Test Charts / Auto Bild Sportscars

2026 Auto Bild Sportscars 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 R18
Tyres tested: 12
Disciplines: 13
Test vehicle: BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupé and BMW M240i

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
RefReference Summer	35.4 m	-5.40 m	0 km/h
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	40.8 m	Best	0 km/h
2Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	41.7 m	+0.90 m	19 km/h
3Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	42 m	+1.20 m	22 km/h
4Dunlop Winter	42.1 m	+1.30 m	23 km/h
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	42.5 m	+1.70 m	26 km/h
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	42.5 m	+1.70 m	26 km/h
5Nokian Snowproof 3P	42.5 m	+1.70 m	26 km/h
8Leao Winter Defender UHP	42.8 m	+2.00 m	28 km/h
9Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	43.3 m	+2.50 m	31 km/h
10Hankook Winter i cept evo3	43.4 m	+2.60 m	32 km/h
11Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	43.5 m	+2.70 m	32 km/h
12Nexen Winguard Sport 3	44.5 m	+3.70 m	37 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 25.7% (9.1 m ≈ 2 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Nexen Winguard Sport 3 would still be travelling at 37 km/h when the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 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
RefReference Summer	101.3 km/h	+2.50 km/h
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	98.8 km/h	Best
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6	98.8 km/h	Best
3Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	98.7 km/h	-0.10 km/h
4Dunlop Winter	98.3 km/h	-0.50 km/h
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	97.9 km/h	-0.90 km/h
6Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	97.3 km/h	-1.50 km/h
7Hankook Winter i cept evo3	97.1 km/h	-1.70 km/h
7Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	97.1 km/h	-1.70 km/h
9Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	96.3 km/h	-2.50 km/h
10Nexen Winguard Sport 3	96.2 km/h	-2.60 km/h
11Leao Winter Defender UHP	96.1 km/h	-2.70 km/h
12Nokian Snowproof 3P	95.7 km/h	-3.10 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 5.5% (5.6 Km/H).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	49.3 m	Best	0 km/h
RefReference Summer	49.5 m	+0.20 m	8 km/h
2Nexen Winguard Sport 3	50.7 m	+1.40 m	22 km/h
3Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	52 m	+2.70 m	30 km/h
3Bridgestone Blizzak 6	52 m	+2.70 m	30 km/h
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	52.1 m	+2.80 m	30 km/h
6Nokian Snowproof 3P	52.2 m	+2.90 m	31 km/h
7Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	52.8 m	+3.50 m	33 km/h
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	56.1 m	+6.80 m	45 km/h
9Dunlop Winter	56.6 m	+7.30 m	47 km/h
10Hankook Winter i cept evo3	60.7 m	+11.40 m	56 km/h
11Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	65.2 m	+15.90 m	64 km/h
12Leao Winter Defender UHP	67.7 m	+18.40 m	68 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 37.3% (18.4 m ≈ 4.1 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Leao Winter Defender UHP would still be travelling at 68 km/h when the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 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
RefReference Summer	72.5 km/h	+1.40 km/h
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6	71.1 km/h	Best
2Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	70.4 km/h	-0.70 km/h
2Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	70.4 km/h	-0.70 km/h
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	70.2 km/h	-0.90 km/h
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	69.6 km/h	-1.50 km/h
6Nexen Winguard Sport 3	69.4 km/h	-1.70 km/h
7Hankook Winter i cept evo3	69.2 km/h	-1.90 km/h
8Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	69.1 km/h	-2.00 km/h
9Dunlop Winter	68.8 km/h	-2.30 km/h
10Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	68.4 km/h	-2.70 km/h
11Nokian Snowproof 3P	67.8 km/h	-3.30 km/h
12Leao Winter Defender UHP	64 km/h	-7.10 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 11.7% (8.5 Km/H).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Hankook Winter i cept evo3	79.3 km/h	Best
2Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	78.2 km/h	-1.10 km/h
3Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	77.4 km/h	-1.90 km/h
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	77.3 km/h	-2.00 km/h
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	76 km/h	-3.30 km/h
6Dunlop Winter	75.3 km/h	-4.00 km/h
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	75.1 km/h	-4.20 km/h
8Nokian Snowproof 3P	74.9 km/h	-4.40 km/h
RefReference Summer	74.2 km/h	-5.10 km/h
9Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	72.9 km/h	-6.40 km/h
10Leao Winter Defender UHP	67.9 km/h	-11.40 km/h
11Nexen Winguard Sport 3	67.4 km/h	-11.90 km/h
12Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	66.9 km/h	-12.40 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 15.6% (12.4 Km/H).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Hankook Winter i cept evo3	3.05 m/sec2	Best
2Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	2.72 m/sec2	-0.33 m/sec2
3Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	2.65 m/sec2	-0.40 m/sec2
4Dunlop Winter	2.61 m/sec2	-0.44 m/sec2
RefReference Summer	2.6 m/sec2	-0.45 m/sec2
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	2.59 m/sec2	-0.46 m/sec2
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6	2.56 m/sec2	-0.49 m/sec2
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	2.45 m/sec2	-0.60 m/sec2
7Nokian Snowproof 3P	2.45 m/sec2	-0.60 m/sec2
9Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	2.37 m/sec2	-0.68 m/sec2
10Leao Winter Defender UHP	2.2 m/sec2	-0.85 m/sec2
11Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	2.06 m/sec2	-0.99 m/sec2
12Nexen Winguard Sport 3	1.86 m/sec2	-1.19 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 39% (1.19 m/sec2).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	25.1 m	Best	0 km/h
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	25.3 m	+0.20 m	12 km/h
3Hankook Winter i cept evo3	25.7 m	+0.60 m	20 km/h
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	25.7 m	+0.60 m	20 km/h
3Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	25.7 m	+0.60 m	20 km/h
6Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	25.8 m	+0.70 m	21 km/h
6Nokian Snowproof 3P	25.8 m	+0.70 m	21 km/h
8Nexen Winguard Sport 3	26.2 m	+1.10 m	27 km/h
9Dunlop Winter	26.3 m	+1.20 m	28 km/h
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	26.7 m	+1.60 m	32 km/h
10Leao Winter Defender UHP	26.7 m	+1.60 m	32 km/h
12Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	27.2 m	+2.10 m	36 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 8.4% (2.1 m ≈ 0.5 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 would still be travelling at 36 km/h when the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 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
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	2699 N	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	2658 N	-41.00 N
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	2624 N	-75.00 N
4Nokian Snowproof 3P	2620 N	-79.00 N
5Dunlop Winter	2618 N	-81.00 N
6Hankook Winter i cept evo3	2613 N	-86.00 N
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	2610 N	-89.00 N
8Nexen Winguard Sport 3	2604 N	-95.00 N
9Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	2592 N	-107.00 N
10Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	2582 N	-117.00 N
11Leao Winter Defender UHP	2575 N	-124.00 N
12Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	2543 N	-156.00 N

