Here is the 17" version of the excellent ADAC 2024 winter tyre test! As with the 16" ADAC test, there's no huge surprises from the data, it's an impressive showing from Goodyear Dunlop to take the top two places, and Vredestein continues to impress in winter tyre tests with the Wintrac Pro (not the new Plus version.)
Continental will be surprised that its second tier brand Semperit out performed the TS 870 P, and the Davanti Wintoura + manages to offer the worst wet grip and snow grip, which is impressive in its own right. Unusually, there was no Michelin in this test.
The Kumho WinterCraft WP52 offered the shortest dry braking distance, coming to a stop in 42.1 metres. Several other tyres also performed well, with stopping distances ranging between 42.9 and 44 metres. The Firestone Winterhawk 4 recorded the longest braking distance at 45.7 metres, highlighting the significant variation in dry braking performance among the tested tyres.
Dry Braking
Dry braking in meters (100 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
42.10 M
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
42.90 M
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
42.90 M
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
43.60 M
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
43.70 M
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906
43.80 M
Davanti Wintoura plus
43.90 M
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
44.10 M
Triangle WinterX TW401
44.30 M
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
44.50 M
Semperit Speed Grip 5
44.50 M
Giti GitiWinterW2
44.70 M
Viking Wintech
45.00 M
Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501
45.50 M
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
45.60 M
Firestone Winterhawk 4
45.70 M
Wet
In wet braking tests on asphalt, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 delivered the best performance, stopping in 34.2 metres. The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, Dunlop Winter Sport 5, and Firestone Winterhawk 4 also performed respectably, with stopping distances ranging from 34.6 to 34.7 metres. At the other end of the scale, the Davanti Wintoura + took 41.3 metres to stop, underscoring the importance of wet braking capability when selecting winter tyres.
Wet Braking
Wet braking in meters (80 - 0 ) (Lower is better)
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
34.20 M
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
34.60 M
Firestone Winterhawk 4
34.60 M
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
34.70 M
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906
35.10 M
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
35.40 M
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
35.60 M
Semperit Speed Grip 5
35.90 M
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
36.50 M
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
36.70 M
Giti GitiWinterW2
37.10 M
Viking Wintech
37.30 M
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
38.30 M
Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501
41.10 M
Triangle WinterX TW401
41.10 M
Davanti Wintoura plus
41.30 M
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 achieved the shortest wet braking distance on concrete, stopping in 37.6 metres. Close behind were the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2, with distances of 38.2 and 37.7 metres, respectively. The Davanti Wintoura + was once again last, requiring 46.8 metres to stop.
Wet Braking - Concrete
Wet braking on Concrete in meters (80 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
37.60 M
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
37.70 M
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
38.20 M
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906
38.50 M
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
39.30 M
Firestone Winterhawk 4
39.40 M
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
39.80 M
Semperit Speed Grip 5
40.20 M
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
40.50 M
Giti GitiWinterW2
40.80 M
Viking Wintech
41.30 M
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
41.40 M
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
42.70 M
Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501
43.70 M
Triangle WinterX TW401
44.50 M
Davanti Wintoura plus
46.80 M
The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 showed the best resistance to longitudinal hydroplaning, maintaining grip at 80.5 km/h. The Firestone Winterhawk 4 and Semperit Speed-Grip 5 also performed admirably, holding grip at 78.6 and 78.7 km/h, respectively. The Davanti Wintoura + and Triangle WinterX TW401 lost grip at 68.3 km/h.
Straight Aqua
Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
80.50 Km/H
Semperit Speed Grip 5
78.70 Km/H
Firestone Winterhawk 4
78.60 Km/H
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
77.40 Km/H
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
77.30 Km/H
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
76.70 Km/H
Giti GitiWinterW2
76.40 Km/H
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
75.80 Km/H
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906
75.60 Km/H
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
75.30 Km/H
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
74.70 Km/H
Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501
73.60 Km/H
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
71.60 Km/H
Viking Wintech
69.60 Km/H
Triangle WinterX TW401
68.40 Km/H
Davanti Wintoura plus
68.30 Km/H
Snow
The Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501 achieved the shortest braking distance on snow, stopping in 9.3 metres. The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 and Triangle WinterX TW401 were also strong performers, with stopping distances of 9.6 and 9.5 metres, respectively. The Davanti Wintoura + required 11.0 metres.
Snow Braking
Snow braking in meters (30 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501
9.30 M
Triangle WinterX TW401
9.50 M
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
9.60 M
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
9.70 M
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
9.70 M
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
9.70 M
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
9.80 M
Firestone Winterhawk 4
9.90 M
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
9.90 M
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
10.00 M
Semperit Speed Grip 5
10.00 M
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906
10.10 M
Giti GitiWinterW2
10.10 M
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
10.10 M
Viking Wintech
10.30 M
Davanti Wintoura plus
11.00 M
The Vredestein Wintrac Pro provided the best traction on snow, achieving a traction rating of 238 DN. The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, Hankook Winter i*cept RS3, Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501, Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2, and Triangle WinterX TW401 also performed well, with results between 230 and 234 DN. The Davanti Wintoura + offered the lowest traction at 202 DN, indicating a wide range of traction capabilities in snowy conditions.
