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2017 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
10 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test, displaying how each tire performed across all test categories. The spider chart below provides a complete overview of performance, where one hundred percent represents the best performance in each category. The larger the area covered by each tire's plot, the better its overall performance.
How to read these charts: For each test category, data is presented relative to the best performing tire. The direction indicates whether lower or higher values are better - pay close attention to this when interpreting results.

Performance Overview

This radar chart shows relative performance across all test categories, with 100% representing the best performance in each category. Reference tires may have gaps where data is not available.

Yokohama W drive V905
Fulda Kristall Control HP2
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
Nokian WR D4
Kleber Krisalp HP3
Gislaved EuroFrost 5
Sava Eskimo HP2
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
Barum Polaris 3
Reference Summer
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Semperit Speed Grip 3
Uniroyal MS Plus 77
Hankook Winter i cept evo2
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
Firestone Winterhawk 3
Continental WinterContact TS 860
Michelin Alpin 5
Kumho WinterCraft WP71

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Spread: 8.80 M (23.2%) | Avg: 44.88 M

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Reference Summer with a result of 37.9 M. The difference between best and worst was 18.8%.
  1. Reference Summer
    37.9 M
  2. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    43.7 M
  3. Nokian WR D4
    44.5 M
  4. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    44.5 M
  5. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    44.5 M
  6. Yokohama W drive V905
    44.6 M
  7. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    44.8 M
  8. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    44.9 M
  9. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    44.9 M
  10. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    45.1 M
  11. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    45.2 M
  12. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    45.4 M
  13. Michelin Alpin 5
    45.4 M
  14. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    45.5 M
  15. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    45.6 M
  16. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    45.6 M
  17. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    45.6 M
  18. Barum Polaris 3
    45.7 M
  19. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    46 M
  20. Sava Eskimo HP2
    46.3 M
  21. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    46.7 M

Dry Handling (Km/H)

Spread: 6.20 Km/H (5.5%) | Avg: 109.05 Km/H

Dry Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Reference Summer with a result of 113.2 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 5.5%.
  1. Reference Summer
    113.2 Km/H
  2. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    110.8 Km/H
  3. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    109.7 Km/H
  4. Barum Polaris 3
    109.6 Km/H
  5. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    109.6 Km/H
  6. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    109.5 Km/H
  7. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    109.4 Km/H
  8. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    109.3 Km/H
  9. Sava Eskimo HP2
    109.1 Km/H
  10. Michelin Alpin 5
    109.1 Km/H
  11. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    109 Km/H
  12. Yokohama W drive V905
    108.9 Km/H
  13. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    108.8 Km/H
  14. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    108.7 Km/H
  15. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    108.6 Km/H
  16. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    108.5 Km/H
  17. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    108.3 Km/H
  18. Nokian WR D4
    108.3 Km/H
  19. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    107.3 Km/H
  20. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    107.3 Km/H
  21. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    107 Km/H

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Spread: 5.50 M (17.7%) | Avg: 34.55 M

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Reference Summer with a result of 31 M. The difference between best and worst was 15.1%.
  1. Reference Summer
    31 M
  2. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    32.2 M
  3. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    32.5 M
  4. Michelin Alpin 5
    33.3 M
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    33.4 M
  6. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    33.5 M
  7. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    33.6 M
  8. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    34 M
  9. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    34.4 M
  10. Yokohama W drive V905
    34.7 M
  11. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    34.8 M
  12. Nokian WR D4
    35 M
  13. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    35.1 M
  14. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    35.5 M
  15. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    35.7 M
  16. Barum Polaris 3
    35.8 M
  17. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    35.9 M
  18. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    36 M
  19. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    36.3 M
  20. Sava Eskimo HP2
    36.4 M
  21. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    36.5 M

Wet Handling (Km/H)

Spread: 6.90 Km/H (8.9%) | Avg: 73.14 Km/H

Wet Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Reference Summer with a result of 77.5 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 8.9%.
  1. Reference Summer
    77.5 Km/H
  2. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    75.8 Km/H
  3. Michelin Alpin 5
    74.9 Km/H
  4. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    74.7 Km/H
  5. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    74.6 Km/H
  6. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    74.2 Km/H
  7. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    74.1 Km/H
  8. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    73.6 Km/H
  9. Nokian WR D4
    73.6 Km/H
  10. Yokohama W drive V905
    73.5 Km/H
  11. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    72.8 Km/H
  12. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    72.6 Km/H
  13. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    72.3 Km/H
  14. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    72.2 Km/H
  15. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    72.1 Km/H
  16. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    71.9 Km/H
  17. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    71.3 Km/H
  18. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    71.3 Km/H
  19. Barum Polaris 3
    71.2 Km/H
  20. Sava Eskimo HP2
    71.1 Km/H
  21. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    70.6 Km/H

