Menu
Infinity INF 049 View Gallery (1)
155-265/45-80 R13-17 34 sizes 2011 Winter rated

Infinity INF 049

The Infinity INF 049 is a Touring Winter tyre designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

5.9
Tyre Reviews Score Based on User Reviews
Limited Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
70%
Wet Grip
54%
Road Feedback
59%
Handling
51%
Wear
78%
Comfort
59%
Buy again
50%
12 Reviews
60% Average
164,725 miles driven
3 Tests (avg: 31st)
Infinity INF 049

Infinity INF 049

Winter Economy
BETA
5.9 / 10
Based on User Reviews · Limited Confidence · Updated 23 Feb 2026

The Tyre Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tyre scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 3
Publications: 2
Period: 2012 - 2014
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 12
Avg Rating: 60.2%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 1.78
History Points: 10
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tyre tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
Data Sources
TestPublicationDateSizePositionMetrics
2014 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 195/65 R15 ADAC 2014 195/65 R15 13/14 0 metrics
2013 Winter Tyre Overview - Braking Auto Bild 2013 195/65 R15 45/50 0 metrics
2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test Auto Bild 2012 205/55 R16 36/43 0 metrics
3
Tests
31st
Average
13th
Best
45th
Worst
Latest Tyre Test Results
13th/14
Top marks on snow, relatively good on ice
Very weak in the wet, weak in the dry, high wear
45th/50
Size Fuel Wet Noise
13 inch
155/80R13 79 T D C 71
14 inch
165/70R14 81 T D C 71
175/65R14 82 T D C 71
185/60R14 82 T D C 71
15 inch
185/65R15 88 T D C 71
195/55R15 85 H D C 72
195/65R15 91 H D C 72
195/65R15 91 T D C 72
16 inch
205/55R16 91 H D C 72
205/60R16 92 H D C 72
215/60R16 95 H D C 72
215/60R16 99 H XL D C 72
17 inch
215/55R17 94 H D C 72
215/55R17 98 H XL D C 72
225/45R17 94 V XL D C 72
225/50R17 94 H D C 72
225/60R17 99 H D C 72
265/70R17 115 T D C 73
View All Sizes and EU Label Scores for the Infinity INF 049 >>

Questions and Answers for the Infinity INF 049

Ask a question
March 18, 2017

Hi are these tires directional i notice the grips look like they can only go one way?

Unfortunately Infinity haven't responded to our request, however these do look like certain modern asymmetric tyres such as the Uniroyal Rainsport 3.
Ask a question

We will never publish or share your email address

captcha

To verify you are human please type the word you see in the box below.

Top 3 Infinity INF 049 Reviews

Given 22% while driving a Volkswagen Passat 2.0TDI (215/55 R17 H) on mostly motorways for 200 easy going miles
just mounted on my 2016 passat Variant 2.0 TDI. terrible feeling on Dry and Wet. not yet tested on snow. definitely not suggested.
November 4, 2019
Given 34% while driving a Volvo V70 2.5 T awd (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 20,000 easy going miles
I am an advanced Police driver in the UK, I put 4 of these on my AWD V70, I would class them as a dangerous tyre on a wet or damp road. Average on dry roads, fair bit of road noise. Definately would not recommend and would not buy again.
January 31, 2015
Given 76% while driving a Mercedes Benz C 250Sport (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 25,000 spirited miles
Decent tire for the price. Held up for 4 years... never noticed any dangerous characteristics. Great in snow!
October 9, 2014

How would you rate the Infinity INF 049?

