2022 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15

Test Summary
Wet BrakingBridgestone Blizzak LM005
Dry BrakingGoodyear UltraGrip 9 Plus
Wet HandlingDunlop Winter Response 2
WearContinental WinterContact TS 870
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 Plus
Semperit Speed Grip 5
Rolling ResistanceFirestone Winterhawk 4
Semperit Speed Grip 5
Straight AquaNexen Winguard Snow G3
Firestone Winterhawk 4
Snow BrakingImperial Snowdragon HP
Fulda Kristall Montero 3
Michelin Alpin 6
Snow HandlingNexen Winguard Snow G3
Michelin Alpin 6
For 2022, the excellent German test organisation ADAC have tested 15 winter tires in 185/65 R15 and 15 crossover SUV winter tires in 215/60 R16.

The results below are for the 185/65 R15 test, where we have no real surprises in the overall results. 

Continental, Goodyear, Semperit (a Continental brand) and Michelin were at the front of the test, the Vredestein Wintrac once again performs well, and the Bridgestone LM005 proves to be the best in the dry and wet, and have the lowest fuel consumption as usual.

Results

1st: Continental WinterContact TS 870

Continental WinterContact TS 870
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 59.8
  2. Dry: 7.4
  3. Wet: 7.8
  4. Snow: 7.6
  5. Ice: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8.4
  7. Noise: 6
  8. Wear: 8
  9. Overall: 7.6
Very balanced, good on all surfaces, low fuel consumption and wear.
None mentioned.
Although the Continental WinterContact TS 870 does not score top marks in any of the main tests, it still impresses with solid results in all tests. This makes it one of the most balanced tires in the test, which is why it is at the top of the table together with two other tire models and thus secures the rating "particularly recommendable".

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1st: Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

Goodyear UltraGrip 9 Plus
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 61
  2. Dry: 7.4
  3. Wet: 10
  4. Snow: 7
  5. Ice: 7.4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 6.6
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 7.6
Very balanced, good on all surfaces, particularly good on wet roads (top mark), low fuel consumption.
None mentioned.
The GOODYEAR UltraGrip 9+ convinces in all tests and even earns the top mark in the wet. Overall, it secures the rating "particularly recommended".

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1st: Semperit Speed Grip 5

Semperit Speed Grip 5
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 60.8
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7.4
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Ice: 7.4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8.6
  7. Noise: 6.8
  8. Wear: 8
  9. Overall: 7.6
Balanced, good on all surfaces, very low fuel consumption (top mark), low wear.
None mentioned.
The SEMPERIT Speed-Grip 5 secured a (still) good rating in all the main tests and thus ultimately a place on the podium and the rating "particularly recommended".

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4th: Michelin Alpin 6

Michelin Alpin 6
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 60.2
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7.4
  4. Snow: 7.2
  5. Ice: 7.4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7.8
  7. Noise: 7
  8. Wear: 9
  9. Overall: 7.4
Balanced, good on all surfaces, low fuel consumption, particularly low wear (top mark).
None mentioned.
The MICHELIN Alpin 6 secured a (still) good rating in all the main tests and thus ultimately a place on the winner's podium and the rating "particularly recommended".

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5th: BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 56.8
  2. Dry: 6.8
  3. Wet: 6.6
  4. Snow: 8
  5. Ice: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7.2
  7. Noise: 6.6
  8. Wear: 8
  9. Overall: 6.6
Good on snow and ice, low wear.
Weaknesses on dry and wet roads (devaluation.)
The BFGOODRICH G-Force Winter 2 just missed out on a good overall rating and is therefore "recommended". However, due to slight weaknesses on dry and wet roads, he did not get more than a satisfactory result in these tests, which led to the downgrading of the overall grade.

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5th: Vredestein Wintrac

Vredestein Wintrac
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 56
  2. Dry: 7.2
  3. Wet: 7.8
  4. Snow: 6.6
  5. Ice: 7.2
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7.2
  7. Noise: 6.4
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 6.6
Good on dry and wet roads, good on ice.
Weaknesses on Snow (Devaluation.)
The VREDESTEIN Wintrac convinces in the dry as well as in the wet and in wear. However, it shows slight weaknesses on snow, which ultimately led to the devaluation of the overall grade and the rating "recommended".

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7th: Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6

Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 56.4
  2. Dry: 7.8
  3. Wet: 8.6
  4. Snow: 7.2
  5. Ice: 6.4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8.2
  7. Noise: 6.2
  8. Wear: 6
  9. Overall: 6
Particularly good on dry roads (top mark), good in the wet.
Weaknesses on snow and ice, high fuel consumption and wear (devaluation.)
The MAXXIS Premitra Snow WP6 achieves good results on dry and wet roads. In snow, on ice, in terms of consumption and wear and tear, however, it does not get beyond a satisfactory rating. This leads to the devaluation of the overall grade. As a result, the MAXXIS can only be "recommended" overall.

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7th: Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 53.4
  2. Dry: 8.2
  3. Wet: 7.6
  4. Snow: 6.2
  5. Ice: 6.6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 6
  7. Noise: 6.8
  8. Wear: 6
  9. Overall: 6
Particularly good in the wet (top mark), good on dry roads and snow, low fuel consumption.
High wear (devaluation.)
The performance of the BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK LM005, both on ice and in wear, is not sufficient to achieve a good overall result. Its performance is rated as satisfactory in both disciplines compared to the test field - which also leads to the devaluation of the overall rating. So the statement for the tire is: "recommended".

