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2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
8 min read
Below are all the data points for the 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test, displaying how each tyre performed across all test categories. The spider chart below provides a complete overview of performance, where one hundred percent represents the best performance in each category. The larger the area covered by each tyre's plot, the better its overall performance.
How to read these charts: For each test category, data is presented relative to the best performing tire. The direction indicates whether lower or higher values are better - pay close attention to this when interpreting results.

Performance Overview

This radar chart shows relative performance across all test categories, with 100% representing the best performance in each category. Reference tires may have gaps where data is not available.

Michelin X Ice Snow
Continental VikingContact 8
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
Continental IceContact 3
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
Kumho WinterCraft Ice
Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
Radar Dimax Ice
Michelin X Ice North 4

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Spread: 2.60 M (8.4%) | Avg: 31.84 M

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 with a result of 30.8 M. The difference between best and worst was 7.8%.
  1. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    30.8 M
  2. Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
    30.8 M
  3. Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
    31.3 M
  4. Continental VikingContact 8
    31.4 M
  5. Continental IceContact 3
    31.5 M
  6. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    31.5 M
  7. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    31.6 M
  8. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    31.9 M
  9. Michelin X Ice North 4
    32.1 M
  10. Michelin X Ice Snow
    32.2 M
  11. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    32.2 M
  12. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    32.4 M
  13. Radar Dimax Ice
    32.6 M
  14. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
    33.4 M

Subj. Dry Handling ( Points)

Spread: 3.00 Points (33.3%) | Avg: 7.79 Points

Subjective Dry Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Continental VikingContact 8 with a result of 9 Points. The difference between best and worst was 33.3%.
  1. Continental VikingContact 8
    9 Points
  2. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    9 Points
  3. Michelin X Ice North 4
    8 Points
  4. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    8 Points
  5. Continental IceContact 3
    8 Points
  6. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    8 Points
  7. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    8 Points
  8. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
    8 Points
  9. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    8 Points
  10. Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
    8 Points
  11. Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
    7 Points
  12. Michelin X Ice Snow
    7 Points
  13. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    7 Points
  14. Radar Dimax Ice
    6 Points

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Spread: 6.80 M (19.8%) | Avg: 37.76 M

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli Ice Zero 2 with a result of 34.3 M. The difference between best and worst was 16.5%.
  1. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    34.3 M
  2. Continental IceContact 3
    35.5 M
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    36 M
  4. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
    36.3 M
  5. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    37.3 M
  6. Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
    37.5 M
  7. Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
    37.5 M
  8. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    37.7 M
  9. Michelin X Ice North 4
    37.8 M
  10. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    37.9 M
  11. Radar Dimax Ice
    39.4 M
  12. Continental VikingContact 8
    39.5 M
  13. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    40.8 M
  14. Michelin X Ice Snow
    41.1 M

Wet Handling (s)

Spread: 2.20 s (5.5%) | Avg: 40.99 s

Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 with a result of 39.9 s. The difference between best and worst was 5.2%.
  1. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    39.9 s
  2. Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
    40 s
  3. Continental IceContact 3
    40.1 s
  4. Continental VikingContact 8
    40.3 s
  5. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    40.6 s
  6. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    40.6 s
  7. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    41 s
  8. Michelin X Ice North 4
    41.3 s
  9. Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
    41.4 s
  10. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    41.5 s
  11. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
    41.5 s
  12. Radar Dimax Ice
    41.8 s
  13. Michelin X Ice Snow
    41.8 s
  14. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    42.1 s

Subj. Wet Handling ( Points)

Spread: 3.00 Points (33.3%) | Avg: 7.64 Points

Subjective Wet Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 with a result of 9 Points. The difference between best and worst was 33.3%.
  1. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    9 Points
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    9 Points
  3. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    8 Points
  4. Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
    8 Points
  5. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    8 Points
  6. Continental VikingContact 8
    8 Points
  7. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    8 Points
  8. Continental IceContact 3
    8 Points
  9. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
    7 Points
  10. Michelin X Ice North 4
    7 Points
  11. Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
    7 Points
  12. Radar Dimax Ice
    7 Points
  13. Michelin X Ice Snow
    7 Points
  14. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    6 Points

Snow Performance Overview

Snow Braking (M)

