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2022 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15

Joint test winnersContinental WinterContact TS 870 Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ Semperit Speed Grip 5

For 2022, the excellent German test organization ADAC have tested 15 winter tires in 185/65 R15 and 15 crossover SUV winter tires in 215/60 R16.The results below are for the 185/65 R15 test, where we have no real surprises in the overall…

Tires tested
15
Tested size
185/65 R15

At a glance

Tire shortlist

15 Tires tested

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

Joint1st

Continental WinterContact TS 870

+Very balanced, good on all surfaces, low fuel consumption and wear.

−None mentioned.

Joint1st

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

+Very balanced, good on all surfaces, particularly good on wet roads (top mark), low fuel consumption.

−None mentioned.

Joint1st

Semperit Speed Grip 5

+Balanced, good on all surfaces, very low fuel consumption (top mark), low wear.

−None mentioned.

4th

Michelin Alpin 6

+Balanced, good on all surfaces, low fuel consumption, particularly low wear (top mark).

−None mentioned.

Joint5th

BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

+Good on snow and ice, low wear.

−Weaknesses on dry and wet roads (devaluation.)

Joint5th

Vredestein Wintrac

+Good on dry and wet roads, good on ice.

−Weaknesses on Snow (Devaluation.)

Joint7th

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

+Particularly good in the wet (top mark), good on dry roads and snow, low fuel consumption.

−High wear (devaluation.)

Joint7th

Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6

+Particularly good on dry roads (top mark), good in the wet.

−Weaknesses on snow and ice, high fuel consumption and wear (devaluation.)

9th

Firestone Winterhawk 4

+Good on wet roads, snow and ice, low fuel consumption (top marks.)

−Weaknesses on dry roads (devaluation.)

10th

Nexen Winguard Snow G3

+Good on wet roads and ice.

−Weaknesses on dry roads and snow (devaluation.)

11th

Avon WT7

+Good properties on wet roads, good properties on ice.

−Weaknesses on dry roads, weak in the snow, weak in the wear test.

12th

Dunlop Winter Response 2

+Good on wet roads, ice and snow (top mark), low fuel consumption.

−Significant weaknesses on dry roads (devaluation.)

13th

Fulda Kristall Montero 3

+Particularly low wear (top mark), low fuel consumption.

−Weaknesses on dry and wet roads (devaluation.)

14th

Barum Polaris 5

+Low fuel consumption and wear, good on snow.

−Weaknesses on ice, wet and dry roads (devaluation.)

15th

Imperial Snowdragon HP

+Particularly low wear (top mark), good on dry roads and ice.

−Significant weaknesses on snow and wet roads (devaluation.)

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2022 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15

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The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

For 2022, the excellent German test organization ADAC have tested 15 winter tires in 185/65 R15 and 15 crossover SUV winter tires in 215/60 R16.

The results below are for the 185/65 R15 test, where we have no real surprises in the overall results. 

Continental, Goodyear, Semperit (a Continental brand) and Michelin were at the front of the test, the Vredestein Wintrac once again performs well, and the Bridgestone LM005 proves to be the best in the dry and wet, and have the lowest fuel consumption as usual.

Results

Joint 1st

Continental WinterContact TS 870

185/65 R15
Continental WinterContact TS 870
Although the Continental WinterContact TS 870 does not score top marks in any of the main tests, it still impresses with solid results in all tests. This makes it one of the most balanced tires in the test, which is why it is at the top of the table together with two other tire models and thus secures the rating "particularly recommendable".
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry7.4
Wet7.8
Snow7.6
Ice7
Rolling Resistance8.4
Noise6
Wear8
Overall7.6

Total: 59.8

Joint 1st

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

185/65 R15
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
The GOODYEAR UltraGrip 9+ convinces in all tests and even earns the top mark in the wet. Overall, it secures the rating "particularly recommended".
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry7.4
Wet10
Snow7
Ice7.4
Rolling Resistance8
Noise6.6
Wear7
Overall7.6

Total: 61

Joint 1st

Semperit Speed Grip 5

185/65 R15
Semperit Speed Grip 5
The SEMPERIT Speed-Grip 5 secured a (still) good rating in all the main tests and thus ultimately a place on the podium and the rating "particularly recommended".
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry7
Wet7.4
Snow8
Ice7.4
Rolling Resistance8.6
Noise6.8
Wear8
Overall7.6

Total: 60.8

4th

Michelin Alpin 6

185/65 R15
Michelin Alpin 6
The MICHELIN Alpin 6 secured a (still) good rating in all the main tests and thus ultimately a place on the winner's podium and the rating "particularly recommended".
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry7
Wet7.4
Snow7.2
Ice7.4
Rolling Resistance7.8
Noise7
Wear9
Overall7.4

Total: 60.2

Joint 5th

BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2

185/65 R15
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
The BFGOODRICH G-Force Winter 2 just missed out on a good overall rating and is therefore "recommended". However, due to slight weaknesses on dry and wet roads, he did not get more than a satisfactory result in these tests, which led to the downgrading of the overall grade.
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry6.8
Wet6.6
Snow8
Ice7
Rolling Resistance7.2
Noise6.6
Wear8
Overall6.6

Total: 56.8

Joint 5th

Vredestein Wintrac

185/65 R15
Vredestein Wintrac
The VREDESTEIN Wintrac convinces in the dry as well as in the wet and in wear. However, it shows slight weaknesses on snow, which ultimately led to the devaluation of the overall grade and the rating "recommended".
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry7.2
Wet7.8
Snow6.6
Ice7.2
Rolling Resistance7.2
Noise6.4
Wear7
Overall6.6

