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2025 Auto Express 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
11

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

2

Dry Braking

Dry braking in meters

Lower is better ↓
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870
 30 m Best
2Michelin Alpin 7
 30.71 m +0.71 m
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 31.25 m +1.25 m
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 31.35 m +1.35 m
5Linglong Sport Master Winter
 31.98 m +1.98 m
6Triangle WinterX TW401
 32.5 m +2.50 m
7Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 32.72 m +2.72 m
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 32.75 m +2.75 m

The difference between best and worst was 9.2% (2.75 m ≈ 0.6 Car Lengths).

Dry Handling

Dry handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Linglong Sport Master Winter
 58 s Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 58.53 s +0.53 s
3Triangle WinterX TW401
 59 s +1.00 s
4Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 59.18 s +1.18 s
5Continental WinterContact TS 870
 59.3 s +1.30 s
6Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 59.55 s +1.55 s
7Michelin Alpin 7
 59.61 s +1.61 s
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 59.73 s +1.73 s

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

Wet

4

Wet Braking

Wet braking in meters

Lower is better ↓
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 35 m Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 870
 35.43 m +0.43 m
3Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 35.57 m +0.57 m
4Linglong Sport Master Winter
 36.34 m +1.34 m
5Michelin Alpin 7
 37 m +2.00 m
6Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 37.35 m +2.35 m
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 37.8 m +2.80 m
8Triangle WinterX TW401
 40.37 m +5.37 m

The difference between best and worst was 15.3% (5.37 m ≈ 1.2 Car Lengths).

Wet Handling

Wet handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870
 60 s Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 60.24 s +0.24 s
3Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 60.61 s +0.61 s
4Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 60.85 s +0.85 s
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 60.85 s +0.85 s
6Michelin Alpin 7
 60.98 s +0.98 s
7Linglong Sport Master Winter
 61.54 s +1.54 s
8Triangle WinterX TW401
 64.66 s +4.66 s

The difference between best and worst was 7.8% (4.66 s).

Straight Aqua

Float Speed in Km/H

Higher is better ↑
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Triangle WinterX TW401
 91.53 km/h Best
2Linglong Sport Master Winter
 90.29 km/h -1.24 km/h
3Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 89.29 km/h -2.24 km/h
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 87.34 km/h -4.19 km/h
5Michelin Alpin 7
 84.66 km/h -6.87 km/h
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 84.57 km/h -6.96 km/h
7Continental WinterContact TS 870
 81.14 km/h -10.39 km/h
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 80 km/h -11.53 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 12.6% (11.53 Km/H).

Curved Aquaplaning

Remaining lateral acceleration

Higher is better ↑
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Triangle WinterX TW401
 105.9 m/sec2 Best
2Linglong Sport Master Winter
 97.36 m/sec2 -8.54 m/sec2
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 95.11 m/sec2 -10.79 m/sec2
4Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 94.59 m/sec2 -11.31 m/sec2
5Michelin Alpin 7
 83.73 m/sec2 -22.17 m/sec2
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 83.14 m/sec2 -22.76 m/sec2
7Continental WinterContact TS 870
 70.71 m/sec2 -35.19 m/sec2
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 70 m/sec2 -35.90 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 33.9% (35.9 m/sec2).

Snow

3

Snow Braking

Snow braking in meters

Lower is better ↓
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 40 m Best
2Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 40.69 m +0.69 m
3Triangle WinterX TW401
 40.9 m +0.90 m
4Linglong Sport Master Winter
 40.94 m +0.94 m
5Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 41.11 m +1.11 m
6Michelin Alpin 7
 41.28 m +1.28 m
7Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 42.6 m +2.60 m
8Continental WinterContact TS 870
 44 m +4.00 m

The difference between best and worst was 10% (4 m ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths).

Snow Traction

Snow acceleration time

Lower is better ↓
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 10 s Best
2Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 10.19 s +0.19 s
3Michelin Alpin 7
 10.2 s +0.20 s
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 10.29 s +0.29 s
5Continental WinterContact TS 870
 10.33 s +0.33 s
6Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 10.55 s +0.55 s
7Triangle WinterX TW401
 10.99 s +0.99 s
8Linglong Sport Master Winter
 11.04 s +1.04 s

The difference between best and worst was 10.4% (1.04 s).

Snow Handling

Snow handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870
 60 s Best
2Michelin Alpin 7
 61.41 s +1.41 s
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 62.5 s +2.50 s
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 62.7 s +2.70 s
5Linglong Sport Master Winter
 63.97 s +3.97 s
6Triangle WinterX TW401
 65.01 s +5.01 s
7Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 65.43 s +5.43 s
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 65.5 s +5.50 s

The difference between best and worst was 9.2% (5.5 s).

Comfort

1

Noise

External noise in dB

Lower is better ↓
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870
 70 dB Best
2Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 70.21 dB +0.21 dB
3Triangle WinterX TW401
 70.28 dB +0.28 dB
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 70.28 dB +0.28 dB
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 70.42 dB +0.42 dB
6Michelin Alpin 7
 70.78 dB +0.78 dB
7Linglong Sport Master Winter
 70.85 dB +0.85 dB
8Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 71.43 dB +1.43 dB

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

Value

1

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

Lower is better ↓
Position / TyreResultGap to bestExtra fuel / year
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 8 kg/t Best £0
2Michelin Alpin 7
 8.12 kg/t +0.12 kg/t £7
3Continental WinterContact TS 870
 8.6 kg/t +0.60 kg/t £33
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 8.87 kg/t +0.87 kg/t £48
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 9.21 kg/t +1.21 kg/t £67
6Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 9.74 kg/t +1.74 kg/t £96
7Triangle WinterX TW401
 9.83 kg/t +1.83 kg/t £101
8Linglong Sport Master Winter
 10.7 kg/t +2.70 kg/t £149

The difference between best and worst was 33.8% (2.7 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Linglong Sport Master Winter uses about 103 L (£149) more fuel than the Bridgestone Blizzak 6.

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.

19,000 km
£1.45/L
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.
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