2018 Auto Express All Season Tire Test

As always, we keep our coverage of the Auto Express tire tests to a minimum, instead encouraging you to go and see the full article on the Auto Express website (link in comments), but there is one aspect of the test we'd like to mention.

For 2018, Auto Express have tested six 225/45 R17 all season tires, and included a summer and winter tire pattern for comparison. This in itself isn't unusual, but unlike many European tire tests who don't tell you what the reference tires are, Auto Express have named the summer and winter reference tires they've used, and they're the multiple test winning Continental WinterContact TS860, and the brand new Continental Premium Contact 6. These are two of the very best summer and winter tires money can buy, which makes for an insightful comparison.

The Reference Tires

So, how did they stack up? Well, pretty much exactly as you would expect. The summer tire was best in the dry and wet but failed in the snow, and the winter tire was best in the snow and worse during dry braking.

When you start to look further into the results, things get a little more interesting. Not only was the reference winter tire best in the snow, the Continental WinterContact TS860 also beat the all season tires in the wet, stopping a huge 5% better than the best all season tire (Michelin) during wet braking, and held its own in dry handling, finishing mid pack. Its only blemish was dry braking, but it still beat the Falken all season tire and almost matched the Nokian.

The summer tire was naturally useless in the snow, but had a bigger than usual advantage in the dry, stopping the car 10.9% better than the best all season tire (Michelin), which was already 5% ahead of the second best all season tire. If you take the  average all season tire, the summer tire was 20% better, which is a huge difference.

Are All Season Tires Right for You?

What can we conclude from this? All season and winter tires obviously have huge benefits in the snow, but even the best all season tire on test can't get close to the best summer tires during dry braking, a key safety quality. As we've recommended before on Tire Reviews, consider your own driving patterns as to whether you'd be best of running a summer tire year round, an all season tire year round, or switching between a dedicated summer / winter setup.

Results

Joint 1^st

Continental AllSeasonContact

225/45 R17

A very well balanced all season tire with no obvious flaws.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	195.1
Wet	297.6
Snow	398.5
Rolling Resistance	93.5
Noise	99.2
Overall	100

Total: 1183.9

Joint 1^st

Continental Premium Contact 6

225/45 R17

By far the best tire in the dry and wet, but not suitable for snow use.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	212.4
Wet	320.3
Snow	196.5
Rolling Resistance	88.1
Noise	99.2
Overall	100.2

Total: 1016.7

Joint 1^st

Continental WinterContact TS 860

225/45 R17

A remarkable performance mixing strong snow ability with an excellent wet and dry performance.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	184.9
Wet	309.3
Snow	404
Rolling Resistance	87.5
Noise	100.2
Overall	100.5

Total: 1186.4

2^nd

Michelin CrossClimate+

225/45 R17

A great all rounder, with a big advantage in the dry compared to other all season tires.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	200
Wet	296.2
Snow	385.4
Rolling Resistance	89.8
Noise	99.2
Overall	99

Total: 1169.6

3^rd

Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2

225/45 R17

A good all round performance, very strong in the wet, and quietest tire on test.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	189.2
Wet	295.3
Snow	386.2
Rolling Resistance	87
Noise	100
Overall	98.9

Total: 1156.6

4^th

Nokian WeatherProof

225/45 R17

Lowest fuel use on test, best snow braking, but a poor dry performance.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	185.8
Wet	289.1
Snow	383.6
Rolling Resistance	100
Noise	99.6
Overall	97.8

Total: 1155.9

5^th

Falken EUROALL SEASON AS200

225/45 R17

Excellent in the snow, but lacking in the dry and wet.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	181.2
Wet	276.6
Snow	390.3
Rolling Resistance	78.2
Noise	99.7
Overall	95.3

Total: 1121.3

6^th

Tristar Ecopower 4S

225/45 R17

Good in the dry, but a dangerous performance in the wet.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	190.7
Wet	234.6
Snow	379.7
Rolling Resistance	79.2
Noise	99.7
Overall	91.3

Total: 1075.2