For their third winter tire test of 2019, Auto Bild have stepped up the fun and fitted an Audi S5 with eleven sets of 255/35 R19 ultra high performance winter tires, and included the usual set of reference summer tires!

Following on from a win in Auto Express, the new Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ takes its second win of 2019, once again proving to have a near flawless blend of qualities. Vredestein have also continued their run of good results with a very strong second place for the Wintrac Pro. This tire is significantly cheaper than the premium winter tires in the UK, so is probably the best choice if you need to save a few pounds.

Rounding out the top three is the Uniroyal MSPlus 77. This tire was extremely strong in the snow, but relatively weak in the dry and wet. This means while the Uniroyal placed higher overall than tires like the Continental WinterContact TS860S, the tires with a better dry and wet performance are far more suitable for the UK climate.

As always, check out all the data below to see which blend of qualities works for your intended driving patterns and budget.

Dry

The new Goodyear tire won the dry braking test, but was significantly behind the summer tire. The midrange tires from Kumho and Toyo also performed excellently.

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
RefReference Summer	121 ft	-11 ft
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	132 ft	Best
2Kumho WinterCraft WP71	134 ft	+2 ft
3Toyo Snowprox S954	135 ft	+3 ft
3Continental WinterContact TS 860 S	135 ft	+3 ft
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	137 ft	+5 ft
6Nokian WR A4	137 ft	+5 ft
7Michelin Pilot Alpin 4	138 ft	+6 ft
8Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	139 ft	+7 ft
9Nankang SV2	141 ft	+9 ft
10Uniroyal MS Plus 77	143 ft	+11 ft
11Hankook Winter i cept evo2	144 ft	+12 ft

The difference between best and worst was 19.6% (23 ft ≈ 1.6 Car Lengths).

As with dry braking, the summer tire had a big advantage, this time with Toyo the best of the winter tires.

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
RefReference Summer	77.4 mph	+1.7 mph
1Toyo Snowprox S954	75.7 mph	Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 860 S	75.0 mph	-0.7 mph
3Michelin Pilot Alpin 4	74.9 mph	-0.8 mph
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro	74.7 mph	-1.0 mph
5Uniroyal MS Plus 77	74.4 mph	-1.3 mph
6Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	74.3 mph	-1.4 mph
7Hankook Winter i cept evo2	74.3 mph	-1.4 mph
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	74.2 mph	-1.5 mph
9Nokian WR A4	74.1 mph	-1.6 mph
10Nankang SV2	73.8 mph	-1.9 mph
11Kumho WinterCraft WP71	73.6 mph	-2.1 mph

The difference between best and worst was 4.8% (3.8 mph).

Wet

The Goodyear continued its excellent braking run in the wet, being the only winter tire to stop better than the summer tire.

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	150 ft	Best
RefReference Summer	154 ft	+4 ft
2Michelin Pilot Alpin 4	155 ft	+5 ft
3Hankook Winter i cept evo2	156 ft	+6 ft
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro	158 ft	+8 ft
5Toyo Snowprox S954	163 ft	+13 ft
6Continental WinterContact TS 860 S	164 ft	+14 ft
7Uniroyal MS Plus 77	165 ft	+15 ft
8Kumho WinterCraft WP71	170 ft	+20 ft
9Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	175 ft	+25 ft
10Nankang SV2	177 ft	+27 ft
11Nokian WR A4	180 ft	+30 ft

The difference between best and worst was 19.9% (30 ft ≈ 2 Car Lengths).

As with wet braking, the Goodyear was the only tire to best the summer tire over a fast lap, with Vredestein just able to match it.

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	59.2 mph	Best
RefReference Summer	59.0 mph	-0.2 mph
2Vredestein Wintrac Pro	59.0 mph	-0.2 mph
3Hankook Winter i cept evo2	57.9 mph	-1.3 mph
4Michelin Pilot Alpin 4	57.7 mph	-1.5 mph
4Continental WinterContact TS 860 S	57.7 mph	-1.5 mph
6Uniroyal MS Plus 77	57.2 mph	-2.0 mph
7Toyo Snowprox S954	56.9 mph	-2.3 mph
7Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	56.9 mph	-2.3 mph
9Kumho WinterCraft WP71	56.3 mph	-2.9 mph
10Nokian WR A4	56.0 mph	-3.2 mph
11Nankang SV2	55.9 mph	-3.3 mph

The difference between best and worst was 5.7% (3.3 mph).

Impressively, Goodyear also won the straight aquaplaning testing.

