2014 AZ Winter Tyre Test

Test Summary
Best tyre for dry roadsContinental WinterContact TS 850
Best tyre for wet roadsGoodyear UltraGrip 9
Best tyre for snowContinental WinterContact TS 850
The lowest fuel useToyo Snowprox S943
The most comfortableContinental WinterContact TS 850
Bridgestone Blizzak LM32
Vredestein Snowtrac 5
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3
Michelin Alpin A4
Goodyear UltraGrip 9
The quietest tyreKumho IZen KW23
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3
In 2014 Auto Zeitung have tested eleven 205/55 R16 premium winter tyres.

Full details below.

The Results

Continental WinterContact TS 8501st: Continental WinterContact TS 850
  1. Total: 441
  2. Dry: 125
  3. Wet: 138
  4. Snow: 141
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 22
  7. Noise: 7
Dry: Good grip and low fuel use in the dry
Wet: Strong braking, good water drainage, the Conti is excellent in the wet
Snow: Very good balance in handling, high safety reserves: The TS 850 is the Snow King
Overall: The Continental WinterContact TS850 wins this test. Best in snow, excellent in the wet and dry, the TS850 is a very safe winter tyre

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Goodyear UltraGrip 92nd: Goodyear UltraGrip 9
  1. Total: 427
  2. Dry: 111
  3. Wet: 141
  4. Snow: 140
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 20
  7. Noise: 7
Dry: Good braking but a little understeer in the dry. Good rolling resistance and comfort
Wet: Very strong braking and aquaplaning results
Snow: Short stopping distances and good traction with the new Ultra Grip 9
Overall: Very good debut, on the podium for the new Ultra Grip 9 Goodyear

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Nokian WR D33rd: Nokian WR D3
  1. Total: 399
  2. Dry: 115
  3. Wet: 130
  4. Snow: 125
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 15
  7. Noise: 7
Dry: Extremely short dry stopping distances with the WR D3, one of the fastest in handling. Balanced, good traction
Wet: Very good aquaplaning, strong braking
Snow: Good traction with the WR D3, braking performance and steering precision are only average
Overall: The strengths of the Nokian WR D3 show up on wet and dry surfaces

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Michelin Alpin A44th: Michelin Alpin A4
  1. Total: 393
  2. Dry: 106
  3. Wet: 131
  4. Snow: 128
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 13
  7. Noise: 7
Dry: The Alpin A4 is average in the dry, low rolling resistance but the steering is a little slow
Wet: Good wet braking and excellent wet cornering
Snow: Very good traction and balanced handling, the Alpin A4 is strong in the snow
Overall: A good showing from the Michelin with excellent wet and snow qualities

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Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D5th: Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D
  1. Total: 407
  2. Dry: 116
  3. Wet: 131
  4. Snow: 128
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 18
  7. Noise: 7
Dry: Good braking, precise handling, low rolling resistance. But the 4D is sluggish in slalom
Wet: In the aquaplaning tests the Dunlop is average. Very good on the brakes, stopping quickly and safely
Snow: During high speed changes in the snow the Dunlop was a little unstable. Average traction
Overall: Dunlop Winter Sport 4D performed well, apart from in snow braking

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Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 36th: Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3
  1. Total: 388
  2. Dry: 108
  3. Wet: 127
  4. Snow: 124
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 13
  7. Noise: 8
Dry: The Snow Control Series 3 brakes in the dry well, but has a high rolling resistance
Wet: One of the best wet braking, excellent stability but a hint of understeer
Snow: Good handling and snow braking. It lacks a little in traction
Overall: Good wet performance for the Pirelli Snow Control Series 3, and safe in the snow

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Vredestein Snowtrac 57th: Vredestein Snowtrac 5
  1. Total: 378
  2. Dry: 105
  3. Wet: 118
  4. Snow: 127
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 13
  7. Noise: 7
Dry: Good dry handling but average dry braking
Wet: Average scores in the wet due to a lack of balance and steering precision
Snow: Slight oversteer in the snow, but excellent snow traction
Overall: The Vredestein has a consistently solid performance

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Toyo Snowprox S9438th: Toyo Snowprox S943
  1. Total: 372
  2. Dry: 111
  3. Wet: 94
  4. Snow: 128
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 25
  7. Noise: 7
Dry: Best rolling resistance with the Snowprox. Direct steering, but then lazy understeer
Wet: Very poor aquaplaning, the longest wet braking distances, low grip . The Toyo doesn't work in the wet
Snow: A much better snow performance than wet, with only a little oversteer
Overall: Best rolling resistance with the Toyo Snowprox S943, agile in the snow, weak in the wet

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Hankook Winter i cept RS9th: Hankook Winter i cept RS
  1. Total: 351
  2. Dry: 99
  3. Wet: 117
  4. Snow: 110
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 11
  7. Noise: 7
Dry: Quite a slow dry laptime for the Hankook.In addition, the rolling resistance of the i * cept RS is high
Wet: The Hankook has good aquaplaning resistance, but it lacks traction. It needs large steering angle due to understeer
Snow: long braking distances and load change reactions with the i * cept RS. Best on slush
Overall: Top on slush, but overall the Hankook i * cept RS is not a balanced tyre

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Bridgestone Blizzak LM3210th: Bridgestone Blizzak LM32
  1. Total: 329
  2. Dry: 102
  3. Wet: 113
  4. Snow: 95
  5. Comfort: 8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4
  7. Noise: 7
Dry: Short dry braking distances, fast in slalom. The rolling resistance of the Blizzak LM-32 is too high
Wet: Reasonable wet handling, but the bridgestone aquaplanes early
Snow: Longest snow braking, average traction, average handling
Overall: Low on snow, only average in the wet. In dry conditions the Bridgestone drives safely and brakes well, but has a very high rolling resistance

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Kumho IZen KW2311th: Kumho IZen KW23
  1. Total: 329
  2. Dry: 87
  3. Wet: 108
  4. Snow: 115
  5. Comfort: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4
  7. Noise: 8
Dry: The Kumho KW23 I'ZEN has a lack of traction and bad dry cornering. Very high rolling resistance
Wet: Early understeer and therefore slow lap wet times. Ok wet braking
Snow: Average snow traction, quick to oversteer in snow handling
Overall: Under wet conditions, on snow or dry, the Kumho shows no strengths

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