Winter Passenger Car Tyre Tests

German publication Sportauto has published its winter tyre test for 2025, evaluating six winter tyres in the 275/35 R19 size designed for high-performance BMW M vehicles. The test also included one all-season tyre, the Vredestein Quatrac Pro+, which was assessed outside the main competition as a reference point. 

As this is currently the only public test data available for the new Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3, I thought it would be useful to share it. But please understand the following:

This test was conducted by TÜV SÜD Product Service GmbH between February and March 2025, testing five premium winter tyres in size 225/45 R17 94V XL. The test was commissioned by Pirelli as part of their final product benchmarking for the Cinturato Winter 3, with the Pirelli tyre compared against the Bridgestone Blizzak 6, Continental WinterContact TS 870, Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, and Michelin Alpin 7. While TÜV SÜD is a fully independent testing organization with a strong reputation for objectivity, it is important to note that this test was requested and paid for by Pirelli.

Teknikens Värld tested 20 winter tyres in size 235/45 R18, comprising nine studded, eight Nordic friction (studless), and three Central European friction tyres. One studded tyre was disqualified for regulatory violations, leaving 19 in the final rankings. Testing used a Volvo V60 T6 plug-in hybrid across multiple locations in Sweden, covering braking, handling, aquaplaning, emergency maneuvers, comfort, and fuel efficiency.

For the 2025/26 Tyre Reviews Nordic Studless Winter Tyre Test, I have tested five friction winter tyres plus two reference sets (a studded tyre and a Central European winter tyre) across 21 tests in 6 categories: snow, ice, wet, dry, comfort/noise, and rolling resistance. If you drive in regions with frequent snow and ice, this is the group test you need. All these tyres are available to buy in North America and Europe!

Auto Zeitung has conducted a comprehensive winter tyre test in size 245/45 R19, evaluating ten current winter tyres across snow, wet, and dry conditions, with additional laboratory analysis for durability and environmental impact. The test field includes five premium tyres (Bridgestone Blizzak 6 Enliten, Continental WinterContact TS 870P, Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, and Pirelli P Zero Winter 2), two mid range segment tyres (Vredestein Wintrac Pro+ and Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906), and three budget options from Chinese manufacturers (Linglong Sport Master Winter, Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6, and Triangle EffeXWinter TW421). Testing was conducted at Goodyear's facilities for winter conditions and Continental's proving grounds for wet and dry tests, with laboratory durability analysis performed at both Pirelli and Continental facilities. The test vehicle was a BMW 520d Touring.

Moving on from the 51 set braking test, the full Auto Bild winter tyre test is once again, excellent. Testing 225/40 R18 using an AWD BMW M135i (but also fitted to the Audi S3, VW Golf GTI and R, Mercedes-AMG A35, and Hyundai i30 N and more) Auto Bild have once again put all the tyres through snow, wet and dry testing, and tested wear, noise, comfort and rolling resistance.

We look forward to the big Autobild braking tests in every season, and this year Autobild have tested 51 winter tyres in wet braking (plus a summer tyre), with the best 31 moving onto a snow braking test.

The top 20 combined distances from the wet and snow braking tests will feature in the full AutoBild winter tyre test, on the site next week.

The Finnish publication Tekniikan Maailma has published its 2025 winter tyre test, evaluating a total of fourteen tyres, tested in conjunction with UTAC. The test was split into two categories, with seven studded winter tyres and seven Nordic non-studded (friction) winter tyres being compared. All tyres were tested in the popular 205/55 R16 size, using a Volkswagen Golf as the test vehicle. The tests covered a wide range of conditions, including performance on ice, snow, wet asphalt, and dry asphalt, as well as subjective handling characteristics and economy.

Vi Bilägare evaluated eight different tyre models in the popular SUV size of 235/60 R18. The test, featured in issue number 12, utilized a Volvo XC60 AWD as the primary vehicle to assess performance on ice, snow, and both wet and dry asphalt. The lineup included five premium brands—Continental, Goodyear, Michelin, Nokian, and Pirelli—alongside three more budget-focused offerings from Nexen, Goodride, and Triangle.

