Menu

2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
9 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test, displaying how each tyre performed across all test categories. The spider chart below provides a complete overview of performance, where one hundred percent represents the best performance in each category. The larger the area covered by each tyre's plot, the better its overall performance.
How to read these charts: For each test category, data is presented relative to the best performing tire. The direction indicates whether lower or higher values are better - pay close attention to this when interpreting results.

Performance Overview

This radar chart shows relative performance across all test categories, with 100% representing the best performance in each category. Reference tires may have gaps where data is not available.

Continental VikingContact 7
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
Michelin X Ice North 4
Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Michelin X Ice Snow
Bridgestone Noranza 001
Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
Continental IceContact 3
Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
Hankook Winter i pike RS2
CST Medallion Winter WCP1
Kumho WinterCraft Ice
Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was CST Medallion Winter WCP1 with a result of 29.4 M. The difference between best and worst was 12.1%.
  1. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    29.4 M
  2. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    29.9 M
  3. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    31 M
  4. Michelin X Ice North 4
    31.1 M
  5. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    31.4 M
  6. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    31.5 M
  7. Continental IceContact 3
    31.5 M
  8. Michelin X Ice Snow
    31.5 M
  9. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    31.5 M
  10. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    31.5 M
  11. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    31.6 M
  12. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    31.7 M
  13. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    31.8 M
  14. Continental VikingContact 7
    31.8 M
  15. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    32.7 M
  16. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    33.44 M

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was CST Medallion Winter WCP1 with a result of 28.9 M. The difference between best and worst was 22.5%.
  1. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    28.9 M
  2. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    32.3 M
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    33.5 M
  4. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    33.6 M
  5. Continental IceContact 3
    33.7 M
  6. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    33.8 M
  7. Continental VikingContact 7
    33.8 M
  8. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    34 M
  9. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    34.4 M
  10. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    34.9 M
  11. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    35.4 M
  12. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    35.9 M
  13. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    36 M
  14. Michelin X Ice Snow
    36.1 M
  15. Michelin X Ice North 4
    37.3 M
  16. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    37.3 M

Wet Handling (s)

Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was CST Medallion Winter WCP1 with a result of 33.5 s. The difference between best and worst was 8.2%.
  1. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    33.5 s
  2. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    35 s
  3. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    35.2 s
  4. Continental IceContact 3
    35.2 s
  5. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    35.3 s
  6. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    35.3 s
  7. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    35.4 s
  8. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    35.5 s
  9. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    35.5 s
  10. Michelin X Ice Snow
    35.5 s
  11. Continental VikingContact 7
    35.6 s
  12. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    35.7 s
  13. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    35.7 s
  14. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    35.8 s
  15. Michelin X Ice North 4
    36.2 s
  16. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    36.5 s

Snow Performance Overview

Snow Braking (M)

Snow braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 with a result of 50.6 M. The difference between best and worst was 7.2%.
  1. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    50.6 M
  2. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    50.7 M
  3. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    51 M
  4. Michelin X Ice North 4
    51 M
  5. Continental VikingContact 7
    51.1 M
  6. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    51.4 M
  7. Continental IceContact 3
    51.4 M
  8. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    51.5 M
  9. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    51.5 M
  10. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    51.9 M
  11. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    52.1 M
  12. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    52.1 M
  13. Michelin X Ice Snow
    52.3 M
  14. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    52.3 M
  15. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    52.5 M
  16. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    54.5 M

Snow Traction (s)

Snow acceleration time (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 with a result of 5.7 s. The difference between best and worst was 9.5%.
  1. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    5.7 s
  2. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    5.7 s
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    5.7 s
  4. Continental VikingContact 7
    5.8 s
  5. Michelin X Ice North 4
    5.8 s
  6. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    5.8 s
  7. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    5.8 s
  8. Continental IceContact 3
    5.8 s
  9. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    5.8 s
  10. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    5.9 s
  11. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    5.9 s
  12. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    5.9 s
  13. Michelin X Ice Snow
    5.9 s
  14. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    5.9 s
  15. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    5.9 s
  16. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    6.3 s

Snow Handling (s)

Snow handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin X Ice North 4 with a result of 52.3 s. The difference between best and worst was 6.4%.
  1. Michelin X Ice North 4
    52.3 s
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    52.7 s
  3. Continental VikingContact 7
    52.7 s
  4. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    53.1 s
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    53.1 s
  6. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    53.2 s
  7. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    53.3 s
  8. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    53.4 s
  9. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    53.4 s
  10. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    53.4 s
  11. Continental IceContact 3
    53.5 s
  12. Michelin X Ice Snow
    53.6 s
  13. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    53.6 s
  14. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    53.7 s
  15. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    55.3 s
  16. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    55.9 s

