Test Charts / Auto Zeitung

2022 Auto Zeitung 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: 225/45 R17
Tyres tested: 8
Disciplines: 15

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

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Nokian Snowproof P	45 m	Best	0 km/h
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	45.5 m	+0.50 m	14 km/h
3Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	45.8 m	+0.80 m	17 km/h
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	46.1 m	+1.10 m	20 km/h
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	46.3 m	+1.30 m	22 km/h
6Michelin Alpin 6	46.4 m	+1.40 m	23 km/h
7Fulda Kristall Control HP2	48.1 m	+3.10 m	33 km/h
8Giti GitiWinterW2	49 m	+4.00 m	37 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 8.9% (4 m ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Giti GitiWinterW2 would still be travelling at 37 km/h when the Nokian Snowproof P 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
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	63.1 s	Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	63.3 s	+0.20 s
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro	63.9 s	+0.80 s
3Nokian Snowproof P	63.9 s	+0.80 s
5Giti GitiWinterW2	64.1 s	+1.00 s
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	64.3 s	+1.20 s
7Fulda Kristall Control HP2	64.5 s	+1.40 s
7Michelin Alpin 6	64.5 s	+1.40 s

All the tyres in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.

Subj. Dry Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	30 Points	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	29 Points	-1.00 Points
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro	27 Points	-3.00 Points
3Nokian Snowproof P	27 Points	-3.00 Points
5Giti GitiWinterW2	26 Points	-4.00 Points
6Michelin Alpin 6	24 Points	-6.00 Points
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	23 Points	-7.00 Points
8Fulda Kristall Control HP2	22 Points	-8.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 26.7% (8 Points).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	50.3 m	Best	0 km/h
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	51.9 m	+1.60 m	23 km/h
3Michelin Alpin 6	53.3 m	+3.00 m	31 km/h
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro	53.6 m	+3.30 m	32 km/h
5Nokian Snowproof P	55.5 m	+5.20 m	40 km/h
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	55.8 m	+5.50 m	41 km/h
7Fulda Kristall Control HP2	59.2 m	+8.90 m	50 km/h
8Giti GitiWinterW2	61.4 m	+11.10 m	55 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 22.1% (11.1 m ≈ 2.5 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Giti GitiWinterW2 would still be travelling at 55 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
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	89.7 s	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	90.2 s	+0.50 s
3Michelin Alpin 6	91.2 s	+1.50 s
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro	92.2 s	+2.50 s
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	92.5 s	+2.80 s
6Fulda Kristall Control HP2	95 s	+5.30 s
7Nokian Snowproof P	95.5 s	+5.80 s
8Giti GitiWinterW2	96.3 s	+6.60 s

The difference between best and worst was 7.4% (6.6 s).

