Test Charts / Auto Bild Sportscars

2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test

Name: 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test
Creator: Tyre Reviews
Published: 2023-10-30

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: 225/40 R18
Tyres tested: 11
Disciplines: 12

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
RefReference Summer	39.5 m	-4.40 m	0 km/h
1Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	43.9 m	Best	0 km/h
2Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	44 m	+0.10 m	6 km/h
2Kumho Winter Craft WP52	44 m	+0.10 m	6 km/h
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	44.3 m	+0.40 m	12 km/h
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	44.4 m	+0.50 m	14 km/h
6Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	44.6 m	+0.70 m	16 km/h
7Hankook Winter i cept evo3	44.8 m	+0.90 m	18 km/h
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	45.3 m	+1.40 m	23 km/h
9Goodride SW608	46.5 m	+2.60 m	31 km/h
10Austone SP 901	47 m	+3.10 m	33 km/h
11Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	47.2 m	+3.30 m	34 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 19.5% (7.7 m ≈ 1.7 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 would still be travelling at 34 km/h when the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro 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	104.1 km/h	+0.70 km/h
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	103.4 km/h	Best
2Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	103.1 km/h	-0.30 km/h
3Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	102.6 km/h	-0.80 km/h
4Kumho Winter Craft WP52	102.5 km/h	-0.90 km/h
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	102.5 km/h	-0.90 km/h
6Hankook Winter i cept evo3	102.4 km/h	-1.00 km/h
7Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	102.2 km/h	-1.20 km/h
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro	101.4 km/h	-2.00 km/h
9Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	101.2 km/h	-2.20 km/h
10Goodride SW608	101 km/h	-2.40 km/h
11Austone SP 901	100.2 km/h	-3.20 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 3.7% (3.9 Km/H).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
RefReference Summer	46.6 m	-0.10 m	0 km/h
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	46.7 m	Best	0 km/h
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	47.1 m	+0.40 m	12 km/h
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro	47.4 m	+0.70 m	16 km/h
3Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	47.4 m	+0.70 m	16 km/h
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	47.5 m	+0.80 m	17 km/h
5Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	47.5 m	+0.80 m	17 km/h
7Hankook Winter i cept evo3	47.8 m	+1.10 m	20 km/h
8Kumho Winter Craft WP52	49.7 m	+3.00 m	32 km/h
9Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	49.9 m	+3.20 m	33 km/h
10Goodride SW608	53.7 m	+7.00 m	47 km/h
11Austone SP 901	60.5 m	+13.80 m	62 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 29.8% (13.9 m ≈ 3.1 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Austone SP 901 would still be travelling at 62 km/h when the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 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
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	83.2 km/h	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	82.7 km/h	-0.50 km/h
RefReference Summer	82.1 km/h	-1.10 km/h
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro	81.9 km/h	-1.30 km/h
4Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	81.4 km/h	-1.80 km/h
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	81.4 km/h	-1.80 km/h
6Hankook Winter i cept evo3	81.2 km/h	-2.00 km/h
7Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	81.1 km/h	-2.10 km/h
8Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	80.3 km/h	-2.90 km/h
9Kumho Winter Craft WP52	79.1 km/h	-4.10 km/h
10Goodride SW608	77.4 km/h	-5.80 km/h
11Austone SP 901	72.9 km/h	-10.30 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 12.4% (10.3 Km/H).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Hankook Winter i cept evo3	102.2 km/h	Best
RefReference Summer	100.4 km/h	-1.80 km/h
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	100.1 km/h	-2.10 km/h
3Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	99 km/h	-3.20 km/h
4Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	98.6 km/h	-3.60 km/h
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	98.5 km/h	-3.70 km/h
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	98.5 km/h	-3.70 km/h
7Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	97.2 km/h	-5.00 km/h
8Goodride SW608	97.1 km/h	-5.10 km/h
9Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	96.8 km/h	-5.40 km/h
10Kumho Winter Craft WP52	95.1 km/h	-7.10 km/h
11Austone SP 901	91.9 km/h	-10.30 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 10.1% (10.3 Km/H).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Hankook Winter i cept evo3	3.21 m/sec2	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	2.9 m/sec2	-0.31 m/sec2
3Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	2.86 m/sec2	-0.35 m/sec2
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	2.76 m/sec2	-0.45 m/sec2
RefReference Summer	2.75 m/sec2	-0.46 m/sec2
5Kumho Winter Craft WP52	2.73 m/sec2	-0.48 m/sec2
6Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	2.67 m/sec2	-0.54 m/sec2
7Goodride SW608	2.55 m/sec2	-0.66 m/sec2
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro	2.54 m/sec2	-0.67 m/sec2
9Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	2.5 m/sec2	-0.71 m/sec2
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	2.45 m/sec2	-0.76 m/sec2
11Austone SP 901	1.74 m/sec2	-1.47 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 45.8% (1.47 m/sec2).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	28.6 m	Best	0 km/h
2Austone SP 901	29.6 m	+1.00 m	24 km/h
3Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	29.7 m	+1.10 m	25 km/h
4Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	29.8 m	+1.20 m	26 km/h
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	30.1 m	+1.50 m	29 km/h
6Hankook Winter i cept evo3	30.8 m	+2.20 m	35 km/h
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	30.9 m	+2.30 m	35 km/h
8Kumho Winter Craft WP52	31 m	+2.40 m	36 km/h
9Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	31.4 m	+2.80 m	39 km/h
10Vredestein Wintrac Pro	31.5 m	+2.90 m	39 km/h
11Goodride SW608	38 m	+9.40 m	65 km/h
RefReference Summer	59.9 m	+31.30 m	94 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 109.4% (31.3 m ≈ 7 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Goodride SW608 would still be travelling at 65 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.

