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2016 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
6 min read Updated
Contents
  1. Introduction
  2. Results
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
  4. Michelin Alpin A4
  5. Nokian WR D4
  6. Vredestein Snowtrac 5
  7. ESA Tecar Super Grip 9
  8. Hankook Winter i cept RS2
  9. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
  10. Pirelli Cinturato Winter
  11. Dunlop Winter Response 2
  12. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
  13. Uniroyal MS+ 77
  14. Barum Polaris 3
  15. Viking Snow Tech II
  16. Firestone Winterhawk 3
  17. Kleber Krisalp HP2

Test Summary
Wet Braking Hankook Winter i cept RS2
Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
Dry Braking Dunlop Winter Response 2
Wet Handling Uniroyal MS Plus 77
Viking Snow Tech II
Rolling Resistance Goodyear UltraGrip 9
Noise Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
Straight Aqua Pirelli Cinturato Winter
Snow Braking Michelin Alpin A4
This year the German motoring orginisation ADAC have tested winter tires in 225/45 R17 and 185/65 R15, and all season tires in 205/55 R16.

Below are the results of the 185/65 R15 winter tire test.

Other ADAC 2016 tests:

Results

The dry results are weighted 15% overall, wet 30%, snow 20%, ice 10%, noise/comfort 5%, fuel consumption 10% and wear 10%.

1st

Goodyear UltraGrip 9

185/65 R15
Goodyear UltraGrip 9
Total: 53.2
Dry 7
Wet 7.6
Snow 8.4
Ice 7
Comfort 6.2
Rolling Resistance 9
Wear 8
2nd

Michelin Alpin A4

185/65 R15
Michelin Alpin A4
Total: 51.6
Dry 8
Wet 7.2
Snow 7.2
Ice 7.2
Comfort 5
Rolling Resistance 7
Wear 10
3rd

Nokian WR D4

185/65 R15
Nokian WR D4
Total: 47.4
Dry 7.2
Wet 6.6
Snow 7.2
Ice 7
Comfort 4.4
Rolling Resistance 8
Wear 7
4th

Vredestein Snowtrac 5

185/65 R15
Vredestein Snowtrac 5
Total: 46.6
Dry 7.4
Wet 6.6
Snow 6.8
Ice 6.8
Comfort 4.8
Rolling Resistance 7.2
Wear 7
5th

ESA Tecar Super Grip 9

185/65 R15
ESA Tecar Super Grip 9
Total: 49.6
Dry 7.2
Wet 6.4
Snow 7.8
Ice 6.4
Comfort 6.2
Rolling Resistance 8.6
Wear 7
6th

Hankook Winter i cept RS2

185/65 R15
Hankook Winter i cept RS2
Total: 46.2
Dry 8.2
Wet 6.4
Snow 6.8
Ice 6.4
Comfort 4
Rolling Resistance 7.4
Wear 7
7th

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001

185/65 R15
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
Total: 47.4
Dry 6.8
Wet 6.4
Snow 8.2
Ice 6.2
Comfort 4.8
Rolling Resistance 8
Wear 7
8th

Pirelli Cinturato Winter

185/65 R15
Pirelli Cinturato Winter
Total: 50.2
Dry 6.2
Wet 7.8
Snow 7.8
Ice 7.6
Comfort 5.6
Rolling Resistance 7.2
Wear 8
9th

Dunlop Winter Response 2

185/65 R15
Dunlop Winter Response 2
Total: 49.8
Dry 6
Wet 8.4
Snow 7.8
Ice 6.6
Comfort 6
Rolling Resistance 8
Wear 7
10th

Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2

185/65 R15
Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
Total: 48.8
Dry 8.2
Wet 5.8
Snow 6.6
Ice 6.8
Comfort 6.4
Rolling Resistance 8
Wear 7
11th

Uniroyal MS+ 77

185/65 R15
Uniroyal MS Plus 77
Total: 46.4
Dry 5.4
Wet 6.6
Snow 8.6
Ice 6.2
Comfort 4.6
Rolling Resistance 8
Wear 7
12th

