| Test Summary | |
| Wet Braking |
Nokian WR A3 |
| Dry Braking |
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P |
| Wet Handling |
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| Rolling Resistance |
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| Noise |
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
| Snow Handling |
Star Performer SPTS AS |
Fortunately Auto Bild Sportscars is there to offer us some guidance for the 2014 season, and have tested 235/35 R19 winter tyres on a BMW M135i. Sadly, they only managed to find six patterns to test, compared to fifty in their 205/55 R16 tests, but it gives us a good indication of what winter tyres are like in larger sizes.
The Results
As usual, Auto Bild have weighted snow as the most important performance quality of the winter tyre, but for the UK climate this isn't always the case. For example, the fifth place Nokian is the best tyre in the dry, excellent wet performance and will still be many times better than any summer tyre in the snow, which makes it particularly well suited to the UK. As always, it's best to read the full results, rather than just looking at the overall positions.
- 3PMSF: no
The winter king with superb handling on snow and wet roads. Precise steering with good feedback. Excellent aquaplaning performance and low rolling resistance
None mentioned
Exemplary
Total: 41
Dry
6
Wet
7
Snow
9
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
6
- 3PMSF: no
Sporty winter tyre with balance performance and a high level of steering response, good traction and stable cornering on now. Short braking distances in all conditions, good ride comfort, low rolling resistance
None mentioned
Exemplary
Total: 39
Dry
6
Wet
7
Snow
8
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
5
- 3PMSF: no
Impressive winter tyre with exemplary performance in the wet. Excellent wet and dry handling with precise steering response and cornering stability. Short braking distances on snow and wet roads. Low rolling resistance
None mentioned
Exemplary
Total: 38
Dry
6
Wet
8
Snow
6
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
6
- 3PMSF: no
Balance safe driving in all weather conditions, good traction and corning on snow, low rolling resistance
Long braking distances in the dry, average aquaplaning qualities
Good
Total: 36
Dry
5
Wet
6
Snow
7
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
6
- 3PMSF: no
Dry specialist, with sporty dynamic handing on wet and dry roads. Short dry braking distances
Limited winter qualities with understeer and long braking distances on snow
Satisfactory
Total: 34
Dry
7
Wet
6
Snow
4
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
6
- 3PMSF: no
Balance safe driving on snow, quiet
High levels of understeer on wet and dry roads, dangerous long wet braking distance, high rolling resistance
Not Recommended
Total: 26
Dry
4
Wet
2
Snow
6
Comfort
3
Rolling Resistance
4
Noise
7