For 2018, the German publication Auto Zeitung have tested nine SUV / 4X4 winter tire patterns in the popular 235/60 R18 size using an Audi Q5.

The tires on test covered the premium and midrange segments, with a single budget tire included, the Wanli Snowgrip S1083. The Wanli tire was less than half the price of the most expensive tires on test, so it will be interesting to see whether the Chinese manufactured tire can improve on past performances.

Dry

The top two tires during dry braking testing also happened to be the worst two tires overall on test, with the Wanli and Yokohama tires drawing in first place. There was a larger than normal spread across the dry braking testing, with nearly 13 feet covering the best to worst on test.

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Yokohama W Drive	146 ft	Best
1Wanli Snowgrip S1083	146 ft	Best
3Pirelli Scorpion Winter	148 ft	+2 ft
4Nokian WR SUV 3	151 ft	+5 ft
5Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	151 ft	+5 ft
6Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	151 ft	+5 ft
7Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	154 ft	+8 ft
8Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	154 ft	+8 ft
9Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	158 ft	+12 ft

The difference between best and worst was 8.1% (12 ft ≈ 0.8 Car Lengths).

The dry handling testing was much closer, with less than one second covering all nine tire patterns. This time the Nokian WR SUV3 proved to be the best of the group.

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Nokian WR SUV 3	65.8 s	Best
1Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	65.8 s	Best
3Yokohama W Drive	66 s	+0.20 s
4Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	66.4 s	+0.60 s
5Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	66.5 s	+0.70 s
6Wanli Snowgrip S1083	66.6 s	+0.80 s
7Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	66.7 s	+0.90 s
7Pirelli Scorpion Winter	66.7 s	+0.90 s
7Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	66.7 s	+0.90 s

All the tires in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.

Wet

The all important wet testing was dominated by the Michelin Latitude Alpin 2, which had both the shortest wet braking distance and the quickest wet handling lap.

After winning the dry braking test, the Wanli budget tire proved that in the wet, you still get what you pay for, finishing a long distance behind the pack in both tests.

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	179 ft	Best
2Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	181 ft	+2 ft
3Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	184 ft	+5 ft
4Nokian WR SUV 3	191 ft	+12 ft
5Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	196 ft	+17 ft
6Pirelli Scorpion Winter	198 ft	+19 ft
7Yokohama W Drive	199 ft	+20 ft
8Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	209 ft	+30 ft
9Wanli Snowgrip S1083	231 ft	+52 ft

The difference between best and worst was 28.9% (52 ft ≈ 3.5 Car Lengths).

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	87.6 s	Best
2Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	88.1 s	+0.50 s
3Nokian WR SUV 3	89.5 s	+1.90 s
4Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	90.2 s	+2.60 s
5Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	91.1 s	+3.50 s
6Pirelli Scorpion Winter	91.3 s	+3.70 s
7Yokohama W Drive	92.5 s	+4.90 s
8Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	93.8 s	+6.20 s
9Wanli Snowgrip S1083	98.3 s	+10.70 s

The difference between best and worst was 12.2% (10.7 s).

The straight aquaplaning test brought the first win for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV.

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	48.5 mph	Best
2Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	47.4 mph	-1.1 mph
3Nokian WR SUV 3	47.3 mph	-1.2 mph
4Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	46.8 mph	-1.7 mph
5Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	46.5 mph	-2.0 mph
6Pirelli Scorpion Winter	45.5 mph	-3.0 mph
7Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	45.2 mph	-3.3 mph
8Yokohama W Drive	44.7 mph	-3.8 mph
9Wanli Snowgrip S1083	42.8 mph	-5.7 mph

The difference between best and worst was 11.9% (5.7 mph).

Snow

The Bridgestone LM80 EVO proved to be the most effective tire during the snow braking testing.

Snow Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	78 ft	Best
2Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	79 ft	+1 ft
3Wanli Snowgrip S1083	80 ft	+2 ft
3Nokian WR SUV 3	80 ft	+2 ft
5Pirelli Scorpion Winter	81 ft	+3 ft
6Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	81 ft	+3 ft
7Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	82 ft	+4 ft
8Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	84 ft	+6 ft
9Yokohama W Drive	91 ft	+13 ft

The difference between best and worst was 16% (13 ft ≈ 0.8 Car Lengths).

While the Michelin Latitude Alpin 2 won the snow handling test.

