The 2023 TESTIRENKAAT Snow Tyre Test tested eight tyres designed for extreme winters in the popular 205/55 R16 size.

This is a really interesting test as the four premium tyres are studless friction tyres, and the four budget tyres are studded, so it gives us an interesting data point to compare the best of the new studless friction soft compound tyres against the cheaper end of the studded market.

Friction Tyres:

Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice 3
Michelin X-Ice Snow
Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R5
Pirelli Winter Ice Zero FR

Studded Tyres:

Antares Grip 60 Ice
Sunfull SF-W11
Tigar Ice
Winrun Winter-Max S1 WR60

Test setup & methodology

The test setting, the conditions recorded and how the results contribute to the score.

Recorded test conditions

Dry Braking: 80 → 5 km/h
Wet Braking: 80 → 5 km/h
Snow Traction: 5 → 35 km/h
Ice Braking: 25 → 5 km/h
Ice Traction: 5 → 25 km/h

The testers had a few surprises from the studs vs friction results. The test saw a kind of changing of the guard, as Goodyear's new tyre rises to the top among Nordic friction tyres. The improvement over its predecessor is significant, and the Ultra Grip Ice 3 narrowly snatched victory from the Hakkapeliitta R5. The third-place Michelin falls noticeably behind the top two.

As for the main point of the test—the battle between friction and studded tyres—the differences were surprisingly large. We initially thought that even a slightly cheaper studded tyre would perform better than studless ones on ice, but only Antares succeeded, and that too only in longitudinal grip tests.

On asphalt, cheaper studded tyres generally perform better, which is not surprising since their rubber hardness is closer to summer than winter tyres. However, summer rubber compounds won't work in winter conditions, especially if the studs are also installed too deep or in the wrong positions.

The winter driving tests revealed why some tyres cost more than others. The performance of cheaper studded tyres drops significantly, emphasizing that making a winter tyre that works well in varying conditions is not easy. Bad winter tyres might perform quite well up to the grip limit, but their behavior can change radically beyond that.

Dry and Wet

On asphalt, inexpensive studded tires hold better on average than on snow and ice, which is not surprising, because the hardness of the rubber is closer to summer tires than winter tires. Still, the cheap studded tyres can have surprising and even dangerous behavior.

Dry Braking

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Pirelli Ice Zero FR	30.67 m	Best	0 km/h
2Sunfull SF W11	30.98 m	+0.31 m	13 km/h
3Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5	31.12 m	+0.45 m	16 km/h
4Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3	31.25 m	+0.58 m	18 km/h
5Tigar Tigar Ice	31.32 m	+0.65 m	19 km/h
6Michelin X Ice Snow	31.82 m	+1.15 m	25 km/h
7Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60	32.58 m	+1.91 m	31 km/h
8Antares GRIP 60 ice	33.06 m	+2.39 m	35 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 7.8% (2.39 m ≈ 0.5 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Antares GRIP 60 ice would still be travelling at 35 km/h when the Pirelli Ice Zero FR had stopped.

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

Wet Braking

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Sunfull SF W11	32.53 m	Best	0 km/h
2Tigar Tigar Ice	33.62 m	+1.09 m	23 km/h
3Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60	36.13 m	+3.60 m	41 km/h
4Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3	38.49 m	+5.96 m	51 km/h
5Antares GRIP 60 ice	40.88 m	+8.35 m	59 km/h
6Pirelli Ice Zero FR	41.06 m	+8.53 m	59 km/h
7Michelin X Ice Snow	41.98 m	+9.45 m	62 km/h
8Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5	43.16 m	+10.63 m	65 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 32.7% (10.63 m ≈ 2.4 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 would still be travelling at 65 km/h when the Sunfull SF W11 had stopped.

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

Wet Handling

Wet Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3	40.4 s	Best
2Tigar Tigar Ice	40.8 s	+0.40 s
2Sunfull SF W11	40.8 s	+0.40 s
4Pirelli Ice Zero FR	41.4 s	+1.00 s
5Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5	42.2 s	+1.80 s
6Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60	42.7 s	+2.30 s
7Michelin X Ice Snow	42.8 s	+2.40 s
8Antares GRIP 60 ice	44.9 s	+4.50 s

The difference between best and worst was 11.1% (4.5 s).

