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Test source Auto Motor Und Sport

2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test

Overall test winnerGoodyear UltraGrip Performance+

Warning, lots of data ahead! For the 2019 winter, Auto Motor und Sport have tested eleven of the best winter tyres in the 215/55 R17 crossover SUV size.

Tyres tested
11
Tested size
215/55 R17

At a glance

Tyre shortlist

11 Tyres tested

Published finishing positions, with the strengths and considerations from this test. Owner reviews cover other sizes and driving conditions.

1st

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+

+Great in the wet and on snow, show braking in the dry, worked well with the vehicles ESP systems

−Average dry grip when cornering

2nd

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

+Very good handling in the snow and the wet, stable behavior during emergency maneuvers

−Relatively long braking and poor lateral stability in the dry

Read full verdict
3rd

Vredestein Wintrac Pro

+Precise steering response and high traction in the dry and wet

−Relatively long snow braking, high rolling resistance

Read full verdict
4th

Continental WinterContact TS 850 P

+Although tires were launched five years ago, they still perform well due to their balanced performance, stable behavior and good lateral stability in the snow, good wet handling

−Relatively long braking distance on snow and dry surfaces

Read full verdict
5th

Michelin Alpin 6

+Good handling in the snow and on dry roads, good lateral grip in the wet

−Relatively long braking distances in the snow and wet

Read full verdict
6th

Hankook Winter i cept evo2 SUV

+Good traction and handling in the snow, good dry handling, very quiet

−Long dry braking, unbalanced in the wet, high rolling resistance

Read full verdict
7th

Falken Eurowinter HS01 SUV

+Good snow performance, very good aquaplaning resistance

−Relatively weak wet grip, average dry performance

Read full verdict
8th

Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV

+Strong in the dry

−Long braking distances in the dry, wet and snow. Poor snow handling, poor wet handling

Read full verdict
9th

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

+Balanced dry performance

−Long braking distances in the snow and wet, weak aquaplaning resistance

Read full verdict
10th

Giti GitiWinterW1

+Very low price, short braking distances in the dry

−Long braking distances and poor grip in the snow, poor wet handling, understeer in the dry

Read full verdict
11th

Nokian WR Snowproof

+Good handling in the snow, short braking distances in the snow and dry, acceptable safety on dry roads

−Long braking distances and poor lateral stability in the wet

Read full verdict

Tyre shortlist

Compare selected tyres

2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test · 215/55 R17

The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

Warning, lots of data ahead! For the 2019 winter, Auto Motor und Sport have tested eleven of the best winter tyres in the 215/55 R17 crossover SUV size.

The biggest plus of this test is the sheer amount of data they've produced, as they've rated the tyres both objectively and subjectively in a lot of categories.

It's also good news for Goodyear, as the new Goodyear UltraGrip Performance + wins on its first outing, proving to have an excellent balance of wet and snow performance, along with short dry braking distances.

Stepping up on the promise of 2018, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 once again proves itself as a strong contender, and maybe the tyre of choice for the snowier climates.

The Vredestein Wintrac Pro rounds out the top three places. This tyre might be the best choice for the drier, warmer climates, as it excelled in the dry and wet handling tests, but was a little weaker than the best on test during snow testing.

The other result worth mentioning was the new Nokian SnowProof. It's not very often we see Nokian performing badly in a winter test, let alone finishing last. In this test, the Nokian performed extremely well in the dry, with the best dry braking result and had a good result in the snow, but really struggled in the wet. As this is the first test of the SnowProof we've seen, we'll await more test data to see whether the new Nokian really is this bad in the wet, or it was something related to this test.

The overall results were incredibly close, with all the tyres down to eighth place being recommended, but if you want the best for your SUV in 215/55 R17, pick from the top five.

Dry

Interestingly, the top two spots during dry braking were taken by the bottom two tyres overall, with the Nokian and Giti proving to be the best at stopping the VW T-Roc.

