2025 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test

For the 2025/2026 winter season, Autožurnál TV has conducted a comparative test of seven winter tires in the 215/65 R17 size, using a Volkswagen Tiguan as the test vehicle.

The test included two new models for the season: the Michelin Alpin 7 and the Barum Polaris 6. These were tested against the Tomket Snowroad SUV 3, Lassa Competus Winter 2+, and Ceat WinterDrive SUV. The lineup also featured the Kormoran SUV Snow and Riken SUV Snow, two tires from the Michelin group with identical tread patterns, both produced in Serbia.

Each tire was evaluated on dry, wet, and snow-covered surfaces. The test protocol included measurements for braking, handling, longitudinal and lateral aquaplaning, snow traction, rolling resistance, and external pass-by noise.

Dry

Dry Braking

Dry Handling

Wet

Wet Braking

Wet Handling

Wet Circle

Straight Aqua

Curved Aquaplaning

Snow

Snow Braking

Snow Traction

Snow Handling

Comfort

Noise

Value

Rolling Resistance

Results

1^st

Michelin Alpin 7

215/65 R17

• Weight: Spain kgs
• Tread: 10.08 mm

The Michelin Alpin 7 was the decisive winner of the test, earning the top spot in the overall ranking. This tire dominated on wet and dry surfaces, finishing first in both of these categories by achieving the best or second-best results in every single wet and dry test, from braking and handling to aquaplaning resistance. Its performance on snow, while not as dominant, was still competitive, placing it fourth in the snow category. The Michelin's superior mastery of wet and dry conditions solidified its position as the best tire in the comparison.

Dry

100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	1st	44.9 M			100%
Dry Handling	1st	50.8 s			100%

Wet

96.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	1st	52.4 M			100%
Wet Handling	1st	88.5 s			100%
Wet Circle	6th	12.62 m/s	13.59 m/s	-0.97 m/s	92.86%
Straight Aqua	1st	84.3 Km/H			100%
Curved Aquaplaning	7th	88.5 m/sec2	100.4 m/sec2	-11.9 m/sec2	88.15%

Snow

96.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	5th	25.9 M	24.7 M	+1.2 M	95.37%
Snow Traction	4th	9.43 s	9 s	+0.43 s	95.44%
Snow Handling	1st	76.1 s			100%

Comfort

98.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	3rd	71.5 dB	70.4 dB	+1.1 dB	98.46%

Value

96.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	2nd	7.25 kg / t	6.99 kg / t	+0.26 kg / t	96.41%

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2^nd

Barum Polaris 6

215/65 R17

• Weight: Romania kgs
• Tread: 10.64 mm

The Barum Polaris 6 was an exceptional performer, finishing second in the final overall standings. Its biggest strength was on snow, where it ranked first overall by winning the braking, acceleration, and traction tests and placing second in handling. On dry surfaces, it was rated second-best, largely due to having the lowest rolling resistance and being the quietest tire at both tested speeds. Its performance in wet conditions was also solid, placing fourth in that category with strong results in handling and aquaplaning resistance, showcasing its excellent all-around capabilities for winter driving.

Dry

97.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	4th	46 M	44.9 M	+1.1 M	97.61%
Dry Handling	5th	51.8 s	50.8 s	+1 s	98.07%

Wet

93.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	4th	56.3 M	52.4 M	+3.9 M	93.07%
Wet Handling	2nd	90.3 s	88.5 s	+1.8 s	98.01%
Wet Circle	5th	12.7 m/s	13.59 m/s	-0.89 m/s	93.45%
Straight Aqua	4th	79.8 Km/H	84.3 Km/H	-4.5 Km/H	94.66%
Curved Aquaplaning	6th	90.3 m/sec2	100.4 m/sec2	-10.1 m/sec2	89.94%

Snow

99.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	1st	24.7 M			100%
Snow Traction	1st	9 s			100%
Snow Handling	2nd	76.6 s	76.1 s	+0.5 s	99.35%

Comfort

100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	1st	70.4 dB			100%

Value

100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	1st	6.99 kg / t			100%

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3^rd

Ceat WinterDrive SUV

215/65 R17

• Weight: India kgs
• Tread: 12.68 mm

The Ceat WinterDrive SUV was a very balanced and capable tire, securing a well-deserved third place in the overall ranking. It demonstrated consistent performance across all surfaces, ranking third on snow, third on wet, and fourth on dry. Key strengths included tying for the shortest braking distance on dry pavement and achieving the best time in the wet track guidance test. Furthermore, it was the second-best tire in both the snow acceleration and snow traction tests, proving it to be a reliable and strong contender in all key performance areas.

