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Test Charts / Auto Bild

2020 Auto Bild Performance 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
245/45 R18
Tyres tested
20
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
RefReference Summer
37.2 m -4.70 m
41.9 m Best
43.7 m +1.80 m
43.7 m +1.80 m
43.9 m +2.00 m
43.9 m +2.00 m
43.9 m +2.00 m
44.1 m +2.20 m
44.2 m +2.30 m
44.3 m +2.40 m
44.4 m +2.50 m
44.4 m +2.50 m
44.7 m +2.80 m
45.2 m +3.30 m
45.2 m +3.30 m
45.3 m +3.40 m
45.6 m +3.70 m
45.7 m +3.80 m
45.9 m +4.00 m
46.1 m +4.20 m
46.5 m +4.60 m

The difference between best and worst was 25% (9.3 m ≈ 2.1 Car Lengths).

Dry Handling

Dry Handling Average Speed

Higher is better ↑
Dry Handling
Position / TyreResultGap to best
RefReference Summer
110.9 km/h +0.30 km/h
110.6 km/h Best
110.5 km/h -0.10 km/h
110.4 km/h -0.20 km/h
110.4 km/h -0.20 km/h
110.1 km/h -0.50 km/h
110 km/h -0.60 km/h
109.9 km/h -0.70 km/h
109.7 km/h -0.90 km/h
109.6 km/h -1.00 km/h
109.5 km/h -1.10 km/h
109.5 km/h -1.10 km/h
109.3 km/h -1.30 km/h
108.7 km/h -1.90 km/h
108.4 km/h -2.20 km/h
108.2 km/h -2.40 km/h
108 km/h -2.60 km/h
107 km/h -3.60 km/h
106.8 km/h -3.80 km/h
106.5 km/h -4.10 km/h
106.3 km/h -4.30 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 4.1% (4.6 Km/H).

Wet

3

Wet Braking

Wet braking in meters

Lower is better ↓
Wet Braking
Position / TyreResultGap to best
47.3 m Best
48.1 m +0.80 m
RefReference Summer
49.1 m +1.80 m
49.7 m +2.40 m
49.9 m +2.60 m
50.5 m +3.20 m
51.9 m +4.60 m
53.3 m +6.00 m
53.4 m +6.10 m
53.7 m +6.40 m
53.7 m +6.40 m
54 m +6.70 m
54 m +6.70 m
54.9 m +7.60 m
55 m +7.70 m
55 m +7.70 m
55 m +7.70 m
55 m +7.70 m
56.2 m +8.90 m
56.6 m +9.30 m
56.7 m +9.40 m

The difference between best and worst was 19.9% (9.4 m ≈ 2.1 Car Lengths).

Wet Handling

Wet Handling Average Speed

Higher is better ↑
Wet Handling
Position / TyreResultGap to best
74.4 km/h Best
74.4 km/h Best
74.3 km/h -0.10 km/h
RefReference Summer
74.1 km/h -0.30 km/h
73.9 km/h -0.50 km/h
73.7 km/h -0.70 km/h
73.2 km/h -1.20 km/h
72.8 km/h -1.60 km/h
72.6 km/h -1.80 km/h
72.6 km/h -1.80 km/h
72 km/h -2.40 km/h
72 km/h -2.40 km/h
71.7 km/h -2.70 km/h
71.7 km/h -2.70 km/h
71.4 km/h -3.00 km/h
71.3 km/h -3.10 km/h
71.3 km/h -3.10 km/h
70.5 km/h -3.90 km/h
70.1 km/h -4.30 km/h
70 km/h -4.40 km/h
69.6 km/h -4.80 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 6.5% (4.8 Km/H).