Straight Aqua (Km/H)

Spread: 8.70 Km/H (9.3%) | Avg: 87.85 Km/H

Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 with a result of 93.3 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 9.3%.
  1. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    93.3 Km/H
  2. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    90.9 Km/H
  3. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    90.7 Km/H
  4. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    90.5 Km/H
  5. Reference Summer
    90.5 Km/H
  6. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    88.9 Km/H
  7. Michelin Alpin 5
    88.7 Km/H
  8. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    88.3 Km/H
  9. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    88.1 Km/H
  10. Nokian WR D4
    87.8 Km/H
  11. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    87.5 Km/H
  12. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    87.5 Km/H
  13. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    87.5 Km/H
  14. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    86.8 Km/H
  15. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    86.5 Km/H
  16. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    86.1 Km/H
  17. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    85.5 Km/H
  18. Barum Polaris 3
    85.4 Km/H
  19. Sava Eskimo HP2
    85 Km/H
  20. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    84.8 Km/H
  21. Yokohama W drive V905
    84.6 Km/H

Snow Performance Overview

Snow Braking (M)

Spread: 34.80 M (134.4%) | Avg: 29.51 M

Snow braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 with a result of 25.9 M. The difference between best and worst was 57.3%.
  1. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    25.9 M
  2. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    26.7 M
  3. Sava Eskimo HP2
    27.2 M
  4. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    27.4 M
  5. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    27.5 M
  6. Barum Polaris 3
    27.6 M
  7. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    27.6 M
  8. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    27.7 M
  9. Nokian WR D4
    27.7 M
  10. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    27.9 M
  11. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    28 M
  12. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    28.1 M
  13. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    28.1 M
  14. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    28.3 M
  15. Yokohama W drive V905
    28.3 M
  16. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    28.6 M
  17. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    28.7 M
  18. Michelin Alpin 5
    28.7 M
  19. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    29.2 M
  20. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    29.8 M
  21. Reference Summer
    60.7 M

Snow Handling (Km/H)

Spread: 2.90 Km/H (5.5%) | Avg: 51.23 Km/H

Snow handling average speed (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Barum Polaris 3 with a result of 52.6 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 5.5%.
  1. Barum Polaris 3
    52.6 Km/H
  2. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    52.3 Km/H
  3. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    52.2 Km/H
  4. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    52.2 Km/H
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    52 Km/H
  6. Sava Eskimo HP2
    51.9 Km/H
  7. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    51.7 Km/H
  8. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    51.6 Km/H
  9. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    51.4 Km/H
  10. Michelin Alpin 5
    51.2 Km/H
  11. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    51.1 Km/H
  12. Nokian WR D4
    50.9 Km/H
  13. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    50.9 Km/H
  14. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    50.9 Km/H
  15. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    50.7 Km/H
  16. Yokohama W drive V905
    50.6 Km/H
  17. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    50.4 Km/H
  18. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    50.2 Km/H
  19. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    50 Km/H
  20. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    49.7 Km/H

Comfort Performance Overview

Noise (dB)

Spread: 4.40 dB (6.2%) | Avg: 72.87 dB

External noise in dB (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO with a result of 70.9 dB. The difference between best and worst was 5.8%.
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    70.9 dB
  2. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    71.8 dB
  3. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    71.9 dB
  4. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    71.9 dB
  5. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    72.2 dB
  6. Michelin Alpin 5
    72.2 dB
  7. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    72.2 dB
  8. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    72.4 dB
  9. Nokian WR D4
    72.7 dB
  10. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    72.8 dB
  11. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    72.8 dB
  12. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    73 dB
  13. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    73 dB
  14. Barum Polaris 3
    73.1 dB
  15. Sava Eskimo HP2
    73.5 dB
  16. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    73.5 dB
  17. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    73.5 dB
  18. Yokohama W drive V905
    73.7 dB
  19. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    73.9 dB
  20. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    74 dB
  21. Reference Summer
    75.3 dB

