Every year, the German publication Auto Bild selects a tire size, finds as many winter tires as possible in that size, and tests them all in wet braking. The top thirty tires proceed to snow braking, then the top twenty overall to the full winter tire test.

For the 2020 winter tire test, Auto Bild rounded up fifty one winter tires in the rather huge 245/45 R18 size, and a summer tire as reference.

This is the best overview of the winter tire market we will get all year, and make sure you come back to Tire Reviews tomorrow for the full test, where the top 20 will be put through a full range of dry, wet, snow and ice testing.

To see the all season version of this market overview, click here, and be sure to check out the Auto Bild website.

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	99 ft	Best
2Semperit Speed Grip 3	101 ft	+2 ft
RefReference Summer	103 ft	+4 ft
3Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	104 ft	+5 ft
4Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	105 ft	+6 ft
5Hankook Winter i cept evo3	106 ft	+7 ft
6Vredestein Wintrac Pro	109 ft	+10 ft
7BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	112 ft	+13 ft
8Westlake SW 608	112 ft	+13 ft
8Uniroyal MS Plus 77	112 ft	+13 ft
10Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	113 ft	+14 ft
10Kleber Krisalp HP3	113 ft	+14 ft
12Nokian WR A4	114 ft	+15 ft
12Cooper Weather Master SA2+	114 ft	+15 ft
14Goodride Z507	114 ft	+15 ft
15Apollo Aspire XP Winter	115 ft	+16 ft
16Dunlop Winter Sport 5	115 ft	+16 ft
16Barum Polaris 5	115 ft	+16 ft
16Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3	115 ft	+16 ft
16Giti GitiWinterW1	115 ft	+16 ft
20Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905	116 ft	+17 ft
21Kumho WinterCraft WS71	117 ft	+18 ft
22General Altimax Winter 3	118 ft	+19 ft
23Laufenn I Fit+	119 ft	+20 ft
24Sava Eskimo HP2	119 ft	+20 ft
24Fulda Kristall Control HP2	119 ft	+20 ft
26Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	120 ft	+21 ft
27Gislaved Euro Frost 6	121 ft	+22 ft
28Toyo Snowprox S954	121 ft	+22 ft
28Falken Eurowinter HS01	121 ft	+22 ft
28Platin RP 60	121 ft	+22 ft
31Riken Riken Snow	122 ft	+23 ft
32Firestone Winterhawk 3	124 ft	+25 ft
33GT Radial Winterpro HP	126 ft	+27 ft
34Fortuna Winter Max A1	126 ft	+27 ft
35Zeetex WH 1000	127 ft	+28 ft
36Infinity Ecozen	128 ft	+29 ft
37Aeolus SnowACE2 HP	128 ft	+29 ft
38Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	129 ft	+30 ft
39Atlas Polarbear 2	130 ft	+31 ft
40Radar Dimax Alpine	133 ft	+34 ft
41Haida HD617	133 ft	+34 ft
42Duraturn Mozzo Winter	134 ft	+35 ft
43Nordexx Wintersafe	135 ft	+36 ft
44Imperial Snowdragon 3	136 ft	+37 ft
44Wanli Snowgrip S1083	136 ft	+37 ft
46Momo North Pole W2	137 ft	+38 ft
47Starmaxx Ice Gripper W850	139 ft	+40 ft
48Petlas Snow Master W651	141 ft	+42 ft

The difference between best and worst was 42.2% (42 ft ≈ 2.8 Car Lengths).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Alpin 5	80 ft	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	80 ft	0 ft
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	80 ft	0 ft
4Kleber Krisalp HP3	81 ft	+1 ft
4BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2	81 ft	+1 ft
6General Altimax Winter 3	81 ft	+1 ft
7Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+	81 ft	+1 ft
7Laufenn I Fit+	81 ft	+1 ft
9Barum Polaris 5	82 ft	+2 ft
9Vredestein Wintrac Pro	82 ft	+2 ft
11Hankook Winter i cept evo3	82 ft	+2 ft
11Dunlop Winter Sport 5	82 ft	+2 ft
11Uniroyal MS Plus 77	82 ft	+2 ft
14Sava Eskimo HP2	82 ft	+2 ft
14Nexen WinGuard Sport 2	82 ft	+2 ft
16Platin RP 60	83 ft	+3 ft
16Continental WinterContact TS 850 P	83 ft	+3 ft
18Apollo Aspire XP Winter	83 ft	+3 ft
19Giti GitiWinterW1	83 ft	+3 ft
20Nokian WR A4	84 ft	+4 ft
21Gislaved Euro Frost 6	85 ft	+5 ft
21Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3	85 ft	+5 ft
23Semperit Speed Grip 3	85 ft	+5 ft
24Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905	86 ft	+6 ft
24Cooper Weather Master SA2+	86 ft	+6 ft
26Toyo Snowprox S954	88 ft	+8 ft
27Falken Eurowinter HS01	89 ft	+9 ft
27Goodride Z507	89 ft	+9 ft
29Kumho WinterCraft WS71	92 ft	+12 ft
29Westlake SW 608	92 ft	+12 ft

The difference between best and worst was 15.2% (12 ft ≈ 0.8 Car Lengths).

