Auto Bild Performance, the German version of EVO magazine have put together the tire test EVO should have. 7 wide 225/40 R18 tires on a 260bhp Mazda 3 MPS.
On test are the usual premium brands, with only Bridgestone missing from the "big 6". Also included a midrange Hankook and a budget Rockstone.
Do budget winters work in the UK?
Perhaps the most interesting part of the test was the inclusion of a performance budget winter tire. The UK, known as one of the largest buyers of budget tires, has been importing budget winter tires in masses this year. With the UK winters being appropriately 40% dry, 45% wet and 15% snow, seriously sacrificing wet weather performance for snow performance would be an oversight, yet that's exactly what this test shows with the Rockstone getting the lowest possible wet performance score.While not all budgets are equal, it's important to do research when considering any tire to ensure you get balanced performance.
Results
Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D
225/40 R18
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 8 |
| Snow | 9 |
Total: 24
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 2
225/40 R18
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 7 |
| Snow | 9 |
Total: 23
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II
225/40 R18
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 7 |
| Snow | 7 |
Total: 21
Continental WinterContact TS 830 P
225/40 R18
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 7 |
| Snow | 7 |
Total: 21
Hankook Winter i cept evo
225/40 R18
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Snow | 8 |
Total: 21
Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3
225/40 R18
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 8 |
| Wet | 4 |
| Snow | 6 |
Total: 18
Rockstone Ice plus s210
225/40 R18
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 8 |
| Wet | 0.1 |
| Snow | 10 |
Total: 18.1
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