2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test

The 2022 Auto Zeitung performance winter tire test has tested eight popular winter tires in 225/45 R17.

Continental, Bridgestone and Michelin all perform well, with the Continental WinterContact TS870 taking another win in 2022 winter tire tests thanks to a well balanced performance in all conditions, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 performing extremely well in the dry and wet, and the Michelin Alpin 6 offering good grip in all conditions.

Dry

The Nokian SnowProof P was the best in dry braking, stopping the Audi A3 four meters shorter than the worst of the group.

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 was the best tire during dry handling, narrowly beating the Continental WinterContact TS870.

The Continental and Bridgestone were also the best subjectively in the dry.

Wet

Wet braking was again led by the impressive Bridgestone and Continental pair.

As was wet handling, but this time with Continental in front of Bridgestone. Michelin again placed a respectable third.

Conti, Bridgestone and Michelin were the testers favorites subjectively too.

Continental and Bridgestone also had the best straight aquaplaning resistance.

Snow

Continental was again the best in snow braking, but this time Giti took second place with the GitiWinterW2!

Michelin led in snow traction, with the Fulda close behind.

Continental and Michelin were back at the front during snow handling.

Environment

The Nokian was the quietest tire on test externally.

And offered the best subjective comfort levels.

The Nokian also had the lowest fuel use on test, followed by Bridgestone and Continental.

The Giti was the cheapest tire in the test, and the Michelin the most expensive.