Results

Wet100%

Snow99.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	1^st / 48	99 ft	Best in this discipline
Snow BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 30	80 ft	0 ft

Wet95%

Snow100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	4^th / 48	105 ft	+6 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	1^st / 30	80 ft	Best in this discipline

Wet98.4%

Snow93.5%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 48	101 ft	+2 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	23^rd / 30	85 ft	+5 ft

Wet95.3%

Snow96.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 48	104 ft	+5 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	16^th / 30	83 ft	+3 ft

Wet93.8%

Snow97.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	5^th / 48	106 ft	+7 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	11^th / 30	82 ft	+2 ft

Wet91.3%

Snow97.6%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	6^th / 48	109 ft	+10 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	9^th / 30	82 ft	+2 ft

Wet88.9%

Snow98.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	7^th / 48	112 ft	+13 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	4^th / 30	81 ft	+1 ft

Wet88.1%

Snow98.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	10^th / 48	113 ft	+14 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	4^th / 30	81 ft	+1 ft

Wet88.1%

Snow98%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	10^th / 48	113 ft	+14 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	7^th / 30	81 ft	+1 ft

Wet88.6%

Snow97.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	8^th / 48	112 ft	+13 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	11^th / 30	82 ft	+2 ft

Wet86.1%

Snow97.6%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	16^th / 48	115 ft	+16 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	9^th / 30	82 ft	+2 ft

Wet87.6%

Snow95.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	12^th / 48	114 ft	+15 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	20^th / 30	84 ft	+4 ft

Wet86.1%

Snow97.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	16^th / 48	115 ft	+16 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	11^th / 30	82 ft	+2 ft

Wet86.3%

Snow96.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	15^th / 48	115 ft	+16 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	18^th / 30	83 ft	+3 ft

Wet86.1%

Snow95.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	16^th / 48	115 ft	+16 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	19^th / 30	83 ft	+3 ft

Wet87.6%

Snow93.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	12^th / 48	114 ft	+15 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	24^th / 30	86 ft	+6 ft

Wet84.2%

Snow98.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	22^nd / 48	118 ft	+19 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	6^th / 30	81 ft	+1 ft

Wet83.5%

Snow99.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	24^th / 48	119 ft	+20 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 30	80 ft	0 ft

Wet83.7%

Snow98%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	23^rd / 48	119 ft	+20 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	7^th / 30	81 ft	+1 ft

Wet86.1%

Snow94.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	16^th / 48	115 ft	+16 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	21^st / 30	85 ft	+5 ft

Wet83.5%

Snow96.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	24^th / 48	119 ft	+20 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	14^th / 30	82 ft	+2 ft

Wet85.6%

Snow93.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	20^th / 48	116 ft	+17 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	24^th / 30	86 ft	+6 ft

Wet83%

Snow96.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	26^th / 48	120 ft	+21 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	14^th / 30	82 ft	+2 ft

Wet87.3%

Snow90%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	14^th / 48	114 ft	+15 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	27^th / 30	89 ft	+9 ft

Wet81.9%

Snow96.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	28^th / 48	121 ft	+22 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	16^th / 30	83 ft	+3 ft

Wet88.6%

Snow86.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	8^th / 48	112 ft	+13 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	29^th / 30	92 ft	+12 ft

Wet82.1%

Snow94.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	27^th / 48	121 ft	+22 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	21^st / 30	85 ft	+5 ft

Wet84.9%

Snow86.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	21^st / 48	117 ft	+18 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	29^th / 30	92 ft	+12 ft

Wet81.9%

Snow90.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	28^th / 48	121 ft	+22 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	26^th / 30	88 ft	+8 ft

Wet81.9%

Snow90%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (2)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	28^th / 48	121 ft	+22 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better	27^th / 30	89 ft	+9 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	31^st / 48	122 ft	+23 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	32^nd / 48	124 ft	+25 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	33^rd / 48	126 ft	+27 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	34^th / 48	126 ft	+27 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	35^th / 48	127 ft	+28 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	36^th / 48	128 ft	+29 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	37^th / 48	128 ft	+29 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	38^th / 48	129 ft	+30 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	39^th / 48	130 ft	+31 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	40^th / 48	133 ft	+34 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	41^st / 48	133 ft	+34 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	42^nd / 48	134 ft	+35 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	43^rd / 48	135 ft	+36 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	44^th / 48	136 ft	+37 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	44^th / 48	136 ft	+37 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	46^th / 48	137 ft	+38 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	47^th / 48	139 ft	+40 ft

All discipline results (1)

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
Wet BrakingLower is better	48^th / 48	141 ft	+42 ft

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The evidence behind the verdict

Wet

Snow

Results

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