2020 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

As usual we'll keep commentary to a minimum, instead encouraging you to head over to the Auto Express website to check out the full test, however there is one important caveat to note.

The new Continental WinterContact TS870 was included in this test, but as the tire launch has been delayed until winter 2021 instead of 2020, Auto Express didn't rank it in their final results.

If Auto Express had included it, the new Continental TS870 would have won the test overall, narrowly beating the excellent Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 thanks to a near flawless performance.

2021 might be another Continental year, but for winter 2020, it looks like the Bridgestone is still the tire to have for the UK winters, thanks to an excellent dry and wet performance.

Results

1^st

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

205/55 R16

• 3PMSF: no

Best in wet in the wet braking and handling, best in dry braking, low rolling resistance.

Worst snow performance, but still within 5% of best.

An excellent tire for English winters where you're likely to see more wet weather than snow.

Total: 1172.6

Dry 100

Wet 499.4

Snow 285.8

Rolling Resistance 87.6

Noise 99.8

Overall 100

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1^st

Continental WinterContact TS 870

205/55 R16

• 3PMSF: no

Best in snow and wet handling, excellent low rolling resistance, low noise.

Average dry braking.

When the new TS870 goes on sale in 2021 it could be the new benchmark.

Total: 1187.1

Dry 93.8

Wet 490

Snow 299.9

Rolling Resistance 101.1

Noise 100.7

Overall 101.6

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2^nd

Hankook Winter i cept RS2

205/55 R16

• 3PMSF: no

Excellent wet grip, high aquaplaning resistance, good in the snw.

High rolling resistance, increased noise.

A return to form for the I*Cept RS2, largely thanks to a strong wet performance.

Total: 1162.6

Dry 96.2

Wet 495

Snow 294.4

Rolling Resistance 79.6

Noise 98.1

Overall 99.3

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3^rd

Michelin Alpin 6

205/55 R16

• 3PMSF: no

Good wet performance, good snow braking.

Average snow handling.

Total: 1154.5

Dry 96.2

Wet 481.5

Snow 291.9

Rolling Resistance 87.6

Noise 98.9

Overall 98.4

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4^th

Pirelli Cinturato Winter

205/55 R16

• 3PMSF: no

Best in snow handling and a good snow performance overall.

Average wet performance, high rolling resistance.

Total: 1143.5

Dry 94.9

Wet 473.6

Snow 299.1

Rolling Resistance 78

Noise 99.7

Overall 98.2

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5^th

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+

205/55 R16

• 3PMSF: no

Excellent in snow, best curved aquaplaning resistance, low noise.

Average in the wet and dry.

Total: 1164.2

Dry 93.7

Wet 486.7

Snow 298.5

Rolling Resistance 87.5

Noise 99.7

Overall 98.1

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6^th

Falken Eurowinter HS01

205/55 R16

• 3PMSF: no

Good dry braking, low noise.

Poor performance in the snow.

Total: 1137.3

Dry 98.9

Wet 471.7

Snow 286.4

Rolling Resistance 82.6

Noise 99.7

Overall 98

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7^th

Dunlop Winter Sport 5

205/55 R16

• 3PMSF: no

Good in the snow, quietest tire on test, low rolling resistance.

Long dry and wet braking, poor wet handling.

Total: 1141.1

Dry 92.6

Wet 465.9

Snow 297.2

Rolling Resistance 88

Noise 100

Overall 97.4

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8^th

Nokian WR Snowproof

205/55 R16

• 3PMSF: no

Lowest fuel use on test by some margin, good dry braking.

Poor performance in all wet tests, highest levels of cabin noise.

Total: 1132.2

Dry 96.4

Wet 450.2

Snow 290.8

Rolling Resistance 100

Noise 97.6

Overall 97.2

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