Barum Polaris 3

185/65 R15
Barum Polaris 3
Total: 48.8
Dry 7.6
Wet 5.2
Snow 7.8
Ice 6.4
Comfort 4.8
Rolling Resistance 8
Wear 9
13th

Viking Snow Tech II

185/65 R15
Viking Snow Tech II
Total: 44
Dry 6.4
Wet 5
Snow 8.6
Ice 4.6
Comfort 4.6
Rolling Resistance 7.8
Wear 7
14th

Firestone Winterhawk 3

185/65 R15
Firestone Winterhawk 3
Total: 43.1
Dry 7.4
Wet 0.1
Snow 6.4
Ice 6.8
Comfort 6
Rolling Resistance 8.4
Wear 8
15th

Kleber Krisalp HP2

185/65 R15
Kleber Krisalp HP2
Total: 42.6
Dry 7.6
Wet 4.6
Snow 2.8
Ice 7.4
Comfort 3.2
Rolling Resistance 8
Wear 9

Discussion

12 comments
  1. Nico Dupuis archived

    OMG how is possible that Firestone Winterhawk 3 bas 0.1 on wet ???
    In the past this tire is good and also in 2017.

    #2915
  2. Migelbg archived

    I am really interested in a test of these tires after 2-3 seasons of use. Because in a real world a set of winter tires is used for 3- 5 seasons and aging of tires should be considered by consumers. I understand that this kind of test is difficult and expensive but it is very useful I think. So, is there such a thing?

    #2235
    1. TireReviews Migelbg archived

      Sadly we've not seen a test like this.

      We'd love to put one on, but the task of aging and wearing the tires in real world driving is an enormous task.

      #2236
      1. Misa Viljas TireReviews archived

        Actually there was one few years ago in Autobild, when they used few similar Skoda Octavias as test cars and drove about 10,000km during winter. Results were actually rather suprising, as some highly rated tires we not so highly rated after this test. I do remember that Conti and Dunlop 3D managed to stay on top even half-used...

        #2249
        1. TireReviews Misa Viljas archived

          Can you recall which issue? We'd love to see it!

          #2250
          1. Misa Viljas TireReviews archived

            Give me couple of days to go through my archive :)

            #2257
            1. TireReviews Misa Viljas archived

              Great find, thank you :) Michelin are about to release an update to the CrossClimate that improves end of life performance so there should be a lot of data to support this in the next few months.

              #2272
  3. Petr archived

    The results are without any surprise; unfortunately, ADAC came too soon this year and missed (with the exception of Pirelli) all new tires for upcoming winter: Continental TS860, Fulda Kristall Control HP2, Kleber Krisalp HP3 aka BFGoodrich or new Debica, all B-rated in the wet.

    #2171
  4. KalliMan archived

    Second place for Alpin A4 instead of Alpin A5? A4 is a model 6-7 years old. I cannot accept that it is still better than most of the latest generation of tires. IMO there is something wrong in these tests.

    #2166
    1. turboseize KalliMan archived

      The A4 is just a damn good tire.

      On packed snow and ice in Sweden, I found them weaker than the Dunlop winter sport 3d. The A4 were ok, but the Dunlops were much better. On wet new snow and on slush, on the other hand, the picture reverses. The A4 is simply the best winter tire I've ever driven through slush. Much better than it's predecessors (I've had Alpin, A2, and A3). The A4 is also good in the wet, ok in the dry, and it lasts forever. Mine still have 6mm after more than 40,000km.
      So for central european winter, a near perfect compromise. Dry and wet roads are much more likely than snow, and when we do get the occasional white stuff, most of the time it turns to slush...

      Some friends of mine have the A5 on their cars, The A5 is even better in the wet and in the snow, but worse in the dry - and, an absolute sin for a Michelin, it does not last long. I'll need new winter tires for the second car soon. It's a pity they don't make the A4 any more in the required size. I really don't see the point in buying the A5. I'd rather have the Nokian WR D4 instead - should be great in snow and slush and wears too fast, just as the A5 - but it does not cost as much.

      #2292