Test Charts / Auto Bild
2018 Autobild UHP 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
- 245/45 R18
- Tires tested
- 10
- Disciplines
- 9
Read the measurements, not just the rank
Lower is better for braking distances and lap times; higher is better for subjective scores and aquaplaning speed. Bars start at zero. Read the gap alongside the position: adjacent tires can be separated by very different margins.
Positions and gaps always refer to the full test field within each group. Selecting tires does not recalculate rankings or change the best-in-test benchmark.
Focus on your tires
Select tires to highlight them throughout the charts.
Positions and gaps always refer to the full test field within each group. Selecting tires does not recalculate rankings or change the best-in-test benchmark.
Dry
2Dry Braking
Dry braking in feet
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
RefReference Summer |
123 ft | -13 ft |
| 136 ft | Best | |
| 137 ft | +1 ft | |
| 137 ft | +1 ft | |
| 137 ft | +1 ft | |
| 138 ft | +2 ft | |
| 138 ft | +2 ft | |
| 138 ft | +2 ft | |
| 139 ft | +3 ft | |
| 140 ft | +4 ft | |
| 141 ft | +5 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 15% (18 ft ≈ 1.2 Car Lengths).
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
RefReference Summer |
55.2 mph | +2.4 mph |
| 52.8 mph | Best | |
| 52.5 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 52.5 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 52.4 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 52.4 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 52.3 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 52.1 mph | -0.7 mph | |
| 52.0 mph | -0.8 mph | |
| 51.9 mph | -0.9 mph | |
| 51.8 mph | -1.0 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 6.3% (3.4 mph).
Wet
3Wet Braking
Wet braking in feet
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
RefReference Summer |
162 ft | 0 ft |
| 162 ft | Best | |
| 170 ft | +8 ft | |
| 171 ft | +9 ft | |
| 174 ft | +12 ft | |
| 176 ft | +14 ft | |
| 176 ft | +14 ft | |
| 178 ft | +16 ft | |
| 182 ft | +20 ft | |
| 182 ft | +20 ft | |
| 218 ft | +56 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 34.2% (56 ft ≈ 3.8 Car Lengths).
Wet Handling
Wet Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 45.5 mph | Best | |
| 44.6 mph | -0.9 mph | |
| 44.5 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 44.4 mph | -1.1 mph | |
| 44.3 mph | -1.2 mph | |
| 44.3 mph | -1.2 mph | |
RefReference Summer |
43.9 mph | -1.6 mph |
| 43.9 mph | -1.6 mph | |
| 43.8 mph | -1.7 mph | |
| 43.1 mph | -2.4 mph | |
| 37.9 mph | -7.6 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 16.7% (7.6 mph).
Straight Aqua
Float Speed in mph
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
RefReference Summer |
56.5 mph | +2.1 mph |
| 54.4 mph | Best | |
| 54.3 mph | -0.1 mph | |
| 53.6 mph | -0.8 mph | |
| 52.9 mph | -1.5 mph | |
| 52.9 mph | -1.5 mph | |
| 52.0 mph | -2.4 mph | |
| 51.8 mph | -2.6 mph | |
| 51.5 mph | -2.9 mph | |
| 50.8 mph | -3.6 mph | |
| 48.5 mph | -5.9 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 14.2% (8 mph).
Snow
2Snow Braking
Snow braking in feet
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 82 ft | Best | |
| 84 ft | +2 ft | |
| 86 ft | +4 ft | |
| 86 ft | +4 ft | |
| 87 ft | +5 ft | |
| 87 ft | +5 ft | |
| 87 ft | +5 ft | |
| 90 ft | +8 ft | |
| 90 ft | +8 ft | |
| 94 ft | +12 ft | |
RefReference Summer |
256 ft | +174 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 210.4% (174 ft ≈ 11.7 Car Lengths).
Snow Handling
Snow handling average speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 43.1 mph | Best | |
| 42.9 mph | -0.2 mph | |
| 42.9 mph | -0.2 mph | |
| 42.6 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 42.4 mph | -0.7 mph | |
| 42.3 mph | -0.8 mph | |
| 42.3 mph | -0.8 mph | |
| 41.1 mph | -2.0 mph | |
| 40.8 mph | -2.3 mph | |
| 40.6 mph | -2.5 mph | |
RefReference Summer |
22.9 mph | -20.2 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 46.8% (20.2 mph).
Comfort
1Noise
External noise in dB
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 70.8 dB | Best | |
| 71.3 dB | +0.50 dB | |
| 71.5 dB | +0.70 dB | |
| 71.8 dB | +1.00 dB | |
| 71.9 dB | +1.10 dB | |
| 72 dB | +1.20 dB | |
RefReference Summer |
72.3 dB | +1.50 dB |
| 72.7 dB | +1.90 dB | |
| 73.8 dB | +3.00 dB | |
| 74.3 dB | +3.50 dB | |
| 75.6 dB | +4.80 dB |
The difference between best and worst was 6.8% (4.8 dB).
Value
1Rolling Resistance
Rolling resistance in kg t
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Extra fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.05 kg/t | Best | $0 | |
| 8.17 kg/t | +0.12 kg/t | $4 | |
| 8.19 kg/t | +0.14 kg/t | $5 | |
| 8.35 kg/t | +0.30 kg/t | $11 | |
| 8.87 kg/t | +0.82 kg/t | $30 | |
| 9 kg/t | +0.95 kg/t | $35 | |
| 9.1 kg/t | +1.05 kg/t | $38 | |
RefReference Summer |
9.33 kg/t | +1.28 kg/t | $47 |
| 9.45 kg/t | +1.40 kg/t | $51 | |
| 10.05 kg/t | +2.00 kg/t | $73 | |
| 10.07 kg/t | +2.02 kg/t | $74 |
The difference between best and worst was 25.1% (2.02 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 uses about 20 gal ($74) more fuel than the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
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.
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