Straight Aqua

Float Speed in Km/H

Higher is better ↑
Straight Aqua
Position / TyreResultGap to best
RefReference Summer
93.7 km/h +2.40 km/h
91.3 km/h Best
89.8 km/h -1.50 km/h
89.7 km/h -1.60 km/h
89.6 km/h -1.70 km/h
88.6 km/h -2.70 km/h
88.5 km/h -2.80 km/h
88.5 km/h -2.80 km/h
88.1 km/h -3.20 km/h
87.7 km/h -3.60 km/h
87.7 km/h -3.60 km/h
87.6 km/h -3.70 km/h
87.5 km/h -3.80 km/h
87.2 km/h -4.10 km/h
86.1 km/h -5.20 km/h
86 km/h -5.30 km/h
85.1 km/h -6.20 km/h
84 km/h -7.30 km/h
83.8 km/h -7.50 km/h
83 km/h -8.30 km/h
81.9 km/h -9.40 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 12.6% (11.8 Km/H).

Snow

3

Snow Braking

Snow braking in meters

Lower is better ↓
Snow Braking
Position / TyreResultGap to best
24.3 m Best
24.5 m +0.20 m
24.5 m +0.20 m
24.6 m +0.30 m
24.6 m +0.30 m
24.7 m +0.40 m
24.8 m +0.50 m
24.8 m +0.50 m
24.9 m +0.60 m
24.9 m +0.60 m
25 m +0.70 m
25 m +0.70 m
25 m +0.70 m
25.2 m +0.90 m
25.3 m +1.00 m
25.4 m +1.10 m
25.5 m +1.20 m
25.8 m +1.50 m
26 m +1.70 m
26.1 m +1.80 m
RefReference Summer
51.2 m +26.90 m

The difference between best and worst was 110.7% (26.9 m ≈ 6 Car Lengths).

Snow Traction

Pulling Force in Newtons

Higher is better ↑
Snow Traction
Position / TyreResultGap to best
3098 N Best
3029 N -69.00 N
3012 N -86.00 N
3006 N -92.00 N
3005 N -93.00 N
2990 N -108.00 N
2942 N -156.00 N
2926 N -172.00 N
2909 N -189.00 N
2890 N -208.00 N
2883 N -215.00 N
2876 N -222.00 N
2874 N -224.00 N
2869 N -229.00 N
2854 N -244.00 N
2834 N -264.00 N
2827 N -271.00 N
2825 N -273.00 N
2777 N -321.00 N
2294 N -804.00 N
RefReference Summer
420 N -2,678.00 N

The difference between best and worst was 86.4% (2,678 N).

Snow Handling

Snow handling average speed

Higher is better ↑
Snow Handling
Position / TyreResultGap to best
61.5 km/h Best
61.3 km/h -0.20 km/h
61.2 km/h -0.30 km/h
60.8 km/h -0.70 km/h
60.8 km/h -0.70 km/h
60.7 km/h -0.80 km/h
60.7 km/h -0.80 km/h
60.6 km/h -0.90 km/h
60.2 km/h -1.30 km/h
60.2 km/h -1.30 km/h
60 km/h -1.50 km/h
59.9 km/h -1.60 km/h
59.9 km/h -1.60 km/h
59.8 km/h -1.70 km/h
59.8 km/h -1.70 km/h
59.7 km/h -1.80 km/h
59.6 km/h -1.90 km/h
59.5 km/h -2.00 km/h
59.3 km/h -2.20 km/h
57.4 km/h -4.10 km/h
RefReference Summer
38.1 km/h -23.40 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 38% (23.4 Km/H).

Comfort

1

Noise

External noise in dB

Lower is better ↓
Noise
Position / TyreResultGap to best
69.7 dB Best
69.7 dB Best
70.1 dB +0.40 dB
RefReference Summer
70.4 dB +0.70 dB
70.6 dB +0.90 dB
70.7 dB +1.00 dB
71.1 dB +1.40 dB
71.1 dB +1.40 dB
71.2 dB +1.50 dB
71.3 dB +1.60 dB
71.4 dB +1.70 dB
71.7 dB +2.00 dB
72.1 dB +2.40 dB
72.7 dB +3.00 dB
72.7 dB +3.00 dB
72.8 dB +3.10 dB
72.8 dB +3.10 dB
74.2 dB +4.50 dB
74.2 dB +4.50 dB
74.7 dB +5.00 dB
74.8 dB +5.10 dB

The difference between best and worst was 7.3% (5.1 dB).