Dry Braking

Dry braking in meters

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Dry Braking
Position / TyreResult
100 %
100 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
98 %
96 %
96 %
96 %
94 %

The difference between best and worst was 6%.

Dry handling was extremely close between the eleven tyres, with a difference of just 2 km/h between the best and worst tyres.

Dry Handling

Dry Handling Average Speed

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Dry Handling
Position / TyreResult
100 %
100 %
100 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
98 %
98 %

All the tyres in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.

The sporty Vredestein was the only tyre to receive ten points during subjective dry handling scoring.

Subj. Dry Handling

Subjective Dry Handling Score

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Subj. Dry Handling
Position / TyreResult
100 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
80 %
80 %
80 %
80 %
70 %
70 %

The difference between best and worst was 30%.

Wet

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 had a significant advantage during wet braking.

Wet Braking

Wet braking in meters

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Wet Braking
Position / TyreResult
100 %
97 %
96 %
96 %
93 %
93 %
93 %
92 %
91 %
90 %
86 %

The difference between best and worst was 14%.

The top three tyres overall dominated wet handling, both in average speed and subjectively.

Wet Handling

Wet Handling Average Speed

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Wet Handling
Position / TyreResult
100 %
100 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
97 %
96 %
96 %
96 %
95 %
94 %

The difference between best and worst was 6%.

Subj. Wet Handling

Subjective Wet Handling Score

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Subj. Wet Handling
Position / TyreResult
100 %
100 %
100 %
100 %
90 %
70 %
70 %
60 %
60 %
60 %
60 %

The difference between best and worst was 40%.

The Falken had an advantage during the aquaplaning testing, with the rest of the tyres closely matched.

Straight Aqua

Float Speed in Km/H

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Straight Aqua
Position / TyreResult
100 %
92 %
92 %
91 %
91 %
91 %
91 %
89 %
87 %
86 %
85 %

The difference between best and worst was 15%.

Snow

Bridgestone once again stopped the VW T-Roc in the shortest distance, this time during snow braking.

Snow Braking

Snow braking in meters

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Snow Braking
Position / TyreResult
100 %
98 %
98 %
97 %
96 %
94 %
94 %
94 %
92 %
92 %
91 %

The difference between best and worst was 9%.

As in the wet testing, the new Goodyear proved to be excellent during snow handling.

Snow Handling

Snow handling average speed

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Snow Handling
Position / TyreResult
100 %
100 %
99 %
98 %
98 %
98 %
97 %
97 %
97 %
97 %
93 %

The difference between best and worst was 7%.

Subj. Snow Handling

Subjective Snow Handling Score

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Subj. Snow Handling
Position / TyreResult
100 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
80 %
80 %
70 %
70 %

The difference between best and worst was 30%.

Environment

All the tyres were relatively close in both external noise and subjective internal noise, but the Falken proved to have the best balance of the two.

Noise

External noise in dB

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Noise
Position / TyreResult
100 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
98 %
98 %
98 %
97 %

All the tyres in the Noise test finished less than 3% apart.

Subj. Comfort

Subjective Comfort Score

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Subj. Comfort
Position / TyreResult
100 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
80 %
80 %
80 %
70 %

The difference between best and worst was 30%.

The Continental WinterContact TS850P had the lowest rolling resistance, but was one of the most expensive to buy.

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Rolling Resistance
Position / TyreResult
100 %
97 %
94 %
93 %
93 %
88 %
86 %
85 %
84 %
82 %
80 %

The difference between best and worst was 20%.

