2019 Studded Winter Tire Test

Test Publication:

225/50 R17 8 tires 4 categories

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Images courtesy of Vi Bilagare

Test Publication:

https://www.vibilagare.se/test/dacktest

Images courtesy of Vi Bilagare

Test Size: 225/50 R17

Tires Tested: 8 tires

Test Categories:
4 categories (11 tests)

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To find out which  of the latest studded winter tires are worth fitting, Swedish magazine Vi Bilagare have tested seven studded winter tires in 225/50 R17, and included a studless nordic friction winter tire as a comparison.

Even if you don't live in an area that needs such an extreme winter tire, the difference in performance between the latest studded and studless winter tires is an interesting demonstration.

The main novelty of the test came from the new Continental IceContact 3, which is the first tire to use rubberised flexstud spikes. These studs claim to offer reduced road wear, while improving traction on ice.

Dry

During dry braking testing, the studless friction Continental VikingContact led the way with a significant gap to the best studded tire, which was also a Continental.

Wet

Wet braking testing swung the balance back to the studded tires, with the studded Continental tire stopping the test vehicle in the shortest distance. The studless winter tire could only manage a mid-group performance.

Due to the tread design of studless friction tires, the studded tires all had a significant advantage during wet handling and aquaplaning testing.

Snow

Continental dominated all three snow tests, with either their studded tire, or studless tire taking top spot. The budget Sailun Ice Blazer was extremely weak in all three tests.

Ice

The new type of spike on the Continental IceContact 3 delivered on its promise of improved ice trip, winning both the ice traction and ice braking tests.

Perhaps the most interesting result of the test was the ice handling, as the studless friction tire beat ALL the studded tires! This was due to the types of ice used for testing. For traction and braking testing, smooth ice was used as it replicated ice found at junctions, but for ice handling, uneven ice was used which is closer to the icy surfaces you find on the open roads. 

The testers did note one extra important point. When you lose grip on the studless tire, it takes much longer to recover the grip, which means they still recommend studded tires overall, as they will provide higher manoeuvrability and safety reserves in real life useage.

Results

1^st

Continental IceContact 3

225/50 R17

• 3PMSF: no

High grip on snow and ice, low noise.

Weak subjective dry handling.

The new rubberised studs in the IceContact 3 really work. Excellent grip in all conditions.

Dry

67.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	2nd	44.9 M	43 M	+1.9 M	95.77%
Subj. Dry Handling	6th	2 Points	5 Points	-3 Points	40%

Wet

98.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	1st	28.8 M			100%
Wet Handling	6th	44.12 s	43.18 s	+0.94 s	97.87%
Straight Aqua	3rd	60.3 Km/H	62.2 Km/H	-1.9 Km/H	96.95%

Snow

99.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	2nd	16.9 M	16.7 M	+0.2 M	98.82%
Snow Traction	2nd	4.06 s	4.05 s	+0.01 s	99.75%
Snow Handling	1st	83.75 s			100%

Ice

99.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	1st	8.67 M			100%
Ice Traction	1st	4.14 s			100%
Ice Handling	2nd	52.64 s	51.35 s	+1.29 s	97.55%

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2^nd

Michelin X Ice North 4

225/50 R17

• 3PMSF: no

High grip on snow and ice, good handling, low noise.

Weak aquaplaning resistance.

Quietest studded tires on test, even with 257 spikes, with the lowest signs of wear.

Dry

96%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	4th	46.7 M	43 M	+3.7 M	92.08%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st	5 Points			100%

Wet

94.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5th	31 M	28.8 M	+2.2 M	92.9%
Wet Handling	7th	44.37 s	43.18 s	+1.19 s	97.32%
Straight Aqua	6th	58.1 Km/H	62.2 Km/H	-4.1 Km/H	93.41%

Snow

95.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	3rd	17.9 M	16.7 M	+1.2 M	93.3%
Snow Traction	3rd	4.17 s	4.05 s	+0.12 s	97.12%
Snow Handling	3rd	86.49 s	83.75 s	+2.74 s	96.83%

Ice

93.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	2nd	9.42 M	8.67 M	+0.75 M	92.04%
Ice Traction	3rd	4.51 s	4.14 s	+0.37 s	91.8%
Ice Handling	3rd	52.89 s	51.35 s	+1.54 s	97.09%

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3^rd

Continental VikingContact 7

225/50 R17

• 3PMSF: no

High grip in the snow, good handling on uneven ice, low noise.

Relatively poor in dry and wet, weak aquaplaning resistance.

As the only non-studded tire on test, the Viking Contact 7 had an impressive all round ability.

Dry

70%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	1st	43 M			100%
Subj. Dry Handling	6th	2 Points	5 Points	-3 Points	40%

Wet

93%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5th	31 M	28.8 M	+2.2 M	92.9%
Wet Handling	8th	45.65 s	43.18 s	+2.47 s	94.59%
Straight Aqua	8th	57 Km/H	62.2 Km/H	-5.2 Km/H	91.64%

Snow

99.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	1st	16.7 M			100%
Snow Traction	1st	4.05 s			100%
Snow Handling	2nd	85.59 s	83.75 s	+1.84 s	97.85%

Ice

87.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	4th	10.64 M	8.67 M	+1.97 M	81.48%
Ice Traction	7th	5.16 s	4.14 s	+1.02 s	80.23%
Ice Handling	1st	51.35 s			100%

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4^th

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9

225/50 R17

• 3PMSF: no

Good handling and high grip on snow and ice.

Weak aquaplaning resistance, moderate Noise.

One of the most stable tires on test, with great handling.

