The results in the snow tests were extremely close, with the best snow braking tire (Fulda) stopping from 31 mph in 90 feet and the worst (Goodyear) just over a meter further, at 94 feet. The gap was equally as close during snow handling, with the quickest tire (Dunlop) posting a 73.5 second lap, and the slowest (Toyo) 2.4 seconds behind at 75.9.
In the wet the gap opened a little more, with Continental winning both wet braking and wet handling. This time, the worst tire (Toyo) stopped 20 feet behind the Continental, and the slowest tire around the wet handling circuit (Fulda) was 5.3 seconds slower.
In the dry the Nokian reigned supreme, convincingly winning dry braking and handling. The Fulda again showed a comparative weakness, losing both the dry tests, stopping 13 feet further than the Nokian and taking 1.9 long to do the dry handling lap.
The Results
While the Continental only won three of the eleven tests, it rarely finished out of the top three places to take another convincing win. Pirelli placed a strong second thanks to an excellent wet showing (other than aquaplaning), and Dunlop rounded out the top three with a comfortable quiet tire which worked well in all conditions.Continental WinterContact TS 850
225/50 R17
Particularly recommended
All discipline results (6)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Snow | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
225/50 R17
Particularly recommended
All discipline results (6)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Snow | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D
225/50 R17
Particularly recommended
All discipline results (6)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Snow | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
Nokian WR D3
225/50 R17
Particularly recommended
All discipline results (6)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Snow | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 Performance
225/50 R17
Recommended
All discipline results (6)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Snow | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
Michelin Alpin A4
225/50 R17
Recommended
All discipline results (6)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Snow | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
Fulda Kristall Control HP
225/50 R17
Recommended
All discipline results (6)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Snow | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
Toyo Snowprox S953
225/50 R17
Conditionally recommended
All discipline results (6)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Snow | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
There's only 3 sport winter tires in this "sport" winter tires test (WinterSport 4D; UltraGrip 8 Performance & Sottozero 3)! The other (TS850; Alpin 4; WRD3...) are standard winter tires!
I totally agree. Performance winter tires can not compete with daily tires. There is no TS850 for 18" wheels for example. But there is 17" Ultragrip 8 (not Performance) and it's the competitor for TS850. Ultragrip 8 Performance competitor from Continental is TS830P. "P" indicates performance here.
This test is not objective!