Test Charts / AvD

2026 AvD 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: 15
Disciplines: 6
Test vehicle: Audi A3

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Toyo Observe EWS1	41.5 m	Best	0 km/h
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	41.7 m	+0.20 m	9 km/h
3Kumho WinterCraft WP52+	41.8 m	+0.30 m	11 km/h
4Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	42 m	+0.50 m	14 km/h
5Continental WinterContact TS 870	42.3 m	+0.80 m	18 km/h
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	42.3 m	+0.80 m	18 km/h
7Nexen Winguard Sport 3	42.6 m	+1.10 m	21 km/h
8Michelin Alpin 7	43.4 m	+1.90 m	27 km/h
8Linglong Sport Master Winter	43.4 m	+1.90 m	27 km/h
10Bridgestone Blizzak 6	43.5 m	+2.00 m	28 km/h
11Hankook Winter I cept RS3	43.8 m	+2.30 m	30 km/h
12Triangle WinterX TW401	43.9 m	+2.40 m	30 km/h
12Giti GitiWinterW2	43.9 m	+2.40 m	30 km/h
14Double Coin DW300	44.8 m	+3.30 m	35 km/h
15Rockblade Icecruiser 1	44.9 m	+3.40 m	36 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 8.2% (3.4 m ≈ 0.8 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Rockblade Icecruiser 1 would still be travelling at 36 km/h when the Toyo Observe EWS1 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	46.1 m	Best	0 km/h
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	47.3 m	+1.20 m	21 km/h
2Toyo Observe EWS1	47.3 m	+1.20 m	21 km/h
4Michelin Alpin 7	47.5 m	+1.40 m	22 km/h
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	47.9 m	+1.80 m	25 km/h
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	47.9 m	+1.80 m	25 km/h
7Kumho WinterCraft WP52+	48 m	+1.90 m	26 km/h
8Linglong Sport Master Winter	48.5 m	+2.40 m	29 km/h
9Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	48.8 m	+2.70 m	31 km/h
9Hankook Winter I cept RS3	48.8 m	+2.70 m	31 km/h
11Giti GitiWinterW2	49.3 m	+3.20 m	33 km/h
12Nexen Winguard Sport 3	51.1 m	+5.00 m	41 km/h
13Triangle WinterX TW401	54.9 m	+8.80 m	52 km/h
14Double Coin DW300	62.8 m	+16.70 m	67 km/h
15Rockblade Icecruiser 1	63.9 m	+17.80 m	69 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 38.6% (17.8 m ≈ 4 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Rockblade Icecruiser 1 would still be travelling at 69 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.

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Rockblade Icecruiser 1	24.1 m	Best	0 km/h
2Double Coin DW300	24.3 m	+0.20 m	12 km/h
3Nexen Winguard Sport 3	24.6 m	+0.50 m	19 km/h
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	24.8 m	+0.70 m	22 km/h
4Michelin Alpin 7	24.8 m	+0.70 m	22 km/h
6Triangle WinterX TW401	25.1 m	+1.00 m	26 km/h
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	25.1 m	+1.00 m	26 km/h
6Linglong Sport Master Winter	25.1 m	+1.00 m	26 km/h
9Continental WinterContact TS 870	25.2 m	+1.10 m	27 km/h
9Bridgestone Blizzak 6	25.2 m	+1.10 m	27 km/h
9Kumho WinterCraft WP52+	25.2 m	+1.10 m	27 km/h
12Giti GitiWinterW2	25.3 m	+1.20 m	28 km/h
12Hankook Winter I cept RS3	25.3 m	+1.20 m	28 km/h
14Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	25.8 m	+1.70 m	33 km/h
15Toyo Observe EWS1	26.7 m	+2.60 m	41 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 10.8% (2.6 m ≈ 0.6 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Toyo Observe EWS1 would still be travelling at 41 km/h when the Rockblade Icecruiser 1 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Value