Value

3

Wear

Predicted tread life in KM

Higher is better ↑
Wear
Position / TyreResultGap to best
47,970 KM Best
44,690 KM -3,280 KM
44,280 KM -3,690 KM
43,460 KM -4,510 KM
43,050 KM -4,920 KM
43,050 KM -4,920 KM
42,640 KM -5,330 KM
42,230 KM -5,740 KM
41,820 KM -6,150 KM
40,590 KM -7,380 KM
40,180 KM -7,790 KM
40,180 KM -7,790 KM
39,770 KM -8,200 KM
39,770 KM -8,200 KM
39,360 KM -8,610 KM
39,360 KM -8,610 KM
37,310 KM -10,660 KM
35,260 KM -12,710 KM
33,620 KM -14,350 KM
29,930 KM -18,040 KM

The difference between best and worst was 37.6% (18,040 KM).

Value

Euros/1000km based on cost/wear

Lower is better ↓
Value
Position / TyreResultGap to bestcost per 1,000 km
10.41 Price/1000 Best €17.94
11.12 Price/1000 +0.71 Price/1000 €18.07
11.18 Price/1000 +0.77 Price/1000 €18.85
11.6 Price/1000 +1.19 Price/1000 €15.99
11.69 Price/1000 +1.28 Price/1000 €20.64
11.77 Price/1000 +1.36 Price/1000 €19.76
12.08 Price/1000 +1.67 Price/1000 €18.38
12.08 Price/1000 +1.67 Price/1000 €20.24
12.83 Price/1000 +2.42 Price/1000 €18.41
12.99 Price/1000 +2.58 Price/1000 €20.23
13.33 Price/1000 +2.92 Price/1000 €21.32
13.55 Price/1000 +3.14 Price/1000 €18.62
13.8 Price/1000 +3.39 Price/1000 €17.46
14.56 Price/1000 +4.15 Price/1000 €23.52
14.68 Price/1000 +4.27 Price/1000 €17.94
14.72 Price/1000 +4.31 Price/1000 €21.66
14.73 Price/1000 +4.32 Price/1000 €21.32
14.77 Price/1000 +4.36 Price/1000 €18.84
15.22 Price/1000 +4.81 Price/1000 €20.55
16.22 Price/1000 +5.81 Price/1000 €17.98

The difference between best and worst was 55.8% (5.81 Price/1000). Over 40,000 km the cheapest tyre to own (Fulda Kristall Control HP2) works out €301 cheaper than the most expensive (Vredestein Wintrac Pro).

How this is calculated

Assumes a typical car using 8 l/100km (with rolling resistance causing 20% of fuel use), fuel at €1.65 per litre and €70 fitting per set of four. Purchase prices are from the time of the 2020 test; financing costs are excluded.

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

Lower is better ↓
Rolling Resistance
Position / TyreResultGap to bestExtra fuel / year
6.95 kg/t Best £0
7.35 kg/t +0.40 kg/t £25
7.42 kg/t +0.47 kg/t £30
7.59 kg/t +0.64 kg/t £41
7.67 kg/t +0.72 kg/t £46
7.83 kg/t +0.88 kg/t £56
7.95 kg/t +1.00 kg/t £63
7.97 kg/t +1.02 kg/t £65
8.18 kg/t +1.23 kg/t £78
8.23 kg/t +1.28 kg/t £81
8.26 kg/t +1.31 kg/t £83
8.34 kg/t +1.39 kg/t £88
8.44 kg/t +1.49 kg/t £95
8.5 kg/t +1.55 kg/t £98
8.52 kg/t +1.57 kg/t £100
8.53 kg/t +1.58 kg/t £100
8.59 kg/t +1.64 kg/t £104
8.67 kg/t +1.72 kg/t £109
8.69 kg/t +1.74 kg/t £110
8.85 kg/t +1.90 kg/t £121

The difference between best and worst was 27.3% (1.9 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Vredestein Wintrac Pro uses about 83 L (£121) more fuel than the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.

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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