Snow

In snow, the tires are rarely divided into two groups in all tests. In all tests, the friction tyres are the best tyres, with the low cost studs falling behind.

Snow Braking

Snow Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3	11.28 m	Best
2Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5	11.52 m	+0.24 m
3Michelin X Ice Snow	11.56 m	+0.28 m
4Pirelli Ice Zero FR	11.57 m	+0.29 m
5Antares GRIP 60 ice	11.99 m	+0.71 m
6Tigar Tigar Ice	12.24 m	+0.96 m
6Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60	12.24 m	+0.96 m
8Sunfull SF W11	12.96 m	+1.68 m

The difference between best and worst was 14.9% (1.68 m ≈ 0.4 Car Lengths).

Snow Traction

Snow Traction
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Ice Zero FR	4.34 s	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3	4.39 s	+0.05 s
3Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5	4.45 s	+0.11 s
4Michelin X Ice Snow	4.47 s	+0.13 s
5Tigar Tigar Ice	4.91 s	+0.57 s
6Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60	5.16 s	+0.82 s
7Sunfull SF W11	5.41 s	+1.07 s
8Antares GRIP 60 ice	5.44 s	+1.10 s

The difference between best and worst was 25.3% (1.1 s).

Snow Handling

Snow Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5	83.04 s	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3	83.28 s	+0.24 s
3Michelin X Ice Snow	84.04 s	+1.00 s
4Pirelli Ice Zero FR	85.19 s	+2.15 s
5Antares GRIP 60 ice	90.82 s	+7.78 s
6Tigar Tigar Ice	91.69 s	+8.65 s
7Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60	93.33 s	+10.29 s
8Sunfull SF W11	93.73 s	+10.69 s

The difference between best and worst was 12.9% (10.69 s).

Ice

It was noteworthy that on ice the premium friction tires beat the cheap studded tyres in the handling tests. When the tires are straight, the studs bite better on slippery ice, and in the acceleration tests two studded tires fit in the top three - but only one in the braking test.

Ice Braking

Ice Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3	14.75 m	Best	0 km/h
2Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5	15.02 m	+0.27 m	17 km/h
3Antares GRIP 60 ice	15.25 m	+0.50 m	24 km/h
4Michelin X Ice Snow	15.3 m	+0.55 m	25 km/h
5Pirelli Ice Zero FR	15.92 m	+1.17 m	35 km/h
6Sunfull SF W11	15.93 m	+1.18 m	35 km/h
7Tigar Tigar Ice	16.42 m	+1.67 m	41 km/h
8Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60	16.95 m	+2.20 m	47 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 14.9% (2.2 m ≈ 0.5 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60 would still be travelling at 47 km/h when the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 had stopped.

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

Ice Traction

Ice Traction
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Antares GRIP 60 ice	5.95 s	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3	6.39 s	+0.44 s
3Sunfull SF W11	6.67 s	+0.72 s
4Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5	6.68 s	+0.73 s
5Pirelli Ice Zero FR	6.93 s	+0.98 s
5Tigar Tigar Ice	6.93 s	+0.98 s
7Michelin X Ice Snow	7.01 s	+1.06 s
8Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60	7.71 s	+1.76 s

The difference between best and worst was 29.6% (1.76 s).

Ice Handling

Ice Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3	69.76 s	Best
2Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5	69.9 s	+0.14 s
3Michelin X Ice Snow	71.21 s	+1.45 s
4Pirelli Ice Zero FR	77.09 s	+7.33 s
5Antares GRIP 60 ice	81.25 s	+11.49 s
6Tigar Tigar Ice	82.21 s	+12.45 s
7Sunfull SF W11	83.04 s	+13.28 s
8Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60	89.39 s	+19.63 s

The difference between best and worst was 28.1% (19.63 s).

Results

Ice and Snow: Best control, excellent grip on ice, excellent grip on snow; Wet Conditions: Summer tyre-like steering, safe and easy to drive in wet conditions, extreme situation behavior not as good as the best..