Value Performance Overview

Wear (KM)

Spread: 19500.00 KM (40.3%) | Avg: 37537.50 KM

Predicted tread life in KM (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 with a result of 48375 KM. The difference between best and worst was 40.3%.
  1. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    48375 KM
  2. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    47625 KM
  3. Michelin Alpin 5
    44250 KM
  4. Sava Eskimo HP2
    44250 KM
  5. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    42375 KM
  6. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    40125 KM
  7. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    38625 KM
  8. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    37500 KM
  9. Barum Polaris 3
    37500 KM
  10. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    37500 KM
  11. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    36375 KM
  12. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    35250 KM
  13. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    34875 KM
  14. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    34875 KM
  15. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    34500 KM
  16. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    33375 KM
  17. Yokohama W drive V905
    32625 KM
  18. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    32250 KM
  19. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    29625 KM
  20. Nokian WR D4
    28875 KM

Value (Price/1000)

Spread: 9.33 Price/1000 (123.6%) | Avg: 12.26 Price/1000

Euros/1000km based on cost/wear (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 with a result of 7.55 Price/1000. The difference between best and worst was 55.3%.
  1. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    7.55 Price/1000
  2. Sava Eskimo HP2
    7.57 Price/1000
  3. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    9.13 Price/1000
  4. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    9.2 Price/1000
  5. Barum Polaris 3
    9.33 Price/1000
  6. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    9.87 Price/1000
  7. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    11.47 Price/1000
  8. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    11.55 Price/1000
  9. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    12.3 Price/1000
  10. Michelin Alpin 5
    12.43 Price/1000
  11. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    12.47 Price/1000
  12. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    12.62 Price/1000
  13. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    12.71 Price/1000
  14. Yokohama W drive V905
    12.72 Price/1000
  15. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    13.78 Price/1000
  16. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    15.04 Price/1000
  17. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    15.94 Price/1000
  18. Nokian WR D4
    16.1 Price/1000
  19. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    16.59 Price/1000
  20. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    16.88 Price/1000

Rolling Resistance (kg / t)

Spread: 1.97 kg / t (27.7%) | Avg: 8.06 kg / t

Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Reference Summer with a result of 7.1 kg / t. The difference between best and worst was 21.7%.
  1. Reference Summer
    7.1 kg / t
  2. Uniroyal MS Plus 77
    7.23 kg / t
  3. Barum Polaris 3
    7.53 kg / t
  4. Gislaved EuroFrost 5
    7.78 kg / t
  5. Sava Eskimo HP2
    7.83 kg / t
  6. Semperit Speed Grip 3
    7.88 kg / t
  7. Kumho WinterCraft WP71
    7.91 kg / t
  8. Fulda Kristall Control HP2
    7.95 kg / t
  9. Continental WinterContact TS 860
    7.96 kg / t
  10. Dunlop Winter Sport 5
    8.03 kg / t
  11. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
    8.05 kg / t
  12. BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
    8.15 kg / t
  13. Nokian WR D4
    8.17 kg / t
  14. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
    8.2 kg / t
  15. Hankook Winter i cept evo2
    8.21 kg / t
  16. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
    8.25 kg / t
  17. Kleber Krisalp HP3
    8.3 kg / t
  18. Michelin Alpin 5
    8.52 kg / t
  19. Yokohama W drive V905
    8.57 kg / t
  20. Firestone Winterhawk 3
    8.62 kg / t
  21. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
    9.07 kg / t

Overall Findings

Based on the weighted scoring from all tests, here are the overall results:

Position Tire Score
Continental WinterContact TS 860 0%
2 Michelin Alpin 5 0%
3 Dunlop Winter Sport 5 0%
4 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 0%
5 Semperit Speed Grip 3 0%
6 BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 0%
7 Fulda Kristall Control HP2 0%
8 Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO 0%
9 Kleber Krisalp HP3 0%
10 Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 0%
11 Gislaved EuroFrost 5 0%
12 Kumho WinterCraft WP71 0%
13 Uniroyal MS Plus 77 0%
14 Nokian WR D4 0%
15 Yokohama W drive V905 0%
16 Barum Polaris 3 0%
17 Sava Eskimo HP2 0%
18 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 0%
19 Firestone Winterhawk 3 0%
20 Hankook Winter i cept evo2 0%
21 Reference Summer 0%

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