Dry

75.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	5th	47.1 M	43 M	+4.1 M	91.3%
Subj. Dry Handling	4th	3 Points	5 Points	-2 Points	60%

Wet

96.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	3rd	29.9 M	28.8 M	+1.1 M	96.32%
Wet Handling	1st	43.18 s			100%
Straight Aqua	7th	57.5 Km/H	62.2 Km/H	-4.7 Km/H	92.44%

Snow

94.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	4th	18 M	16.7 M	+1.3 M	92.78%
Snow Traction	5th	4.23 s	4.05 s	+0.18 s	95.74%
Snow Handling	4th	87.54 s	83.75 s	+3.79 s	95.67%

Ice

93.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	3rd	9.68 M	8.67 M	+1.01 M	89.57%
Ice Traction	2nd	4.27 s	4.14 s	+0.13 s	96.96%
Ice Handling	4th	53.92 s	51.35 s	+2.57 s	95.23%

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5^th

Hankook Winter i pike RS2

225/50 R17

• 3PMSF: no

High resistance to aquaplaning.

High noise levels, long wet braking.

Excellent aquaplaning results, but the smallest spike protrusion hampered its results on ice.

Dry

75%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	6th	47.8 M	43 M	+4.8 M	89.96%
Subj. Dry Handling	4th	3 Points	5 Points	-2 Points	60%

Wet

96.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	8th	31.4 M	28.8 M	+2.6 M	91.72%
Wet Handling	4th	43.71 s	43.18 s	+0.53 s	98.79%
Straight Aqua	1st	62.2 Km/H			100%

Snow

94.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	6th	18.1 M	16.7 M	+1.4 M	92.27%
Snow Traction	6th	4.27 s	4.05 s	+0.22 s	94.85%
Snow Handling	5th	87.93 s	83.75 s	+4.18 s	95.25%

Ice

85.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	7th	10.97 M	8.67 M	+2.3 M	79.03%
Ice Traction	5th	4.94 s	4.14 s	+0.8 s	83.81%
Ice Handling	5th	55.52 s	51.35 s	+4.17 s	92.49%

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6^th

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic

225/50 R17

• 3PMSF: no

Good driving performance in the dry, good traction and braking in the snow.

Weak lateral stability on snow and ice, high rolling resistance.

Smallest number of spikes on test at 130, which was an issue on ice. Good in the wet and dry.

Dry

86.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	3rd	46.2 M	43 M	+3.2 M	93.07%
Subj. Dry Handling	2nd	4 Points	5 Points	-1 Points	80%

Wet

97.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	2nd	29.8 M	28.8 M	+1 M	96.64%
Wet Handling	2nd	43.59 s	43.18 s	+0.41 s	99.06%
Straight Aqua	2nd	60.9 Km/H	62.2 Km/H	-1.3 Km/H	97.91%

Snow

94.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	4th	18 M	16.7 M	+1.3 M	92.78%
Snow Traction	4th	4.2 s	4.05 s	+0.15 s	96.43%
Snow Handling	7th	89.15 s	83.75 s	+5.4 s	93.94%

Ice

84.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	5th	10.87 M	8.67 M	+2.2 M	79.76%
Ice Traction	6th	5.03 s	4.14 s	+0.89 s	82.31%
Ice Handling	7th	56.63 s	51.35 s	+5.28 s	90.68%

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7^th

Bridgestone Noranza 001

225/50 R17

• 3PMSF: no

Low rolling resistance.

Long dry braking.

Acceptable grip on ice, but poor in the snow and long dry braking.

Dry

84.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	7th	48 M	43 M	+5 M	89.58%
Subj. Dry Handling	2nd	4 Points	5 Points	-1 Points	80%

Wet

95.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	4th	30.8 M	28.8 M	+2 M	93.51%
Wet Handling	3rd	43.64 s	43.18 s	+0.46 s	98.95%
Straight Aqua	5th	58.2 Km/H	62.2 Km/H	-4 Km/H	93.57%

Snow

92.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	7th	18.4 M	16.7 M	+1.7 M	90.76%
Snow Traction	7th	4.4 s	4.05 s	+0.35 s	92.05%
Snow Handling	6th	88.07 s	83.75 s	+4.32 s	95.09%

Ice

85.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	6th	10.88 M	8.67 M	+2.21 M	79.69%
Ice Traction	4th	4.88 s	4.14 s	+0.74 s	84.84%
Ice Handling	6th	55.94 s	51.35 s	+4.59 s	91.79%

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8^th

Sailun Ice Blazer WST3

225/50 R17

• 3PMSF: no

Non mentioned.

Very poor grip on snow and ice, poor handling in the dry and wet.

Not recommended. Not only poor grip, but the tires started to lose spikes in the first 80 km.

Dry

64.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	8th	48.2 M	43 M	+5.2 M	89.21%
Subj. Dry Handling	6th	2 Points	5 Points	-3 Points	40%

Wet

94.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	7th	31.3 M	28.8 M	+2.5 M	92.01%
Wet Handling	5th	44 s	43.18 s	+0.82 s	98.14%
Straight Aqua	4th	58.6 Km/H	62.2 Km/H	-3.6 Km/H	94.21%

Snow

88.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	8th	19.2 M	16.7 M	+2.5 M	86.98%
Snow Traction	8th	4.57 s	4.05 s	+0.52 s	88.62%
Snow Handling	8th	93.63 s	83.75 s	+9.88 s	89.45%

Ice

70.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	8th	13.97 M	8.67 M	+5.3 M	62.06%
Ice Traction	8th	6.58 s	4.14 s	+2.44 s	62.92%
Ice Handling	8th	60.11 s	51.35 s	+8.76 s	85.43%

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