Data Explorer / Auto Express
2026 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test
- Tested size
- 205/55 R16
- Tyres tested
- 11
- Disciplines
- 12
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| m ↓ | s ↓ | m ↓ | s ↓ | s ↓ | km/h ↑ | m/sec2 ↑ | m ↓ | s ↓ | s ↓ | dB ↓ | kg/t ↓ | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 97.70 | 44.50 | 57.53 | 98.5 | 33.00 | 87.50 | 12.10 | 82.7 | 3.38 | 99.5 | 18.97 | 6.37 | 86.87 | 97.2 | 67.4 | 100.0 | 8.20 | 90.2 | |
StrengthsThe Continental WinterContact TS 870 was the strongest tyre in the field in the wet, topping braking, cornering on the circle and the handling lap, and doing it with clear margins rather than fractions. It was also the quietest tyre in the cabin, and backed the wet result up with a top-five snow stop, a top-four snow lap and good rolling resistance. Testers found it easy to place, with strong turn-in and traction and smooth transitions at the limit. ConsiderationsSnow traction was the Continental's one real weakness, where it finished near the bottom of the winter field, and dry braking was only mid-pack. It also sits at the expensive end of the group. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry98.45 × 20% = 19.69 Wet99.52 × 35% = 34.83 Snow97.19 × 30% = 29.16 Comfort100 × 5% = 5 Rolling Resistance90.24 × 10% = 9.02 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 97.67 | 44.00 | 57.88 | 98.7 | 33.99 | 87.50 | 12.17 | 85.6 | 3.46 | 98.9 | 19.26 | 6.19 | 86.43 | 97.9 | 67.6 | 99.7 | 8.26 | 89.6 | |
StrengthsThe Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 was the most complete tyre in the field behind the winner, tying for the fastest wet handling lap, taking second on the wet circle, topping straight-line aquaplaning and running second in the curved test. It was second in dry braking and joint second on the snow lap, and testers praised its positive turn-in, traction and stability at the limit. ConsiderationsSnow braking and snow traction were the softest parts of its card, both only mid-field, and it was well down the order on the dry handling lap. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry98.71 × 20% = 19.74 Wet98.91 × 35% = 34.62 Snow97.88 × 30% = 29.36 Comfort99.7 × 5% = 4.99 Rolling Resistance89.59 × 10% = 8.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 4 | 97.48 | 44.78 | 57.41 | 98.3 | 33.92 | 89.19 | 12.46 | 84.2 | 3.43 | 97.6 | 18.70 | 6.03 | 86.43 | 99.7 | 68.2 | 98.8 | 8.38 | 88.3 | |
StrengthsThe Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 was the best tyre in the field on snow, recording the shortest snow stop and following it with second in traction and joint second on the snow lap. It was second in wet braking and second in straight-line aquaplaning, third in the curved test, and third quickest on the dry handling lap. Testers described it as calm, precise and easy to catch. ConsiderationsIt was the noisiest tyre in the cabin, its rolling resistance was only mid-field, and it lacked the outright grip of the leaders on the wet handling lap and the wet circle, where it slipped to the lower half of the order. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry98.25 × 20% = 19.65 Wet97.6 × 35% = 34.16 Snow99.65 × 30% = 29.9 Comfort98.83 × 5% = 4.94 Rolling Resistance88.31 × 10% = 8.83 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4= | 1 | 98.03 | 44.92 | 57.88 | 97.7 | 34.38 | 88.83 | 12.42 | 80.8 | 3.21 | 96.7 | 18.91 | 6.05 | 86.96 | 99.0 | 68.1 | 99.0 | 7.40 | 100.0 | |
StrengthsThe Michelin Alpin 7 had by a clear margin the lowest rolling resistance in the test, and it was consistently near the front on snow with third in traction and fourth in braking. Wet braking was fourth and the wet handling lap was close to the pace, with testers noting predictable, nose-led balance and strong traction out of the corners. ConsiderationsCurved aquaplaning was a weak point, cabin noise was near the bottom of the order, and it was well down the field on the dry handling lap. It is also the most expensive tyre here. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry97.7 × 20% = 19.54 Wet96.71 × 35% = 33.85 Snow98.99 × 30% = 29.7 Comfort98.97 × 5% = 4.95 Rolling Resistance100 × 10% = 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4= | 5 | 97.20 | 45.72 | 57.30 | 97.4 | 34.81 | 88.83 | 12.37 | 80.0 | 3.41 | 96.8 | 18.78 | 6.21 | 87.49 | 98.1 | 67.5 | 99.9 | 7.85 | 94.3 | |
StrengthsThe Bridgestone Blizzak 6 was second only to the Hankook in snow braking, shared the fastest dry handling lap and had the second-lowest rolling resistance in the test. Wet cornering and curved aquaplaning were both top-four results, and testers found it stable and controlled on a first lap and genuinely adjustable once pushed. ConsiderationsIt was last of the whole field in dry braking, and a softer turn-in cost it time on both the snow lap and the wet handling lap, where it could only manage mid-field. Straight-line aquaplaning was unremarkable too. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry97.36 × 20% = 19.47 Wet96.81 × 35% = 33.88 Snow98.09 × 30% = 29.43 Comfort99.85 × 5% = 4.99 Rolling Resistance94.27 × 10% = 9.43 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | 97.14 | 45.01 | 58.11 | 97.4 | 34.99 | 88.56 | 12.19 | 83.9 | 3.50 | 97.7 | 19.04 | 6.06 | 86.00 | 99.1 | 67.6 | 99.7 | 8.45 | 87.6 | |