Snow Traction
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	2218 N	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	2198 N	-20.00 N
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	2174 N	-44.00 N
4Hankook Winter i cept evo3	2164 N	-54.00 N
5Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	2153 N	-65.00 N
6Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	2151 N	-67.00 N
7Austone SP 901	2148 N	-70.00 N
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro	2098 N	-120.00 N
9Kumho Winter Craft WP52	2096 N	-122.00 N
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	2026 N	-192.00 N
11Goodride SW608	1936 N	-282.00 N
RefReference Summer	760 N	-1,458.00 N

The difference between best and worst was 65.7% (1,458 N).

Snow Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Austone SP 901	58.4 km/h	Best
2Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	55.8 km/h	-2.60 km/h
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	55.7 km/h	-2.70 km/h
4Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	55.6 km/h	-2.80 km/h
5Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	55.5 km/h	-2.90 km/h
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	55.3 km/h	-3.10 km/h
7Hankook Winter i cept evo3	54.8 km/h	-3.60 km/h
8Kumho Winter Craft WP52	54.2 km/h	-4.20 km/h
9Vredestein Wintrac Pro	53.4 km/h	-5.00 km/h
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	52.2 km/h	-6.20 km/h
11Goodride SW608	48.3 km/h	-10.10 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 17.3% (10.1 Km/H).

Snow Slalom
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Austone SP 901	4.33 m/sec2	Best
2Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	3.73 m/sec2	-0.60 m/sec2
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	3.68 m/sec2	-0.65 m/sec2
4Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	3.66 m/sec2	-0.67 m/sec2
5Kumho Winter Craft WP52	3.54 m/sec2	-0.79 m/sec2
6Hankook Winter i cept evo3	3.53 m/sec2	-0.80 m/sec2
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	3.51 m/sec2	-0.82 m/sec2
8Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	3.47 m/sec2	-0.86 m/sec2
9Vredestein Wintrac Pro	3.39 m/sec2	-0.94 m/sec2
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	2.95 m/sec2	-1.38 m/sec2
11Goodride SW608	2.77 m/sec2	-1.56 m/sec2
RefReference Summer	1.24 m/sec2	-3.09 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 71.4% (3.09 m/sec2).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	69.5 dB	Best
RefReference Summer	69.7 dB	+0.20 dB
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	69.8 dB	+0.30 dB
3Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	69.9 dB	+0.40 dB
4Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	70 dB	+0.50 dB
5Austone SP 901	70.6 dB	+1.10 dB
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	71.1 dB	+1.60 dB
7Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	71.5 dB	+2.00 dB
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro	71.9 dB	+2.40 dB
9Kumho Winter Craft WP52	72.3 dB	+2.80 dB
10Goodride SW608	72.8 dB	+3.30 dB
11Hankook Winter i cept evo3	73.6 dB	+4.10 dB

The difference between best and worst was 5.9% (4.1 dB).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
RefReference Summer	8.18 kg/t	-0.11 kg/t	£0
1Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	8.29 kg/t	Best	£0
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	8.72 kg/t	+0.43 kg/t	£23
3Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	8.89 kg/t	+0.60 kg/t	£32
4Austone SP 901	8.92 kg/t	+0.63 kg/t	£33
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	9.1 kg/t	+0.81 kg/t	£43
6Goodride SW608	9.19 kg/t	+0.90 kg/t	£48
7Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	9.2 kg/t	+0.91 kg/t	£48
8Kumho Winter Craft WP52	9.22 kg/t	+0.93 kg/t	£49
9Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	9.3 kg/t	+1.01 kg/t	£54
10Hankook Winter i cept evo3	9.36 kg/t	+1.07 kg/t	£57
11Vredestein Wintrac Pro	9.94 kg/t	+1.65 kg/t	£88

The difference between best and worst was 21.5% (1.76 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Vredestein Wintrac Pro uses about 61 L (£88) more fuel than the Continental WinterContact TS 870 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.