Test source Auto Express

2020 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

Joint test winnersBridgestone Blizzak LM005 Continental WinterContact TS 870

For the 2020 Auto Express winter tire test, Auto Express tested nine 205/55 R16 winter tires using a VW Golf.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson

October 14, 2020 4 min read Updated January 8, 2025

Tire shortlist Read the test

Tires tested: 9
Tested size: 205/55 R16

At a glance

Tire shortlist

9 Tires tested

Published finishing positions, with the strengths and considerations from this test. Owner reviews cover other sizes and driving conditions.

Joint1^st

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

+Best in wet in the wet braking and handling, best in dry braking, low rolling resistance.

−Worst snow performance, but still within 5% of best.

115 owner reviews Test Results

Joint1^st

Continental WinterContact TS 870

+Best in snow and wet handling, excellent low rolling resistance, low noise.

−Average dry braking.

26 owner reviews Test Results

2^nd

Hankook Winter i cept RS2

+Excellent wet grip, high aquaplaning resistance, good in the snw.

−High rolling resistance, increased noise.

50 owner reviews Test Results

3^rd

Michelin Alpin 6

+Good wet performance, good snow braking.

−Average snow handling.

35 owner reviews Test Results

4^th

Pirelli Cinturato Winter

+Best in snow handling and a good snow performance overall.

−Average wet performance, high rolling resistance.

7 owner reviews Test Results

5^th

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+

+Excellent in snow, best curved aquaplaning resistance, low noise.

−Average in the wet and dry.

20 owner reviews Test Results

6^th

Falken Eurowinter HS01

+Good dry braking, low noise.

−Poor performance in the snow.

23 owner reviews Test Results

7^th

Dunlop Winter Sport 5

+Good in the snow, quietest tire on test, low rolling resistance.

−Long dry and wet braking, poor wet handling.

47 owner reviews Test Results

8^th

Nokian WR Snowproof

+Lowest fuel use on test by some margin, good dry braking.

−Poor performance in all wet tests, highest levels of cabin noise.

4 owner reviews Test Results

Tire shortlist

Compare selected tires

2020 Auto Express Winter Tire Test · 205/55 R16

Tire	Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	Continental WinterContact TS 870	Hankook Winter i cept RS2	Michelin Alpin 6	Pirelli Cinturato Winter	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	Falken Eurowinter HS01	Dunlop Winter Sport 5	Nokian WR Snowproof
Position	Joint 1^st	Joint 1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th	6^th	7^th	8^th
Keep researching	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results

Explore the complete results →

The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

For the 2020 Auto Express winter tire test, Auto Express tested nine 205/55 R16 winter tires using a VW Golf.

As usual we'll keep commentary to a minimum, instead encouraging you to head over to the Auto Express website to check out the full test, however there is one important caveat to note.

The new Continental WinterContact TS870 was included in this test, but as the tire launch has been delayed until winter 2021 instead of 2020, Auto Express didn't rank it in their final results.

If Auto Express had included it, the new Continental TS870 would have won the test overall, narrowly beating the excellent Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 thanks to a near flawless performance.

2021 might be another Continental year, but for winter 2020, it looks like the Bridgestone is still the tire to have for the UK winters, thanks to an excellent dry and wet performance.

Results

An excellent tire for English winters where you're likely to see more wet weather than snow.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	100
Wet	499.4
Snow	285.8
Rolling Resistance	87.6
Noise	99.8
Overall	100

Total: 1172.6

When the new TS870 goes on sale in 2021 it could be the new benchmark.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	93.8
Wet	490
Snow	299.9
Rolling Resistance	101.1
Noise	100.7
Overall	101.6

Total: 1187.1

A return to form for the I*Cept RS2, largely thanks to a strong wet performance.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	96.2
Wet	495
Snow	294.4
Rolling Resistance	79.6
Noise	98.1
Overall	99.3

Total: 1162.6

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	96.2
Wet	481.5
Snow	291.9
Rolling Resistance	87.6
Noise	98.9
Overall	98.4

Total: 1154.5

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	94.9
Wet	473.6
Snow	299.1
Rolling Resistance	78
Noise	99.7
Overall	98.2

Total: 1143.5

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	93.7
Wet	486.7
Snow	298.5
Rolling Resistance	87.5
Noise	99.7
Overall	98.1

Total: 1164.2

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	98.9
Wet	471.7
Snow	286.4
Rolling Resistance	82.6
Noise	99.7
Overall	98

Total: 1137.3

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	92.6
Wet	465.9
Snow	297.2
Rolling Resistance	88
Noise	100
Overall	97.4

Total: 1141.1

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	96.4
Wet	450.2
Snow	290.8
Rolling Resistance	100
Noise	97.6
Overall	97.2

Total: 1132.2

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2020 Auto Express Winter Tire Test