The truth is with modern 4x4 vehicles often weighing in excess of 2.2 tons, fitted with powerful engines and fashionable wide sports tyres, winter tyres can be even more of a requirement if you want to stay mobile in the snow and ice.
The tests
To work out which winter tyres work best on big 4x4 and SUV vehicles Auto Bild have tested 8 sets of 255/55 R18 on a Mercedes ML, including one budget tyre from the far east.The Summer Tyre
Also included in the test was a benchmark summer tyre, however as it couldn't finish all the tests it couldn't even be included in the final results! As an example of just how poor the standard tyres performed, during the braking test from 50kph the best winter tyre stopped the car in 30.4 metres, while the summer tyre slid on to a massive 50.6 metres!The Results
- 3PMSF: no
Easily the best in the snow, great in the wet and dry. Quiet.
High price, moderate rolling resistance.
Total: 24
Dry
7
Wet
7
Snow
10
- 3PMSF: no
Strong in the snow, best marks in the wet with excellent aquaplaning properties, best in the dry.
High price, moderate rolling resistance.
Total: 24
Dry
8
Wet
8
Snow
8
- 3PMSF: no
Short braking in the wet, balanced overall performance.
High price, average cornering on snow.
Total: 20
Dry
7
Wet
6
Snow
7
- 3PMSF: no
Precise handling, great steering feel espeically in the wet, well balanced tyre.
Slightly poor aquaplaning results, average braking distances on snow.
Total: 19
Dry
7
Wet
6
Snow
6
- 3PMSF: no
Very low rolling resistance, good comfort, short braking on snow.
Average braking distances in the wet.
Total: 18
Dry
7
Wet
5
Snow
6
- 3PMSF: no
Very low rolling resistance, good snow performance, good dry cornering.
Poor wet performance, poor aquaplaning, long dry braking.
Total: 17
Dry
6
Wet
4
Snow
7
- 3PMSF: no
Very low rolling resistance, short braking on snow, good aquaplaning.
Long stopping distances on wet roads, poor wet cornering, high noise.
Total: 15
Dry
6
Wet
4
Snow
5
- 3PMSF: no
Low rolling resistance, acceptable braking on snow, low noise, cheap.
Extremely poor braking in the wet, little steering control in the wet and on snow, poor comfort.
Total: 11
Dry
6
Wet
1
Snow
4