Dry98.1%

Wet92.3%

Snow99.5%

Ice97.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	4^th / 8	31.25 m	+0.58 m
Wet BrakingLower is better	4^th / 8	38.49 m	+5.96 m
Wet HandlingLower is better	1^st / 8	40.4 s	Best in this discipline
Snow BrakingLower is better	1^st / 8	11.28 m	Best in this discipline
Snow TractionLower is better	2^nd / 8	4.39 s	+0.05 s
Snow HandlingLower is better	2^nd / 8	83.28 s	+0.24 s
Ice BrakingLower is better	1^st / 8	14.75 m	Best in this discipline
Ice TractionLower is better	2^nd / 8	6.39 s	+0.44 s
Ice HandlingLower is better	1^st / 8	69.76 s	Best in this discipline

3PMSF: Yes

Ice and Snow: Best control, excellent grip on snow, good braking grip; Wet Conditions: Excellent extreme situation behavior, good driving characteristics on dry surfaces, oversteers in wet conditions..

Dry98.6%

Wet85.6%

Snow98.5%

Ice95.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 8	31.12 m	+0.45 m
Wet BrakingLower is better	8^th / 8	43.16 m	+10.63 m
Wet HandlingLower is better	5^th / 8	42.2 s	+1.80 s
Snow BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 8	11.52 m	+0.24 m
Snow TractionLower is better	3^rd / 8	4.45 s	+0.11 s
Snow HandlingLower is better	1^st / 8	83.04 s	Best in this discipline
Ice BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 8	15.02 m	+0.27 m
Ice TractionLower is better	4^th / 8	6.68 s	+0.73 s
Ice HandlingLower is better	2^nd / 8	69.9 s	+0.14 s

3PMSF: Yes

Ice and Snow: Safe driving behavior on snow, very good steering on snow, general grip level on ice is good; Wet Conditions: Excellent extreme situation behavior, good steering on dry surfaces, understeers in wet conditions..

Dry96.4%

Wet85.9%

Snow97.8%

Ice93.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	6^th / 8	31.82 m	+1.15 m
Wet BrakingLower is better	7^th / 8	41.98 m	+9.45 m
Wet HandlingLower is better	7^th / 8	42.8 s	+2.40 s
Snow BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 8	11.56 m	+0.28 m
Snow TractionLower is better	4^th / 8	4.47 s	+0.13 s
Snow HandlingLower is better	3^rd / 8	84.04 s	+1.00 s
Ice BrakingLower is better	4^th / 8	15.3 m	+0.55 m
Ice TractionLower is better	7^th / 8	7.01 s	+1.06 s
Ice HandlingLower is better	3^rd / 8	71.21 s	+1.45 s

3PMSF: Yes

Ice and Snow: Best traction on snow, most oversteering among friction tyres, weakest grip on ice among friction tyres; Wet Conditions: Summer tyre-like steering, best braking grip on dry surfaces, sharp grip limit in extreme situations..

Dry100%

Wet88.4%

Snow98.4%

Ice89.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	1^st / 8	30.67 m	Best in this discipline
Wet BrakingLower is better	6^th / 8	41.06 m	+8.53 m
Wet HandlingLower is better	4^th / 8	41.4 s	+1.00 s
Snow BrakingLower is better	4^th / 8	11.57 m	+0.29 m
Snow TractionLower is better	1^st / 8	4.34 s	Best in this discipline
Snow HandlingLower is better	4^th / 8	85.19 s	+2.15 s
Ice BrakingLower is better	5^th / 8	15.92 m	+1.17 m
Ice TractionLower is better	5^th / 8	6.93 s	+0.98 s
Ice HandlingLower is better	4^th / 8	77.09 s	+7.33 s

3PMSF: Yes

Ice and Snow: Most balanced driving behavior among studded tyres, weak grip on ice, mediocre grip on snow; Wet Conditions: Good braking grip in wet conditions, good drivability in wet conditions, mediocre grip on dry surfaces..

