Test Charts / Auto Zeitung

2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test

Compare each discipline in the tested size. See the measured result, position and gap to the best tire, then read the verdict for the trade-offs behind the finishing order.

Tested size: 225/45 R17
Tires tested: 8
Disciplines: 15

Read the measurements, not just the rank

Lower is better for braking distances and lap times; higher is better for subjective scores and aquaplaning speed. Bars start at zero. Read the gap alongside the position: adjacent tires can be separated by very different margins.

Positions and gaps always refer to the full test field within each group. Selecting tires does not recalculate rankings or change the best-in-test benchmark.

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Nokian Snowproof P	148 ft	Best	0 mph
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	149 ft	+1 ft	8 mph
3Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	150 ft	+2 ft	11 mph
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	151 ft	+3 ft	12 mph
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	152 ft	+4 ft	13 mph
6Michelin Alpin 6	152 ft	+4 ft	14 mph
7Fulda Kristall Control HP2	158 ft	+10 ft	20 mph
8Giti GitiWinterW2	161 ft	+13 ft	23 mph

The difference between best and worst was 8.9% (13 ft ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Giti GitiWinterW2 would still be travelling at 23 mph when the Nokian Snowproof P had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	63.1 s	Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	63.3 s	+0.20 s
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro	63.9 s	+0.80 s
3Nokian Snowproof P	63.9 s	+0.80 s
5Giti GitiWinterW2	64.1 s	+1.00 s
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	64.3 s	+1.20 s
7Fulda Kristall Control HP2	64.5 s	+1.40 s
7Michelin Alpin 6	64.5 s	+1.40 s

All the tires in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.

Subj. Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	30 Points	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	29 Points	-1.00 Points
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro	27 Points	-3.00 Points
3Nokian Snowproof P	27 Points	-3.00 Points
5Giti GitiWinterW2	26 Points	-4.00 Points
6Michelin Alpin 6	24 Points	-6.00 Points
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	23 Points	-7.00 Points
8Fulda Kristall Control HP2	22 Points	-8.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 26.7% (8 Points).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	165 ft	Best	0 mph
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	170 ft	+5 ft	14 mph
3Michelin Alpin 6	175 ft	+10 ft	19 mph
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro	176 ft	+11 ft	20 mph
5Nokian Snowproof P	182 ft	+17 ft	24 mph
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	183 ft	+18 ft	25 mph
7Fulda Kristall Control HP2	194 ft	+29 ft	31 mph
8Giti GitiWinterW2	201 ft	+36 ft	34 mph

The difference between best and worst was 22.1% (36 ft ≈ 2.5 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Giti GitiWinterW2 would still be travelling at 34 mph when the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	89.7 s	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	90.2 s	+0.50 s
3Michelin Alpin 6	91.2 s	+1.50 s
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro	92.2 s	+2.50 s
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	92.5 s	+2.80 s
6Fulda Kristall Control HP2	95 s	+5.30 s
7Nokian Snowproof P	95.5 s	+5.80 s
8Giti GitiWinterW2	96.3 s	+6.60 s

The difference between best and worst was 7.4% (6.6 s).

Subj. Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	45 Points	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	42 Points	-3.00 Points
3Michelin Alpin 6	37 Points	-8.00 Points
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	29 Points	-16.00 Points
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	26 Points	-19.00 Points
6Fulda Kristall Control HP2	21 Points	-24.00 Points
7Nokian Snowproof P	19 Points	-26.00 Points
8Giti GitiWinterW2	17 Points	-28.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 62.2% (28 Points).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	46.7 mph	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	46.2 mph	-0.5 mph
3Giti GitiWinterW2	45.9 mph	-0.8 mph
4Michelin Alpin 6	45.6 mph	-1.1 mph
5Fulda Kristall Control HP2	45.2 mph	-1.5 mph
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	45.1 mph	-1.6 mph
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	44.4 mph	-2.3 mph
8Nokian Snowproof P	40.3 mph	-6.4 mph