Results

1st

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+

215/55 R17
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Test winner
Dry97%
Wet97.6%
Snow99.4%
Comfort94.4%
Rolling Resistance92.5%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking3rd / 1199.1%
Dry Handling11th / 1198.28%
Subj. Dry Handling6th / 1180%
Wet Braking3rd / 1196%
Wet Handling1st / 11100%
Subj. Wet Handling1st / 11100%
Straight Aqua2nd / 1192.06%
Snow Braking2nd / 1198.46%
Snow Handling1st / 11100%
Subj. Snow Handling1st / 11100%
Subj. Comfort2nd / 1190%
Noise6th / 1198.72%
Rolling Resistance4th / 1192.5%
Price
145.00
2nd

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

215/55 R17
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Excellent
Dry98.1%
Wet98.9%
Snow97.4%
Comfort94.4%
Rolling Resistance97.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking4th / 1198.88%
Dry Handling7th / 1198.97%
Subj. Dry Handling2nd / 1190%
Wet Braking1st / 11100%
Wet Handling3rd / 1199.45%
Subj. Wet Handling1st / 11100%
Straight Aqua6th / 1190.85%
Snow Braking1st / 11100%
Snow Handling7th / 1197.17%
Subj. Snow Handling2nd / 1190%
Subj. Comfort2nd / 1190%
Noise6th / 1198.72%
Rolling Resistance2nd / 1197.37%
Price
128.00
3rd

Vredestein Wintrac Pro

215/55 R17
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
Excellent
Dry99.2%
Wet97.4%
Snow94%
Comfort89.5%
Rolling Resistance85.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking4th / 1198.88%
Dry Handling4th / 1199.4%
Subj. Dry Handling1st / 11100%
Wet Braking4th / 1195.71%
Wet Handling2nd / 1199.86%
Subj. Wet Handling1st / 11100%
Straight Aqua5th / 1191.22%
Snow Braking8th / 1193.77%
Snow Handling4th / 1197.98%
Subj. Snow Handling8th / 1180%
Subj. Comfort8th / 1180%
Noise4th / 1199%
Rolling Resistance8th / 1185.06%
Price
118.00
4th

Continental WinterContact TS 850 P

215/55 R17
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
Excellent
Dry97.3%
Wet96.3%
Snow95.3%
Comfort94%
Rolling Resistance100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking8th / 1196.5%
Dry Handling3rd / 1199.57%
Subj. Dry Handling2nd / 1190%
Wet Braking2nd / 1196.59%
Wet Handling5th / 1198.91%
Subj. Wet Handling5th / 1190%
Straight Aqua4th / 1191.46%
Snow Braking6th / 1194.12%
Snow Handling6th / 1197.77%
Subj. Snow Handling2nd / 1190%
Subj. Comfort2nd / 1190%
Noise9th / 1198.02%
Rolling Resistance1st / 11100%
Price
147.00
5th

Michelin Alpin 6

215/55 R17
Michelin Alpin 6
Good
Dry98.1%
Wet95.9%
Snow94.7%
Comfort94.2%
Rolling Resistance92.5%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking4th / 1198.88%
Dry Handling7th / 1198.97%
Subj. Dry Handling2nd / 1190%
Wet Braking5th / 1193.13%
Wet Handling4th / 1199.05%
Subj. Wet Handling1st / 11100%
Straight Aqua7th / 1190.73%
Snow Braking6th / 1194.12%
Snow Handling10th / 1196.56%
Subj. Snow Handling2nd / 1190%
Subj. Comfort2nd / 1190%
Noise8th / 1198.3%
Rolling Resistance4th / 1192.5%
Price
160.00
6th

Hankook Winter i cept evo2 SUV

215/55 R17
Hankook Winter i cept evo2 SUV
Good
Dry95.5%
Wet90.5%
Snow97.2%
Comfort95%
Rolling Resistance82.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking11th / 1194.23%
Dry Handling2nd / 1199.83%
Subj. Dry Handling6th / 1180%
Wet Braking5th / 1193.13%
Wet Handling7th / 1196.45%
Subj. Wet Handling8th / 1160%
Straight Aqua9th / 1187%
Snow Braking4th / 1196.6%
Snow Handling2nd / 1199.6%
Subj. Snow Handling2nd / 1190%
Subj. Comfort2nd / 1190%
Noise1st / 11100%
Rolling Resistance10th / 1182.22%
Price
115.00
7th