Dry97.9%

Wet97.9%

Snow90.3%

Ice86.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	5^th / 8	31.32 m	+0.65 m
Wet BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 8	33.62 m	+1.09 m
Wet HandlingLower is better	2^nd / 8	40.8 s	+0.40 s
Snow BrakingLower is better	6^th / 8	12.24 m	+0.96 m
Snow TractionLower is better	5^th / 8	4.91 s	+0.57 s
Snow HandlingLower is better	6^th / 8	91.69 s	+8.65 s
Ice BrakingLower is better	7^th / 8	16.42 m	+1.67 m
Ice TractionLower is better	5^th / 8	6.93 s	+0.98 s
Ice HandlingLower is better	6^th / 8	82.21 s	+12.45 s

3PMSF: Yes

Ice and Snow: Weak grip on ice, weakest grip on snow, very poor driving behavior on snow; Wet Conditions: Very good braking grip in wet conditions, good drivability in wet conditions, mediocre drivability on dry surfaces..

Dry99%

Wet99.5%

Snow85.2%

Ice88.6%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 8	30.98 m	+0.31 m
Wet BrakingLower is better	1^st / 8	32.53 m	Best in this discipline
Wet HandlingLower is better	2^nd / 8	40.8 s	+0.40 s
Snow BrakingLower is better	8^th / 8	12.96 m	+1.68 m
Snow TractionLower is better	7^th / 8	5.41 s	+1.07 s
Snow HandlingLower is better	8^th / 8	93.73 s	+10.69 s
Ice BrakingLower is better	6^th / 8	15.93 m	+1.18 m
Ice TractionLower is better	3^rd / 8	6.67 s	+0.72 s
Ice HandlingLower is better	7^th / 8	83.04 s	+13.28 s

3PMSF: Yes

Ice and Snow: Best traction on ice, very poor driving behavior on ice, weak grip on snow; Wet Conditions: Weakest drivability on dry surfaces, worst extreme situation behavior, poor grip in wet conditions, very high tyre noise..

Dry92.8%

Wet84.8%

Snow88.1%

Ice94.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	8^th / 8	33.06 m	+2.39 m
Wet BrakingLower is better	5^th / 8	40.88 m	+8.35 m
Wet HandlingLower is better	8^th / 8	44.9 s	+4.50 s
Snow BrakingLower is better	5^th / 8	11.99 m	+0.71 m
Snow TractionLower is better	8^th / 8	5.44 s	+1.10 s
Snow HandlingLower is better	5^th / 8	90.82 s	+7.78 s
Ice BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 8	15.25 m	+0.50 m
Ice TractionLower is better	1^st / 8	5.95 s	Best in this discipline
Ice HandlingLower is better	5^th / 8	81.25 s	+11.49 s

3PMSF: Yes

Ice and Snow: Weakest grip on ice, vague drivability, mediocre braking grip on snow; Wet Conditions: Average braking grip in wet conditions, poor extreme situation behavior, dangerous driving behavior in wet conditions..

Dry94.1%

Wet92.3%

Snow88.2%

Ice80.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	7^th / 8	32.58 m	+1.91 m
Wet BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 8	36.13 m	+3.60 m
Wet HandlingLower is better	6^th / 8	42.7 s	+2.30 s
Snow BrakingLower is better	6^th / 8	12.24 m	+0.96 m
Snow TractionLower is better	6^th / 8	5.16 s	+0.82 s
Snow HandlingLower is better	7^th / 8	93.33 s	+10.29 s
Ice BrakingLower is better	8^th / 8	16.95 m	+2.20 m
Ice TractionLower is better	8^th / 8	7.71 s	+1.76 s
Ice HandlingLower is better	8^th / 8	89.39 s	+19.63 s

3PMSF: Yes

Tyre	Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3	Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5	Michelin X Ice Snow	Pirelli Ice Zero FR	Tigar Tigar Ice	Sunfull SF W11	Antares GRIP 60 ice	Winrun Winter Max S1 WR60
Position	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th	6^th	7^th	8^th
Category scores (% of best)
Dry	98.1%	98.6%	96.4%	100%	97.9%	99%	92.8%	94.1%
Wet	92.3%	85.6%	85.9%	88.4%	97.9%	99.5%	84.8%	92.3%
Snow	99.5%	98.5%	97.8%	98.4%	90.3%	85.2%	88.1%	88.2%
Ice	97.7%	95.7%	93.1%	89.7%	86.9%	88.6%	94.2%	80.8%
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Tyre shortlist

The evidence behind the verdict

Test setup & methodology

Recorded test conditions

Dry and Wet

Snow

Ice

Results

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