Test Charts / Auto Bild Sportscars

2021 Auto Bild Sports Car 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: 245/40 R18
Tyres tested: 13
Disciplines: 13

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
RefReference Summer	36.5 m	-4.90 m	0 km/h
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	41.4 m	Best	0 km/h
2Vredestein Quatrac Pro	41.9 m	+0.50 m	14 km/h
3Toyo Snowprox S954	43 m	+1.60 m	25 km/h
4Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	43.1 m	+1.70 m	26 km/h
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	43.2 m	+1.80 m	27 km/h
6Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	43.5 m	+2.10 m	29 km/h
7Dunlop Winter Sport 5	43.6 m	+2.20 m	29 km/h
8Falken Eurowinter HS01	43.9 m	+2.50 m	31 km/h
8Hankook Winter i cept evo3	43.9 m	+2.50 m	31 km/h
10Nankang SV2	44 m	+2.60 m	32 km/h
10BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	44 m	+2.60 m	32 km/h
12Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	44.2 m	+2.80 m	33 km/h
13Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	44.6 m	+3.20 m	35 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 22.2% (8.1 m ≈ 1.8 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P would still be travelling at 35 km/h when the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Dry Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
RefReference Summer	105 km/h	+2.10 km/h
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	102.9 km/h	Best
2Vredestein Quatrac Pro	102.5 km/h	-0.40 km/h
3Toyo Snowprox S954	101.7 km/h	-1.20 km/h
4Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	101.6 km/h	-1.30 km/h
5Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	101.4 km/h	-1.50 km/h
6Hankook Winter i cept evo3	101 km/h	-1.90 km/h
7Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	100.9 km/h	-2.00 km/h
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro	100.8 km/h	-2.10 km/h
9Nankang SV2	100.1 km/h	-2.80 km/h
9Falken Eurowinter HS01	100.1 km/h	-2.80 km/h
11BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	99.7 km/h	-3.20 km/h
12Dunlop Winter Sport 5	99.3 km/h	-3.60 km/h
13Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	99 km/h	-3.90 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 5.7% (6 Km/H).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
RefReference Summer	47.1 m	-1.90 m	0 km/h
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	49 m	Best	0 km/h
2Hankook Winter i cept evo3	49.7 m	+0.70 m	15 km/h
3Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	49.8 m	+0.80 m	16 km/h
4Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	50.2 m	+1.20 m	20 km/h
5Toyo Snowprox S954	50.5 m	+1.50 m	22 km/h
6Vredestein Wintrac Pro	51 m	+2.00 m	26 km/h
7Falken Eurowinter HS01	51.4 m	+2.40 m	28 km/h
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	52.1 m	+3.10 m	32 km/h
9Dunlop Winter Sport 5	52.4 m	+3.40 m	33 km/h
10Vredestein Quatrac Pro	52.6 m	+3.60 m	34 km/h
11BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	55.5 m	+6.50 m	44 km/h
12Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	56.7 m	+7.70 m	48 km/h
13Nankang SV2	65.4 m	+16.40 m	65 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 38.9% (18.3 m ≈ 4.1 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Nankang SV2 would still be travelling at 65 km/h when the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Wet Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	72.9 km/h	Best
RefReference Summer	72.4 km/h	-0.50 km/h
2Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	72 km/h	-0.90 km/h
3Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	71.9 km/h	-1.00 km/h
3Hankook Winter i cept evo3	71.9 km/h	-1.00 km/h
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	71.7 km/h	-1.20 km/h
6Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	70.5 km/h	-2.40 km/h
7Dunlop Winter Sport 5	70.3 km/h	-2.60 km/h
7Vredestein Quatrac Pro	70.3 km/h	-2.60 km/h
9Toyo Snowprox S954	70.1 km/h	-2.80 km/h
10Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	69.9 km/h	-3.00 km/h
11BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	69.2 km/h	-3.70 km/h
12Falken Eurowinter HS01	68.2 km/h	-4.70 km/h
13Nankang SV2	62.7 km/h	-10.20 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 14% (10.2 Km/H).