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9th: Firestone Winterhawk 4

Firestone Winterhawk 4
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 56.6
  2. Dry: 5.6
  3. Wet: 8
  4. Snow: 7.6
  5. Ice: 7.8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8.6
  7. Noise: 6.4
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 5.6
Good on wet roads, snow and ice, low fuel consumption (top marks.)
Weaknesses on dry roads (devaluation.)
Even if the Firestone WINTERHAWK 4 achieves good results in the wet, on snow and ice, as well as in terms of fuel consumption and wear, its performance in the dry is no longer sufficient for a good rating. At the same time, its satisfactory performance in the dry led to a devaluation of the overall rating - the Firestone was thus classified as "recommended".

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10th: Nexen Winguard Snow G3

Nexen Winguard Snow G3
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 52.6
  2. Dry: 5.4
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 5.4
  5. Ice: 7.8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7.6
  7. Noise: 7
  8. Wear: 7
  9. Overall: 5.4
Good on wet roads and ice.
Weaknesses on dry roads and snow (devaluation.)
The NEXEN Winguard Snow'G3 has good and bad. In the dry and on the snowy road, he did not get more than a satisfactory rating, which led to the downgrading of the overall rating. It gets good ratings on wet and polished icy surfaces, as well as in terms of fuel consumption and wear. With the NEXEN Winguard Snow'G3, it should be noted that the tire has had a compound change from week 3321 of manufacture, which leads to a change in performance. The tests were largely carried out with DOT 3321 tires.

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11th: Avon WT7

Avon WT7
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 48.8
  2. Dry: 6.2
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Snow: 5
  5. Ice: 7.2
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7.4
  7. Noise: 6
  8. Wear: 5
  9. Overall: 5
Good properties on wet roads, good properties on ice.
Weaknesses on dry roads, weak in the snow, weak in the wear test.
The AVON WT7 Snow just barely achieves a satisfactory rating in the sum of its properties. It shows slight weaknesses in the dry and clear weaknesses in the snow. In terms of wear and tear, it ends up at the end of the test field by a clear margin. It doesn't help that the AVON gets a good rating on wet and polished icy roads as well as in terms of fuel consumption.

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12th: Dunlop Winter Response 2

Dunlop Winter Response 2
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 56.2
  2. Dry: 4.8
  3. Wet: 8.4
  4. Snow: 8.4
  5. Ice: 7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8.2
  7. Noise: 6.6
  8. Wear: 8
  9. Overall: 4.8
Good on wet roads, ice and snow (top mark), low fuel consumption.
Significant weaknesses on dry roads (devaluation.)
In the current test, the DUNLOP Winter Response 2 cannot match the result of the previous year (195/65 R15). In the dry, it does not show the usual/expected performance and is downgraded to sufficient in the overall rating due to the only moderate driving characteristics. Even if the Dunlop convinces in the other criteria such as in the wet, in the snow or in terms of wear and tear, it still only receives the rating "conditionally recommended" due to its dry properties.

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13th: Fulda Kristall Montero 3

Fulda Kristall Montero 3
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 52.8
  2. Dry: 4.8
  3. Wet: 4.6
  4. Snow: 8.2
  5. Ice: 7.4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 6.2
  8. Wear: 9
  9. Overall: 4.6
Particularly low wear (top mark), low fuel consumption.
Weaknesses on dry and wet roads (devaluation.)
The FULDA Kristall Montero 3 shows weaknesses in the dry and in the wet, in both criteria it is rated as sufficient. Despite the good snow and ice properties, the recommendation for the Kristall Montero 3 is only "conditionally recommended".

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14th: Barum Polaris 5

Barum Polaris 5
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 49.6
  2. Dry: 4.2
  3. Wet: 5.6
  4. Snow: 7.2
  5. Ice: 6.4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 8
  7. Noise: 6
  8. Wear: 8
  9. Overall: 4.2
Low fuel consumption and wear, good on snow.
Weaknesses on ice, wet and dry roads (devaluation.)
The BARUM Polaris 5 shows weaknesses in dry, wet and on ice. While it is still rated as satisfactory in the wet and on ice, it does not get more than a sufficient result in the dry. Despite the good snow and wear properties, the recommendation for the POLARIS 5 is only "conditionally recommended".

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15th: Imperial Snowdragon HP

Imperial Snowdragon HP
  • 185/65 R15
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 44.6
  2. Dry: 7.8
  3. Wet: 1.4
  4. Snow: 4
  5. Ice: 7.4
  6. Rolling Resistance: 7.4
  7. Noise: 6.2
  8. Wear: 9
  9. Overall: 1.4
Particularly low wear (top mark), good on dry roads and ice.
Significant weaknesses on snow and wet roads (devaluation.)
The performance of the IMPERIAL Snowdragon HP in the wet is classified as poor compared to the test field, which also leads to the downgrading of the overall rating. But even on snow, the IMPERIAL does not get more than an adequate rating. The tire is therefore considered "not recommended". The good results in the dry or even when worn cannot hide this.

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