Dry

99.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	1st	44.9 M			100%
Dry Handling	4th	51.4 s	50.8 s	+0.6 s	98.83%

Wet

94.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	2nd	55.2 M	52.4 M	+2.8 M	94.93%
Wet Handling	4th	90.6 s	88.5 s	+2.1 s	97.68%
Wet Circle	7th	12.61 m/s	13.59 m/s	-0.98 m/s	92.79%
Straight Aqua	3rd	80.2 Km/H	84.3 Km/H	-4.1 Km/H	95.14%
Curved Aquaplaning	4th	90.6 m/sec2	100.4 m/sec2	-9.8 m/sec2	90.24%

Snow

97.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	3rd	25.6 M	24.7 M	+0.9 M	96.48%
Snow Traction	2nd	9.25 s	9 s	+0.25 s	97.3%
Snow Handling	4th	77.1 s	76.1 s	+1 s	98.7%

Comfort

99.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	2nd	70.7 dB	70.4 dB	+0.3 dB	99.58%

Value

79.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	6th	8.76 kg / t	6.99 kg / t	+1.77 kg / t	79.79%

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4^th

Lassa Competus Winter 2

215/65 R17

• Weight: Turkey kgs
• Tread: 11.11 mm

The Lassa Competus Winter 2+ earned fourth place overall, with its most impressive results occurring in wet conditions. It was the second-best tire in the wet category, achieving a second-place finish in longitudinal aquaplaning and third-place results in wet braking and handling. Its performance on other surfaces was mixed; on dry pavement, it had the longest braking distance and was the loudest tire, yet it managed the third-fastest handling time. The tire's weakness was on snow, where it placed sixth, held back by poor results in the acceleration and braking tests.

Dry

96.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	7th	48.3 M	44.9 M	+3.4 M	92.96%
Dry Handling	3rd	51.2 s	50.8 s	+0.4 s	99.22%

Wet

94.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	3rd	55.4 M	52.4 M	+3 M	94.58%
Wet Handling	3rd	90.5 s	88.5 s	+2 s	97.79%
Wet Circle	4th	12.73 m/s	13.59 m/s	-0.86 m/s	93.67%
Straight Aqua	2nd	81.7 Km/H	84.3 Km/H	-2.6 Km/H	96.92%
Curved Aquaplaning	5th	90.5 m/sec2	100.4 m/sec2	-9.9 m/sec2	90.14%

Snow

95.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	6th	26.2 M	24.7 M	+1.5 M	94.27%
Snow Traction	7th	9.67 s	9 s	+0.67 s	93.07%
Snow Handling	4th	77.1 s	76.1 s	+1 s	98.7%

Comfort

95.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	7th	73.8 dB	70.4 dB	+3.4 dB	95.39%

Value

87.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	4th	8 kg / t	6.99 kg / t	+1.01 kg / t	87.38%

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5^th

Kormoran Kormoran SUV Snow

215/65 R17

• Weight: Serbia kgs
• Tread: 12.27 mm

The Kormoran SUV Snow, which shares an identical tread design with the Riken tire, performed best in snowy conditions, where it ranked third overall. It demonstrated strong capabilities on snow with a second-place finish in braking and a shared second place in handling. However, its performance on clear roads was lacking; it ranked seventh in the dry category, with the slowest handling time and sixth-longest braking distance. In wet conditions, it consistently placed in the lower half of the group, which contributed to its final overall position being tied for fifth place.