Snow Traction
Pulling Force in Newtons (Higher is better)
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
238.00 N
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
234.00 N
Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501
234.00 N
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
234.00 N
Triangle WinterX TW401
232.00 N
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
231.00 N
Semperit Speed Grip 5
230.00 N
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
230.00 N
Firestone Winterhawk 4
230.00 N
Viking Wintech
226.00 N
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
225.00 N
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
222.00 N
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
221.00 N
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906
218.00 N
Giti GitiWinterW2
213.00 N
Davanti Wintoura plus
202.00 N
Ice
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 recorded the shortest braking distance on ice, stopping in 16.1 metres. Close contenders were the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Vredestein Wintrac Pro, with distances of 16.6 and 16.8 metres, respectively. The Davanti Wintoura + rounded out its excellent grip performance, last, over 5 meters behind from just 20 km/h.
Ice Braking
Ice braking in meters (Lower is better)
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
16.10 M
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
16.60 M
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
16.80 M
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
17.00 M
Firestone Winterhawk 4
17.10 M
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
17.10 M
Giti GitiWinterW2
17.20 M
Semperit Speed Grip 5
17.30 M
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
17.60 M
Viking Wintech
17.70 M
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
17.80 M
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906
18.00 M
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
18.50 M
Triangle WinterX TW401
19.70 M
Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501
20.20 M
Davanti Wintoura plus
21.20 M
Value
The Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501 was projected to offer the highest mileage at 65,100 km. The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 also showed promising results with a predicted mileage of 57,500 km. The shortest predicted mileage was for the Yokohama BluEarth-Winter V906, at 35,700 km.
Wear
Predicted tread life in KM (Higher is better)
Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501
65100.00 KM
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
57500.00 KM
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
54300.00 KM
Viking Wintech
54000.00 KM
Semperit Speed Grip 5
53500.00 KM
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
49300.00 KM
Davanti Wintoura plus
47900.00 KM
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
47300.00 KM
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
46600.00 KM
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
46100.00 KM
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
43300.00 KM
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
41500.00 KM
Giti GitiWinterW2
41100.00 KM
Firestone Winterhawk 4
38100.00 KM
Triangle WinterX TW401
37000.00 KM
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906
35700.00 KM
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 demonstrated the lowest tyre abrasion, measured at 55.0 mg/km/t. The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3, Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501, Semperit Speed-Grip 5, Triangle WinterX TW401, and Viking WinTech followed with abrasion levels between 56.0 and 59.0 mg/km/t. The highest level of abrasion was recorded by the Yokohama BluEarth-Winter V906 at 95.0 mg/km/t, indicating significant variation in wear among the tyres.
Abrasion
Weight of Tyre Wear Particles Lost (mg/km/t) (Lower is better)
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 delivers strong performance on dry, wet, and snowy roads, achieving a good overall result in driving safety. It offers precise steering, short braking distances, and reliable grip, particularly in wet and snowy conditions. It also performs above average on ice. Furthermore, the tyre boasts excellent environmental credentials: long lifespan, low abrasion, and a weight significantly lower than the average of the test field make it an environmentally friendly choice.
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 provides good performance on dry, wet, and wintery surfaces, resulting in a good overall rating for driving safety. It offers precise steering, good braking distances, and reliable grip, particularly in snowy conditions. Although its aquaplaning performance on wet roads is only satisfactory, it excels in handling with ample safety reserves. The tyre also boasts a good environmental record with a long lifespan, low abrasion, and good efficiency due to its low weight and fuel consumption.
The Vredestein Wintrac Pro achieves a good overall rating for driving safety, despite some minor weaknesses. While it exhibits slight imprecision on dry surfaces and only average aquaplaning performance on wet roads, it delivers strong performance on wintery roads with good braking, traction, and handling. Its environmental performance is decent with good results for abrasion and efficiency, but a less impressive projected lifespan.
The Semperit Speed-Grip 5 achieves a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with good performance on wet and wintery roads but falling short on dry surfaces. It lacks precision and feedback on dry roads, requiring steering corrections and exhibiting a tendency to oversteer. However, it performs well on wet surfaces with good braking, aquaplaning resistance, and handling. On snow, it offers good braking and traction but only satisfactory handling. Its environmental performance is good, thanks to a long lifespan, low abrasion, low weight, and good fuel efficiency.
The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 receives a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with good performance on wet and wintery roads but falling short on dry surfaces. It lacks precision and feedback on dry roads, requiring steering corrections and exhibiting a tendency to oversteer. However, it performs well on wet and snowy surfaces with good braking and handling. It also has good environmental performance with a long lifespan, low abrasion, and good fuel efficiency, though manufacturing residues on new tyres are a negative point.