Ice Performance Overview

Ice Braking (M)

Ice braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 with a result of 36.4 M. The difference between best and worst was 36.4%.
  1. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    36.4 M
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    37.9 M
  3. Michelin X Ice North 4
    38.8 M
  4. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    39 M
  5. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    40.1 M
  6. Continental IceContact 3
    40.9 M
  7. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    41.8 M
  8. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    42.2 M
  9. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    43.3 M
  10. Michelin X Ice Snow
    44.4 M
  11. Continental VikingContact 7
    46 M
  12. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    46.5 M
  13. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    48.8 M
  14. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    49.5 M
  15. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    51.7 M
  16. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    57.2 M

Ice Traction (s)

Ice acceleration time (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 with a result of 3.6 s. The difference between best and worst was 46.3%.
  1. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    3.6 s
  2. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    3.7 s
  3. Michelin X Ice North 4
    3.8 s
  4. Continental IceContact 3
    3.9 s
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    3.9 s
  6. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    3.9 s
  7. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    4 s
  8. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    4.2 s
  9. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    4.4 s
  10. Continental VikingContact 7
    5.1 s
  11. Michelin X Ice Snow
    5.2 s
  12. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    5.4 s
  13. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    5.5 s
  14. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    5.6 s
  15. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    6 s
  16. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    6.7 s

Ice Handling (s)

Ice handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 with a result of 54.1 s. The difference between best and worst was 27.6%.
  1. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    54.1 s
  2. Michelin X Ice North 4
    54.5 s
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    55.1 s
  4. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    55.6 s
  5. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    55.6 s
  6. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    55.8 s
  7. Continental IceContact 3
    57.8 s
  8. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    60.3 s
  9. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    62.7 s
  10. Continental VikingContact 7
    65 s
  11. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    65.8 s
  12. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    66.6 s
  13. Michelin X Ice Snow
    68.6 s
  14. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    70 s
  15. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    70 s
  16. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    74.7 s

Comfort Performance Overview

Subj. Noise ( Points)

Subjective in car noise levels (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Continental VikingContact 7 with a result of 10 Points. The difference between best and worst was 50%.
  1. Continental VikingContact 7
    10 Points
  2. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    9 Points
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    9 Points
  4. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    9 Points
  5. Michelin X Ice Snow
    9 Points
  6. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    8 Points
  7. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    8 Points
  8. Michelin X Ice North 4
    7 Points
  9. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    7 Points
  10. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    7 Points
  11. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    7 Points
  12. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    7 Points
  13. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    6 Points
  14. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    6 Points
  15. Continental IceContact 3
    6 Points
  16. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    5 Points

Value Performance Overview

Price

Price in local currency (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was CST Medallion Winter WCP1. The difference between best and worst was 53.8%.
  1. CST Medallion Winter WCP1
    300
  2. Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50
    350
  3. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    400
  4. Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    400
  5. Hankook Winter i pike RS2
    450
  6. Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
    450
  7. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
    500
  8. Bridgestone Noranza 001
    550
  9. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    550
  10. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    550
  11. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
    550
  12. Continental IceContact 3
    600
  13. Michelin X Ice Snow
    600
  14. Continental VikingContact 7
    600
  15. Michelin X Ice North 4
    650
  16. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    650

Overall Findings

Based on the weighted scoring from all tests, here are the overall results:

Position Tyre Score
Continental VikingContact 7 0%
2 Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 0%
3 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 0%
4 Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 0%
5 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 0%
6 Michelin X Ice North 4 0%
7 Pirelli Ice Zero 2 0%
8 Michelin X Ice Snow 0%
9 Bridgestone Noranza 001 0%
10 Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 0%
11 Continental IceContact 3 0%
12 Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 0%
13 Hankook Winter i pike RS2 0%
14 CST Medallion Winter WCP1 0%
15 Kumho WinterCraft Ice 0%
16 Westlake IceMaster Spike Z 50 0%

Similar Tyre Tests

Show All winter tyre tests
2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test
January 2026 275/35 R19 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 7 tyres
2025 TUV Test of Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 vs Rivals
October 2025 Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 5 tyres
2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test
October 2025 235/45 R18 Continental VikingContact 8 20 tyres
2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test
October 2025 245/45 R19 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 10 tyres
2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test
October 2025 225/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 22 tyres
2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets!
October 2025 225/40 R18 Dunlop Winter Response 2 52 tyres
comments powered by Disqus