Snow Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	80.2 s	Best
2Pirelli Scorpion Winter	81.1 s	+0.90 s
3Nokian WR SUV 3	81.3 s	+1.10 s
4Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	81.8 s	+1.60 s
5Wanli Snowgrip S1083	82.2 s	+2.00 s
5Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	82.2 s	+2.00 s
7Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	83.6 s	+3.40 s
8Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	83.8 s	+3.60 s
9Yokohama W Drive	86 s	+5.80 s

The difference between best and worst was 7.2% (5.8 s).

Environment

The Continental WinterContact TS850 P proved to have the lowest fuel use on test.

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	7.03 kg/t	Best	$0
2Wanli Snowgrip S1083	7.39 kg/t	+0.36 kg/t	$15
3Pirelli Scorpion Winter	7.47 kg/t	+0.44 kg/t	$18
4Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	7.87 kg/t	+0.84 kg/t	$35
5Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	8.1 kg/t	+1.07 kg/t	$45
6Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	8.14 kg/t	+1.11 kg/t	$46
7Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	8.33 kg/t	+1.30 kg/t	$54
8Yokohama W Drive	8.38 kg/t	+1.35 kg/t	$56
9Nokian WR SUV 3	8.42 kg/t	+1.39 kg/t	$58

The difference between best and worst was 19.8% (1.39 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Nokian WR SUV 3 uses about 16 gal ($58) more fuel than the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV.

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Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions.

Gas/Diesel Electric

Annual Mileage

12,000 mi

km (L)

miles (US gal)

Fuel Price

$3.60/gal

GBP (£)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

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Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tire age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.

During internal noise testing, all nine tires were within just two decibels of each other.

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	71 dB	Best
2Yokohama W Drive	72 dB	+1.00 dB
2Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	72 dB	+1.00 dB
2Pirelli Scorpion Winter	72 dB	+1.00 dB
2Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	72 dB	+1.00 dB
6Wanli Snowgrip S1083	73 dB	+2.00 dB
6Nokian WR SUV 3	73 dB	+2.00 dB
6Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	73 dB	+2.00 dB
6Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	73 dB	+2.00 dB

All the tires in the Noise test finished less than 3% apart.

The Nokian proved to be good value, finishing third place overall but significantly cheaper than the most expensive tires on test.

Results

Victory for the Michelin, very strong on snow and in the wet.

All discipline results (7)

Test	Result
Dry	120
Wet	143
Snow	143
Comfort	7
Rolling Resistance	15
Noise	9
Overall	406

Total: 843

Price: 650.00

A very well balanced performance for the TS850P SUV, strong in all categories.

All discipline results (7)

Test	Result
Dry	134
Wet	132
Snow	132
Comfort	8
Rolling Resistance	25
Noise	9
Overall	398

Total: 838

Price: 650.00

A third place for Nokian thanks you balanced and consistent results.

All discipline results (7)

Test	Result
Dry	128
Wet	131
Snow	131
Comfort	7
Rolling Resistance	15
Noise	8
Overall	390

Total: 810

Price: 550.00

The Dunlop is a proven wet specialist with good dry properties.

All discipline results (7)

Test	Result
Dry	127
Wet	147
Snow	115
Comfort	5
Rolling Resistance	16
Noise	18
Overall	389

Total: 817

Price: 640.00

Good in the dry and on snow. Slight weakness in the wet.

All discipline results (7)

Test	Result
Dry	129
Wet	116
Snow	130
Comfort	8
Rolling Resistance	21
Noise	9
Overall	375

Total: 788

Price: 550.00

Good results for the Bridgestone on snow and dry roads, but too little grip in wet.

All discipline results (7)

Test	Result
Dry	123
Wet	97
Snow	135
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	17
Noise	10
Overall	355

Total: 746

Price: 600.00

Mid pack in the dry and wet, poor snow performance.

All discipline results (7)

Test	Result
Dry	123
Wet	121
Snow	104
Comfort	8
Rolling Resistance	18
Noise	8
Overall	348

Total: 730

Price: 440.00

Reasonable in the dry, but very poor snow performance.

All discipline results (7)

Test	Result
Dry	136
Wet	108
Snow	80
Comfort	7
Rolling Resistance	15
Noise	9
Overall	324

Total: 679

Price: 410.00

Acceptable on snow and in the dry, but dangerously poor performance in the wet.

All discipline results (7)

Test	Result
Dry	134
Wet	59
Snow	123
Comfort	7
Rolling Resistance	22
Noise	8
Overall	316

Total: 669

Price: 270.00

Tire	Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	Nokian WR SUV 3	Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	Pirelli Scorpion Winter	Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	Yokohama W Drive	Wanli Snowgrip S1083
Position	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th	6^th	7^th	8^th	9^th
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The evidence behind the verdict

Dry

Wet

Snow

Environment

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