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P achieves a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with good performance on wet and wintery roads but some weaknesses on dry surfaces. It lacks precision and feedback on dry roads, requiring steering corrections and exhibiting a tendency to oversteer. However, it performs well on wet surfaces with good braking and handling, although its longitudinal aquaplaning performance is only average. On snow, it offers good braking and handling. Its environmental performance is good, with a long lifespan, low abrasion, and good fuel efficiency.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 achieves a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with good performance on wet and wintery roads but exhibiting some weaknesses on dry surfaces. It lacks precision and feedback on dry roads, requiring steering corrections and displaying a tendency to oversteer. However, it performs well on wet surfaces with good braking and excellent handling, though its lateral aquaplaning performance is only average. On snow, it offers good braking, traction, and handling. Its environmental performance is good, with a long lifespan, low abrasion, and good fuel efficiency.
The Yokohama BluEarth-Winter V906 achieves a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with good performance on dry and wet roads but falling short on wintery surfaces. It offers precise steering and good braking on dry roads, while on wet surfaces it provides good grip and handling, but only average aquaplaning resistance. However, its performance on snow and ice is less impressive, with limited handling precision and a tendency to understeer or oversteer early. Its environmental performance is also only satisfactory, due to average lifespan, wear, and efficiency, as well as manufacturing residues on new tyres.
The Giti GitiWinter W2 receives a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with good performance on wet roads but falling short on dry and wintery surfaces. It lacks precision and feedback on dry roads, requiring steering corrections. However, it offers good handling on wet surfaces but only average braking and aquaplaning performance. On snow and ice, its performance is less impressive, with limited handling precision and a tendency to understeer or oversteer early. Its environmental performance is also only satisfactory, due to average lifespan, wear, and efficiency, as well as manufacturing residues on new tyres.
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 achieves a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with good performance on wet and wintery roads but significant weaknesses on dry surfaces. It lacks precision and feedback on dry roads, requiring frequent steering corrections and exhibiting a tendency to oversteer. However, it performs well on wet surfaces with good braking and handling, although its lateral aquaplaning performance is only average. On snow, it offers good braking, traction, and handling. Its environmental performance is average, with satisfactory lifespan and wear, but good fuel efficiency.
The Viking WinTech receives a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with weaknesses on dry roads limiting its overall performance. It lacks precision and feedback on dry surfaces, requiring frequent steering corrections and exhibiting a tendency to oversteer. While it offers satisfactory performance on wet and snowy roads, its handling is less precise, and it has a lower threshold for understeer and oversteer. However, it has strong environmental credentials, with a very long lifespan, low abrasion, and excellent fuel efficiency.
The Kumho WinterCraft WP52 receives a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with weaknesses on dry roads limiting its overall performance. It lacks precision and feedback on dry surfaces, requiring frequent steering corrections and exhibiting a tendency to oversteer. While its braking distance is good, its aquaplaning performance on wet roads is below average. However, it performs well on snow and ice, with good braking and handling. Its environmental performance is mixed, with a long lifespan and good fuel efficiency, but a higher weight and concerns about sustainability due to its production in Korea and China.
The Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 receives a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with weaknesses on dry roads limiting its overall performance. It lacks precision and feedback on dry surfaces, requiring frequent steering corrections and exhibiting a tendency to oversteer. While it offers satisfactory performance on wet and snowy roads, with good longitudinal aquaplaning resistance, its handling is less precise, and it has a lower threshold for understeer and oversteer. Its environmental performance is mixed, with a long lifespan and good fuel efficiency, but a higher weight and concerns about sustainability due to its production in China and manufacturing residues on new tyres.
The Triangle WinterX TW401 receives a poor rating for driving safety due to its significant weaknesses on wet roads, despite decent performance on dry and snowy surfaces. It offers satisfactory feedback and precision on dry roads, with good control at its limits. However, on wet surfaces, it has a very low grip level and a tendency to understeer or oversteer early, resulting in poor handling. Its braking performance is also only just satisfactory, and its aquaplaning resistance is poor. On snow, it performs well with good braking, traction, and handling. Its environmental performance is average, with a satisfactory lifespan and low abrasion, weight, and fuel consumption, but negative marks for manufacturing residues on new tyres.
The Kenda Wintergen 2 KR501 receives a satisfactory rating for driving safety, but with weaknesses on dry roads impacting its overall score. It offers barely adequate feedback and precision on dry surfaces, requiring frequent steering corrections and exhibiting a tendency to oversteer. While it performs satisfactorily on wet roads, its handling is less precise with a low grip level. However, it excels on snow with good braking and traction, and very good handling. Its environmental performance is poor due to its high weight, despite a long lifespan and low abrasion. Concerns about sustainability due to its production in China and manufacturing residues on new tyres further detract from its environmental rating.
The Davanti Wintoura + receives a poor rating for driving safety due to its significant weaknesses on wet roads, despite satisfactory performance on dry and wintery surfaces. It lacks precision and feedback on dry roads, requiring steering corrections and exhibiting a tendency to oversteer. However, its braking distance on dry surfaces is good. On wet surfaces, it has a very low grip level and a tendency to understeer or oversteer early, resulting in poor handling. Its braking and aquaplaning resistance are also poor. On snow, it offers only satisfactory performance with limited handling precision. Its environmental performance is average, with a good lifespan and low abrasion, but a high weight impacting its efficiency. Negative marks are given for manufacturing residues on new tyres.
