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2023 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test

Jonathan Benson
Tested and written by Jonathan Benson
13 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the 2023 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test, displaying how each tire performed across all test categories. The spider chart below provides a complete overview of performance, where one hundred percent represents the best performance in each category. The larger the area covered by each tire's plot, the better its overall performance.
How to read these charts: For each test category, data is presented relative to the best performing tire. The direction indicates whether lower or higher values are better - pay close attention to this when interpreting results.

Performance Overview

This radar chart shows relative performance across all test categories, with 100% representing the best performance in each category. Reference tires may have gaps where data is not available.

Reference Tires: Reference tires are highlighted with a yellow background and are included as benchmarks rather than competitive entries.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
Giti GitiWinterW2
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
Leao Winter Defender UHP
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 (Reference)
Hankook Ventus Prime 4 (Reference)

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Spread: 10.97 M (31.9%) | Avg: 42.12 M

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 with a result of 41.22 M. The difference between best and worst was 9.1%. The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 [reference tire] was 16.6% better than the best competitive tire.
  1. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    34.39 M
  2. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    41.08 M
  3. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    41.22 M
  4. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    41.64 M
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    42.54 M
  6. Giti GitiWinterW2
    42.66 M
  7. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    42.66 M
  8. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    42.74 M
  9. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    42.97 M
  10. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    43.1 M
  11. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    43.49 M
  12. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    43.65 M
  13. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    45.36 M

Dry Handling (s)

Spread: 3.30 s (4.7%) | Avg: 71.62 s

Dry handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 with a result of 70.81 s. The difference between best and worst was 3.3%. The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 [reference tire] was 1.2% better than the best competitive tire.
  1. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    69.94 s
  2. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    70.81 s
  3. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    71.25 s
  4. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    71.4 s
  5. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    71.45 s
  6. Giti GitiWinterW2
    71.59 s
  7. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    71.68 s
  8. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    71.84 s
  9. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    71.86 s
  10. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    71.91 s
  11. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    72 s
  12. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    72.06 s
  13. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    73.24 s

Subj. Dry Handling ( Points)

Spread: 8.00 Points (8%) | Avg: 97.08 Points

Subjective Dry Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 with a result of 100 Points. The difference between best and worst was 8%.
  1. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    100 Points
  2. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    100 Points
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    100 Points
  4. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    98 Points
  5. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    98 Points
  6. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    98 Points
  7. Giti GitiWinterW2
    98 Points
  8. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    98 Points
  9. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    95 Points
  10. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    95 Points
  11. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    95 Points
  12. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    95 Points
  13. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    92 Points

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Spread: 10.42 M (42.1%) | Avg: 28.83 M

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 with a result of 27.28 M. The difference between best and worst was 22.4%. The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 [reference tire] was 9.3% better than the best competitive tire.
  1. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    24.74 M
  2. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    27.28 M
  3. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    27.74 M
  4. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    27.83 M
  5. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    27.94 M
  6. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    28.45 M
  7. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    28.49 M
  8. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    28.5 M
  9. Giti GitiWinterW2
    28.84 M
  10. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    29.43 M
  11. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    29.58 M
  12. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    30.8 M
  13. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    35.16 M

Wet Handling (s)

Spread: 9.72 s (17.3%) | Avg: 58.70 s

Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 with a result of 56.33 s. The difference between best and worst was 14.7%. The best competitive tire was 0.9% better than Hankook Ventus Prime 4 [reference tire].
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    56.33 s
  2. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    56.87 s
  3. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    57.53 s
  4. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    57.97 s
  5. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    57.97 s
  6. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    58.01 s
  7. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    58.09 s
  8. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    58.15 s
  9. Giti GitiWinterW2
    58.2 s
  10. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    58.36 s
  11. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    59.38 s
  12. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    60.19 s
  13. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    66.05 s

Subj. Wet Handling ( Points)

Spread: 20.00 Points (20%) | Avg: 95.62 Points

Subjective Wet Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 with a result of 100 Points. The difference between best and worst was 20%. The best competitive tire was 2% better than Hankook Ventus Prime 4 [reference tire].
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    100 Points
  2. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    98 Points
  3. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    98 Points
  4. Giti GitiWinterW2
    98 Points
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    98 Points
  6. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    98 Points
  7. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    98 Points
  8. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    98 Points
  9. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    95 Points
  10. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    95 Points
  11. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    95 Points
  12. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    92 Points
  13. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    80 Points

Straight Aqua (Km/H)

Spread: 8.99 Km/H (9%) | Avg: 94.56 Km/H

Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 with a result of 96.81 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 5.9%. The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 [reference tire] was 3.4% better than the best competitive tire.
  1. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    100.07 Km/H
  2. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    96.81 Km/H
  3. Giti GitiWinterW2
    96.03 Km/H
  4. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    95.24 Km/H
  5. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    95.05 Km/H
  6. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    94.96 Km/H
  7. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    94.7 Km/H
  8. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    93.89 Km/H
  9. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    93.63 Km/H
  10. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    93.3 Km/H
  11. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    92.97 Km/H
  12. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    91.52 Km/H
  13. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    91.08 Km/H

Snow Performance Overview

Snow Braking (M)

