2017 Autocenter Studded Winter Tire Test

While studded tires aren't suitable for the UK climate, they are the best way of staying mobile in extreme winter conditions. Each tire can have hundreds of studs, which bite into ice with far more grip than a studless friction winter tire can give. There are of course drawbacks to studded tires, they're very noisy, and they give up a lot of dry and wet performance when compared to a European winter tire, but in climates such as Russia and the Nordic countries where you are likely to be driving on ice for weeks at a time, there's little alternative.

The Russian magazine Auto Center have tested ten studded winter tires in 205/55 R16 across dry, wet, snow and ice testing using a VW Golf. When looking at the final results, it's worth keeping in mind that this is a test for extreme winters, which means ice and snow performance takes 60% of the overall result, with wet taking 20% and dry just 15%.

Braking Data

Full Results

1^st

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9

205/55 R16

The Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 provides the car with good acceleration and braking on ice. The car responds well to the steering wheel, and in case of a slide, it is easy to regain control. On wet roads it grips well in corners, but there is a tendency to drift in the dry.

All discipline results (8)

Test	Result
Dry	14
Wet	23
Snow	28
Ice	40
Comfort	10
Rolling Resistance	10
Noise	5
Overall	8.9

Total: 138.9

2^nd

Continental IceContact 2

205/55 R16

The Continental IceContact 2 tire is excellent in the ice with good grip and a good balance. In the wet, the reactions to steering inputs are accurate and fast. In the dry there is slightly more sliding when compared to the best in test

All discipline results (8)

Test	Result
Dry	15
Wet	23
Snow	30
Ice	38
Comfort	10
Rolling Resistance	8
Noise	8
Overall	8.7

Total: 140.7

3^rd

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic

205/55 R16

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic is excellent in the snow, strong on ice and good on wet roads. It could only finish mid-pack for dry performance but was still close enough to be an excellent all round tire

All discipline results (8)

Test	Result
Dry	15
Wet	25
Snow	30
Ice	33
Comfort	7
Rolling Resistance	8
Noise	9
Overall	8.6

Total: 135.6

4^th

Gislaved Nord Frost 200

205/55 R16

The Gislaved Nord * Frost 200 offers excellent dry and wet lateral grip and handling, but has weak braking. In the snow and ice it can't match the best on test but still scores well.

All discipline results (8)

Test	Result
Dry	16
Wet	24
Snow	24
Ice	33
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	9
Noise	10
Overall	7.9

Total: 132.9

5^th

Formula Formula Ice

205/55 R16

All discipline results (8)

Test	Result
Dry	14
Wet	21
Snow	24
Ice	31
Comfort	7
Rolling Resistance	9
Noise	6
Overall	7.6

Total: 119.6

6^th

Cooper WeatherMaster WSC

205/55 R16

All discipline results (8)

Test	Result
Dry	16
Wet	28
Snow	20
Ice	25
Comfort	7
Rolling Resistance	7
Noise	7
Overall	7.3

Total: 117.3

7^th

Matador MP 30 Sibir Ice 2

205/55 R16

All discipline results (8)

Test	Result
Dry	12
Wet	24
Snow	29
Ice	27
Comfort	8
Rolling Resistance	8
Noise	9
Overall	7.3

Total: 124.3

8^th

Marshal WinterCraft Ice Wi31

205/55 R16

All discipline results (8)

Test	Result
Dry	19
Wet	23
Snow	20
Ice	26
Comfort	5
Rolling Resistance	7
Noise	9
Overall	7.3

Total: 116.3

9^th

Viatti Brina Nordico V 522

205/55 R16

All discipline results (8)

Test	Result
Dry	12
Wet	17
Snow	26
Ice	30
Comfort	6
Rolling Resistance	9
Noise	6
Overall	6.8

Total: 112.8

10^th

Minerva Eco Stud

205/55 R16

All discipline results (8)

Test	Result
Dry	17
Wet	30
Snow	17
Ice	18
Comfort	6
Rolling Resistance	8
Noise	7
Overall	6.6

Total: 109.6