2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15

Six of the tyres on test are European winter tyres which are available to the UK market, and two of the tyres (Debica Frigo 2 and Sava Eskimo Ice) are full nordic friction studless winter tyres, so it should give us a good overview of how these two different types of tyres perform, and why Nordic winter tyres aren't suitable for the UK market.

Dry

In the dry testing, the Nokian was supreme, stopping the car in 27.76 meters. The more heavily siped nature of Nordic winter tyres means they struggle in dry testing, with the Debica 3 meters and Sava nearly 4 meters behind the best European winter tyre on test when braking down from 80 km/h.

Wet

As in the dry testing, the Nordic winter tyres were last by a huge margin. The best European tyre on test stopped the vehicle in under 30 meters when braking from 80 km/h, with the Sava Nordic winter tyre a full 10 meters behind.

The gap was similar in the wet slalom, with both Nordic winter tyres a long way off the pace and controllability of the European winter tyres.

Goodyear rounded out an impressive wet performance by winning the aquaplaning test too.

Snow

Snow is where the Nordic winter tyre should take the advantage, but during the snow braking test the Goodyear once again won, stopping the car in just 15.79 meters from 40 km/h.

The Goodyear was also strongest in snow traction, who's results mirrored snow braking closely.

Ice

Ice braking is finally where the Nordic winter tyres won a test, with the Debica Frigo having a big advantage when braking down from just 25 km/h.

As with snow traction, the results were broadly similar to ice braking, with the Nordic winter tyres having a strong advantage.

The ice slalom was again won by the Nordic winter tyres.

Results

The overall results are below. If you've ever wondered why we don't get the more extreme Nordic winter tyres in the UK, this is your answer, with both Nordic tyres on test struggling in the dry and wet when compared to our European winter tyres.

1^st

Nokian WR D4

185/65 R15

• 3PMSF: no

Very strong in the dry with a balanced performance across the other tests.

Average ice grip.

Total: 160.5

Dry 19

Wet 35

Snow 23

Ice 31

Subjective 35

Rolling Resistance 9

Overall 8.5

Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts

2^nd

Goodyear UltraGrip 9

185/65 R15

• 3PMSF: no

Total: 155.3

Dry 15

Wet 39

Snow 25

Ice 29

Subjective 31

Rolling Resistance 8

Overall 8.3

Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts

3^rd

Michelin Alpin A4

185/65 R15

• 3PMSF: no

Balanced winter performance, but also excellent in the dry and wet.

Higher rolling resistance.

Total: 146.9

Dry 17

Wet 35

Snow 22

Ice 28

Subjective 31

Rolling Resistance 6

Overall 7.9

Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts

4^th

Fulda Kristall Montero 3

185/65 R15

• 3PMSF: no

Good resistance to aquaplaning.

Poor ice handling, long dry braking.

Total: 126.9

Dry 13

Wet 31

Snow 19

Ice 26

Subjective 23

Rolling Resistance 8

Overall 6.9

Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts

5^th

Debica Frigo 2

185/65 R15

• 3PMSF: no

Excellent on snow and ice, lowest rolling resistance.

Poor dry and wet braking and handling.

Total: 134.7

Dry 11

Wet 18

Snow 26

Ice 37

Subjective 26

Rolling Resistance 10

Overall 6.7

Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts

6^th

Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2

185/65 R15

• 3PMSF: no

Good wet handling.

Poor snow handling, low grip on ice.

Total: 123.6

Dry 12

Wet 29

Snow 19

Ice 27

Subjective 24

Rolling Resistance 6

Overall 6.6

Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts

7^th

Kumho Winter Craft WP51

185/65 R15

• 3PMSF: no

Good ice traction.

Poor grip in the snow, wet and dry.

Total: 111.5

Dry 11

Wet 28

Snow 16

Ice 27

Subjective 17

Rolling Resistance 6

Overall 6.5

Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts

8^th

Sava Eskimo Ice

185/65 R15

• 3PMSF: no

Excellent performance in snow and ice.

Very low grip in the wet and dry.

Total: 131.2

Dry 10

Wet 17

Snow 26

Ice 37

Subjective 29

Rolling Resistance 6

Overall 6.2

Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts