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2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Tested and written by Jonathan Benson
11 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the 2021 Tyre Reviews 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.

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Nokian Snowproof P
GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
Imperial Snowdragon UHP
Reference Summer

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Reference Summer with a result of 35 M. The difference between best and worst was 15.3%.
  1. Reference Summer
    35 M
  2. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    37.95 M
  3. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    39.11 M
  4. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    39.25 M
  5. Nokian Snowproof P
    39.81 M
  6. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    40.27 M
  7. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    40.39 M
  8. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    40.87 M
  9. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    41.11 M
  10. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    41.3 M

Dry Handling (s)

Dry handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: All the tyres in the dry handling test finished less than 3% apart.
  1. Reference Summer
    44.7 s
  2. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    44.8 s
  3. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    45.1 s
  4. Nokian Snowproof P
    45.31 s
  5. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    45.51 s
  6. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    45.61 s
  7. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    45.71 s
  8. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    45.81 s
  9. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    46.01 s
  10. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    46.01 s

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 with a result of 27.92 M. The difference between best and worst was 26.6%.
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    27.92 M
  2. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    29.41 M
  3. Reference Summer
    29.52 M
  4. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    29.61 M
  5. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    30.36 M
  6. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    30.39 M
  7. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    30.99 M
  8. Nokian Snowproof P
    31.42 M
  9. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    31.94 M
  10. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    38.03 M

Wet Handling (s)

Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 with a result of 49.09 s. The difference between best and worst was 10.1%.
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    49.09 s
  2. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    49.7 s
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    49.76 s
  4. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    49.8 s
  5. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    49.94 s
  6. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    50.72 s
  7. Nokian Snowproof P
    51.31 s
  8. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    51.31 s
  9. Reference Summer
    51.39 s
  10. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    54.6 s

Straight Aqua (Km/H)

Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 with a result of 83.1 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 12.3%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    83.1 Km/H
  2. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    80.8 Km/H
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    80.3 Km/H
  4. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    79.7 Km/H
  5. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    79.7 Km/H
  6. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    79.4 Km/H
  7. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    76.2 Km/H
  8. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    76.1 Km/H
  9. Nokian Snowproof P
    75.4 Km/H
  10. Reference Summer
    72.9 Km/H

Curved Aquaplaning (m/sec2)

Remaining lateral acceleration (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 with a result of 85.1 m/sec2. The difference between best and worst was 10.1%.
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    85.1 m/sec2
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    84.5 m/sec2
  3. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    84.4 m/sec2
  4. Reference Summer
    84.3 m/sec2
  5. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    83.9 m/sec2
  6. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    83.4 m/sec2
  7. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    81.2 m/sec2
  8. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    80.8 m/sec2
  9. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    78 m/sec2
  10. Nokian Snowproof P
    76.5 m/sec2

Snow Performance Overview

Snow Braking (M)

Snow braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 with a result of 15.67 M. The difference between best and worst was 67.6%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    15.67 M
  2. Nokian Snowproof P
    16.01 M
  3. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    16.24 M
  4. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    16.27 M
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    16.28 M
  6. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    16.28 M
  7. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    16.4 M
  8. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    16.49 M
  9. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    16.99 M
  10. Reference Summer
    48.36 M

Snow Traction (s)

Snow acceleration time (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 with a result of 5.26 s. The difference between best and worst was 78.2%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    5.26 s
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    5.3 s
  3. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    5.38 s
  4. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    5.39 s
  5. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    5.48 s
  6. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    5.52 s
  7. Nokian Snowproof P
    5.55 s
  8. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    5.59 s
  9. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    5.65 s
  10. Reference Summer
    24.13 s

Snow Handling (s)

Snow handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 with a result of 86.2 s. The difference between best and worst was 50.8%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    86.2 s
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    87.54 s
  3. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    87.95 s
  4. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    88.22 s
  5. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    89.18 s
  6. Nokian Snowproof P
    90.1 s
  7. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    90.56 s
  8. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    92.65 s
  9. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    92.81 s
  10. Reference Summer
    175.3 s

Snow Circle (S)

Snow Circle Time in Seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 with a result of 33.99 S. The difference between best and worst was 36.8%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    33.99 S
  2. Nokian Snowproof P
    34.4 S
  3. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    34.69 S
  4. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    34.76 S
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    34.78 S
  6. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    35.88 S
  7. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    35.92 S
  8. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    36.06 S
  9. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    36.3 S
  10. Reference Summer
    53.75 S

Comfort Performance Overview

Subj. Comfort ( Points)

Subjective Comfort Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Dunlop Winter Sport 5 with a result of 10 Points. The difference between best and worst was 25%.
  1. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    10 Points
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    9.8 Points
  3. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    9.5 Points
  4. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    9 Points
  5. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    9 Points
  6. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    9 Points
  7. Nokian Snowproof P
    9 Points
  8. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    8.5 Points
  9. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    8 Points
  10. Reference Summer
    7.5 Points

Noise (dB)

External noise in dB (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nokian Snowproof P with a result of 68.6 dB. The difference between best and worst was 6.3%.
  1. Nokian Snowproof P
    68.6 dB
  2. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    69.4 dB
  3. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    69.8 dB
  4. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    70.2 dB
  5. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    70.5 dB
  6. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    70.6 dB
  7. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    71.2 dB
  8. Reference Summer
    71.5 dB
  9. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    72.1 dB
  10. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    73.2 dB

Value Performance Overview

Price

Price in local currency (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Imperial Snowdragon UHP. The difference between best and worst was 56.8%.
  1. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    55
  2. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    94.24
  3. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    96.28
  4. Nokian Snowproof P
    100.36
  5. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    101.87
  6. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    106.58
  7. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    111.48
  8. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    111.68
  9. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    127.29

Rolling Resistance (kg / t)

Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 with a result of 8.566 kg / t. The difference between best and worst was 19.3%.
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    8.566 kg / t
  2. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    8.758 kg / t
  3. Nokian Snowproof P
    8.995 kg / t
  4. Reference Summer
    9.121 kg / t
  5. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    9.142 kg / t
  6. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus
    9.427 kg / t
  7. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    9.624 kg / t
  8. Imperial Snowdragon UHP
    9.808 kg / t
  9. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    10.131 kg / t
  10. GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport
    10.612 kg / t

Overall Findings

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

Position Tyre Score
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 89.5%
2 Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 89.5%
3 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 89.5%
4 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus 88.1%
5 Hankook Winter i cept evo3 88%
6 Dunlop Winter Sport 5 87.4%
7 Nokian Snowproof P 87.2%
8 GT-Radial WinterPro2 Sport 84.6%
9 Imperial Snowdragon UHP 81.8%
10 Reference Summer 73.1%

Test Winner

Reference Summer
Reference Summer

73.1%

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