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

1st: Continental WinterContact TS 870
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: C/B/70 Weight: 9.3kgs Tread: 8.7mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 46.1 M 45 M +1.1 M 97.61% Dry Handling 2nd 63.3 s 63.1 s +0.2 s 99.68% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 30 Points 100% Wet Braking 2nd 51.9 M 50.3 M +1.6 M 96.92% Wet Handling 1st 89.7 s 100% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 45 Points 100% Straight Aqua 1st 75.2 Km/H 100% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 2.96 m/sec2 100% Snow Braking 1st 26 M 100% Snow Traction 4th 2712 N 2782 N -70 N 97.48% Snow Handling 1st 81.8 s 100% Subj. Snow Handling 1st 30 Points 100% Subj. Comfort 2nd 7 Points 8 Points -1 Points 87.5% Noise 2nd 71 dB 70 dB +1 dB 98.59% Price 7th 640 375 +265 58.59% Rolling Resistance 3rd 8.1 kg / t 7.3 kg / t +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 £142.15
2nd: Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: C/A/71 Weight: 9.5kgs Tread: 8.3mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 45.5 M 45 M +0.5 M 98.9% Dry Handling 1st 63.1 s 100% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 29 Points 30 Points -1 Points 96.67% Wet Braking 1st 50.3 M 100% Wet Handling 2nd 90.2 s 89.7 s +0.5 s 99.45% Subj. Wet Handling 2nd 42 Points 45 Points -3 Points 93.33% Straight Aqua 2nd 74.4 Km/H 75.2 Km/H -0.8 Km/H 98.94% Curved Aquaplaning 5th 2.8 m/sec2 2.96 m/sec2 -0.16 m/sec2 94.59% Snow Braking 4th 27 M 26 M +1 M 96.3% Snow Traction 7th 2683 N 2782 N -99 N 96.44% Snow Handling 6th 84.4 s 81.8 s +2.6 s 96.92% Subj. Snow Handling 6th 20 Points 30 Points -10 Points 66.67% Subj. Comfort 2nd 7 Points 8 Points -1 Points 87.5% Noise 4th 72 dB 70 dB +2 dB 97.22% Price 4th 535 375 +160 70.09% Rolling Resistance 2nd 8 kg / t 7.3 kg / t +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    Buy from £143.64
3rd: Michelin Alpin 6
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: C/B/69 Weight: 9.1kgs Tread: 8mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 46.4 M 45 M +1.4 M 96.98% Dry Handling 7th 64.5 s 63.1 s +1.4 s 97.83% Subj. Dry Handling 6th 24 Points 30 Points -6 Points 80% Wet Braking 3rd 53.3 M 50.3 M +3 M 94.37% Wet Handling 3rd 91.2 s 89.7 s +1.5 s 98.36% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 37 Points 45 Points -8 Points 82.22% Straight Aqua 4th 73.4 Km/H 75.2 Km/H -1.8 Km/H 97.61% Curved Aquaplaning 4th 2.85 m/sec2 2.96 m/sec2 -0.11 m/sec2 96.28% Snow Braking 7th 27.3 M 26 M +1.3 M 95.24% Snow Traction 1st 2782 N 100% Snow Handling 2nd 82.9 s 81.8 s +1.1 s 98.67% Subj. Snow Handling 4th 22 Points 30 Points -8 Points 73.33% Subj. Comfort 2nd 7 Points 8 Points -1 Points 87.5% Noise 4th 72 dB 70 dB +2 dB 97.22% Price 8th 660 375 +285 56.82% Rolling Resistance 6th 8.8 kg / t 7.3 kg / t +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
4th: Nokian Snowproof P
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: B/B/70 Weight: 9.6kgs Tread: 8.5mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 45 M 100% Dry Handling 3rd 63.9 s 63.1 s +0.8 s 98.75% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 27 Points 30 Points -3 Points 90% Wet Braking 5th 55.5 M 50.3 M +5.2 M 90.63% Wet Handling 7th 95.5 s 89.7 s +5.8 s 93.93% Subj. Wet Handling 7th 19 Points 45 Points -26 Points 42.22% Straight Aqua 8th 64.8 Km/H 75.2 Km/H -10.4 Km/H 86.17% Curved Aquaplaning 8th 1.61 m/sec2 2.96 m/sec2 -1.35 m/sec2 54.39% Snow Braking 4th 27 M 26 M +1 M 96.3% Snow Traction 5th 2705 N 2782 N -77 N 97.23% Snow Handling 4th 83.2 s 81.8 s +1.4 s 98.32% Subj. Snow Handling 3rd 23 Points 30 Points -7 Points 76.67% Subj. Comfort 1st 8 Points 100% Noise 1st 70 dB 100% Price 5th 575 375 +200 65.22% Rolling Resistance 1st 7.3 kg / t 100% Good on snow and dry roads, but when it's wet the WR SnowProof P is weaker. Read Reviews
5th: Vredestein Wintrac Pro