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	45.8 mph	Best
RefReference Summer	45.6 mph	-0.2 mph
2Vredestein Wintrac Pro	45.5 mph	-0.3 mph
3Toyo Snowprox S954	45.1 mph	-0.7 mph
4Kumho WinterCraft WP71	44.9 mph	-0.9 mph
5Uniroyal MS Plus 77	44.6 mph	-1.2 mph
6Nankang SV2	44.3 mph	-1.5 mph
7Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	42.9 mph	-2.9 mph
8Michelin Pilot Alpin 4	42.6 mph	-3.2 mph
8Hankook Winter i cept evo2	42.6 mph	-3.2 mph
10Continental WinterContact TS 860 S	41.1 mph	-4.7 mph
11Nokian WR A4	37.2 mph	-8.6 mph

The difference between best and worst was 18.7% (8.6 mph).

Snow

Snow braking gave Goodyear a clean sweep of braking results, with all the winter tires vastly out performing the summer tire.

Snow Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	91 ft	Best
2Uniroyal MS Plus 77	92 ft	+1 ft
2Kumho WinterCraft WP71	92 ft	+1 ft
4Nokian WR A4	94 ft	+3 ft
5Hankook Winter i cept evo2	94 ft	+3 ft
6Michelin Pilot Alpin 4	94 ft	+3 ft
7Continental WinterContact TS 860 S	95 ft	+4 ft
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro	95 ft	+4 ft
9Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	96 ft	+5 ft
10Toyo Snowprox S954	100 ft	+9 ft
11Nankang SV2	101 ft	+10 ft
RefReference Summer	256 ft	+165 ft

The difference between best and worst was 182.2% (165 ft ≈ 11.2 Car Lengths).

Snow handling was very close between the top seven tires, with Kumho coming out on top.

Snow Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Kumho WinterCraft WP71	30.7 mph	Best
2Vredestein Wintrac Pro	30.5 mph	-0.2 mph
3Uniroyal MS Plus 77	30.4 mph	-0.3 mph
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	30.4 mph	-0.3 mph
5Hankook Winter i cept evo2	30.3 mph	-0.4 mph
5Nokian WR A4	30.3 mph	-0.4 mph
7Continental WinterContact TS 860 S	30.1 mph	-0.6 mph
8Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	29.6 mph	-1.1 mph
9Michelin Pilot Alpin 4	29.5 mph	-1.2 mph
10Toyo Snowprox S954	28.9 mph	-1.8 mph
11Nankang SV2	28.0 mph	-2.7 mph

The difference between best and worst was 8.9% (2.7 mph).

Environment

Continental had a big advantage in fuel use.

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Continental WinterContact TS 860 S	8.06 kg/t	Best	$0
2Nankang SV2	8.5 kg/t	+0.44 kg/t	$16
2Nokian WR A4	8.5 kg/t	+0.44 kg/t	$16
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	8.66 kg/t	+0.60 kg/t	$22
RefReference Summer	8.8 kg/t	+0.74 kg/t	$27
5Uniroyal MS Plus 77	9.02 kg/t	+0.96 kg/t	$35
6Toyo Snowprox S954	9.25 kg/t	+1.19 kg/t	$43
7Kumho WinterCraft WP71	9.35 kg/t	+1.29 kg/t	$47
8Michelin Pilot Alpin 4	9.39 kg/t	+1.33 kg/t	$48
9Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	9.99 kg/t	+1.93 kg/t	$70
10Vredestein Wintrac Pro	10.32 kg/t	+2.26 kg/t	$82
11Hankook Winter i cept evo2	10.35 kg/t	+2.29 kg/t	$83

The difference between best and worst was 28.4% (2.29 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 uses about 23 gal ($83) more fuel than the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.

Adjust the assumptions

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 ($)

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.

Nankang had the lowest external drive by noise.

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Nankang SV2	70.7 dB	Best
2Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	71.1 dB	+0.40 dB
3Kumho WinterCraft WP71	72 dB	+1.30 dB
4Uniroyal MS Plus 77	72.2 dB	+1.50 dB
5Continental WinterContact TS 860 S	72.5 dB	+1.80 dB
RefReference Summer	72.6 dB	+1.90 dB
6Toyo Snowprox S954	73.5 dB	+2.80 dB
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	73.7 dB	+3.00 dB
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	74.1 dB	+3.40 dB
9Michelin Pilot Alpin 4	74.9 dB	+4.20 dB
10Nokian WR A4	75 dB	+4.30 dB
11Hankook Winter i cept evo2	75.7 dB	+5.00 dB

The difference between best and worst was 7.1% (5 dB).