Click a star to start your review

Latest Infinity INF 049 Reviews

Given 57% while driving a Toyota Celica VVTLi (225/45 R17) on mostly town for 20 average miles
I had them on my celice for 4 years, I woud'n say its the best one but not bad at all, its cheap but I never had any accident for the 4 past winters where I live north of quebec its a good witer spot, truth I come to trust these wither tires, sometimes brand name is not only the thing to look for,
May 17, 2014
Given 88% while driving a Ford Focus (185/65 R14 H) on a combination of roads for 25,000 average miles
These tires are exceptional in wet and snowy weather, about par in dry , on or off pavement all year round I have found no problem with them a little noisy great for small cars , I drive a focus in mid ontario
April 19, 2014
Given 45% while driving a SEAT LEON 1.6 105 bhp (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 50,000 spirited miles
Very dangerous tyres... Be smart and dont buy it. When temeprature is more than 6 °C, tires are very slippery on dry and noise is horrible, like driving a truck! But when temperature is below 0 °C, tires become great on dry asphalt :D They really stick! But sadly winter is wet almoust all of the time, so this doesnt help... On wet these tyres are awfull! Like driving on ice. I drive very fast all of the time, but with this tyres I am pushed to drive really slow! There is no grip at all... i give you my word! On snow these tyres are not so bad, when u start moving once, its hard for you to stop, even in big snow or uphill, just be gentle on gas pedal :) but if you stop and u want to get moving(small hill or big snow), its hard, becouse there is no grip, snow fills the profile... Its same downhill and stopping at speed. So on short: Very good on dry and low temperatures. Very good on snow when mooving. Awfull and dangerous on wet. Bad for start on snow. Becouse there is not alot of snow in my country and winters are wet almoust all of the time, these tires are really bad choise.
February 3, 2014
Given 37% while driving a Peugeot 406 Coupe 2.2 HDi (215/55 R16 H) on a combination of roads for 7,000 easy going miles
Complete lack of dry grip. Average at best in wet conditions. Quite alright in snow.
Worst of all though, the very very poor brake performance make them totally dangerous!!!
December 12, 2013
Given 43% while driving a Volkswagen golf 2.0 gt tdi (225/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 4,000 average miles
very dangerous in the wet
September 11, 2013
Given 90% while driving a Volkswagen Golf Mk4 1.9 GTTDi (195/65 R15) on mostly motorways for 20,000 average miles
Well have have now fitted these tyres all round and must admit they are pretty damm good. i have now just done over 12500km on them driving mainly on motorways and is impressed with the grip and wear. i drive every day from cape town to worcester ie.240km . its now winter here and every body who knows its really rains here so in the wet the tyres come into the element and gives you the felling that yo are always incontrol.
June 19, 2012
Given 93% while driving a Fiat Multipla (185/65 R15 H) on a combination of roads for 5 average miles
Price / performance ratio is ideal for sanding without snow, I pulled out some sections more than one brand of car brand tires. Then when I asked how is it possible that I went out with the Fiat Multipla of Chinese tires with his family and places it in the downhill slope where the path is strewn. :-)
February 24, 2011
Given 57% while driving a SEAT Leon Cupra (225/45 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 1,500 spirited miles
This review is based on the 225/45R17 sized tyres fitted to a FWD car with sporty suspension (not race suspension but normal manufacturers sportier models) so other vehicle types and sizes may experience different characteristics.

I originally had these fitted to the rear of my vehicle just before the cold ??snap' of winter. I found them awful and at times thought I was going to leave the road. At temperatures above 5 degrees C they felt like jelly and moved around a lot with terrible tram lining. On wet roads the grip just gave up when cornering and the back end would step out and slide.
I then fitted them to the front of my vehicle and on the first day they were awful. Since then however and as temperatures have got colder the grip levels have improved somewhat. The extra bedding in by running on the drive wheels seemed to help. You can still occasionally go around a corner and not get the grip you got from the last corner you went around, which is a little unnerving. But sometimes you can drive around a corner and smile . I have used them in snow and found them adequate in a straight line but again cornering is compromised particularly with slushy stuff. They do however grip with a small amount of traction control cutting in.

So in summary: They perform better when it is cold (zero or below), the dry grip is good but the wet grip is only just satisfactory. They also work ok in the snow for the width of tyre I have fitted. They can be a little noisy on some road surfaces.
They are no where near the class leaders in terms of all round grip and driver response but not bad for a cheap alternative. I however would not buy these again for my vehicle.
December 2, 2010
Rate the Infinity INF 049