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Test Charts / AutoCentrum

2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test

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
205/55 R16
Tyres tested
10
Disciplines
12

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

2

Dry Braking

Dry braking in meters

Lower is better ↓
Dry Braking
Position / TyreResultGap to best
27.43 m Best
29.41 m +1.98 m
29.47 m +2.04 m
29.5 m +2.07 m
30.32 m +2.89 m
30.43 m +3.00 m
30.46 m +3.03 m
30.5 m +3.07 m
31.22 m +3.79 m
31.61 m +4.18 m

The difference between best and worst was 15.2% (4.18 m ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths).

Subj. Dry Handling

Subjective Dry Handling Score

Higher is better ↑
Subj. Dry Handling
Position / TyreResultGap to best
10 Points Best
10 Points Best
9 Points -1.00 Points
8 Points -2.00 Points
8 Points -2.00 Points
7 Points -3.00 Points
6 Points -4.00 Points
5 Points -5.00 Points
5 Points -5.00 Points
4 Points -6.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 60% (6 Points).

Wet

3

Wet Braking

Wet braking in meters

Lower is better ↓
Wet Braking
Position / TyreResultGap to best
33.35 m Best
33.85 m +0.50 m
33.91 m +0.56 m
34.74 m +1.39 m
35.21 m +1.86 m
35.29 m +1.94 m
36.15 m +2.80 m
36.27 m +2.92 m
36.5 m +3.15 m
38.18 m +4.83 m

The difference between best and worst was 14.5% (4.83 m ≈ 1.1 Car Lengths).

Subj. Wet Handling

Subjective Wet Handling Score

Higher is better ↑
Subj. Wet Handling
Position / TyreResultGap to best
10 Points Best
9 Points -1.00 Points
8 Points -2.00 Points
8 Points -2.00 Points
8 Points -2.00 Points
7 Points -3.00 Points
6 Points -4.00 Points
6 Points -4.00 Points
6 Points -4.00 Points
5 Points -5.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 50% (5 Points).

Straight Aqua

Float Speed in Km/H

Higher is better ↑
Straight Aqua
Position / TyreResultGap to best
86 km/h Best
83.5 km/h -2.50 km/h
82.5 km/h -3.50 km/h
81.5 km/h -4.50 km/h
80.8 km/h -5.20 km/h
80.7 km/h -5.30 km/h
80.7 km/h -5.30 km/h
80.6 km/h -5.40 km/h
79.6 km/h -6.40 km/h
76.4 km/h -9.60 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 11.2% (9.6 Km/H).

Snow

3

Snow Braking

Snow braking in meters

Lower is better ↓
Snow Braking
Position / TyreResultGap to best
15.06 m Best
15.17 m +0.11 m
15.19 m +0.13 m
15.19 m +0.13 m
15.32 m +0.26 m
15.36 m +0.30 m
15.46 m +0.40 m
15.58 m +0.52 m
15.91 m +0.85 m
17.53 m +2.47 m

The difference between best and worst was 16.4% (2.47 m ≈ 0.5 Car Lengths).

Snow Traction

Pulling Force in Newtons

Higher is better ↑
Snow Traction
Position / TyreResultGap to best
6.11 N Best
5.6 N -0.51 N
5.41 N -0.70 N
5.32 N -0.79 N
5.3 N -0.81 N
5.22 N -0.89 N
5.21 N -0.90 N
5.12 N -0.99 N
5.08 N -1.03 N
5.06 N -1.05 N

The difference between best and worst was 17.2% (1.05 N).

Subj. Snow Handling

Subjective Snow Handling Score

Higher is better ↑
Subj. Snow Handling
Position / TyreResultGap to best
10 Points Best
9 Points -1.00 Points
8 Points -2.00 Points
8 Points -2.00 Points
7 Points -3.00 Points
7 Points -3.00 Points
6 Points -4.00 Points
6 Points -4.00 Points
5 Points -5.00 Points
4 Points -6.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 60% (6 Points).

Ice

2

Ice Braking

Ice braking in meters

Lower is better ↓
Ice Braking
Position / TyreResultGap to best
11.44 m Best
11.84 m +0.40 m
11.88 m +0.44 m
11.95 m +0.51 m
11.96 m +0.52 m
12.26 m +0.82 m
12.52 m +1.08 m
12.66 m +1.22 m
13.4 m +1.96 m
13.67 m +2.23 m

The difference between best and worst was 19.5% (2.23 m ≈ 0.5 Car Lengths).

Ice Traction

Ice acceleration time

Lower is better ↓
Ice Traction
Position / TyreResultGap to best
5.14 s Best
5.39 s +0.25 s
5.43 s +0.29 s
5.55 s +0.41 s
5.63 s +0.49 s
5.67 s +0.53 s
5.77 s +0.63 s
6 s +0.86 s
6.17 s +1.03 s
6.4 s +1.26 s

The difference between best and worst was 24.5% (1.26 s).

Comfort

1

Subj. Comfort

Subjective Comfort Score

Higher is better ↑
Subj. Comfort
Position / TyreResultGap to best
10 Points Best
9 Points -1.00 Points
9 Points -1.00 Points
8 Points -2.00 Points
8 Points -2.00 Points
8 Points -2.00 Points
7 Points -3.00 Points
6 Points -4.00 Points
5 Points -5.00 Points
5 Points -5.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 50% (5 Points).

Value

1

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

Lower is better ↓
Rolling Resistance
Position / TyreResultGap to bestExtra fuel / year
8.15 kg/t Best £0
8.54 kg/t +0.39 kg/t £21
8.62 kg/t +0.47 kg/t £25
8.64 kg/t +0.49 kg/t £27
8.67 kg/t +0.52 kg/t £28
9.01 kg/t +0.86 kg/t £47
9.06 kg/t +0.91 kg/t £49
9.08 kg/t +0.93 kg/t £50
9.18 kg/t +1.03 kg/t £56
9.43 kg/t +1.28 kg/t £69

The difference between best and worst was 15.7% (1.28 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 uses about 48 L (£69) more fuel than the Barum Polaris 5.

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.

19,000 km
£1.45/L
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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