Spread: 20.53 M (114.5%) | Avg: 20.29 M

Snow braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Hankook Winter i cept evo3 with a result of 17.93 M. The difference between best and worst was 14.5%. The best competitive tire was 3.9% better than Hankook Kinergy 4S2 [reference tire].
  1. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    17.93 M
  2. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    17.97 M
  3. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    18.26 M
  4. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    18.38 M
  5. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    18.57 M
  6. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    18.59 M
  7. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    18.65 M
  8. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    18.76 M
  9. Giti GitiWinterW2
    18.94 M
  10. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    19.05 M
  11. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    19.23 M
  12. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    20.965 M
  13. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    38.46 M

Snow Traction (s)

Spread: 8.70 s (157%) | Avg: 6.51 s

Snow acceleration time (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 with a result of 5.54 s. The difference between best and worst was 9.9%. The best competitive tire was 5.8% better than Hankook Kinergy 4S2 [reference tire].
  1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    5.54 s
  2. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    5.65 s
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    5.73 s
  4. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    5.76 s
  5. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    5.79 s
  6. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    5.88 s
  7. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    5.91 s
  8. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    5.95 s
  9. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    5.98 s
  10. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    5.98 s
  11. Giti GitiWinterW2
    6.09 s
  12. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    6.15 s
  13. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    14.24 s

Snow Handling (s)

Spread: 37.92 s (45%) | Avg: 89.55 s

Snow handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 with a result of 84.26 s. The difference between best and worst was 7.1%. The best competitive tire was 3.3% better than Hankook Kinergy 4S2 [reference tire].
  1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    84.26 s
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    84.82 s
  3. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    85 s
  4. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    85.24 s
  5. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    86.32 s
  6. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    86.63 s
  7. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    86.79 s
  8. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    87.12 s
  9. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    87.61 s
  10. Giti GitiWinterW2
    87.61 s
  11. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    89.95 s
  12. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    90.66 s
  13. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    122.18 s

Subj. Snow Handling ( Points)

Spread: 50.00 Points (50%) | Avg: 90.00 Points

Subjective Snow Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 with a result of 100 Points. The difference between best and worst was 10%. The best competitive tire was 8.7% better than Hankook Kinergy 4S2 [reference tire].
  1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    100 Points
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    95 Points
  3. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    95 Points
  4. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    95 Points
  5. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    95 Points
  6. Giti GitiWinterW2
    92 Points
  7. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    92 Points
  8. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    92 Points
  9. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    92 Points
  10. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    92 Points
  11. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    90 Points
  12. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    90 Points
  13. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    50 Points

Comfort Performance Overview

Subj. Comfort ( Points)

Spread: 10.00 Points (10%) | Avg: 95.54 Points

Subjective Comfort Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Continental WinterContact TS 870 P with a result of 100 Points. The difference between best and worst was 10%. The best competitive tire was 5.3% better than Hankook Kinergy 4S2 [reference tire].
  1. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    100 Points
  2. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    100 Points
  3. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    100 Points
  4. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    100 Points
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    100 Points
  6. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    95 Points
  7. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    95 Points
  8. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    95 Points
  9. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    95 Points
  10. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    92 Points
  11. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    90 Points
  12. Giti GitiWinterW2
    90 Points
  13. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    90 Points

Value Performance Overview

Price

Spread: 93.99 (102.2%) | Avg: 142.17

Price in local currency (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Leao Winter Defender UHP. The difference between best and worst was 50.5%.
  1. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    92
  2. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    110.79
  3. Giti GitiWinterW2
    116.79
  4. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    125.19
  5. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    137.99
  6. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    142.89
  7. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    152.99
  8. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    154.99
  9. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    171.59
  10. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    172.69
  11. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    185.99

Rolling Resistance (kg / t)

Spread: 1.51 kg / t (20.4%) | Avg: 8.34 kg / t

Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Continental WinterContact TS 870 P with a result of 7.39 kg / t. The difference between best and worst was 17%. The best competitive tire was 3.9% better than Hankook Ventus Prime 4 [reference tire].
  1. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
    7.39 kg / t
  2. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 Ref
    7.69 kg / t
  3. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
    7.85 kg / t
  4. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Ref
    7.91 kg / t
  5. Leao Winter Defender UHP
    8.44 kg / t
  6. Vredestein Wintrac Pro
    8.45 kg / t
  7. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
    8.49 kg / t
  8. Hankook Winter i cept evo3
    8.49 kg / t
  9. Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    8.6 kg / t
  10. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    8.62 kg / t
  11. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
    8.76 kg / t
  12. Giti GitiWinterW2
    8.79 kg / t
  13. Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
    8.9 kg / t

Overall Findings

Based on the weighted scoring from all tests, here are the overall results:

Reference Tires: Reference tires (highlighted with yellow background) are included as benchmarks rather than competitive entries. They typically show as 0% in overall scoring as they are not part of the final ranking.
Position Tire Score
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 97.9%
2 Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 97.8%
3 Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 97.5%
4 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 96.2%
5 Hankook Winter i cept evo3 96.2%
6 Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 95.3%
7 Giti GitiWinterW2 94.3%
8 Vredestein Wintrac Pro 94%
9 Kumho Winter Craft WP52 92.8%
10 Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro 92.6%
11 Leao Winter Defender UHP 88.8%
- Hankook Kinergy 4S2 (Reference) 0%
- Hankook Ventus Prime 4 (Reference) 0%

Test Winner

Leao Winter Defender UHP
Leao Winter Defender UHP

88.8%

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