Test Charts / Auto Express

2026 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: 205/55 R16
Tyres tested: 11
Disciplines: 12

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	35.99 m	-7.31 m	0 km/h
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	38.8 m	-4.50 m	0 km/h
1Falken EUROWINTER HS02	43.3 m	Best	0 km/h
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	44 m	+0.70 m	16 km/h
3Minerva Frostrack HP	44.32 m	+1.02 m	20 km/h
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	44.5 m	+1.20 m	21 km/h
5Hankook Winter I cept RS3	44.78 m	+1.48 m	24 km/h
6Michelin Alpin 7	44.92 m	+1.62 m	25 km/h
7Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	45.01 m	+1.71 m	25 km/h
7Dunlop Winter	45.01 m	+1.71 m	25 km/h
9Linglong Sport Master Winter	45.1 m	+1.80 m	26 km/h
10Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	45.29 m	+1.99 m	27 km/h
11Bridgestone Blizzak 6	45.72 m	+2.42 m	30 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 27% (9.73 m ≈ 2.2 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Bridgestone Blizzak 6 would still be travelling at 30 km/h when the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 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
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	53.95 s	-3.35 s
1Minerva Frostrack HP	57.3 s	Best
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6	57.3 s	Best
3Hankook Winter I cept RS3	57.41 s	+0.11 s
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	57.53 s	+0.23 s
5Falken EUROWINTER HS02	57.59 s	+0.29 s
6Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	57.7 s	+0.40 s
6Linglong Sport Master Winter	57.7 s	+0.40 s
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	57.82 s	+0.52 s
8Michelin Alpin 7	57.88 s	+0.58 s
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	57.88 s	+0.58 s
10Dunlop Winter	57.94 s	+0.64 s
11Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	58.11 s	+0.81 s

The difference between best and worst was 7.7% (4.16 s).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	27.41 m	-5.59 m	0 km/h
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	31.91 m	-1.09 m	0 km/h
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	33 m	Best	0 km/h
2Hankook Winter I cept RS3	33.92 m	+0.92 m	21 km/h
3Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	33.99 m	+0.99 m	22 km/h
4Michelin Alpin 7	34.38 m	+1.38 m	26 km/h
5Falken EUROWINTER HS02	34.48 m	+1.48 m	27 km/h
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6	34.81 m	+1.81 m	30 km/h
7Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	34.99 m	+1.99 m	31 km/h
7Linglong Sport Master Winter	34.99 m	+1.99 m	31 km/h
9Dunlop Winter	35.91 m	+2.91 m	37 km/h
10Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	36.71 m	+3.71 m	41 km/h
11Minerva Frostrack HP	39.52 m	+6.52 m	53 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 44.2% (12.11 m ≈ 2.7 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Minerva Frostrack HP would still be travelling at 53 km/h when the Continental WinterContact TS 870 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
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	85.53 s	-1.97 s
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	87.5 s	Best
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	87.5 s	Best
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	87.68 s	+0.18 s
3Falken EUROWINTER HS02	88.21 s	+0.71 s
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	88.56 s	+1.06 s
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	88.83 s	+1.33 s
5Michelin Alpin 7	88.83 s	+1.33 s
7Hankook Winter I cept RS3	89.19 s	+1.69 s
8Linglong Sport Master Winter	90.67 s	+3.17 s
9Dunlop Winter	90.77 s	+3.27 s
10Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	90.96 s	+3.46 s
11Minerva Frostrack HP	95.52 s	+8.02 s

The difference between best and worst was 11.7% (9.99 s).

Wet Circle
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	11.52 s	-0.58 s
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	12.1 s	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	12.17 s	+0.07 s
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	12.19 s	+0.09 s
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	12.36 s	+0.26 s
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6	12.37 s	+0.27 s
5Michelin Alpin 7	12.42 s	+0.32 s
6Falken EUROWINTER HS02	12.44 s	+0.34 s
7Hankook Winter I cept RS3	12.46 s	+0.36 s
8Dunlop Winter	12.58 s	+0.48 s
9Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	12.66 s	+0.56 s
10Linglong Sport Master Winter	12.71 s	+0.61 s
11Minerva Frostrack HP	13.02 s	+0.92 s

