2014 AutoBild 235/35 R19 Winter Tire Test

Test Summary
Wet BrakingNokian WR A3
Dry BrakingContinental WinterContact TS 850 P
Wet HandlingPirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Rolling ResistancePirelli Winter Sottozero 3
NoiseMichelin Pilot Alpin 4
Snow HandlingStar Performer SPTS AS
Winter tires can be a problem in the UK. Mainland Europe are very good at putting smaller wheels and tires on, but in the UK where even the most modest town hatchback is being fitted with 17 or 18 inch wheels as standard, and performance car now being fitted with 19 or even 20 inch wheels, finding a test covering larger winter wheel sizes can be difficult.

Fortunately Auto Bild Sportscars is there to offer us some guidance for the 2014 season, and have tested 235/35 R19 winter tires on a BMW M135i. Sadly, they only managed to find six patterns to test, compared to fifty in their 205/55 R16 tests, but it gives us a good indication of what winter tires are like in larger sizes.

The Results

As usual, Auto Bild have weighted snow as the most important performance quality of the winter tire, but for the UK climate this isn't always the case. For example, the fifth place Nokian is the best tire in the dry, excellent wet performance and will still be many times better than any summer tire in the snow, which makes it particularly well suited to the UK. As always, it's best to read the full results, rather than just looking at the overall positions.

1st: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
  • 235/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 41
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 9
  5. Comfort: 5
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 6
The winter king with superb handling on snow and wet roads. Precise steering with good feedback. Excellent aquaplaning performance and low rolling resistance
None mentioned
Exemplary

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2nd: Michelin Pilot Alpin 4

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
  • 235/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 39
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Comfort: 6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
  7. Noise: 5
Sporty winter tire with balance performance and a high level of steering response, good traction and stable cornering on now. Short braking distances in all conditions, good ride comfort, low rolling resistance
None mentioned
Exemplary

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3rd: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P

Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
  • 235/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 38
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 5
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
  7. Noise: 6
Impressive winter tire with exemplary performance in the wet. Excellent wet and dry handling with precise steering response and cornering stability. Short braking distances on snow and wet roads. Low rolling resistance
None mentioned
Exemplary

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4th: Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S

Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S
  • 235/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 36
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Comfort: 5
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7
  7. Noise: 6
Balance safe driving in all weather conditions, good traction and corning on snow, low rolling resistance
Long braking distances in the dry, average aquaplaning qualities
Good

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5th: Nokian WR A3

Nokian WR A3
  • 235/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 34
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Snow: 4
  5. Comfort: 5
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
  7. Noise: 6
Dry specialist, with sporty dynamic handing on wet and dry roads. Short dry braking distances
Limited winter qualities with understeer and long braking distances on snow
Satisfactory

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6th: Star Performer SPTS AS

Star-Performer SPTS AS
  • 235/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 26
  2. Dry: 4
  3. Wet: 2
  4. Snow: 6
  5. Comfort: 3
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4
  7. Noise: 7
Balance safe driving on snow, quiet
High levels of understeer on wet and dry roads, dangerous long wet braking distance, high rolling resistance
Not Recommended

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