2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tire Test

Test Summary
Wet Braking	Nokian WR A4
Dry Braking	Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
Wet Handling	Semperit Speed Grip 3
Wear	Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
Noise	Continental WinterContact TS 850 P Fulda Kristall Control HP2 Nokian WR A4
Snow Handling	Kumho WinterCraft WP71 Semperit Speed Grip 3 Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 Fulda Kristall Control HP2 Nokian WR A4
Ice Braking	Nokian WR A4

The first winter tire test of 2017 has been published! The German publication Auto Motor und Sport [AMS] have tested ten ultra high performance winter tires in 225/40 R18. This extremely popular 18" tire sizes is fitted to performance saloons such as the Audi A4, Skoda Octavia VRS, and the 232 bhp BMW 430i Grand Coupe used for this testing.

While AMS chose not to test on ice, they did a very thorough job covering dry, wet and snow running, while also evaluating subjective comfort, external noise and rolling resistance. The use of a heavier, powerful saloon car makes this test more applicable to the standard "executive commuter car" found in the UK.

The highlights of the test and overall results can be found below, and as always, please feel free to leave any questions or comments at the bottom of the page. The results are once again incredibly close, especially between the top five tires.

Dry

In the dry, the Nokian dominated, winning both the braking and handling tests. The test winning Continental managed top three in each test, while the Kumho scored a strong second place in dry braking, but could only manage ninth place in dry handling.

Wet

If you follow tire testing, it will come as no surprise that the Continental dominated the wet grip testing, winning both the braking and handling tests, with the second placed overall Dunlop tire following up the Continental in both tests. In the high water aquaplaning tests the Continental struggled a little more, only managing seventh overall, and where the Fulda tire struggled in the wet grip testing, it won the aquaplaning tests, highlighting the opposing design qualities of wet grip and wet aquaplaning performance. Nokian had a weak showing in the wet.

Snow

Where the Dunlop couldn't quite match the Continental in the dry, it led the pack in the snow tests, with the Continental just ahead of the mid pack in fourth and fifth.

Other

The new Semperit was the quietest tire on test, and the Nokian had the lowest rolling resistance.

Results