Dry

96.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	6th	46.4 M	44.9 M	+1.5 M	96.77%
Dry Handling	7th	52.4 s	50.8 s	+1.6 s	96.95%

Wet

92.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	6th	60.6 M	52.4 M	+8.2 M	86.47%
Wet Handling	5th	93.4 s	88.5 s	+4.9 s	94.75%
Wet Circle	3rd	13.28 m/s	13.59 m/s	-0.31 m/s	97.72%
Straight Aqua	5th	76.9 Km/H	84.3 Km/H	-7.4 Km/H	91.22%
Curved Aquaplaning	2nd	93.4 m/sec2	100.4 m/sec2	-7 m/sec2	93.03%

Snow

98.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	2nd	25.1 M	24.7 M	+0.4 M	98.41%
Snow Traction	3rd	9.27 s	9 s	+0.27 s	97.09%
Snow Handling	2nd	76.6 s	76.1 s	+0.5 s	99.35%

Comfort

96.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	5th	73.1 dB	70.4 dB	+2.7 dB	96.31%

Value

80.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	5th	8.71 kg / t	6.99 kg / t	+1.72 kg / t	80.25%

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5^th

Riken Riken SUV Snow

215/65 R17

• Weight: Serbia kgs
• Tread: 12.17 mm

The Riken SUV Snow finished the test tied for fifth place overall, delivering a performance profile nearly identical to its twin, the Kormoran tire. The tire did not stand out in any particular area, generally placing in the middle or lower end of the results across all conditions. It finished sixth in the dry category and fifth in the wet, with results for braking, handling, and noise that were consistently behind the leading competitors. Its snow performance was also mid-pack, ultimately defining it as a tire with average capabilities but no distinct advantages.

Dry

97.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	5th	46.2 M	44.9 M	+1.3 M	97.19%
Dry Handling	6th	52.3 s	50.8 s	+1.5 s	97.13%

Wet

92.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5th	60.3 M	52.4 M	+7.9 M	86.9%
Wet Handling	5th	93.4 s	88.5 s	+4.9 s	94.75%
Wet Circle	2nd	13.31 m/s	13.59 m/s	-0.28 m/s	97.94%
Straight Aqua	6th	76.6 Km/H	84.3 Km/H	-7.7 Km/H	90.87%
Curved Aquaplaning	2nd	93.4 m/sec2	100.4 m/sec2	-7 m/sec2	93.03%

Snow

96.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	3rd	25.6 M	24.7 M	+0.9 M	96.48%
Snow Traction	6th	9.46 s	9 s	+0.46 s	95.14%
Snow Handling	6th	77.6 s	76.1 s	+1.5 s	98.07%

Comfort

95.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	6th	73.5 dB	70.4 dB	+3.1 dB	95.78%

Value

79.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	6th	8.76 kg / t	6.99 kg / t	+1.77 kg / t	79.79%

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7^th

Tomket Snowroad SUV 3

215/65 R17

• Weight: China kgs
• Tread: 11.49 mm

The Tomket Snowroad SUV 3 had a very poor showing, finishing last overall with a "not recommended" rating from the testers. Although it achieved a respectable third-place rank on dry surfaces, primarily due to a second-place finish in the handling test, its performance in adverse weather was a significant concern. The tire finished last in both the snow and wet categories, consistently recording the longest braking distances and slowest handling times. This critical weakness in winter and wet conditions led to its low final ranking.

Dry

99%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	3rd	45.6 M	44.9 M	+0.7 M	98.46%
Dry Handling	2nd	51 s	50.8 s	+0.2 s	99.61%

Wet

90.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	7th	67.2 M	52.4 M	+14.8 M	77.98%
Wet Handling	7th	100.4 s	88.5 s	+11.9 s	88.15%
Wet Circle	1st	13.59 m/s			100%
Straight Aqua	7th	73.6 Km/H	84.3 Km/H	-10.7 Km/H	87.31%
Curved Aquaplaning	1st	100.4 m/sec2			100%

Snow

95.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	7th	26.3 M	24.7 M	+1.6 M	93.92%
Snow Traction	4th	9.43 s	9 s	+0.43 s	95.44%
Snow Handling	7th	78.7 s	76.1 s	+2.6 s	96.7%

Comfort

97.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	4th	72.1 dB	70.4 dB	+1.7 dB	97.64%

Value

90%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	3rd	7.77 kg / t	6.99 kg / t	+0.78 kg / t	89.96%

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