StrengthsThe Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was the fastest tyre on the snow handling lap and the best in curved aquaplaning, adding third places on the wet circle and in straight-line aquaplaning. Fourth in snow traction and a close sixth in snow braking made it one of the better snow tyres here, and testers found it strong once loaded and quick to recover from slides. ConsiderationsIt was the slowest of the winter tyres on the dry handling lap and only joint mid-field in wet braking, which carries the most weight of all. Rolling resistance was poor and it is one of the pricier tyres in the group. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry97.41 × 20% = 19.48 Wet97.66 × 35% = 34.18 Snow99.12 × 30% = 29.73 Comfort99.7 × 5% = 4.99 Rolling Resistance87.57 × 10% = 8.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 8 | 95.85 | 43.30 | 57.59 | 99.8 | 34.48 | 88.21 | 12.44 | 78.5 | 3.16 | 96.5 | 19.83 | 6.55 | 88.93 | 94.2 | 67.5 | 99.9 | 8.34 | 88.7 | |
StrengthsThe Falken Eurowinter HS02 was the best tyre in the field in dry braking, and backed that up with a top-five dry handling lap, third on the wet handling lap and fifth in wet braking. It was also among the quietest tyres in the cabin. Testers found it dynamically stable and predictable, if short on outright grip. ConsiderationsSnow is where it comes apart, ranking near the bottom of the winter field in braking, traction and lap time, which is an odd set of priorities for a winter tyre. Curved aquaplaning was weak as well. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry99.75 × 20% = 19.95 Wet96.5 × 35% = 33.77 Snow94.2 × 30% = 28.26 Comfort99.85 × 5% = 4.99 Rolling Resistance88.73 × 10% = 8.87 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 7 | 96.14 | 45.01 | 57.94 | 97.6 | 35.91 | 90.77 | 12.58 | 77.6 | 3.30 | 94.5 | 18.83 | 6.00 | 88.02 | 99.0 | 67.9 | 99.3 | 8.31 | 89.1 | |
StrengthsThe Dunlop Winter was the best tyre in the test in snow traction and third in snow braking, only a fraction behind the leader, so its cold-weather grip in a straight line is genuinely good. Rolling resistance was solid, and testers found it grippy with a willing balance on the wet handling circuit. ConsiderationsIt could only manage lower mid-field on the snow lap, where it gave little bite on turn-in and had an eager rear, and it was among the weakest tyres in wet braking, wet handling and straight-line aquaplaning. It felt unexpectedly loose on the dry lap as well. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry97.55 × 20% = 19.51 Wet94.48 × 35% = 33.07 Snow98.99 × 30% = 29.7 Comfort99.26 × 5% = 4.96 Rolling Resistance89.05 × 10% = 8.91 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 10 | 94.05 | 45.10 | 57.70 | 97.7 | 34.99 | 90.67 | 12.71 | 73.3 | 2.79 | 93.6 | 19.42 | 6.31 | 87.22 | 96.7 | 67.5 | 99.9 | 9.52 | 77.7 | |
StrengthsThe Linglong Sport Master Winter was among the quietest tyres in the cabin and was reasonably competitive on snow, with a top-six lap time and braking and traction results that were not far off the mid-field. Testers found it uncomplicated, with good front-end bite and a stable rear. ConsiderationsIt had the highest rolling resistance in the test by a clear margin, and it was a long way adrift in both aquaplaning tests, particularly the curved one. Wet handling and wet cornering were both near the bottom of the order. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry97.66 × 20% = 19.53 Wet93.56 × 35% = 32.75 Snow96.68 × 30% = 29 Comfort99.85 × 5% = 4.99 Rolling Resistance77.73 × 10% = 7.77 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 9 | 94.10 | 45.29 | 57.70 | 97.5 | 36.71 | 90.96 | 12.66 | 78.1 | 3.20 | 93.5 | 19.32 | 6.36 | 88.02 | 96.3 | 68.0 | 99.1 | 9.20 | 80.4 | |
StrengthsThe Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 is the cheapest tyre in the test and snow is its strongest surface, where it sat just below the mid-field rather than adrift of it. It was mid-pack on the dry handling lap and delivered modest but predictable grip and responses. ConsiderationsWet braking was among the worst in the field and dry braking was little better, while the wet handling lap felt tentative and demanded very gentle throttle inputs to avoid wheelspin. Rolling resistance was poor too. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry97.46 × 20% = 19.49 Wet93.52 × 35% = 32.73 Snow96.25 × 30% = 28.88 Comfort99.12 × 5% = 4.96 Rolling Resistance80.43 × 10% = 8.04 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | 11 | 90.75 | 44.32 | 57.30 | 98.9 | 39.52 | 95.52 | 13.02 | 67.2 | 1.84 | 86.0 | 20.04 | 6.75 | 91.98 | 91.8 | 67.6 | 99.7 | 8.86 | 83.5 | |