The difference between best and worst was 13.8% (6.4 mph).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	9.7 ft/s²	Best
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	9.6 ft/s²	-0.1 ft/s²
2Giti GitiWinterW2	9.6 ft/s²	-0.1 ft/s²
4Michelin Alpin 6	9.4 ft/s²	-0.3 ft/s²
5Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	9.2 ft/s²	-0.5 ft/s²
6Vredestein Wintrac Pro	8.8 ft/s²	-0.9 ft/s²
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	8.7 ft/s²	-1.0 ft/s²
8Nokian Snowproof P	5.3 ft/s²	-4.4 ft/s²

The difference between best and worst was 45.6% (4.4 ft/s²).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	85 ft	Best	0 mph
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	88 ft	+3 ft	13 mph
2Giti GitiWinterW2	88 ft	+3 ft	13 mph
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro	89 ft	+4 ft	15 mph
4Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	89 ft	+4 ft	15 mph
4Nokian Snowproof P	89 ft	+4 ft	15 mph
7Michelin Alpin 6	90 ft	+5 ft	17 mph
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	92 ft	+7 ft	22 mph

The difference between best and worst was 8.1% (7 ft ≈ 0.5 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 would still be travelling at 22 mph when the Continental WinterContact TS 870 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Snow Traction
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Alpin 6	625 lbf	Best
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	618 lbf	-7 lbf
3Giti GitiWinterW2	615 lbf	-10 lbf
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	610 lbf	-15 lbf
5Vredestein Wintrac Pro	608 lbf	-17 lbf
5Nokian Snowproof P	608 lbf	-17 lbf
7Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	603 lbf	-22 lbf
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	598 lbf	-27 lbf

The difference between best and worst was 4.3% (27 lbf).

Snow Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	81.8 s	Best
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	82.9 s	+1.10 s
2Michelin Alpin 6	82.9 s	+1.10 s
4Nokian Snowproof P	83.2 s	+1.40 s
5Giti GitiWinterW2	83.9 s	+2.10 s
6Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	84.4 s	+2.60 s
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	84.7 s	+2.90 s
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	85.2 s	+3.40 s

The difference between best and worst was 4.2% (3.4 s).

Subj. Snow Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	30 Points	Best
2Fulda Kristall Control HP2	27 Points	-3.00 Points
3Nokian Snowproof P	23 Points	-7.00 Points
4Michelin Alpin 6	22 Points	-8.00 Points
5Giti GitiWinterW2	21 Points	-9.00 Points
6Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	20 Points	-10.00 Points
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	17 Points	-13.00 Points
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	14 Points	-16.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 53.3% (16 Points).

Comfort

Subj. Comfort
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Nokian Snowproof P	8 Points	Best
2Vredestein Wintrac Pro	7 Points	-1.00 Points
2Michelin Alpin 6	7 Points	-1.00 Points
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	7 Points	-1.00 Points
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	7 Points	-1.00 Points
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	7 Points	-1.00 Points
2Giti GitiWinterW2	7 Points	-1.00 Points
8Fulda Kristall Control HP2	6 Points	-2.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 25% (2 Points).

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Nokian Snowproof P	70 dB	Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	71 dB	+1.00 dB
2Giti GitiWinterW2	71 dB	+1.00 dB
4Michelin Alpin 6	72 dB	+2.00 dB
4Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	72 dB	+2.00 dB
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	72 dB	+2.00 dB
7Fulda Kristall Control HP2	73 dB	+3.00 dB
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	73 dB	+3.00 dB

The difference between best and worst was 4.3% (3 dB).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Nokian Snowproof P	7.3 kg/t	Best	$0
2Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	8 kg/t	+0.70 kg/t	$28
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	8.1 kg/t	+0.80 kg/t	$32
4Fulda Kristall Control HP2	8.5 kg/t	+1.20 kg/t	$48
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	8.6 kg/t	+1.30 kg/t	$52
6Michelin Alpin 6	8.8 kg/t	+1.50 kg/t	$60
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro	9.1 kg/t	+1.80 kg/t	$72
8Giti GitiWinterW2	9.3 kg/t	+2.00 kg/t	$81

The difference between best and worst was 27.4% (2 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Giti GitiWinterW2 uses about 22 gal ($81) more fuel than the Nokian Snowproof P.

Adjust the assumptions

Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions. These calculators use the full test field, independently of your tire selection above.

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.