2019 Auto Center Winter Tire Test

The 2019 Auto Center winter tire test is both good and bad.

The positive is that out of ten 205/55 R16 patterns, it only includes two premium manufacturers. This means we get a much better look at the midrange bracket of winter tires, which is great for those of us who want to save a little money, and all ten patterns on test have been tested for ice braking and traction which is now usually omitted from central European tire testing.

Sadly, Auto Center decided not to provide any data from handling testing, instead giving an overall subjective score, which we assume combines lap time and handling. While this is a little odd, it's better than no test at all.

The final results might not make a buying decision any easier either, as nearly half the tires on test finished in fourth place. With everything so close in the midrange pack, make sure you drill into the test data to really help you understand which tire is best for your own driving needs.

Dry

During dry braking, the Nokian Snowproof had an unusually large braking advantage, stopping the car nearly two meters shorter than the next best tire.

The Continental WinterContact TS860 finished joint top with the Gislaved Euro Frost 6. 

Wet

The premium tires from Michelin and Continental were the best in wet braking.

Yokohama had a strong result in the wet handling tests.

The Continental WinterContact TS860 had another strong result in the wet, winning the aquaplaning test.

Snow

Continental proved to be excellent in snow braking too.

Strangely, the top two tires from snow braking were near the bottom of the pack in snow traction.

Braking proved to be more important than traction for the snow handling tests, with Continental and Nokian back on top.

Ice

Nokian demonstrated its nordic routes, winning the ice braking and ice traction testing.

Other

The Barum had a very low rolling resistance.

Michelin and Nokian finished the test with the highest subjective comfort scores.

