2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16

Test Summary
Wet BrakingMaxxis Premitra Snow WP6
Dry BrakingBridgestone Blizzak LM005
Wet HandlingGoodyear UltraGrip 9 Plus
Pirelli Cinturato Winter
WearBridgestone Blizzak LM005
Rolling ResistanceDunlop Winter Sport 5
NoiseSemperit Speed Grip 3
Pirelli Cinturato Winter
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
Toyo Observe S 944
Continental WinterContact TS 860
Straight AquaToyo Observe S 944
Snow BrakingKing Meiler Winter Tact WT81
ADAC tire tests are some of the most influential in the world, and for the 2020 winter season ADAC have chosen to test fifteen 205/55 R16 of the best winter tires for cars, and thirteen 235/55 R17 winter tires for SUV / 4x4.

All testing was conducted using a MK7 VW Golf, with the top five tires on test taking the "highly recommended" award from the German testing body.

The unique aspect of this 16" test was that they included a retreaded winter tire by the German company King Meiler. This retreaded tire performed well in wear testing, but had low grip in the dry, and particularly the wet. It ended up being one of three bottom tires to be categorised as "not recommended."

For this test, ADAC hasn't provided any data, just a scoring per category and a few comments about the tires performance.

Results

The overall results were weighted 15% dry, 30% wet, 20% snow, 10% ice, 5% noise, 10% fuel consumption and 10% rolling resistance.

1st: Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 61.4
  2. Dry: 7.8
  3. Wet: 9.4
  4. Snow: 7.8
  5. Ice: 7.2
  6. Comfort: 6.2
  7. Rolling Resistance: 8
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 8
Very balanced with top marks when wet, especially good on dry roads, good on snow too.
None mentioned.

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2nd: Michelin Alpin 6

Michelin Alpin 6
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 61.8
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 7.8
  5. Ice: 7.6
  6. Comfort: 6.8
  7. Rolling Resistance: 7.8
  8. Wear: 9
  9. Overall: 7.8
Very balanced, good on dry, wet and snow-covered roads, low wear.
None mentioned.

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3rd: Dunlop Winter Sport 5

Dunlop Winter Sport 5
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 60.8
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7.4
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Ice: 7.4
  6. Comfort: 6
  7. Rolling Resistance: 8.4
  8. Wear: 9
  9. Overall: 7.6
Very balanced, good on dry, wet and snow-covered roads, low fuel consumption and wear.
None mentioned.

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4th: Hankook Winter i cept RS2

Hankook Winter i cept RS2
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 59.4
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 7.8
  5. Ice: 7.2
  6. Comfort: 5.6
  7. Rolling Resistance: 8.2
  8. Wear: 8
  9. Overall: 7.6
Very balanced, good on dry, wet and snow-covered roads, low fuel consumption.
None mentioned.

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5th: Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6

Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 58.6
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 7.4
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Ice: 7.4
  6. Comfort: 7
  7. Rolling Resistance: 7.6
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 7.2
Very balanced with top marks on dry roads, also good in the wet.
None mentioned.

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6th: Falken Eurowinter HS01

Falken Eurowinter HS01
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 54.8
  2. Dry: 6.2
  3. Wet: 7.4
  4. Snow: 6.6
  5. Ice: 7.2
  6. Comfort: 6
  7. Rolling Resistance: 7.2
  8. Wear: 8
  9. Overall: 6.2
Good in the wet.
Slight weakness on dry and snow covered roads, average fuel consumption.

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7th: Continental WinterContact TS 860

Continental WinterContact TS 860
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 57.6
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 8.4
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Ice: 7.6
  6. Comfort: 7
  7. Rolling Resistance: 7.6
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 6
Very good in the wet, good on snow too.
Weakness in the dry.

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8th: Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

Goodyear UltraGrip 9 Plus
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 57
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 8.4
  5. Ice: 7
  6. Comfort: 6.4
  7. Rolling Resistance: 8.2
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 6
Top marks on snow, good in the wet, good fuel consumption.
Weakness on dry roads.

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9th: Sava Eskimo HP2

Sava Eskimo HP2
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 54
  2. Dry: 5.8
  3. Wet: 5.8
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Ice: 7.4
  6. Comfort: 6
  7. Rolling Resistance: 8.2
  8. Wear: 8
  9. Overall: 5.8
Low fuel consumption.
Weakness on dry roads.

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10th: Toyo Observe S 944

Toyo Observe S 944
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 55.6
  2. Dry: 5.6
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 7.4
  5. Ice: 7.8
  6. Comfort: 7
  7. Rolling Resistance: 8.2
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 5.6
Top marks on ice, low fuel consumption.
Weakness on dry roads.

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11th: Pirelli Cinturato Winter

Pirelli Cinturato Winter
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 56
  2. Dry: 5.4
  3. Wet: 7.6
  4. Snow: 8.4
  5. Ice: 7.6
  6. Comfort: 7
  7. Rolling Resistance: 7.6
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 5.4
Top marks in snow, also good in the wet.
Weak on dry roads.

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12th: Giti GitiWinterW1

Giti GitiWinterW1
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 53
  2. Dry: 5.2
  3. Wet: 5.4
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Ice: 7.4
  6. Comfort: 6
  7. Rolling Resistance: 7.8
  8. Wear: 8
  9. Overall: 5.2
Good on snow.
Weakness on dry and wet roads.

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13th: Semperit Speed Grip 3

Semperit Speed Grip 3
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 54.4
  2. Dry: 4.6
  3. Wet: 7.8
  4. Snow: 8.2
  5. Ice: 7.2
  6. Comfort: 7
  7. Rolling Resistance: 8
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 4.6
Especially good on snow.
Weak on dry roads.

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14th: King Meiler Winter Tact WT81

King-Meiler Winter Tact WT81
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 43.2
  2. Dry: 4.6
  3. Wet: 1.2
  4. Snow: 6.2
  5. Ice: 7
  6. Comfort: 5.2
  7. Rolling Resistance: 7.8
  8. Wear: 10
  9. Overall: 1.2
Retreaded tire with top marks for wear.
Very weak when wet, weak even on dry roads, relatively loud.

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15th: Tristar Snowpower HP

Tristar Snowpower HP
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 41.2
  2. Dry: 7.6
  3. Wet: 1
  4. Snow: 3.4
  5. Ice: 7
  6. Comfort: 6.2
  7. Rolling Resistance: 8
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 1
Especially good on dry roads.
Very weak on wet and snow.

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Filed under: Group tire tests, Magazine tire tests, Winter Tires

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