt tüketimi.
Bestes Trockenhandling, hervorragend bei Nässe, bestes Nassbremsen, gut im Schnee, geringer Kraftstoffverbrauch.
Meilleur en tenue de route sur sol sec, excellent sur sol mouillé, meilleur freinage sur sol mouillé, bon sur la neige, faible consommation de carburant.
Average dry braking.
Kuru zeminde frenleme ortalama.
Durchschnittliches Trockenbremsen.
Freinage à sec moyen.

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3rd: Michelin Alpin 6

Michelin Alpin 6
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1335.4
  2. Dry: 196.1
  3. Wet: 483.2
  4. Snow: 384.1
  5. Rolling Resistance: 86
  6. Noise: 87.6
  7. Overall: 98.4
Strong in the wet and dry.
Islak ve kuru zeminde güçlü.
Stark bei Nässe und Trockenheit.
Résistant dans les conditions humides et sèches.
Average snow performance, high noise.
Kar performansı ortalama, gürültü seviyesi yüksek.
Durchschnittliche Leistung auf Schnee, hohe Geräuschentwicklung.
Performances moyennes sur neige, bruit élevé.

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3rd: Continental AllSeasonContact

Continental AllSeasonContact
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1340
  2. Dry: 198.3
  3. Wet: 482.2
  4. Snow: 372.7
  5. Rolling Resistance: 94
  6. Noise: 94.3
  7. Overall: 98.5
Very strong in the wet and dry.
Islak ve kuru zeminde çok güçlü.
Sehr stark bei Nässe und Trockenheit.
Très résistant dans le sec et le mouillé.
Weaker than the full winter tyres in snow.
Karlı zeminde tam kış lastiklerinden daha zayıftır.
Im Schnee schwächer als der Vollwinterreifen.
Plus faible que les pneus hiver complets sur la neige.

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4th: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1353.1
  2. Dry: 192.9
  3. Wet: 479.8
  4. Snow: 393.9
  5. Rolling Resistance: 92
  6. Noise: 96.2
  7. Overall: 98.3
Good snow performance, well balanced during snow handling. Low rolling resistance and very quiet.
İyi kar performansı, karda yol tutuşu sırasında iyi denge. Düşük yuvarlanma direnci ve çok sessiz.
Gute Leistung auf Schnee, gut ausbalanciert beim Handling auf Schnee. Geringer Rollwiderstand und sehr leise.
Bonnes performances sur neige, bon équilibre lors de la conduite sur neige. Faible résistance au roulement et très silencieux.
Average in the wet and a poor dry grip.
Islak zeminde ortalama, kuru zeminde ise zayıf bir tutunma.
Durchschnittlich bei Nässe und schlechter Grip bei Trockenheit.
Adhérence moyenne sur sol mouillé et mauvaise adhérence sur sol sec.

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5th: Vredestein Wintrac Pro

Vredestein Wintrac Pro
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1319.9
  2. Dry: 197.9
  3. Wet: 478.3
  4. Snow: 377.6
  5. Rolling Resistance: 76
  6. Noise: 92.4
  7. Overall: 97.7
Strong in the dry and wet.
Kuru ve ıslak zeminde güçlü.
Stark bei Trockenheit und Nässe.
Résistant au sec et à l'humidité.
Poor snow performance, high rolling resistance, high noise.
Kötü kar performansı, yüksek yuvarlanma direnci, yüksek gürültü.
Schlechte Leistung auf Schnee, hoher Rollwiderstand, hohe Geräuschentwicklung.
Faible performance sur neige, résistance au roulement élevée, bruit élevé.

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5th: Falken Eurowinter HS01

Falken Eurowinter HS01
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1311.6
  2. Dry: 193.4
  3. Wet: 487.5
  4. Snow: 373.8
  5. Rolling Resistance: 63
  6. Noise: 96.2
  7. Overall: 97.7
Best aquaplaning resistance on test, good wet braking result, low noise.
Testteki en iyi suda kızaklama direnci, ıslak zeminde iyi frenleme sonucu, düşük ses.
Beste Aquaplaning-Beständigkeit im Test, gutes Nassbremsergebnis, geringe Geräuschentwicklung.
Meilleure résistance à l'aquaplaning lors du test, bon résultat de freinage sur sol mouillé, faible bruit.
Poor snow performance, low wet grip during the handling test, high rolling resistance.
Kar performansı zayıf, ıslak zeminde tutunma testi sırasında düşük, yuvarlanma direnci yüksek.
Schlechte Schneeperformance, geringer Nassgrip beim Handlingtest, hoher Rollwiderstand.
Faible performance sur neige, faible adhérence sur sol mouillé lors du test de conduite, résistance au roulement élevée.