Results

View Results as a single table and adjust the score weighting

1st: Continental WinterContact TS 870
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: C/B/70 Weight: 9.3kgs Tread: 8.7mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 4th +1.1 M 97.61% Dry Handling 2nd +0.2 s 99.68% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 100% Wet Braking 2nd +1.6 M 96.92% Wet Handling 1st 100% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 100% Straight Aqua 1st 100% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 100% Snow Braking 1st 100% Snow Traction 5th -70 N 97.48% Snow Traction 5th -70 N 97.48% Snow Handling 1st 100% Subj. Snow Handling 1st 100% Subj. Comfort 3rd -1 Points 87.5% Noise 2nd +1 dB 98.59% Price 7th +265 58.59% Rolling Resistance 3rd +0.8 kg / t 90.12% The Continental WinterContact TS870 is extremely strong on any surface, very safe and therefor the clear winner of this test. Read Reviews    Buy from £113.79
2nd: Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: C/A/71 Weight: 9.5kgs Tread: 8.3mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 2nd +0.5 M 98.9% Dry Handling 1st 100% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd -1 Points 96.67% Wet Braking 1st 100% Wet Handling 2nd +0.5 s 99.45% Subj. Wet Handling 2nd -3 Points 93.33% Straight Aqua 2nd -0.8 Km/H 98.94% Curved Aquaplaning 5th -0.16 m/sec2 94.59% Snow Braking 4th +1 M 96.3% Snow Traction 8th -99 N 96.44% Snow Traction 8th -2782 N 0% Snow Handling 6th +2.6 s 96.92% Subj. Snow Handling 6th -10 Points 66.67% Subj. Comfort 3rd -1 Points 87.5% Noise 4th +2 dB 97.22% Price 4th +160 70.09% Rolling Resistance 2nd +0.7 kg / t 91.25% The LM005 grips extremely well in the dry and wet, but could benefit from a little more grip in the snow. Read Reviews
3rd: Michelin Alpin 6
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: C/B/69 Weight: 9.1kgs Tread: 8mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 6th +1.4 M 96.98% Dry Handling 7th +1.4 s 97.83% Subj. Dry Handling 6th -6 Points 80% Wet Braking 3rd +3 M 94.37% Wet Handling 3rd +1.5 s 98.36% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd -8 Points 82.22% Straight Aqua 4th -1.8 Km/H 97.61% Curved Aquaplaning 4th -0.11 m/sec2 96.28% Snow Braking 7th +1.3 M 95.24% Snow Traction 1st 100% Snow Traction 1st 0% Snow Handling 2nd +1.1 s 98.67% Subj. Snow Handling 4th -8 Points 73.33% Subj. Comfort 3rd -1 Points 87.5% Noise 4th +2 dB 97.22% Price 8th +285 56.82% Rolling Resistance 6th +1.5 kg / t 82.95% Good grip on all surfaces. The Michelin Alpin 6 offers very good driving safety and is therefore highly recommended. Read Reviews    Buy from £121.79
4th: Nokian Snowproof P
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: B/B/70 Weight: 9.6kgs Tread: 8.5mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 1st 100% Dry Handling 3rd +0.8 s 98.75% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd -3 Points 90% Wet Braking 5th +5.2 M 90.63% Wet Handling 7th +5.8 s 93.93% Subj. Wet Handling 7th -26 Points 42.22% Straight Aqua 8th -10.4 Km/H 86.17% Curved Aquaplaning 8th -1.35 m/sec2 54.39% Snow Braking 4th +1 M 96.3% Snow Traction 6th -77 N 97.23% Snow Traction 6th -2782 N 0% Snow Handling 4th +1.4 s 98.32% Subj. Snow Handling 3rd -7 Points 76.67% Subj. Comfort 1st 100% Noise 1st 100% Price 5th +200 65.22% Rolling Resistance 1st 100% Good on snow and dry roads, but when it's wet the WR SnowProof P is weaker. Read Reviews    Buy from £106.19
5th: Vredestein Wintrac Pro
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: D/B/72 Weight: 9.7kgs Tread: 8.2mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 5th +1.3 M 97.19% Dry Handling 3rd +0.8 s 98.75% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd -3 Points 90% Wet Braking 4th +3.3 M 93.84% Wet Handling 4th +2.5 s 97.29% Subj. Wet Handling 5th -19 Points 57.78% Straight Aqua 7th -3.8 Km/H 94.95% Curved Aquaplaning 6th -0.29 m/sec2 90.2% Snow Braking 4th +1 M 96.3% Snow Traction 6th -77 N 97.23% Snow Traction 6th -2782 N 0% Snow Handling 7th +2.9 s 96.58% Subj. Snow Handling 7th -13 Points 56.67% Subj. Comfort 3rd -1 Points 87.5% Noise 7th +3 dB 95.89% Price 3rd +140 72.82% Rolling Resistance 7th +1.8 kg / t 80.22% Overall, the Vredestein Wintrac Pro offers decent reserves. Snow grip and efficiency could be better - but still recommendable Read Reviews    Buy from £102.49
6th: Fulda Kristall Control HP2
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: C/C/72 Weight: 9.1kgs Tread: 9mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 7th +3.1 M 93.56% Dry Handling 7th +1.4 s 97.83% Subj. Dry Handling 8th -8 Points 73.33% Wet Braking 7th +8.9 M 84.97% Wet Handling 6th +5.3 s 94.42% Subj. Wet Handling 6th -24 Points 46.67% Straight Aqua 5th -2.5 Km/H 96.68% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd -0.04 m/sec2 98.65% Snow Braking 2nd +0.7 M 97.38% Snow Traction 2nd -32 N 98.85% Snow Traction 2nd -2782 N 0% Snow Handling 2nd +1.1 s 98.67% Subj. Snow Handling 2nd -3 Points 90% Subj. Comfort 8th -2 Points 75% Noise 7th +3 dB 95.89% Price 2nd +100 78.95% Rolling Resistance 4th +1.2 kg / t 85.88% The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 is very strong on snow, but in the wet the tire struggles and it has long dry braking distances. Read Reviews    Buy from £94.39
7th: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: C/B/72 Weight: 9.3kgs Tread: 8.9mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 3rd +0.8 M 98.25% Dry Handling 6th +1.2 s 98.13% Subj. Dry Handling 7th -7 Points 76.67% Wet Braking 6th +5.5 M 90.14% Wet Handling 5th +2.8 s 96.97% Subj. Wet Handling 4th -16 Points 64.44% Straight Aqua 6th -2.6 Km/H 96.54% Curved Aquaplaning 7th -0.32 m/sec2 89.19% Snow Braking 8th +2.1 M 92.53% Snow Traction 9th -121 N 95.65% Snow Traction 9th -2782 N 0% Snow Handling 8th +3.4 s 96.01% Subj. Snow Handling 8th -16 Points 46.67% Subj. Comfort 3rd -1 Points 87.5% Noise 4th +2 dB 97.22% Price 6th +225 62.5% Rolling Resistance 5th +1.3 kg / t 84.88% The compound has had an update since DOT 2622 which vastly improves the performance of the Cinturato Winter 2, see other tests. Read Reviews    Buy from £108.19
8th: Giti GitiWinterW2
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: D/B/71 Weight: 9.8kgs Tread: 8.9mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 8th +4 M 91.84% Dry Handling 5th +1 s 98.44% Subj. Dry Handling 5th -4 Points 86.67% Wet Braking 8th +11.1 M 81.92% Wet Handling 8th +6.6 s 93.15% Subj. Wet Handling 8th -28 Points 37.78% Straight Aqua 3rd -1.3 Km/H 98.27% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd -0.04 m/sec2 98.65% Snow Braking 2nd +0.7 M 97.38% Snow Traction 3rd -47 N 98.31% Snow Traction 3rd -2782 N 0% Snow Handling 5th +2.1 s 97.5% Subj. Snow Handling 5th -9 Points 70% Subj. Comfort 2nd -1 Points 87.5% Noise 3rd +1 dB 98.59% Price 1st 100% Rolling Resistance 8th +2 kg / t 78.49% The inexpensive Giti Winter W2 dominates snow, but lacks grip in the wet. The braking performance is weak on dry roads. Read Reviews