The difference between best and worst was 5.8% (156 N).

Snow Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	66.4 km/h	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	66.3 km/h	-0.10 km/h
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	66.2 km/h	-0.20 km/h
4Nokian Snowproof 3P	66.1 km/h	-0.30 km/h
5Hankook Winter i cept evo3	65.7 km/h	-0.70 km/h
6Dunlop Winter	65.6 km/h	-0.80 km/h
7Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	65.4 km/h	-1.00 km/h
8Leao Winter Defender UHP	64.7 km/h	-1.70 km/h
9Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	64.6 km/h	-1.80 km/h
10Nexen Winguard Sport 3	64.4 km/h	-2.00 km/h
11Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	63.7 km/h	-2.70 km/h
12Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	63.5 km/h	-2.90 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 4.4% (2.9 Km/H).

Snow Slalom
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6	4.22 m/sec2	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	4.2 m/sec2	-0.02 m/sec2
3Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	4.18 m/sec2	-0.04 m/sec2
4Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	4.17 m/sec2	-0.05 m/sec2
5Nokian Snowproof 3P	4.11 m/sec2	-0.11 m/sec2
6Hankook Winter i cept evo3	4.01 m/sec2	-0.21 m/sec2
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	3.99 m/sec2	-0.23 m/sec2
8Dunlop Winter	3.98 m/sec2	-0.24 m/sec2
9Nexen Winguard Sport 3	3.96 m/sec2	-0.26 m/sec2
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	3.88 m/sec2	-0.34 m/sec2
10Leao Winter Defender UHP	3.88 m/sec2	-0.34 m/sec2
12Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	3.73 m/sec2	-0.49 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 11.6% (0.49 m/sec2).

Comfort

Subj. Comfort
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	9.6 Points	Best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	9.6 Points	Best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	9.6 Points	Best
4Hankook Winter i cept evo3	9 Points	-0.60 Points
4Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	9 Points	-0.60 Points
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6	9 Points	-0.60 Points
4Nexen Winguard Sport 3	9 Points	-0.60 Points
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	8.8 Points	-0.80 Points
9Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	8.6 Points	-1.00 Points
9Dunlop Winter	8.6 Points	-1.00 Points
9Nokian Snowproof 3P	8.6 Points	-1.00 Points
12Leao Winter Defender UHP	8.2 Points	-1.40 Points

The difference between best and worst was 14.6% (1.4 Points).

Noise
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Nexen Winguard Sport 3	69 dB	Best
2Nokian Snowproof 3P	69.7 dB	+0.70 dB
3Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	70.2 dB	+1.20 dB
4Dunlop Winter	70.6 dB	+1.60 dB
5Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	70.7 dB	+1.70 dB
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	70.7 dB	+1.70 dB
RefReference Summer	70.9 dB	+1.90 dB
7Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	71 dB	+2.00 dB
8Leao Winter Defender UHP	71.1 dB	+2.10 dB
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	71.1 dB	+2.10 dB
10Bridgestone Blizzak 6	71.3 dB	+2.30 dB
11Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	71.6 dB	+2.60 dB
12Hankook Winter i cept evo3	73.6 dB	+4.60 dB

The difference between best and worst was 6.7% (4.6 dB).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Continental WinterContact TS 870 P	7.5 kg/t	Best	£0
2Nokian Snowproof 3P	7.8 kg/t	+0.30 kg/t	£18
3Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	8.1 kg/t	+0.60 kg/t	£35
3Nexen Winguard Sport 3	8.1 kg/t	+0.60 kg/t	£35
5Dunlop Winter	8.2 kg/t	+0.70 kg/t	£41
RefReference Summer	8.3 kg/t	+0.80 kg/t	£47
6Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	8.3 kg/t	+0.80 kg/t	£47
7Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	8.4 kg/t	+0.90 kg/t	£53
7Bridgestone Blizzak 6	8.4 kg/t	+0.90 kg/t	£53
9Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	8.5 kg/t	+1.00 kg/t	£59
10Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	8.6 kg/t	+1.10 kg/t	£65
10Leao Winter Defender UHP	8.6 kg/t	+1.10 kg/t	£65
12Hankook Winter i cept evo3	9.3 kg/t	+1.80 kg/t	£106

The difference between best and worst was 24% (1.8 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 uses about 73 L (£106) more fuel than the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P.

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.