The most expensive set of tires on test was almost double the price of the cheapest set.

Results

Dry99%

Wet100%

Snow99.5%

Comfort95.4%

Rolling Resistance93.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	1^st / 11	132 ft	Best in this discipline
Dry HandlingHigher is better	8^th / 11	74.2 mph	-1.5 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	1^st / 11	150 ft	Best in this discipline
Wet HandlingHigher is better	1^st / 11	59.2 mph	Best in this discipline
Straight AquaHigher is better	1^st / 11	45.8 mph	Best in this discipline
Snow BrakingLower is better	1^st / 11	91 ft	Best in this discipline
Snow HandlingHigher is better	4^th / 11	30.4 mph	-0.3 mph
NoiseLower is better	8^th / 11	74.1 dB	+3.40 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	4^th / 11	8.66 kg/t	+0.60 kg/t

Price: 880.00

Dry97.4%

Wet97.5%

Snow97.3%

Comfort95.9%

Rolling Resistance78.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	5^th / 11	137 ft	+5 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	4^th / 11	74.7 mph	-1.0 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	4^th / 11	158 ft	+8 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	2^nd / 11	59.0 mph	-0.2 mph
Straight AquaHigher is better	2^nd / 11	45.5 mph	-0.3 mph
Snow BrakingLower is better	8^th / 11	95 ft	+4 ft
Snow HandlingHigher is better	2^nd / 11	30.5 mph	-0.2 mph
NoiseLower is better	7^th / 11	73.7 dB	+3.00 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	10^th / 11	10.32 kg/t	+2.26 kg/t

Price: 760.00

Dry95.1%

Wet94%

Snow98.9%

Comfort97.9%

Rolling Resistance89.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	10^th / 11	143 ft	+11 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	5^th / 11	74.4 mph	-1.3 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	7^th / 11	165 ft	+15 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	6^th / 11	57.2 mph	-2.0 mph
Straight AquaHigher is better	5^th / 11	44.6 mph	-1.2 mph
Snow BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 11	92 ft	+1 ft
Snow HandlingHigher is better	3^rd / 11	30.4 mph	-0.3 mph
NoiseLower is better	4^th / 11	72.2 dB	+1.50 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	5^th / 11	9.02 kg/t	+0.96 kg/t

Price: 700.00

Dry98.3%

Wet93.8%

Snow96.8%

Comfort97.5%

Rolling Resistance100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 11	135 ft	+3 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	2^nd / 11	75.0 mph	-0.7 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	6^th / 11	164 ft	+14 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	4^th / 11	57.7 mph	-1.5 mph
Straight AquaHigher is better	10^th / 11	41.1 mph	-4.7 mph
Snow BrakingLower is better	7^th / 11	95 ft	+4 ft
Snow HandlingHigher is better	7^th / 11	30.1 mph	-0.6 mph
NoiseLower is better	5^th / 11	72.5 dB	+1.80 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	1^st / 11	8.06 kg/t	Best in this discipline

Price: 935.00

Dry94.7%

Wet96.5%

Snow97.6%

Comfort93.4%

Rolling Resistance77.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	11^th / 11	144 ft	+12 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	7^th / 11	74.3 mph	-1.4 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 11	156 ft	+6 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	3^rd / 11	57.9 mph	-1.3 mph
Straight AquaHigher is better	8^th / 11	42.6 mph	-3.2 mph
Snow BrakingLower is better	5^th / 11	94 ft	+3 ft
Snow HandlingHigher is better	5^th / 11	30.3 mph	-0.4 mph
NoiseLower is better	11^th / 11	75.7 dB	+5.00 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	11^th / 11	10.35 kg/t	+2.29 kg/t

Price: 685.00

Dry97.2%

Wet96.7%

Snow95.9%

Comfort94.4%

Rolling Resistance85.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	7^th / 11	138 ft	+6 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	3^rd / 11	74.9 mph	-0.8 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 11	155 ft	+5 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	4^th / 11	57.7 mph	-1.5 mph
Straight AquaHigher is better	8^th / 11	42.6 mph	-3.2 mph
Snow BrakingLower is better	6^th / 11	94 ft	+3 ft
Snow HandlingHigher is better	9^th / 11	29.5 mph	-1.2 mph
NoiseLower is better	9^th / 11	74.9 dB	+4.20 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	8^th / 11	9.39 kg/t	+1.33 kg/t

