The weekly UK publication Auto Express has just published their 2018 winter tyre test! This year Auto Express have tested eight winter tyre patterns in 205/55 R16 using a VW Golf.
As Auto Express have previously asked us to keep our coverage of their tests to a minimum, below is a summary of what went on. As always, head over to the Auto Express website for the full glorious details of this excellent winter test!
The standout point from the test has to be the Michelin CrossClimate+ being one of the best tyres during the snow testing. The "summer bias" all season Michelin generally proves to be very strong in the dry, but slightly behind winter and regular all season tyres in the snow. The fact it was third overall in snow testing and was the best on test during snow braking is a real surprise.
Everything else in the test was as you'd expect. Continental win, Hankook continue to post strong results taking second place of the winter tyres, and the Goodyear UltraGrip range continues to be impressive in 2018 with a third place for the UltraGrip Performance Gen-1.
Results
The reference summer tyre was the excellent Continental Premium Contact 5
A great all round performance, particularly strong in the wet but also excellent handling in the snow. Low rolling resistance.
None mentioned.
Total: 1257.3
Dry
198
Wet
479
Snow
388
Rolling Resistance
92.3
Noise
100
Better than all the winter tyres in the dry, strong in the wet and best snow braking result on test.
None mentioned.
Total: 1236
Dry
210.4
Wet
444.7
Snow
390
Rolling Resistance
91.2
Noise
99.7
Best winter tyre in the snow, excellent aquaplaning resistance, well priced.
High rolling resistance.
Total: 1256.3
Dry
195.6
Wet
480
Snow
400
Rolling Resistance
83
Noise
97.7
Well balanced performance, excellent aquaplaning result.
Slightly weak dry handling, high rolling resistance.
Total: 1240.4
Dry
193.4
Wet
482
Snow
377
Rolling Resistance
89.6
Noise
98.4
Strong in snow, excellent aquaplaning resistance, second place during wet handling.
Average in the dry.
Total: 1230.6
Dry
191.9
Wet
474
Snow
385.4
Rolling Resistance
81.9
Noise
97.4
Strong wet performance, low noise.
Average in the dry.
Total: 1233.7
Dry
193.2
Wet
471.7
Snow
379.5
Rolling Resistance
91.3
Noise
98
Lowest rolling resistance, excellent dry handling, good snow braking.
Poor wet grip.
Total: 1243.6
Dry
194.9
Wet
460.6
Snow
391
Rolling Resistance
100
Noise
97.1
Good snow performance.
Weak in the wet, highest rolling resistance.
Total: 1212.7
Dry
193.8
Wet
464
Snow
382
Rolling Resistance
76.8
Noise
96.1
Good in the dry.
Last in the snow and aquaplaning, poor wet braking.
Total: 1201.6
Dry
199.7
Wet
444.7
Snow
361.4
Rolling Resistance
98.4
Noise
97.4
Strongest in the dry and wet.
Unsafe in the snow.
Total: 1120.3
Dry
217.6
Wet
482.1
Snow
213.3
Rolling Resistance
105.4
Noise
101.9