Falken Eurowinter HS01 SUV

215/55 R17
Falken Eurowinter HS01 SUV
Good
Dry94.8%
Wet90.8%
Snow97.3%
Comfort99.6%
Rolling Resistance79.6%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking10th / 1196.08%
Dry Handling9th / 1198.54%
Subj. Dry Handling10th / 1170%
Wet Braking8th / 1191.76%
Wet Handling10th / 1195.23%
Subj. Wet Handling8th / 1160%
Straight Aqua1st / 11100%
Snow Braking3rd / 1198.08%
Snow Handling3rd / 1198.58%
Subj. Snow Handling2nd / 1190%
Subj. Comfort1st / 11100%
Noise3rd / 1199.28%
Rolling Resistance11th / 1179.57%
Price
106.00
8th

Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV

215/55 R17
Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
Good
Dry97.5%
Wet89.3%
Snow91.1%
Comfort88.8%
Rolling Resistance93.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking8th / 1196.5%
Dry Handling1st / 11100%
Subj. Dry Handling2nd / 1190%
Wet Braking10th / 1189.66%
Wet Handling8th / 1196.18%
Subj. Wet Handling8th / 1160%
Straight Aqua8th / 1189.17%
Snow Braking11th / 1191.1%
Snow Handling8th / 1196.96%
Subj. Snow Handling10th / 1170%
Subj. Comfort8th / 1180%
Noise10th / 1197.61%
Rolling Resistance3rd / 1193.67%
Price
111.00
9th

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

215/55 R17
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Average
Dry96.7%
Wet90.3%
Snow92.7%
Comfort93.7%
Rolling Resistance86.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking7th / 1198.44%
Dry Handling10th / 1198.36%
Subj. Dry Handling6th / 1180%
Wet Braking9th / 1190.7%
Wet Handling9th / 1195.91%
Subj. Wet Handling6th / 1170%
Straight Aqua10th / 1186.28%
Snow Braking10th / 1191.76%
Snow Handling8th / 1196.96%
Subj. Snow Handling8th / 1180%
Subj. Comfort2nd / 1190%
Noise11th / 1197.47%
Rolling Resistance7th / 1186.05%
Price
134.00
10th

Giti GitiWinterW1

215/55 R17
Giti GitiWinterW1
Average
Dry96.7%
Wet92.1%
Snow89.8%
Comfort84.4%
Rolling Resistance84.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking2nd / 1199.55%
Dry Handling5th / 1199.22%
Subj. Dry Handling10th / 1170%
Wet Braking5th / 1193.13%
Wet Handling6th / 1196.59%
Subj. Wet Handling6th / 1170%
Straight Aqua2nd / 1192.06%
Snow Braking9th / 1192.42%
Snow Handling11th / 1193.12%
Subj. Snow Handling10th / 1170%
Subj. Comfort11th / 1170%
Noise5th / 1198.86%
Rolling Resistance9th / 1184.09%
Price
73.00
11th

Nokian WR Snowproof

215/55 R17
Nokian WR Snowproof
Average
Dry97.8%
Wet86.6%
Snow96.2%
Comfort89.7%
Rolling Resistance88.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (13)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking1st / 11100%
Dry Handling5th / 1199.22%
Subj. Dry Handling6th / 1180%
Wet Braking11th / 1186.43%
Wet Handling11th / 1194%
Subj. Wet Handling8th / 1160%
Straight Aqua11th / 1184.6%
Snow Braking5th / 1196.24%
Snow Handling4th / 1197.98%
Subj. Snow Handling2nd / 1190%
Subj. Comfort8th / 1180%
Noise2nd / 1199.43%
Rolling Resistance6th / 1188.1%
Price
125.00

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