Price: 960.00

Dry98%

Wet92.3%

Snow99.3%

Comfort98.2%

Rolling Resistance86.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 11	134 ft	+2 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	11^th / 11	73.6 mph	-2.1 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	8^th / 11	170 ft	+20 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	9^th / 11	56.3 mph	-2.9 mph
Straight AquaHigher is better	4^th / 11	44.9 mph	-0.9 mph
Snow BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 11	92 ft	+1 ft
Snow HandlingHigher is better	1^st / 11	30.7 mph	Best in this discipline
NoiseLower is better	3^rd / 11	72 dB	+1.30 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	7^th / 11	9.35 kg/t	+1.29 kg/t

Price: 605.00

Dry98.8%

Wet94.6%

Snow92.5%

Comfort96.2%

Rolling Resistance87.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 11	135 ft	+3 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	1^st / 11	75.7 mph	Best in this discipline
Wet BrakingLower is better	5^th / 11	163 ft	+13 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	7^th / 11	56.9 mph	-2.3 mph
Straight AquaHigher is better	3^rd / 11	45.1 mph	-0.7 mph
Snow BrakingLower is better	10^th / 11	100 ft	+9 ft
Snow HandlingHigher is better	10^th / 11	28.9 mph	-1.8 mph
NoiseLower is better	6^th / 11	73.5 dB	+2.80 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	6^th / 11	9.25 kg/t	+1.19 kg/t

Price: 650.00

Dry96.6%

Wet91.1%

Snow95.2%

Comfort99.4%

Rolling Resistance80.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	8^th / 11	139 ft	+7 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	6^th / 11	74.3 mph	-1.4 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	9^th / 11	175 ft	+25 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	7^th / 11	56.9 mph	-2.3 mph
Straight AquaHigher is better	7^th / 11	42.9 mph	-2.9 mph
Snow BrakingLower is better	9^th / 11	96 ft	+5 ft
Snow HandlingHigher is better	8^th / 11	29.6 mph	-1.1 mph
NoiseLower is better	2^nd / 11	71.1 dB	+0.40 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	9^th / 11	9.99 kg/t	+1.93 kg/t

Price: 535.00

Dry96.9%

Wet88.1%

Snow97.8%

Comfort94.3%

Rolling Resistance94.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	6^th / 11	137 ft	+5 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	9^th / 11	74.1 mph	-1.6 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	11^th / 11	180 ft	+30 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	10^th / 11	56.0 mph	-3.2 mph
Straight AquaHigher is better	11^th / 11	37.2 mph	-8.6 mph
Snow BrakingLower is better	4^th / 11	94 ft	+3 ft
Snow HandlingHigher is better	5^th / 11	30.3 mph	-0.4 mph
NoiseLower is better	10^th / 11	75 dB	+4.30 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	2^nd / 11	8.5 kg/t	+0.44 kg/t

Price: 780.00

Dry95.5%

Wet90.4%

Snow90.4%

Comfort100%

Rolling Resistance94.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	9^th / 11	141 ft	+9 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	10^th / 11	73.8 mph	-1.9 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	10^th / 11	177 ft	+27 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	11^th / 11	55.9 mph	-3.3 mph
Straight AquaHigher is better	6^th / 11	44.3 mph	-1.5 mph
Snow BrakingLower is better	11^th / 11	101 ft	+10 ft
Snow HandlingHigher is better	11^th / 11	28.0 mph	-2.7 mph
NoiseLower is better	1^st / 11	70.7 dB	Best in this discipline
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	2^nd / 11	8.5 kg/t	+0.44 kg/t

Price: 515.00

Tire	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	Vredestein Wintrac Pro	Uniroyal MS Plus 77	Continental WinterContact TS 860 S	Hankook Winter i cept evo2	Michelin Pilot Alpin 4	Kumho WinterCraft WP71	Toyo Snowprox S954	Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	Nokian WR A4	Nankang SV2
Position	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th	6^th	7^th	8^th	9^th	10^th	11^th
Category scores (% of best)
Dry	99%	97.4%	95.1%	98.3%	94.7%	97.2%	98%	98.8%	96.6%	96.9%	95.5%
Wet	100%	97.5%	94%	93.8%	96.5%	96.7%	92.3%	94.6%	91.1%	88.1%	90.4%
Snow	99.5%	97.3%	98.9%	96.8%	97.6%	95.9%	99.3%	92.5%	95.2%	97.8%	90.4%
Comfort	95.4%	95.9%	97.9%	97.5%	93.4%	94.4%	98.2%	96.2%	99.4%	94.3%	100%
Rolling Resistance	93.1%	78.1%	89.4%	100%	77.9%	85.8%	86.2%	87.1%	80.7%	94.8%	94.8%
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