StrengthsThe Minerva Frostrack HP shared the fastest dry handling lap and was third in dry braking, so it is not short of grip on a dry road. ConsiderationsIt was last of the winter tyres in every snow test and every wet test, and its curved aquaplaning result was far worse than anything else here. Testers described the wet handling as poor and the tyre as unpleasant to drive at the limit, and it is not even the cheapest tyre in the group. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry98.85 × 20% = 19.77 Wet85.97 × 35% = 30.09 Snow91.83 × 30% = 27.55 Comfort99.7 × 5% = 4.99 Rolling Resistance83.52 × 10% = 8.35 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ref |
Continental PremiumContact 7
|
— | — | 35.99 | 53.95 | 113.3 | 27.41 | 85.53 | 11.52 | 76.9 | 3.31 | 106.9 | 42.21 | 18.87 | 127.79 | 48.0 | 68.4 | 98.5 | 8.43 | 87.8 |
Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry113.26 × 20% = 22.65 Wet106.9 × 35% = 37.41 Snow47.98 × 30% = 14.39 Comfort98.54 × 5% = 4.93 Rolling Resistance87.78 × 10% = 8.78 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ref |
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
|
— | — | 38.80 | 57.82 | 105.4 | 31.91 | 87.68 | 12.36 | 80.6 | 3.19 | 99.3 | 19.60 | 6.15 | 87.67 | 97.1 | 68.2 | 98.8 | 8.78 | 84.3 |
Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry105.35 × 20% = 21.07 Wet99.31 × 35% = 34.76 Snow97.1 × 30% = 29.13 Comfort98.83 × 5% = 4.94 Rolling Resistance84.28 × 10% = 8.43 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Leading with these priorities
Michelin Alpin 7
These are calculated scenarios, not new test awards. The published verdict may reflect judgement, close results and factors outside this calculation.
Not ranked: a measurement needed for these weights is missing. Missing results are not treated as zero or redistributed.
Reference tyres provide context only. They do not set the benchmark and cannot win the personalised ranking.
Weighting vs real impact
What decides this ranking
The weighting is how much each category counts. The real impact is how much of the difference between the tyres it creates: a discipline in which every tyre performed about the same barely changes the order, however much it counts.
No weighting is recorded for this test, so the weighting here starts from Tyre Reviews’ season defaults, not from the test’s own scoring.
- Dry Weighting 20% Real impact 8%
- Wet Weighting 35% Real impact 43%
- Snow Weighting 30% Real impact 32%
- Comfort Weighting 5% Real impact 1%
- Rolling Resistance Weighting 10% Real impact 16%
- Snow Traction counts for 10.5% of the score but creates 18% of the difference between the tyres, because their results in it were far apart.
- Dry Handling counts for 10% of the score but creates only 3% of the difference, because most tyres performed about the same in it.
Every discipline 12
| Discipline | Weighting | Real impact |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 10% | 5% |
| Dry Handling | 10% | 3% |
| Wet Braking | 10.2% | 13% |
| Wet Handling | 10.2% | 9% |
| Wet Circle | 9.8% | 9% |
| Straight Aqua | 2.5% | 6% |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2.5% | 6% |
| Snow Braking | 9% | 8% |
| Snow Traction | 10.5% | 18% |
| Snow Handling | 10.5% | 6% |
| Noise | 5% | 1% |
| Rolling Resistance | 10% | 16% |
How it is worked out: each discipline’s weighting is multiplied by the spread of its results (the gap across the middle half of the tyres, as a percentage of the best result), then shared out so that all the disciplines add up to 100%. It estimates what separates the tyres; it is not a second set of weights, and it follows the weights you set.
How your ranking is calculated
Each discipline is scored against the best non-reference tyre in the full test field: best ÷ result × 100 when lower is better, or result ÷ best × 100 when higher is better. Discipline scores are rounded to two decimal places, then combined using your weights.
Within-category weights divide that category’s share of the overall score. A 50% wet category and 40% wet-braking share give wet braking 20% of the total. A weight is a scoring priority, not a measure of its actual effect on the ranking: the performance gaps matter too. What decides this ranking ↑
Published joint positions are preserved separately. Calculated positions tie only when their underlying scores match; two displayed scores can look equal after rounding.
A zero weight excludes that category or discipline. At least one active discipline is required, and the disciplines in every active category must have a positive total.
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