Total: 56

Joint 7th

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

185/65 R15
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
The performance of the BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK LM005, both on ice and in wear, is not sufficient to achieve a good overall result. Its performance is rated as satisfactory in both disciplines compared to the test field - which also leads to the devaluation of the overall rating. So the statement for the tire is: "recommended".
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry8.2
Wet7.6
Snow6.2
Ice6.6
Rolling Resistance6
Noise6.8
Wear6
Overall6

Total: 53.4

Joint 7th

Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6

185/65 R15
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
The MAXXIS Premitra Snow WP6 achieves good results on dry and wet roads. In snow, on ice, in terms of consumption and wear and tear, however, it does not get beyond a satisfactory rating. This leads to the devaluation of the overall grade. As a result, the MAXXIS can only be "recommended" overall.
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry7.8
Wet8.6
Snow7.2
Ice6.4
Rolling Resistance8.2
Noise6.2
Wear6
Overall6

Total: 56.4

9th

Firestone Winterhawk 4

185/65 R15
Firestone Winterhawk 4
Even if the Firestone WINTERHAWK 4 achieves good results in the wet, on snow and ice, as well as in terms of fuel consumption and wear, its performance in the dry is no longer sufficient for a good rating. At the same time, its satisfactory performance in the dry led to a devaluation of the overall rating - the Firestone was thus classified as "recommended".
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry5.6
Wet8
Snow7.6
Ice7.8
Rolling Resistance8.6
Noise6.4
Wear7
Overall5.6

Total: 56.6

10th

Nexen Winguard Snow G3

185/65 R15
Nexen Winguard Snow G3
The NEXEN Winguard Snow'G3 has good and bad. In the dry and on the snowy road, he did not get more than a satisfactory rating, which led to the downgrading of the overall rating. It gets good ratings on wet and polished icy surfaces, as well as in terms of fuel consumption and wear. With the NEXEN Winguard Snow'G3, it should be noted that the tire has had a compound change from week 3321 of manufacture, which leads to a change in performance. The tests were largely carried out with DOT 3321 tires.
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry5.4
Wet7
Snow5.4
Ice7.8
Rolling Resistance7.6
Noise7
Wear7
Overall5.4

Total: 52.6

11th

Avon WT7

185/65 R15
Avon WT7
The AVON WT7 Snow just barely achieves a satisfactory rating in the sum of its properties. It shows slight weaknesses in the dry and clear weaknesses in the snow. In terms of wear and tear, it ends up at the end of the test field by a clear margin. It doesn't help that the AVON gets a good rating on wet and polished icy roads as well as in terms of fuel consumption.
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry6.2
Wet7
Snow5
Ice7.2
Rolling Resistance7.4
Noise6
Wear5
Overall5

Total: 48.8

12th

Dunlop Winter Response 2

185/65 R15
Dunlop Winter Response 2
In the current test, the DUNLOP Winter Response 2 cannot match the result of the previous year (195/65 R15). In the dry, it does not show the usual/expected performance and is downgraded to sufficient in the overall rating due to the only moderate driving characteristics. Even if the Dunlop convinces in the other criteria such as in the wet, in the snow or in terms of wear and tear, it still only receives the rating "conditionally recommended" due to its dry properties.
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry4.8
Wet8.4
Snow8.4
Ice7
Rolling Resistance8.2
Noise6.6
Wear8
Overall4.8

Total: 56.2

13th

Fulda Kristall Montero 3

185/65 R15
Fulda Kristall Montero 3
The FULDA Kristall Montero 3 shows weaknesses in the dry and in the wet, in both criteria it is rated as sufficient. Despite the good snow and ice properties, the recommendation for the Kristall Montero 3 is only "conditionally recommended".
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry4.8
Wet4.6
Snow8.2
Ice7.4
Rolling Resistance8
Noise6.2
Wear9
Overall4.6

Total: 52.8

14th

Barum Polaris 5

185/65 R15
Barum Polaris 5
The BARUM Polaris 5 shows weaknesses in dry, wet and on ice. While it is still rated as satisfactory in the wet and on ice, it does not get more than a sufficient result in the dry. Despite the good snow and wear properties, the recommendation for the POLARIS 5 is only "conditionally recommended".
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry4.2
Wet5.6
Snow7.2
Ice6.4
Rolling Resistance8
Noise6
Wear8
Overall4.2

Total: 49.6

15th

Imperial Snowdragon HP

185/65 R15
Imperial Snowdragon HP
The performance of the IMPERIAL Snowdragon HP in the wet is classified as poor compared to the test field, which also leads to the downgrading of the overall rating. But even on snow, the IMPERIAL does not get more than an adequate rating. The tire is therefore considered "not recommended". The good results in the dry or even when worn cannot hide this.
All discipline results (8)
TestResult
Dry7.8
Wet1.4
Snow4
Ice7.4
Rolling Resistance7.4
Noise6.2
Wear9
Overall1.4

Total: 44.6

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Discussion

2 comments
  1. Pedro Neves archived

    At ADAC's website the tire that came last the WANLI SW611. It was actually the best on ice by a great margin, and not bad at all in the snow. Unfortunately it seems to be very scary in wet handling. I believe you missed it and the tire isn't listed at Tire Reviews' Wanli's tires page as well.
    In order to see Wanli's tire at ADAC's webpage tire test you shouldn't select english translated page so that then you'll be able to click twice on the box at the bottom of the tire's list.
    The Bridgestone had the same wet grade as Goodyear's, so it deserves the same grade 10 but, since Bridgestone had the best braking performance, maybe it should be considered the best in the wet...

    #8610
    1. TireReviews Pedro Neves archived

      Thanks, I must have missed it on the ADAC site as i'd have added it to the Tire Reviews database if I'd seen it. I've added it to the site.

      No surprise that a cheap winter tire is bad in the wet :) Not one for Central Europe for sure.

      #8615
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