Results

1st: Nokian WR Snowproof
205/55 R16	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 27.43 M 100% Subj. Dry Handling 4th 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Wet Braking 6th 35.29 M 33.35 M +1.94 M 94.5% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Straight Aqua 9th 79.6 Km/H 86 Km/H -6.4 Km/H 92.56% Snow Braking 2nd 15.17 M 15.06 M +0.11 M 99.27% Snow Traction 7th 5.21 N 6.11 N -0.9 N 85.27% Subj. Snow Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Ice Braking 1st 11.44 M 100% Ice Traction 1st 5.14 s 100% Subj. Comfort 2nd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Rolling Resistance 2nd 8.543 kg / t 8.148 kg / t +0.4 kg / t 95.38% High grip on ice, excellent snow handling, good dry braking. None mentioned. Read Reviews
2nd: Continental WinterContact TS 860
205/55 R16	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 30.46 M 27.43 M +3.03 M 90.05% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Wet Braking 2nd 33.85 M 33.35 M +0.5 M 98.52% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Straight Aqua 1st 86 Km/H 100% Snow Braking 1st 15.06 M 100% Snow Traction 8th 5.12 N 6.11 N -0.99 N 83.8% Subj. Snow Handling 2nd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Ice Braking 6th 12.26 M 11.44 M +0.82 M 93.31% Ice Traction 8th 6 s 5.14 s +0.86 s 85.67% Subj. Comfort 4th 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Rolling Resistance 3rd 8.618 kg / t 8.148 kg / t +0.47 kg / t 94.55% High aquaplaning resistance, very well balanced tire, excellent snow braking. None mentioned. Read Reviews
3rd: Michelin Alpin 6
205/55 R16	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 29.41 M 27.43 M +1.98 M 93.27% Subj. Dry Handling 6th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% Wet Braking 1st 33.35 M 100% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Straight Aqua 4th 81.5 Km/H 86 Km/H -4.5 Km/H 94.77% Snow Braking 8th 15.58 M 15.06 M +0.52 M 96.66% Snow Traction 10th 5.06 N 6.11 N -1.05 N 82.82% Subj. Snow Handling 5th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% Ice Braking 5th 11.96 M 11.44 M +0.52 M 95.65% Ice Traction 5th 5.63 s 5.14 s +0.49 s 91.3% Subj. Comfort 1st 10 Points 100% Rolling Resistance 9th 9.184 kg / t 8.148 kg / t +1.04 kg / t 88.72% Excellent wet braking, low noise. Average ice performance. Read Reviews
4th: Gislaved Euro Frost 6
205/55 R16	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 30.32 M 27.43 M +2.89 M 90.47% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Wet Braking 10th 38.18 M 33.35 M +4.83 M 87.35% Subj. Wet Handling 7th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Straight Aqua 10th 76.4 Km/H 86 Km/H -9.6 Km/H 88.84% Snow Braking 6th 15.36 M 15.06 M +0.3 M 98.05% Snow Traction 9th 5.08 N 6.11 N -1.03 N 83.14% Subj. Snow Handling 3rd 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Ice Braking 2nd 11.84 M 11.44 M +0.4 M 96.62% Ice Traction 2nd 5.39 s 5.14 s +0.25 s 95.36% Subj. Comfort 8th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Rolling Resistance 8th 9.076 kg / t 8.148 kg / t +0.93 kg / t 89.78% Good dry handling, short ice braking, good snow and ice traction. Long wet braking. Read Reviews
4th: Fulda Kristall Control HP2
205/55 R16	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 30.43 M 27.43 M +3 M 90.14% Subj. Dry Handling 8th 5 Points 10 Points -5 Points 50% Wet Braking 7th 36.15 M 33.35 M +2.8 M 92.25% Subj. Wet Handling 7th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Straight Aqua 3rd 82.5 Km/H 86 Km/H -3.5 Km/H 95.93% Snow Braking 3rd 15.19 M 15.06 M +0.13 M 99.14% Snow Traction 5th 5.3 N 6.11 N -0.81 N 86.74% Subj. Snow Handling 7th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Ice Braking 4th 11.95 M 11.44 M +0.51 M 95.73% Ice Traction 3rd 5.43 s 5.14 s +0.29 s 94.66% Subj. Comfort 9th 5 Points 10 Points -5 Points 50% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.672 kg / t 8.148 kg / t +0.52 kg / t 93.96% Short snow and ice braking, good ice traction, high aquaplaning resistance. Poor dry handling, average wet grip. Read Reviews    Buy from £86.39
4th: Debica Frigo HP2
205/55 R16	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 9th 31.22 M 27.43 M +3.79 M 87.86% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Wet Braking 9th 36.5 M 33.35 M +3.15 M 91.37% Subj. Wet Handling 10th 5 Points 10 Points -5 Points 50% Straight Aqua 6th 80.7 Km/H 86 Km/H -5.3 Km/H 93.84% Snow Braking 3rd 15.19 M 15.06 M +0.13 M 99.14% Snow Traction 4th 5.32 N 6.11 N -0.79 N 87.07% Subj. Snow Handling 5th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% Ice Braking 3rd 11.88 M 11.44 M +0.44 M 96.3% Ice Traction 4th 5.55 s 5.14 s +0.41 s 92.61% Subj. Comfort 2nd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Rolling Resistance 4th 8.635 kg / t 8.148 kg / t +0.49 kg / t 94.36% Short ice braking, good ice traction, low noise. Poor wet handling. Read Reviews
4th: Barum Polaris 5
205/55 R16	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 30.5 M 27.43 M +3.07 M 89.93% Subj. Dry Handling 8th 5 Points 10 Points -5 Points 50% Wet Braking 5th 35.21 M 33.35 M +1.86 M 94.72% Subj. Wet Handling 2nd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Straight Aqua 8th 80.6 Km/H 86 Km/H -5.4 Km/H 93.72% Snow Braking 7th 15.46 M 15.06 M +0.4 M 97.41% Snow Traction 6th 5.22 N 6.11 N -0.89 N 85.43% Subj. Snow Handling 9th 5 Points 10 Points -5 Points 50% Ice Braking 7th 12.52 M 11.44 M +1.08 M 91.37% Ice Traction 7th 5.77 s 5.14 s +0.63 s 89.08% Subj. Comfort 4th 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Rolling Resistance 1st 8.148 kg / t 100% Low price, good wet handling. Poor snow handling. Read Reviews
8th: Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905
205/55 R16	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 29.5 M 27.43 M +2.07 M 92.98% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Wet Braking 3rd 33.91 M 33.35 M +0.56 M 98.35% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Straight Aqua 5th 80.8 Km/H 86 Km/H -5.2 Km/H 93.95% Snow Braking 9th 15.91 M 15.06 M +0.85 M 94.66% Snow Traction 2nd 5.6 N 6.11 N -0.51 N 91.65% Subj. Snow Handling 7th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Ice Braking 10th 13.67 M 11.44 M +2.23 M 83.69% Ice Traction 9th 6.17 s 5.14 s +1.03 s 83.31% Subj. Comfort 4th 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Rolling Resistance 10th 9.426 kg / t 8.148 kg / t +1.28 kg / t 86.44% Good wet and dry handling, short wet braking distances. Poor ice braking and handling, high fuel use. Read Reviews
9th: Toyo Snowprox S954
205/55 R16	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 29.47 M 27.43 M +2.04 M 93.08% Subj. Dry Handling 4th 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Wet Braking 4th 34.74 M 33.35 M +1.39 M 96% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% Straight Aqua 6th 80.7 Km/H 86 Km/H -5.3 Km/H 93.84% Snow Braking 10th 17.53 M 15.06 M +2.47 M 85.91% Snow Traction 1st 6.11 N 100% Subj. Snow Handling 10th 4 Points 10 Points -6 Points 40% Ice Braking 8th 12.66 M 11.44 M +1.22 M 90.36% Ice Traction 6th 5.67 s 5.14 s +0.53 s 90.65% Subj. Comfort 7th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% Rolling Resistance 7th 9.057 kg / t 8.148 kg / t +0.91 kg / t 89.96% Good in the dry and wet. Long snow braking, low ice grip. Read Reviews
10th: Uniroyal MS+ 77
205/55 R16	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 10th 31.61 M 27.43 M +4.18 M 86.78% Subj. Dry Handling 10th 4 Points 10 Points -6 Points 40% Wet Braking 8th 36.27 M 33.35 M +2.92 M 91.95% Subj. Wet Handling 7th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Straight Aqua 2nd 83.5 Km/H 86 Km/H -2.5 Km/H 97.09% Snow Braking 5th 15.32 M 15.06 M +0.26 M 98.3% Snow Traction 3rd 5.41 N 6.11 N -0.7 N 88.54% Subj. Snow Handling 3rd 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Ice Braking 9th 13.4 M 11.44 M +1.96 M 85.37% Ice Traction 10th 6.4 s 5.14 s +1.26 s 80.31% Subj. Comfort 9th 5 Points 10 Points -5 Points 50% Rolling Resistance 6th 9.009 kg / t 8.148 kg / t +0.86 kg / t 90.44% High aquaplaning resistance, good ice handling. Long braking distances on all surfaces, low ice traction, poor handling. Read Reviews