Test Charts / Auto Zeitung

2018 AZ SUV Winter Tire Test

Compare each discipline in the tested size. See the measured result, position and gap to the best tire, then read the verdict for the trade-offs behind the finishing order.

Tested size: 235/60 R18
Tires tested: 9
Disciplines: 10

Dry

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).

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

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).

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

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).

Snow Traction
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO	1,238 lbf	Best
2Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV	1,198 lbf	-40 lbf
3Michelin Latitude Alpin 2	1,196 lbf	-42 lbf
4Wanli Snowgrip S1083	1,158 lbf	-80 lbf
5Pirelli Scorpion Winter	1,153 lbf	-85 lbf
6Nokian WR SUV 3	1,141 lbf	-97 lbf
7Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV	1,141 lbf	-97 lbf
8Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV	1,130 lbf	-108 lbf
9Yokohama W Drive	1,066 lbf	-172 lbf

The difference between best and worst was 13.9% (172 lbf).

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).

Comfort

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.

Value

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.

Adjust the assumptions

Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions. These calculators use the full test field, independently of your tire selection above.

Gas/Diesel Electric

Annual Mileage

12,000 mi

km (L)

miles (US gal)

Fuel Price

$3.60/gal

GBP (£)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Set my vehicle consumption

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.

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