Wear
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Alpin 7	54,995 KM	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	51,899 KM	-3,096 KM
3Hankook Winter I cept RS3	45,721 KM	-9,274 KM
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	44,171 KM	-10,824 KM
5Continental WinterContact TS 870	42,639 KM	-12,356 KM
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6	42,050 KM	-12,945 KM
7Kumho WinterCraft WP52+	38,824 KM	-16,171 KM
8Toyo Observe EWS1	38,261 KM	-16,734 KM
9Nexen Winguard Sport 3	38,166 KM	-16,829 KM
10Giti GitiWinterW2	35,972 KM	-19,023 KM
11Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	35,058 KM	-19,937 KM
12Linglong Sport Master Winter	34,475 KM	-20,520 KM
13Double Coin DW300	32,868 KM	-22,127 KM
14Triangle WinterX TW401	30,425 KM	-24,570 KM
15Rockblade Icecruiser 1	27,814 KM	-27,181 KM

The difference between best and worst was 49.4% (27,181 KM).

Value
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	cost per 1,000 km
1Linglong Sport Master Winter	7.98 Price/1000	Best	€16.50
2Nexen Winguard Sport 3	8.52 Price/1000	+0.54 Price/1000	€16.55
3Triangle WinterX TW401	8.71 Price/1000	+0.73 Price/1000	€17.72
4Giti GitiWinterW2	8.9 Price/1000	+0.92 Price/1000	€17.73
5Toyo Observe EWS1	9.28 Price/1000	+1.30 Price/1000	€16.73
6Rockblade Icecruiser 1	9.35 Price/1000	+1.37 Price/1000	€16.91
7Kumho WinterCraft WP52+	9.4 Price/1000	+1.42 Price/1000	€17.37
8Hankook Winter I cept RS3	9.62 Price/1000	+1.64 Price/1000	€15.52
9Double Coin DW300	10.19 Price/1000	+2.21 Price/1000	€16.87
10Michelin Alpin 7	11.64 Price/1000	+3.66 Price/1000	€15.07
11Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	11.66 Price/1000	+3.68 Price/1000	€18.67
12Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	11.84 Price/1000	+3.86 Price/1000	€20.76
13Bridgestone Blizzak 6	12.6 Price/1000	+4.62 Price/1000	€14.27
14Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	12.68 Price/1000	+4.70 Price/1000	€18.84
15Continental WinterContact TS 870	14.19 Price/1000	+6.21 Price/1000	€19.11

The difference between best and worst was 77.8% (6.21 Price/1000). Over 40,000 km the cheapest tyre to own (Bridgestone Blizzak 6) works out €260 cheaper than the most expensive (Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro).

How this is calculated

Assumes a typical car using 8 l/100km (with rolling resistance causing 20% of fuel use), fuel at €1.65 per litre and €70 fitting per set of four. Purchase prices are from the time of the 2026 test; financing costs are excluded.

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6	7.32 kg/t	Best	£0
2Michelin Alpin 7	7.92 kg/t	+0.60 kg/t	£36
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	8.23 kg/t	+0.91 kg/t	£55
4Hankook Winter I cept RS3	8.53 kg/t	+1.21 kg/t	£73
5Double Coin DW300	8.58 kg/t	+1.26 kg/t	£76
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	8.59 kg/t	+1.27 kg/t	£76
7Rockblade Icecruiser 1	8.72 kg/t	+1.40 kg/t	£84
8Toyo Observe EWS1	8.88 kg/t	+1.56 kg/t	£94
9Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	8.89 kg/t	+1.57 kg/t	£95
10Kumho WinterCraft WP52+	9.03 kg/t	+1.71 kg/t	£103
11Nexen Winguard Sport 3	9.04 kg/t	+1.72 kg/t	£104
12Linglong Sport Master Winter	9.12 kg/t	+1.80 kg/t	£108
13Triangle WinterX TW401	9.18 kg/t	+1.86 kg/t	£112
14Giti GitiWinterW2	9.23 kg/t	+1.91 kg/t	£115
15Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro	9.24 kg/t	+1.92 kg/t	£116

The difference between best and worst was 26.2% (1.92 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro uses about 80 L (£116) 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.

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.