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7th: Nokian WR Snowproof

Nokian WR Snowproof
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1346.6
  2. Dry: 199.3
  3. Wet: 467.3
  4. Snow: 387.2
  5. Rolling Resistance: 100
  6. Noise: 95.2
  7. Overall: 97.6
Huge lead in rolling resistance, excellent dry braking result.
Yuvarlanma direncinde büyük fark, kuru zeminde mükemmel frenleme sonucu.
Riesiger Vorsprung beim Rollwiderstand, hervorragendes Trockenbremsergebnis.
Grande avance en résistance au roulement, excellent résultat de freinage à sec.
Poor wet grip.
Islak zeminde tutunma zayıf.
Schlechter Grip bei Nässe.
Mauvaise adhérence sur sol mouillé.

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8th: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1323.6
  2. Dry: 196.4
  3. Wet: 473.4
  4. Snow: 375.2
  5. Rolling Resistance: 88
  6. Noise: 93.3
  7. Overall: 97.3
Sporty feeling.
Sportif his.
Sportliches Feeling.
Sensation sportive.
Poor snow grip, average wet performance.
Karda tutunma zayıf, ıslak zemin performansı vasat.
Schlechter Grip auf Schnee, durchschnittliche Leistung auf Nässe.
Mauvaise adhérence sur la neige, performances moyennes sur sol mouillé.

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9th: Hankook Winter i cept RS2

Hankook Winter i cept RS2
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1304.4
  2. Dry: 195.3
  3. Wet: 458.4
  4. Snow: 386.2
  5. Rolling Resistance: 80
  6. Noise: 88.6
  7. Overall: 95.9
Good in snow handling.
Karda yol tutuşu iyidir.
Gutes Handling im Schnee.
Bonne tenue de route sur la neige.
Poor in the dry and particularly the wet. Last in both aquaplaning tests and wet braking. High noise.
Kuru zeminde ve özellikle ıslak zeminde zayıf. Hem suda kızaklama testlerinde hem de ıslak frenlemede sonuncu. Yüksek gürültü.
Schlecht bei Trockenheit und besonders bei Nässe. Letzter bei Aquaplaning-Tests und Nassbremsen. Hohe Geräuschentwicklung.
Faible sur sol sec et surtout sur sol mouillé. Dernier dans les tests d'aquaplaning et de freinage sur sol mouillé. Bruit élevé.

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10th: Toyo Snowprox S954

Toyo Snowprox S954
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1285
  2. Dry: 199.5
  3. Wet: 461.4
  4. Snow: 355.5
  5. Rolling Resistance: 80
  6. Noise: 93.3
  7. Overall: 95.3
Second in dry braking and dry handling testing.
Kuru frenleme ve kuru yol tutuşu testlerinde ikinci olduk.
Zweiter beim Trockenbrems- und Trockenhandlingtest.
Deuxième place aux tests de freinage et de tenue de route sur sol sec.
Very weak in the snow and in wet conditions.
Karda ve ıslak zeminde çok zayıf.
Sehr schwach im Schnee und bei Nässe.
Très faible dans la neige et dans des conditions humides.

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10th: Continental Premium Contact 6

Continental Premium Contact 6
  • 225/45 R17
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 1206.6
  2. Dry: 221.3
  3. Wet: 500.1
  4. Snow: 205.8
  5. Rolling Resistance: 93
  6. Noise: 92.4
  7. Overall: 94
The summer tyre had a huge advantage in the dry and wet braking tests.
Yaz lastiği kuru ve ıslak zemin frenleme testlerinde büyük avantaj sağladı.
Bei den Trocken- und Nassbremstests hatte der Sommerreifen einen großen Vorteil.
Le pneu été a eu un énorme avantage lors des tests de freinage sur sol sec et humide.
Extremely poor snow performance.
Kar performansı son derece zayıf.
Extrem schlechte Leistung auf Schnee.
Performances sur neige extrêmement médiocres.

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Filed under: Group tyre tests, Magazine tyre tests, Winter Tyres

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