Spread: 1.50 M (3%) | Avg: 50.11 M

Snow braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: All the tyres in the snow braking test finished less than 3% apart.
  1. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    49.5 M
  2. Continental VikingContact 8
    49.6 M
  3. Continental IceContact 3
    49.8 M
  4. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    49.8 M
  5. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    49.9 M
  6. Michelin X Ice Snow
    49.9 M
  7. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    50.1 M
  8. Michelin X Ice North 4
    50.1 M
  9. Radar Dimax Ice
    50.2 M
  10. Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
    50.3 M
  11. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    50.3 M
  12. Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
    50.4 M
  13. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
    50.6 M
  14. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    51 M

Snow Traction (s)

Spread: 0.30 s (5.2%) | Avg: 5.96 s

Snow acceleration time (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Continental VikingContact 8 with a result of 5.8 s. The difference between best and worst was 4.9%.
  1. Continental VikingContact 8
    5.8 s
  2. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    5.9 s
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    5.9 s
  4. Michelin X Ice North 4
    5.9 s
  5. Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
    5.9 s
  6. Continental IceContact 3
    5.9 s
  7. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
    6 s
  8. Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
    6 s
  9. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    6 s
  10. Radar Dimax Ice
    6 s
  11. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    6 s
  12. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    6 s
  13. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    6 s
  14. Michelin X Ice Snow
    6.1 s

Ice Performance Overview

Ice Braking (M)

Spread: 21.20 M (65.6%) | Avg: 43.11 M

Ice braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3 with a result of 32.3 M. The difference between best and worst was 39.6%.
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
    32.3 M
  2. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    33.1 M
  3. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    33.9 M
  4. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    36.9 M
  5. Michelin X Ice North 4
    37.7 M
  6. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    41.6 M
  7. Continental IceContact 3
    42.5 M
  8. Michelin X Ice Snow
    45.6 M
  9. Continental VikingContact 8
    47.1 M
  10. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    47.9 M
  11. Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
    47.9 M
  12. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    50.2 M
  13. Radar Dimax Ice
    53.3 M
  14. Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
    53.5 M

Ice Traction (s)

Spread: 3.60 s (78.3%) | Avg: 6.20 s

Ice acceleration time (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3 with a result of 4.6 s. The difference between best and worst was 43.9%.
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
    4.6 s
  2. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    4.7 s
  3. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    4.8 s
  4. Michelin X Ice North 4
    5.1 s
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    5.7 s
  6. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    5.8 s
  7. Continental IceContact 3
    6.1 s
  8. Continental VikingContact 8
    6.3 s
  9. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    6.7 s
  10. Michelin X Ice Snow
    6.8 s
  11. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    7.2 s
  12. Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
    7.2 s
  13. Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
    7.6 s
  14. Radar Dimax Ice
    8.2 s

Comfort Performance Overview

Subj. Noise ( Points)

Spread: 4.00 Points (40%) | Avg: 8.00 Points

Subjective in car noise levels (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 with a result of 10 Points. The difference between best and worst was 40%.
  1. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
    10 Points
  2. Michelin X Ice Snow
    10 Points
  3. Continental VikingContact 8
    9 Points
  4. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    9 Points
  5. Hankook Winter i cept IZ3
    9 Points
  6. Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1
    9 Points
  7. Radar Dimax Ice
    9 Points
  8. Kumho WinterCraft Ice
    7 Points
  9. Pirelli Ice Zero 2
    7 Points
  10. Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
    7 Points
  11. Michelin X Ice North 4
    7 Points
  12. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
    7 Points
  13. Continental IceContact 3
    6 Points
  14. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3
    6 Points

Overall Findings

Based on the weighted scoring from all tests, here are the overall results:

Position Tyre Score
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 0%
2 Continental VikingContact 8 0%
3 Continental IceContact 3 0%
4 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 0%
5 Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 0%
6 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 0%
7 Michelin X Ice North 4 0%
8 Hankook Winter i cept IZ3 0%
9 Falken Winterpeak F Snow 1 0%
10 Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3 0%
11 Pirelli Ice Zero 2 0%
12 Michelin X Ice Snow 0%
13 Kumho WinterCraft Ice 0%
14 Radar Dimax Ice 0%

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