Wet Circle
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
RefReference Summer	12.18 s	-0.23 s
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	12.41 s	Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	12.44 s	+0.03 s
3Vredestein Quatrac Pro	12.51 s	+0.10 s
4Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	12.57 s	+0.16 s
5Hankook Winter i cept evo3	12.65 s	+0.24 s
6Vredestein Wintrac Pro	12.67 s	+0.26 s
7Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	12.7 s	+0.29 s
8Dunlop Winter Sport 5	12.73 s	+0.32 s
9Toyo Snowprox S954	12.81 s	+0.40 s
10Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	12.87 s	+0.46 s
11BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	13.05 s	+0.64 s
12Falken Eurowinter HS01	13.23 s	+0.82 s
13Nankang SV2	13.53 s	+1.12 s

The difference between best and worst was 11.1% (1.35 s).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
RefReference Summer	101.5 km/h	+4.00 km/h
1BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	97.5 km/h	Best
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	97.5 km/h	Best
3Hankook Winter i cept evo3	97.4 km/h	-0.10 km/h
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro	97.2 km/h	-0.30 km/h
5Nankang SV2	96.8 km/h	-0.70 km/h
6Falken Eurowinter HS01	96.6 km/h	-0.90 km/h
7Toyo Snowprox S954	96.1 km/h	-1.40 km/h
8Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	94.7 km/h	-2.80 km/h
9Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	94.1 km/h	-3.40 km/h
10Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	93.6 km/h	-3.90 km/h
11	92.5 km/h	-5.00 km/h
11Vredestein Quatrac Pro	92.5 km/h	-5.00 km/h
13Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	90.8 km/h	-6.70 km/h
14Dunlop Winter Sport 5	90.4 km/h	-7.10 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 10.9% (11.1 Km/H).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Hankook Winter i cept evo3	4.22 m/sec2	Best
2Vredestein Wintrac Pro	4.04 m/sec2	-0.18 m/sec2
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	3.92 m/sec2	-0.30 m/sec2
4Dunlop Winter Sport 5	3.84 m/sec2	-0.38 m/sec2
5Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	3.82 m/sec2	-0.40 m/sec2
RefReference Summer	3.81 m/sec2	-0.41 m/sec2
6Nankang SV2	3.79 m/sec2	-0.43 m/sec2
7Toyo Snowprox S954	3.74 m/sec2	-0.48 m/sec2
8Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	3.73 m/sec2	-0.49 m/sec2
9BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	3.68 m/sec2	-0.54 m/sec2
10Falken Eurowinter HS01	3.63 m/sec2	-0.59 m/sec2
11Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	3.62 m/sec2	-0.60 m/sec2
12Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	3.43 m/sec2	-0.79 m/sec2
13Vredestein Quatrac Pro	3.13 m/sec2	-1.09 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 25.8% (1.09 m/sec2).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	30.7 m	Best	0 km/h
2Hankook Winter i cept evo3	31.7 m	+1.00 m	23 km/h
3Dunlop Winter Sport 5	31.8 m	+1.10 m	24 km/h
4Falken Eurowinter HS01	31.9 m	+1.20 m	25 km/h
5Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	32 m	+1.30 m	26 km/h
6Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	32.1 m	+1.40 m	27 km/h
7Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	32.2 m	+1.50 m	28 km/h
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro	32.3 m	+1.60 m	29 km/h
9Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	32.7 m	+2.00 m	32 km/h
10Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	33.5 m	+2.80 m	38 km/h
11Vredestein Quatrac Pro	34.7 m	+4.00 m	44 km/h
12Toyo Snowprox S954	35.4 m	+4.70 m	47 km/h
13Nankang SV2	36.9 m	+6.20 m	53 km/h
RefReference Summer	57.2 m	+26.50 m	88 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 86.3% (26.5 m ≈ 5.9 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Nankang SV2 would still be travelling at 53 km/h when the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Snow Traction
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	2975 N	Best
2Dunlop Winter Sport 5	2824 N	-151.00 N
3Hankook Winter i cept evo3	2800 N	-175.00 N
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	2789 N	-186.00 N
5Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	2727 N	-248.00 N
6Vredestein Wintrac Pro	2705 N	-270.00 N
7Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	2688 N	-287.00 N
8Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	2687 N	-288.00 N
9Falken Eurowinter HS01	2684 N	-291.00 N
10Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	2575 N	-400.00 N
11Vredestein Quatrac Pro	2419 N	-556.00 N
12Nankang SV2	2364 N	-611.00 N
13Toyo Snowprox S954	2353 N	-622.00 N
RefReference Summer	710 N	-2,265.00 N

The difference between best and worst was 76.1% (2,265 N).