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: D/B/72 Weight: 9.7kgs Tread: 8.2mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 46.3 M 45 M +1.3 M 97.19% Dry Handling 3rd 63.9 s 63.1 s +0.8 s 98.75% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 27 Points 30 Points -3 Points 90% Wet Braking 4th 53.6 M 50.3 M +3.3 M 93.84% Wet Handling 4th 92.2 s 89.7 s +2.5 s 97.29% Subj. Wet Handling 5th 26 Points 45 Points -19 Points 57.78% Straight Aqua 7th 71.4 Km/H 75.2 Km/H -3.8 Km/H 94.95% Curved Aquaplaning 6th 2.67 m/sec2 2.96 m/sec2 -0.29 m/sec2 90.2% Snow Braking 4th 27 M 26 M +1 M 96.3% Snow Traction 5th 2705 N 2782 N -77 N 97.23% Snow Handling 7th 84.7 s 81.8 s +2.9 s 96.58% Subj. Snow Handling 7th 17 Points 30 Points -13 Points 56.67% Subj. Comfort 2nd 7 Points 8 Points -1 Points 87.5% Noise 7th 73 dB 70 dB +3 dB 95.89% Price 3rd 515 375 +140 72.82% Rolling Resistance 7th 9.1 kg / t 7.3 kg / t +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 £118.06
6th: Fulda Kristall Control HP2
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: C/C/72 Weight: 9.1kgs Tread: 9mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 48.1 M 45 M +3.1 M 93.56% Dry Handling 7th 64.5 s 63.1 s +1.4 s 97.83% Subj. Dry Handling 8th 22 Points 30 Points -8 Points 73.33% Wet Braking 7th 59.2 M 50.3 M +8.9 M 84.97% Wet Handling 6th 95 s 89.7 s +5.3 s 94.42% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 21 Points 45 Points -24 Points 46.67% Straight Aqua 5th 72.7 Km/H 75.2 Km/H -2.5 Km/H 96.68% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd 2.92 m/sec2 2.96 m/sec2 -0.04 m/sec2 98.65% Snow Braking 2nd 26.7 M 26 M +0.7 M 97.38% Snow Traction 2nd 2750 N 2782 N -32 N 98.85% Snow Handling 2nd 82.9 s 81.8 s +1.1 s 98.67% Subj. Snow Handling 2nd 27 Points 30 Points -3 Points 90% Subj. Comfort 8th 6 Points 8 Points -2 Points 75% Noise 7th 73 dB 70 dB +3 dB 95.89% Price 2nd 475 375 +100 78.95% Rolling Resistance 4th 8.5 kg / t 7.3 kg / t +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 £113.56
7th: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: C/B/72 Weight: 9.3kgs Tread: 8.9mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 45.8 M 45 M +0.8 M 98.25% Dry Handling 6th 64.3 s 63.1 s +1.2 s 98.13% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 23 Points 30 Points -7 Points 76.67% Wet Braking 6th 55.8 M 50.3 M +5.5 M 90.14% Wet Handling 5th 92.5 s 89.7 s +2.8 s 96.97% Subj. Wet Handling 4th 29 Points 45 Points -16 Points 64.44% Straight Aqua 6th 72.6 Km/H 75.2 Km/H -2.6 Km/H 96.54% Curved Aquaplaning 7th 2.64 m/sec2 2.96 m/sec2 -0.32 m/sec2 89.19% Snow Braking 8th 28.1 M 26 M +2.1 M 92.53% Snow Traction 8th 2661 N 2782 N -121 N 95.65% Snow Handling 8th 85.2 s 81.8 s +3.4 s 96.01% Subj. Snow Handling 8th 14 Points 30 Points -16 Points 46.67% Subj. Comfort 2nd 7 Points 8 Points -1 Points 87.5% Noise 4th 72 dB 70 dB +2 dB 97.22% Price 6th 600 375 +225 62.5% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.6 kg / t 7.3 kg / t +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 £146.77
8th: Giti GitiWinterW2
225/45 R17 94V EU Label: D/B/71 Weight: 9.8kgs Tread: 8.9mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 49 M 45 M +4 M 91.84% Dry Handling 5th 64.1 s 63.1 s +1 s 98.44% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 26 Points 30 Points -4 Points 86.67% Wet Braking 8th 61.4 M 50.3 M +11.1 M 81.92% Wet Handling 8th 96.3 s 89.7 s +6.6 s 93.15% Subj. Wet Handling 8th 17 Points 45 Points -28 Points 37.78% Straight Aqua 3rd 73.9 Km/H 75.2 Km/H -1.3 Km/H 98.27% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd 2.92 m/sec2 2.96 m/sec2 -0.04 m/sec2 98.65% Snow Braking 2nd 26.7 M 26 M +0.7 M 97.38% Snow Traction 3rd 2735 N 2782 N -47 N 98.31% Snow Handling 5th 83.9 s 81.8 s +2.1 s 97.5% Subj. Snow Handling 5th 21 Points 30 Points -9 Points 70% Subj. Comfort 2nd 7 Points 8 Points -1 Points 87.5% Noise 2nd 71 dB 70 dB +1 dB 98.59% Price 1st 375 100% Rolling Resistance 8th 9.3 kg / t 7.3 kg / t +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