AUTO BILD Sportscars conducted a comprehensive all-season tyre test in their December 2025 issue, testing 10 all season tyres in 225/45 R18. This dimension is commonly fitted to performance-oriented volume models such as the BMW M240i, Mercedes CLA 45 S AMG, and Alfa Romeo Giulia. The test covered products across a wide price range, from budget offerings at €340 per set to premium options at €740 per set.
The testers included both a dedicated summer tyre and winter tyre as reference points outside the main scoring, and their performance clearly illustrates the compromises in all-season design. The summer specialist had significantly higher dry performance, achieving 94.6 km/h in the dry handling test compared to the best all-season at 92.7 km/h, and stopping from 100 km/h in just 34.7 meters versus 38.4 meters for the leading all-season. However, it proved completely undrivable on snow.
Conversely, the winter reference tyre excelled on snow with a 22.7-meter stopping distance from 50 km/h, but this came at a substantial cost in other conditions: wet braking from 100 km/h required 47.1 meters (versus 42.9 meters for the best all-season), and dry braking extended to 43.3 meters. These results demonstrate that all-season tyres position themselves closer to winter tyre characteristics than summer tyre performance, making them more accurately described as "improved winter tyres for mild climates" rather than true year-round performance equivalents.
Balanced Performance Versus Specialization
The test winner, Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3, succeeded by finding what the testers called "the golden middle"—no single outstanding performance, but strong results across all disciplines. At €650 per set, it placed second in wet performance, second-fastest in dry handling, and maintained respectable snow capabilities. This contrasts sharply with more specialized approaches: the Linglong Sport Master 4S achieved the fastest dry handling speed (92.7 km/h) among all-season competitors but suffered significantly on snow (27.2-meter stopping distance versus Michelin's 23.5 meters). The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 demonstrated strong wet and snow capabilities but extended dry braking to 44.5 meters. These results suggest that for sports car applications, consistency across conditions provides better real-world performance than excellence in any single area.
Secondary Brand Performance
Two secondary brands in the test revealed interesting patterns. The Kleber Quadraxer 3, Michelin's budget line, inherited strong snow credentials from its parent company and achieved the quietest operation in the test (61.6 dB at 50 km/h, matching the summer reference), but showed weaker wet lateral grip. At €590, it offered a middle ground for buyers wanting Michelin-like winter performance at lower cost. The Viking Four Tech Plus, Continental's budget brand at €440, maintained decent snow performance but suffered from extended wet braking (49.4 meters) and finished last in dry handling (89.2 km/h), suggesting that while secondary brands can inherit some parent company technology, they typically compromise on overall refinement.
Dry
Dry Braking
Dry Braking
Dry braking in meters (100 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
Reference Summer Ref
34.70 M
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
38.40 M
Michelin CrossClimate 2
38.80 M
Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
39.50 M
Kleber Quadraxer 3
39.60 M
Linglong Sport Master 4S
39.80 M
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
41.90 M
Reference Winter Ref
43.30 M
Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus
43.70 M
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
44.50 M
Delmax X Weather 4S
45.00 M
Viking Fourtech Plus
46.10 M
Dry Handling
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)
Reference Summer Ref
94.60 Km/H
Linglong Sport Master 4S
92.70 Km/H
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
92.50 Km/H
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
92.10 Km/H
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
91.90 Km/H
Viking Fourtech Plus
91.50 Km/H
Michelin CrossClimate 2
91.40 Km/H
Reference Winter Ref
91.20 Km/H
Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
91.10 Km/H
Kleber Quadraxer 3
90.70 Km/H
Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus
90.60 Km/H
Delmax X Weather 4S
89.20 Km/H
Wet
Wet Braking
Wet Braking
Wet braking in meters (100 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
Reference Summer Ref
39.30 M
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
42.90 M
Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
44.40 M
Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus
44.50 M
Linglong Sport Master 4S
44.50 M
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
44.60 M
Michelin CrossClimate 2
45.90 M
Reference Winter Ref
47.10 M
Kleber Quadraxer 3
47.80 M
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
47.90 M
Viking Fourtech Plus
49.40 M
Delmax X Weather 4S
56.30 M
Wet Handling
Wet Handling
Wet Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)
Reference Summer Ref
77.40 Km/H
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
75.50 Km/H
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
75.40 Km/H
Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus
75.30 Km/H
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
75.00 Km/H
Linglong Sport Master 4S
74.90 Km/H
Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
74.70 Km/H
Reference Winter Ref
74.10 Km/H
Kleber Quadraxer 3
72.90 Km/H
Michelin CrossClimate 2
72.70 Km/H
Viking Fourtech Plus
71.20 Km/H
Delmax X Weather 4S
68.20 Km/H
Wet Circle
Wet Circle
Wet Circle Lap Time in seconds (Lower is better)
Reference Summer Ref
14.01 s
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
14.34 s
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
14.40 s
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
14.43 s
Reference Winter Ref
14.44 s
Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
14.47 s
Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus
14.52 s
Linglong Sport Master 4S
14.53 s
Michelin CrossClimate 2
14.80 s
Viking Fourtech Plus
14.92 s
Kleber Quadraxer 3
15.05 s
Delmax X Weather 4S
15.67 s
Straight Aqua
Straight Aqua
Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
80.30 Km/H
Reference Summer Ref
79.70 Km/H
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
79.70 Km/H
Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
79.20 Km/H
Kleber Quadraxer 3
78.00 Km/H
Michelin CrossClimate 2
77.50 Km/H
Viking Fourtech Plus
77.50 Km/H
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
75.90 Km/H
Reference Winter Ref
75.70 Km/H
Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus
72.10 Km/H
Linglong Sport Master 4S
71.20 Km/H
Delmax X Weather 4S
66.30 Km/H
Curved Aquaplaning
Curved Aquaplaning
Remaining lateral acceleration (Higher is better)
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
2.60 m/sec2
Reference Winter Ref
2.58 m/sec2
Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
2.45 m/sec2
Reference Summer Ref
2.44 m/sec2
Kleber Quadraxer 3
2.43 m/sec2
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
2.30 m/sec2
Michelin CrossClimate 2
2.29 m/sec2
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
2.25 m/sec2
Viking Fourtech Plus
2.23 m/sec2
Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus
2.20 m/sec2
Delmax X Weather 4S
2.09 m/sec2
Snow
Snow Braking
Snow Braking
Snow braking in meters (50 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3 strikes the golden middle ground and masters all test disciplines confidently. It demonstrates the best performance in the wet chapter overall, being the fastest in wet handling and second-fastest on dry surfaces. The tyre delivers excellent rolling comfort and maintains composed behavior across all conditions. Pirelli has achieved what the testers call an exemplary compromise, successfully balancing the conflicting development goals that plague all-season tyres. The tyre offers sporty drivers crisp handling and maximum driving enjoyment while maintaining strong winter capabilities, making it the clear test winner despite being in the mid-price range.
The Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 is a strong all-rounder with low rolling resistance (testers note not ours.) However, this efficiency comes with slight compromises in rolling comfort and pass-by noise levels, which are marginally higher than some competitors. The tyre demonstrates balanced performance across all test categories without any particular weaknesses, making it a safe choice for drivers who prioritize efficiency alongside year-round capability. Its consistent performance in all conditions justifies its "exemplary" rating and second-place finish.
The Hankook Kinergy 4S² proves to be another strong all-rounder with a particular affinity for snow conditions. It offers very good price-performance value, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers who don't want to compromise on safety. The tyre shows slightly lower traction on snow compared to the best performers, but this is a minor weakness in an otherwise well-balanced package. Its handling characteristics are predictable and confidence-inspiring across all surfaces, earning it a shared second-place finish and "exemplary" rating.
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 is the undisputed snow king, delivering outstanding winter performance that actually surpasses the dedicated winter tyre reference in three out of four snow disciplines. However, the French manufacturer appears to have over-emphasized winter properties, as the tyre shows comparatively weak wet handling characteristics. This represents the classic compromise dilemma of all-season tyres taken to an extreme. Despite being the most expensive tyre in the test, it's an excellent choice for drivers who frequently encounter snow and ice but comes with the highest purchase price and a fourth-place overall finish.
The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 demonstrates good performance in both snow and wet conditions, with particularly impressive straight-line aquaplaning reserves. The tyre delivers confident handling and good feedback to the driver. Its weaknesses include a slightly extended braking distance on dry surfaces and a speed rating limited to 270 km/h (W-rated), which may disappoint owners of higher-performance sports cars. Overall, it represents a solid choice for drivers prioritizing wet and winter safety over ultimate dry performance.
The Kleber Quadraxer 3 is a snow expert from the Michelin stable, offering a more affordable alternative to its premium sibling while maintaining strong winter credentials. The tyre delivers excellent rolling comfort with the quietest operation in the test. However, it shows comparatively lower lateral grip on wet surfaces, which affects confidence in wet corners. The tyre represents good value for money, particularly for drivers who want Michelin-like snow performance without the premium price tag, though wet handling requires a more cautious driving style.
The Vredestein Quatrac Pro + is a wet specialist with good traction and short braking distances on snow. However, the tyre suffers from limited handling qualities on both snowy and dry surfaces, which affects driving enjoyment and precision. The rolling comfort is acceptable but not exceptional, and it shows surprisingly weak performance in the dry handling tests despite being positioned as a performance-oriented option. For drivers who rarely encounter challenging winter conditions and prioritize wet performance, it offers decent value, but enthusiastic drivers will find the handling compromises frustrating.
The Linglong Sport Master 4S is the price fighter of the test, offering respectable driving performance on wet and dry surfaces while being the fastest in dry handling among all-season competitors. The tyre provides excellent rolling comfort, matching the best in this category. However, it's comparatively weak on snow, making it unsuitable for regions with regular winter weather. Additionally, it's limited to 270 km/h (W-rated). For drivers in mild climates who rarely see snow but want all-season versatility at an attractive price, the Linglong represents good value, but winter capability is clearly sacrificed.
The Viking Four Tech Plus is a budget-friendly second brand from Continental, showing good performance on snow-covered roads. However, the tyre suffers from an extended braking distance in wet conditions and finishes last in dry performance, which significantly impacts overall safety and driving enjoyment. The rolling comfort is below average, and the tyre lacks the precision and feedback that sporty drivers expect. While the low price may be tempting, the compromises in wet safety and dry handling make it difficult to recommend for performance-oriented vehicles.
The Delmax X-Weather 4S offers the lowest purchase price of all candidates and features the lowest rolling resistance for maximum fuel efficiency. On snow, it still delivers respectable performance. However, the tyre shows inadequate performance on wet surfaces, with dangerously extended braking distances—stopping over 13 meters later than the best tyre from 100 km/h. This is a critical safety deficiency that the testers describe as "really dangerous." Despite acceptable rolling comfort, the severe wet weather shortcomings make this tyre "not recommendable" for any application where safety is a priority, regardless of the price savings.
