Test Charts / Auto Centrum

2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15

Compare each discipline in the tested size. See the measured result, position and gap to the best tyre, then read the verdict for the trade-offs behind the finishing order.

Tested size: 185/65 R15
Tyres tested: 8
Disciplines: 10

Read the measurements, not just the rank

Lower is better for braking distances and lap times; higher is better for subjective scores and aquaplaning speed. Bars start at zero. Read the gap alongside the position: adjacent tyres can be separated by very different margins.

Positions and gaps always refer to the full test field within each group. Selecting tyres does not recalculate rankings or change the best-in-test benchmark.

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Nokian WR D4	27.76 m	Best
2Michelin Alpin A4	28.31 m	+0.55 m
3Goodyear UltraGrip 9	29.13 m	+1.37 m
4Kumho Winter Craft WP51	29.59 m	+1.83 m
5Fulda Kristall Montero 3	30.11 m	+2.35 m
6Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2	30.23 m	+2.47 m
7Debica Frigo 2	30.56 m	+2.80 m
8Sava Eskimo Ice	31.31 m	+3.55 m

The difference between best and worst was 12.8% (3.55 m ≈ 0.8 Car Lengths).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Alpin A4	29.9 m	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip 9	30.24 m	+0.34 m
3Nokian WR D4	31.34 m	+1.44 m
4Kumho Winter Craft WP51	32.62 m	+2.72 m
5Fulda Kristall Montero 3	32.67 m	+2.77 m
6Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2	32.85 m	+2.95 m
7Debica Frigo 2	37.01 m	+7.11 m
8Sava Eskimo Ice	39.65 m	+9.75 m

The difference between best and worst was 32.6% (9.75 m ≈ 2.2 Car Lengths).

Wet Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip 9	13.8 s	Best
2Michelin Alpin A4	14 s	+0.20 s
2Nokian WR D4	14 s	+0.20 s
2Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2	14 s	+0.20 s
5Fulda Kristall Montero 3	14.1 s	+0.30 s
6Kumho Winter Craft WP51	14.2 s	+0.40 s
7Sava Eskimo Ice	14.8 s	+1.00 s
8Debica Frigo 2	15.1 s	+1.30 s

The difference between best and worst was 9.4% (1.3 s).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip 9	88.8 km/h	Best
2Michelin Alpin A4	85.1 km/h	-3.70 km/h
3Nokian WR D4	84.9 km/h	-3.90 km/h
4Fulda Kristall Montero 3	84.7 km/h	-4.10 km/h
5Kumho Winter Craft WP51	83.2 km/h	-5.60 km/h
6Debica Frigo 2	79.9 km/h	-8.90 km/h
7Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2	77.3 km/h	-11.50 km/h
8Sava Eskimo Ice	75.1 km/h	-13.70 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 15.4% (13.7 Km/H).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip 9	15.79 m	Best
2Debica Frigo 2	16.06 m	+0.27 m
3Michelin Alpin A4	16.16 m	+0.37 m
4Sava Eskimo Ice	16.25 m	+0.46 m
5Nokian WR D4	16.33 m	+0.54 m
6Fulda Kristall Montero 3	16.34 m	+0.55 m
7Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2	16.81 m	+1.02 m
8Kumho Winter Craft WP51	16.97 m	+1.18 m

The difference between best and worst was 7.5% (1.18 m).

Snow Traction
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip 9	4.82 s	Best
2Debica Frigo 2	4.86 s	+0.04 s
3Sava Eskimo Ice	4.95 s	+0.13 s
4Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2	4.96 s	+0.14 s
5Nokian WR D4	5.04 s	+0.22 s
6Michelin Alpin A4	5.06 s	+0.24 s
7Fulda Kristall Montero 3	5.18 s	+0.36 s
8Kumho Winter Craft WP51	5.43 s	+0.61 s

The difference between best and worst was 12.7% (0.61 s).

Ice

Ice Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Debica Frigo 2	19.51 m	Best
2Nokian WR D4	21.23 m	+1.72 m
3Goodyear UltraGrip 9	21.6 m	+2.09 m
4Kumho Winter Craft WP51	21.81 m	+2.30 m
5Sava Eskimo Ice	22.44 m	+2.93 m
6Fulda Kristall Montero 3	22.47 m	+2.96 m
7Michelin Alpin A4	22.85 m	+3.34 m
8Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2	23.76 m	+4.25 m

The difference between best and worst was 21.8% (4.25 m ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths).

Ice Traction
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Debica Frigo 2	6.49 s	Best
2Sava Eskimo Ice	6.57 s	+0.08 s
3Kumho Winter Craft WP51	7.02 s	+0.53 s
4Nokian WR D4	7.03 s	+0.54 s
5Goodyear UltraGrip 9	7.12 s	+0.63 s
6Michelin Alpin A4	7.32 s	+0.83 s
7Fulda Kristall Montero 3	7.33 s	+0.84 s
8Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2	8.23 s	+1.74 s

The difference between best and worst was 26.8% (1.74 s).

Ice Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Sava Eskimo Ice	25.8 s	Best
2Debica Frigo 2	27.4 s	+1.60 s
3Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2	28.2 s	+2.40 s
4Goodyear UltraGrip 9	29.8 s	+4.00 s
4Nokian WR D4	29.8 s	+4.00 s
6Michelin Alpin A4	30 s	+4.20 s
7Fulda Kristall Montero 3	30.1 s	+4.30 s
8Kumho Winter Craft WP51	30.2 s	+4.40 s

The difference between best and worst was 17.1% (4.4 s).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Debica Frigo 2	7.99 kg/t	Best	£0
2Nokian WR D4	8.12 kg/t	+0.13 kg/t	£7
3Goodyear UltraGrip 9	8.26 kg/t	+0.27 kg/t	£15
4Fulda Kristall Montero 3	8.29 kg/t	+0.30 kg/t	£17
5Sava Eskimo Ice	8.81 kg/t	+0.82 kg/t	£45
6Kumho Winter Craft WP51	8.87 kg/t	+0.88 kg/t	£49
7Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2	8.95 kg/t	+0.96 kg/t	£53
8Michelin Alpin A4	9.07 kg/t	+1.08 kg/t	£60

The difference between best and worst was 13.5% (1.08 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Michelin Alpin A4 uses about 41 L (£60) more fuel than the Debica Frigo 2.

Adjust the assumptions

Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions. These calculators use the full test field, independently of your tyre selection above.

Petrol/Diesel Electric

Annual Mileage

19,000 km

km (L)

miles (US gal)

Fuel Price

£1.45/L

GBP (£)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Set my vehicle consumption

Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tyre age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.

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