Subj. Wet Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	45 Points	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	42 Points	-3.00 Points
3Michelin Alpin 6	37 Points	-8.00 Points
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	29 Points	-16.00 Points
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	26 Points	-19.00 Points
6Fulda Kristall Control HP2	21 Points	-24.00 Points
7Nokian Snowproof P	19 Points	-26.00 Points
8Giti GitiWinterW2	17 Points	-28.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 62.2% (28 Points).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	75.2 km/h	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	74.4 km/h	-0.80 km/h
3Giti GitiWinterW2	73.9 km/h	-1.30 km/h
4Michelin Alpin 6	73.4 km/h	-1.80 km/h
5Fulda Kristall Control HP2	72.7 km/h	-2.50 km/h
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	72.6 km/h	-2.60 km/h
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	71.4 km/h	-3.80 km/h
8Nokian Snowproof P	64.8 km/h	-10.40 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 13.8% (10.4 Km/H).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	2.96 m/sec2	Best
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	2.92 m/sec2	-0.04 m/sec2
2Giti GitiWinterW2	2.92 m/sec2	-0.04 m/sec2
4Michelin Alpin 6	2.85 m/sec2	-0.11 m/sec2
5Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	2.8 m/sec2	-0.16 m/sec2
6Vredestein Wintrac Pro	2.67 m/sec2	-0.29 m/sec2
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	2.64 m/sec2	-0.32 m/sec2
8Nokian Snowproof P	1.61 m/sec2	-1.35 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 45.6% (1.35 m/sec2).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	26 m	Best	0 km/h
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	26.7 m	+0.70 m	21 km/h
2Giti GitiWinterW2	26.7 m	+0.70 m	21 km/h
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro	27 m	+1.00 m	25 km/h
4Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	27 m	+1.00 m	25 km/h
4Nokian Snowproof P	27 m	+1.00 m	25 km/h
7Michelin Alpin 6	27.3 m	+1.30 m	28 km/h
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	28.1 m	+2.10 m	36 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 8.1% (2.1 m ≈ 0.5 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 would still be travelling at 36 km/h when the Continental WinterContact TS 870 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
1Michelin Alpin 6	2782 N	Best
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	2750 N	-32.00 N
3Giti GitiWinterW2	2735 N	-47.00 N
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	2712 N	-70.00 N
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	2705 N	-77.00 N
5Nokian Snowproof P	2705 N	-77.00 N
7Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	2683 N	-99.00 N
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	2661 N	-121.00 N

The difference between best and worst was 4.3% (121 N).

Snow Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	81.8 s	Best
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	82.9 s	+1.10 s
2Michelin Alpin 6	82.9 s	+1.10 s
4Nokian Snowproof P	83.2 s	+1.40 s
5Giti GitiWinterW2	83.9 s	+2.10 s
6Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	84.4 s	+2.60 s
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	84.7 s	+2.90 s
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	85.2 s	+3.40 s

The difference between best and worst was 4.2% (3.4 s).

Subj. Snow Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	30 Points	Best
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	27 Points	-3.00 Points
3Nokian Snowproof P	23 Points	-7.00 Points
4Michelin Alpin 6	22 Points	-8.00 Points
5Giti GitiWinterW2	21 Points	-9.00 Points
6Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	20 Points	-10.00 Points
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	17 Points	-13.00 Points
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	14 Points	-16.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 53.3% (16 Points).

Comfort

Subj. Comfort
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Nokian Snowproof P	8 Points	Best
2Vredestein Wintrac Pro	7 Points	-1.00 Points
2Michelin Alpin 6	7 Points	-1.00 Points
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	7 Points	-1.00 Points
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	7 Points	-1.00 Points
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	7 Points	-1.00 Points
2Giti GitiWinterW2	7 Points	-1.00 Points
8Fulda Kristall Control HP2	6 Points	-2.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 25% (2 Points).

Noise
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Nokian Snowproof P	70 dB	Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	71 dB	+1.00 dB
2Giti GitiWinterW2	71 dB	+1.00 dB
4Michelin Alpin 6	72 dB	+2.00 dB
4Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	72 dB	+2.00 dB
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	72 dB	+2.00 dB
7Fulda Kristall Control HP2	73 dB	+3.00 dB
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	73 dB	+3.00 dB

The difference between best and worst was 4.3% (3 dB).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Nokian Snowproof P	7.3 kg/t	Best	£0
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	8 kg/t	+0.70 kg/t	£42
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	8.1 kg/t	+0.80 kg/t	£48
4Fulda Kristall Control HP2	8.5 kg/t	+1.20 kg/t	£72
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	8.6 kg/t	+1.30 kg/t	£78
6Michelin Alpin 6	8.8 kg/t	+1.50 kg/t	£91
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	9.1 kg/t	+1.80 kg/t	£109
8Giti GitiWinterW2	9.3 kg/t	+2.00 kg/t	£121

The difference between best and worst was 27.4% (2 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Giti GitiWinterW2 uses about 83 L (£121) more fuel than the Nokian Snowproof P.

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.