For the 2025/2026 winter season, Autožurnál TV has conducted a comparative test of seven winter tyres in the 215/65 R17 size, using a Volkswagen Tiguan as the test vehicle.

The test included two new models for the season: the Michelin Alpin 7 and the Barum Polaris 6. These were tested against the Tomket Snowroad SUV 3, Lassa Competus Winter 2+, and Ceat WinterDrive SUV. The lineup also featured the Kormoran SUV Snow and Riken SUV Snow, two tyres from the Michelin group with identical tread patterns, both produced in Serbia.

ADAC are one of the most respected sources of tyres tests for a good reason, they are fully independent, and do things most others cannot do such as wear tests, real world fuel usage tests instead of a machine measurement of rolling resistance, and even ice testing for their all season and winter tests.

For their 2025 winter tyre test, ADAC have tested a huge 32 patterns in 225/40 R18. 

In their 2025 winter tyre comparison, the team from Die Reifentester evaluated seven leading winter tyres, plus an all‑season control tyre, in the popular 215/55 R17 dimension. 

For their 2025 winter tyre test, Auto Express have tested eight popular winter tyres in 225/45 R17.

As always we suggest you visit the Auto Express website on the link below for the full details, but here is our summary.

Vi Bilägare has completed their latest winter tyre test, evaluating seven dedicated Nordic friction tyres and one all-season tyre in size 225/45 R17. The reigning champion, Continental VikingContact 7, has been replaced by the VikingContact 8, which is tested against competitors from Goodyear, Michelin, Nokian, and Hankook. The test also included two budget tyres, Radar and Greenmax.

The excellent magazine Vi Bilagare tested seven studded tyres and one friction (non-studded) winter tyre - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5. Testing was conducted in various locations across Finland and Sweden, using a Volkswagen Golf for most tests.

These are the result from 2024 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test

As with this years Tyre Reviews winter tyre test, Auto Bild Sportscars conducted a winter tyre test in the 235/35 R19 size. 

While we had a slightly different test field, the good tyres were still good, which is always nice. The cheap tyres in this test, a Radar and Auto Green, again prove that you get what you pay for, with both tyres doing well in one category (snow) but then being complete disasters in the dry and wet.

Below is all the glorious data from the Auto Bild full winter test, in 205/55 R16. These are the top 20 tyres that made it through the 53 tyre shootout, so they're all essentially good tyres, they're just different shades of good.

Auto Zeitung, a German automotive publication, has conducted a tyre test comparing the performance of all-season and winter tyres. The test features 10 premium touring tyres in size 215/55 R17, including three all-season and seven winter options, across various driving conditions.

The test results highlight the difference differences between all-season and winter tyres. In dry conditions, all-season tyres consistently outperformed their winter counterparts, demonstrating shorter braking distances and faster handling times. This showcases their versatility in warmer weather.

The gap between all-season and winter tyres narrowed in wet conditions. While some all-season tyres still excelled, certain winter tyres, notably the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005, showed impressive wet performance, sometimes surpassing their all-season rivals.

As expected, winter tyres generally dominated in snowy conditions. However, the test revealed that some high-quality all-season tyres could compete effectively with winter tyres in light to moderate snow, particularly in traction and lateral grip tests.

Here is the 17" version of the excellent ADAC 2024 winter tyre test! As with the 16" ADAC test, there's no huge surprises from the data, it's an impressive showing from Goodyear Dunlop to take the top two places, and Vredestein continues to impress in winter tyre tests with the Wintrac Pro (not the new Plus version.)

Continental will be surprised that its second tier brand Semperit out performed the TS 870 P, and the Davanti Wintoura + manages to offer the worst wet grip and snow grip, which is impressive in its own right. Unusually, there was no Michelin in this test.