Tested 4 times by independent publications, the Leao Winter Defender UHP averages a finish of 19th.
2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test P12 of 12
The Leao Winter Defender UHP finished last and was rated sufficient, and Auto Bild advises against it. The price saving does not make up for how poorly it stops and handles in the wet.
Where the Leao Winter Defender UHP finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tyres. Field beaten is the share of the other tyres it outranked in that measurement.
| Discipline | Tests | Avg finish | Field beaten | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ||||
| Dry Braking | 3 | P7.7 of 11.7 | 44% | 1 |
| Dry Handling | 3 | P11 of 11.7 | 7% | - |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 2 | P11 of 11 | 0% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 4 | P19.5 of 21.3 | 6% | - |
| Wet Handling | 3 | P11.7 of 11.7 | 0% | - |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 2 | P11 of 11 | 0% | - |
| Straight Aqua | 3 | P10.3 of 11.7 | 14% | - |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2 | P8 of 11 | 33% | - |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking | 3 | P9.7 of 11.3 | 14% | - |
| Snow Traction | 3 | P9.3 of 11.3 | 17% | - |
| Snow Handling | 3 | P8.7 of 11.3 | 26% | - |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 2 | P10 of 11 | 8% | - |
| Snow Slalom | 1 | P10 of 12 | 18% | - |
| Comfort | ||||
| Subj. Comfort | 3 | P8.3 of 11.3 | 28% | - |
| Subj. Noise | 1 | P8 of 9 | 13% | - |
| Noise | 2 | P8 of 11 | 29% | - |
| Value | ||||
| Rolling Resistance | 3 | P6.7 of 11.7 | 49% | - |
Overall finishing position against the tyres that have most often shared a test with the Leao Winter Defender UHP. Only tyres tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind
|
4 | 0 | 4 | - | 0% |
 Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
|
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
|
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
|
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
Drawn from 4 tests. Updated October 28, 2026.
The Leao Winter Defender UHP repeatedly finished at the bottom of winter comparisons, with wet stopping and handling the clearest weaknesses. Wet braking was last at 67.7 metres in Auto Bild Sportscars 2026, 37.3% longer than the best, and 44th of 50 in Auto Bild's 2026 braking qualifier, 43.9% behind the shortest stop. The 2023 Tyre Reviews winter test also placed it last in wet braking and handling, with deficits of 42.1% and 17.3%. Auto Bild Sportscars rated it sufficient but advised against it.
Snow results were generally below the leaders, including last in snow braking and traction in the 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV test, although the 2026 Sportscars snow handling deficit was a smaller 2.6%. Dry braking varied unusually: it led the 2023 SUV test at 41.45 metres, but was last in the separate 2023 winter test, 31.9% behind the best. Rolling resistance was a relative positive in both 2023 tests, fourth of nine and fifth of 13, yet fell to 11th of 13 in Sportscars 2026. Comfort was criticised in the SUV comparison and ranked last in Sportscars. Low purchase price and occasional dry braking or efficiency advantages therefore sit alongside much more consistent grip weaknesses.
It did have the 4th best rolling resistance- 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test (2023)
Low rolling resistance- 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test (2023)
It was mid-field in dry braking, ahead of the Falken, Hankook, Maxxis and Nexen- 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test (2026)
Best dry braking- 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test (2023)
had the longest wet braking distance in the test- 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test (2026)
Extremely long wet braking distances- 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test (2023)
was the slowest on the wet handling course by a wide margin- 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test (2026)
slow on the dry handling course- 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test (2026)
the worst in most of the snow tests- 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test (2023)
Worst grip in the dry, wet and snow- 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test (2023)
rated the least comfortable- 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test (2026)
pretty noisy / uncomfortable- 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test (2023)
the worst in all the wet grip tests- 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test (2023)
Worst grip in the dry, wet and snow- 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test (2023)
Worst grip in the dry, wet and snow- 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test (2023)
Low grip in the dry- 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test (2023)
pretty noisy / uncomfortable- 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test (2023)
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
The Leao Winter Defender UHP finished last and was rated sufficient, and Auto Bild advises against it. The price saving does not make up for how poorly it stops and handles in the wet.
The Leao Winter Defender UHP was the best in dry braking, but it was the worst in all the wet grip tests, the worst in most of the snow tests, and was pretty noisy / uncomfortable. It did have the 4th best rolling resistance though.
Last place was the cheap tyre, its only redeeming quality was the price and the rolling resistance levels, but if you're looking for good levels of grip in the dry, wet or snow, maybe pick another tyre from the results.
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