The difference between best and worst was 13% (1.5 s).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	85.6 km/h	Best
2Hankook Winter I cept RS3	84.2 km/h	-1.40 km/h
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	83.9 km/h	-1.70 km/h
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	82.7 km/h	-2.90 km/h
5Michelin Alpin 7	80.8 km/h	-4.80 km/h
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	80.6 km/h	-5.00 km/h
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6	80 km/h	-5.60 km/h
7Falken EUROWINTER HS02	78.5 km/h	-7.10 km/h
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	78.1 km/h	-7.50 km/h
9Dunlop Winter	77.6 km/h	-8.00 km/h
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	76.9 km/h	-8.70 km/h
10Linglong Sport Master Winter	73.3 km/h	-12.30 km/h
11Minerva Frostrack HP	67.2 km/h	-18.40 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 21.5% (18.4 Km/H).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	3.5 m/sec2	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	3.46 m/sec2	-0.04 m/sec2
3Hankook Winter I cept RS3	3.43 m/sec2	-0.07 m/sec2
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6	3.41 m/sec2	-0.09 m/sec2
5Continental WinterContact TS 870	3.38 m/sec2	-0.12 m/sec2
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	3.31 m/sec2	-0.19 m/sec2
6Dunlop Winter	3.3 m/sec2	-0.20 m/sec2
7Michelin Alpin 7	3.21 m/sec2	-0.29 m/sec2
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	3.2 m/sec2	-0.30 m/sec2
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	3.19 m/sec2	-0.31 m/sec2
9Falken EUROWINTER HS02	3.16 m/sec2	-0.34 m/sec2
10Linglong Sport Master Winter	2.79 m/sec2	-0.71 m/sec2
11Minerva Frostrack HP	1.84 m/sec2	-1.66 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 47.4% (1.66 m/sec2).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Hankook Winter I cept RS3	18.7 m	Best	0 km/h
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	18.78 m	+0.08 m	8 km/h
3Dunlop Winter	18.83 m	+0.13 m	11 km/h
4Michelin Alpin 7	18.91 m	+0.21 m	14 km/h
5Continental WinterContact TS 870	18.97 m	+0.27 m	16 km/h
6Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	19.04 m	+0.34 m	17 km/h
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	19.26 m	+0.56 m	22 km/h
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	19.32 m	+0.62 m	23 km/h
9Linglong Sport Master Winter	19.42 m	+0.72 m	25 km/h
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	19.6 m	+0.90 m	28 km/h
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02	19.83 m	+1.13 m	31 km/h
11Minerva Frostrack HP	20.04 m	+1.34 m	34 km/h
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	42.21 m	+23.51 m	97 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 125.7% (23.51 m ≈ 5.2 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Minerva Frostrack HP would still be travelling at 34 km/h when the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 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
1Dunlop Winter	6 s	Best
2Hankook Winter I cept RS3	6.03 s	+0.03 s
3Michelin Alpin 7	6.05 s	+0.05 s
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	6.06 s	+0.06 s
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	6.15 s	+0.15 s
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	6.19 s	+0.19 s
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6	6.21 s	+0.21 s
7Linglong Sport Master Winter	6.31 s	+0.31 s
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	6.36 s	+0.36 s
9Continental WinterContact TS 870	6.37 s	+0.37 s
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02	6.55 s	+0.55 s
11Minerva Frostrack HP	6.75 s	+0.75 s
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	18.87 s	+12.87 s

The difference between best and worst was 214.5% (12.87 s).

Snow Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	86 s	Best
2Hankook Winter I cept RS3	86.43 s	+0.43 s
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	86.43 s	+0.43 s
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	86.87 s	+0.87 s
5Michelin Alpin 7	86.96 s	+0.96 s
6Linglong Sport Master Winter	87.22 s	+1.22 s
7Bridgestone Blizzak 6	87.49 s	+1.49 s
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	87.67 s	+1.67 s
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	88.02 s	+2.02 s
8Dunlop Winter	88.02 s	+2.02 s
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02	88.93 s	+2.93 s
11Minerva Frostrack HP	91.98 s	+5.98 s
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	127.79 s	+41.79 s

The difference between best and worst was 48.6% (41.79 s).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	67.4 dB	Best
2Falken EUROWINTER HS02	67.5 dB	+0.10 dB
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	67.5 dB	+0.10 dB
2Linglong Sport Master Winter	67.5 dB	+0.10 dB
5Minerva Frostrack HP	67.6 dB	+0.20 dB
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	67.6 dB	+0.20 dB
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	67.6 dB	+0.20 dB
8Dunlop Winter	67.9 dB	+0.50 dB
9Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	68 dB	+0.60 dB
10Michelin Alpin 7	68.1 dB	+0.70 dB
11Hankook Winter I cept RS3	68.2 dB	+0.80 dB
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	68.2 dB	+0.80 dB
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	68.4 dB	+1.00 dB

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

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Michelin Alpin 7	7.4 kg/t	Best	£0
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	7.85 kg/t	+0.45 kg/t	£27
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	8.2 kg/t	+0.80 kg/t	£48
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	8.26 kg/t	+0.86 kg/t	£51
5Dunlop Winter	8.31 kg/t	+0.91 kg/t	£54
6Falken EUROWINTER HS02	8.34 kg/t	+0.94 kg/t	£56
7Hankook Winter I cept RS3	8.38 kg/t	+0.98 kg/t	£58
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	8.43 kg/t	+1.03 kg/t	£61
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	8.45 kg/t	+1.05 kg/t	£63
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	8.78 kg/t	+1.38 kg/t	£82
9Minerva Frostrack HP	8.86 kg/t	+1.46 kg/t	£87
10Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	9.2 kg/t	+1.80 kg/t	£107
11Linglong Sport Master Winter	9.52 kg/t	+2.12 kg/t	£126

The difference between best and worst was 28.6% (2.12 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Linglong Sport Master Winter uses about 87 L (£126) more fuel than the Michelin Alpin 7.

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.