Snow Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	44.7 km/h	Best
2Hankook Winter i cept evo3	44.6 km/h	-0.10 km/h
3Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	44.3 km/h	-0.40 km/h
4Dunlop Winter Sport 5	44.1 km/h	-0.60 km/h
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	44 km/h	-0.70 km/h
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	44 km/h	-0.70 km/h
7Falken Eurowinter HS01	43.7 km/h	-1.00 km/h
8Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	43 km/h	-1.70 km/h
9Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	42.7 km/h	-2.00 km/h
10Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	41.3 km/h	-3.40 km/h
11Vredestein Quatrac Pro	40.7 km/h	-4.00 km/h
12Nankang SV2	39.9 km/h	-4.80 km/h
13Toyo Snowprox S954	39.3 km/h	-5.40 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 12.1% (5.4 Km/H).

Snow Slalom
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	3.89 m/sec2	Best
2BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	3.85 m/sec2	-0.04 m/sec2
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro	3.81 m/sec2	-0.08 m/sec2
4Falken Eurowinter HS01	3.79 m/sec2	-0.10 m/sec2
5Hankook Winter i cept evo3	3.73 m/sec2	-0.16 m/sec2
6Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	3.72 m/sec2	-0.17 m/sec2
7Dunlop Winter Sport 5	3.71 m/sec2	-0.18 m/sec2
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	3.66 m/sec2	-0.23 m/sec2
9Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	3.46 m/sec2	-0.43 m/sec2
10Toyo Snowprox S954	3.29 m/sec2	-0.60 m/sec2
11Nankang SV2	3.27 m/sec2	-0.62 m/sec2
11Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	3.27 m/sec2	-0.62 m/sec2
13Vredestein Quatrac Pro	3.26 m/sec2	-0.63 m/sec2
RefReference Summer	2.2 m/sec2	-1.69 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 43.4% (1.69 m/sec2).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	72.4 dB	Best
2Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	72.5 dB	+0.10 dB
3Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	72.8 dB	+0.40 dB
4Nankang SV2	72.9 dB	+0.50 dB
5Vredestein Quatrac Pro	73.3 dB	+0.90 dB
6Toyo Snowprox S954	73.4 dB	+1.00 dB
6Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	73.4 dB	+1.00 dB
8Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	73.9 dB	+1.50 dB
9Falken Eurowinter HS01	74.3 dB	+1.90 dB
10Vredestein Wintrac Pro	74.6 dB	+2.20 dB
11Hankook Winter i cept evo3	74.7 dB	+2.30 dB
12Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	75.1 dB	+2.70 dB
13Dunlop Winter Sport 5	75.4 dB	+3.00 dB
RefReference Summer	75.5 dB	+3.10 dB

The difference between best and worst was 4.3% (3.1 dB).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	7.91 kg/t	Best	£0
RefReference Summer	8.03 kg/t	+0.12 kg/t	£7
2Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	8.43 kg/t	+0.52 kg/t	£29
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	8.46 kg/t	+0.55 kg/t	£31
4Dunlop Winter Sport 5	8.51 kg/t	+0.60 kg/t	£33
5BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	8.58 kg/t	+0.67 kg/t	£37
6Vredestein Quatrac Pro	8.73 kg/t	+0.82 kg/t	£46
7Hankook Winter i cept evo3	8.74 kg/t	+0.83 kg/t	£46
8Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	8.84 kg/t	+0.93 kg/t	£52
9Nankang SV2	8.91 kg/t	+1.00 kg/t	£56
9Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	8.91 kg/t	+1.00 kg/t	£56
11Toyo Snowprox S954	9.18 kg/t	+1.27 kg/t	£71
12Vredestein Wintrac Pro	9.38 kg/t	+1.47 kg/t	£82
13Falken Eurowinter HS01	10.22 kg/t	+2.31 kg/t	£129

The difference between best and worst was 29.2% (2.31 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Falken Eurowinter HS01 uses about 89 L (£129) more fuel than the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005.

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.