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Test Charts / Auto Express

2025 Auto Express 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
11

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

2

Dry Braking

Dry braking in feet

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870
 98 ft Best
2Michelin Alpin 7
 101 ft +3 ft
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 103 ft +5 ft
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 103 ft +5 ft
5Linglong Sport Master Winter
 105 ft +7 ft
6Triangle WinterX TW401
 107 ft +9 ft
7Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 107 ft +9 ft
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 107 ft +9 ft

The difference between best and worst was 9.2% (9 ft ≈ 0.6 Car Lengths).

Dry Handling

Dry handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Linglong Sport Master Winter
 58 s Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 58.53 s +0.53 s
3Triangle WinterX TW401
 59 s +1.00 s
4Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 59.18 s +1.18 s
5Continental WinterContact TS 870
 59.3 s +1.30 s
6Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 59.55 s +1.55 s
7Michelin Alpin 7
 59.61 s +1.61 s
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 59.73 s +1.73 s

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

Wet

4

Wet Braking

Wet braking in feet

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 115 ft Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 870
 116 ft +1 ft
3Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 117 ft +2 ft
4Linglong Sport Master Winter
 119 ft +4 ft
5Michelin Alpin 7
 121 ft +6 ft
6Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 123 ft +8 ft
7Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 124 ft +9 ft
8Triangle WinterX TW401
 132 ft +17 ft

The difference between best and worst was 15.3% (17 ft ≈ 1.2 Car Lengths).

Wet Handling

Wet handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870
 60 s Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 60.24 s +0.24 s
3Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 60.61 s +0.61 s
4Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 60.85 s +0.85 s
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 60.85 s +0.85 s
6Michelin Alpin 7
 60.98 s +0.98 s
7Linglong Sport Master Winter
 61.54 s +1.54 s
8Triangle WinterX TW401
 64.66 s +4.66 s

The difference between best and worst was 7.8% (4.66 s).

Straight Aqua

Float Speed in mph

Higher is better ↑
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Triangle WinterX TW401
 56.9 mph Best
2Linglong Sport Master Winter
 56.1 mph -0.8 mph
3Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 55.5 mph -1.4 mph
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 54.3 mph -2.6 mph
5Michelin Alpin 7
 52.6 mph -4.3 mph
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 52.5 mph -4.4 mph
7Continental WinterContact TS 870
 50.4 mph -6.5 mph
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 49.7 mph -7.2 mph

The difference between best and worst was 12.6% (7.2 mph).

Curved Aquaplaning

Remaining lateral acceleration

Higher is better ↑
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Triangle WinterX TW401
 347.4 ft/s² Best
2Linglong Sport Master Winter
 319.4 ft/s² -28.0 ft/s²
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 312.0 ft/s² -35.4 ft/s²
4Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 310.3 ft/s² -37.1 ft/s²
5Michelin Alpin 7
 274.7 ft/s² -72.7 ft/s²
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 272.8 ft/s² -74.6 ft/s²
7Continental WinterContact TS 870
 232.0 ft/s² -115.4 ft/s²
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 229.7 ft/s² -117.7 ft/s²

The difference between best and worst was 33.9% (117.7 ft/s²).

Snow

3

Snow Braking

Snow braking in feet

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 131 ft Best
2Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 133 ft +2 ft
3Triangle WinterX TW401
 134 ft +3 ft
4Linglong Sport Master Winter
 134 ft +3 ft
5Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 135 ft +4 ft
6Michelin Alpin 7
 135 ft +4 ft
7Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 140 ft +9 ft
8Continental WinterContact TS 870
 144 ft +13 ft

The difference between best and worst was 10% (13 ft ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths).

Snow Traction

Snow acceleration time

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 10 s Best
2Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 10.19 s +0.19 s
3Michelin Alpin 7
 10.2 s +0.20 s
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 10.29 s +0.29 s
5Continental WinterContact TS 870
 10.33 s +0.33 s
6Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 10.55 s +0.55 s
7Triangle WinterX TW401
 10.99 s +0.99 s
8Linglong Sport Master Winter
 11.04 s +1.04 s

The difference between best and worst was 10.4% (1.04 s).

Snow Handling

Snow handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870
 60 s Best
2Michelin Alpin 7
 61.41 s +1.41 s
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 62.5 s +2.50 s
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 62.7 s +2.70 s
5Linglong Sport Master Winter
 63.97 s +3.97 s
6Triangle WinterX TW401
 65.01 s +5.01 s
7Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 65.43 s +5.43 s
8Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 65.5 s +5.50 s

The difference between best and worst was 9.2% (5.5 s).

Comfort

1

Noise

External noise in dB

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870
 70 dB Best
2Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 70.21 dB +0.21 dB
3Triangle WinterX TW401
 70.28 dB +0.28 dB
3Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 70.28 dB +0.28 dB
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 70.42 dB +0.42 dB
6Michelin Alpin 7
 70.78 dB +0.78 dB
7Linglong Sport Master Winter
 70.85 dB +0.85 dB
8Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 71.43 dB +1.43 dB

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

Value

1

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestExtra fuel / year
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 8 kg/t Best $0
2Michelin Alpin 7
 8.12 kg/t +0.12 kg/t $4
3Continental WinterContact TS 870
 8.6 kg/t +0.60 kg/t $22
4Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
 8.87 kg/t +0.87 kg/t $32
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 9.21 kg/t +1.21 kg/t $44
6Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 9.74 kg/t +1.74 kg/t $64
7Triangle WinterX TW401
 9.83 kg/t +1.83 kg/t $67
8Linglong Sport Master Winter
 10.7 kg/t +2.70 kg/t $99

The difference between best and worst was 33.8% (2.7 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Linglong Sport Master Winter uses about 28 gal ($99) more fuel than the Bridgestone Blizzak 6.

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.

12,000 mi
$3.60/gal
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.
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