Test Charts / Tekniikan Maailma
2025 Friction and Studded 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
- 205/55 R16
- Tires tested
- 14
- Disciplines
- 10
- Test vehicle
- VW Golf
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.
This test ranks different groups separately. Read the full verdicts for each group; there is no single overall finishing order.
Focus on your tires
Select tires to highlight them throughout the charts.
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
2Dry Braking
Dry braking in feet
Lower is better ↓Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 101 ft | Best | |
| 101 ft | Best | |
| 103 ft | +2 ft | |
| 103 ft | +2 ft | |
| 103 ft | +2 ft | |
| 106 ft | +5 ft | |
| 107 ft | +6 ft |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 103 ft | Best | |
| 104 ft | +1 ft | |
| 105 ft | +2 ft | |
| 105 ft | +2 ft | |
| 106 ft | +3 ft | |
| 106 ft | +3 ft | |
| 110 ft | +7 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 8.4% (9 ft ≈ 0.6 Car Lengths).
Subj. Dry Handling
Subjective Dry Handling Score
Higher is better ↑Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Points | Best | |
| 9 Points | Best | |
| 8 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 6 Points | -3.00 Points |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Points | Best | |
| 8 Points | Best | |
| 8 Points | Best | |
| 8 Points | Best | |
| 8 Points | Best | |
| 8 Points | Best | |
| 7 Points | -1.00 Points |
The difference between best and worst was 33.3% (3 Points).
Wet
3Wet Braking
Wet braking in feet (50 - 0 mph)
Lower is better ↓Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Residual speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 123 ft | Best | 0 mph | |
| 123 ft | Best | 0 mph | |
| 124 ft | +1 ft | 6 mph | |
| 124 ft | +1 ft | 8 mph | |
| 129 ft | +6 ft | 18 mph | |
| 130 ft | +7 ft | 18 mph | |
| 135 ft | +12 ft | 24 mph |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Residual speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 113 ft | Best | 0 mph | |
| 116 ft | +3 ft | 15 mph | |
| 118 ft | +5 ft | 17 mph | |
| 119 ft | +6 ft | 19 mph | |
| 122 ft | +9 ft | 23 mph | |
| 124 ft | +11 ft | 24 mph | |
| 134 ft | +21 ft | 32 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 19.8% (22 ft ≈ 1.5 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Michelin X Ice Snow would still be travelling at 33 mph when the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 had stopped.
Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.
Wet Handling
Wet handling time in seconds
Lower is better ↓Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 39.9 s | Best | |
| 40 s | +0.10 s | |
| 40.3 s | +0.40 s | |
| 40.6 s | +0.70 s | |
| 41.4 s | +1.50 s | |
| 41.8 s | +1.90 s | |
| 41.8 s | +1.90 s |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 40.1 s | Best | |
| 40.6 s | +0.50 s | |
| 41 s | +0.90 s | |
| 41.3 s | +1.20 s | |
| 41.5 s | +1.40 s | |
| 41.5 s | +1.40 s | |
| 42.1 s | +2.00 s |
The difference between best and worst was 5.5% (2.2 s).
Subj. Wet Handling
Subjective Wet Handling Score
Higher is better ↑Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Points | Best | |
| 8 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -2.00 Points |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Points | Best | |
| 8 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 6 Points | -3.00 Points |
The difference between best and worst was 33.3% (3 Points).
Snow
2Snow Braking
Snow braking in feet (50 - 0 mph)
Lower is better ↓Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Residual speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 162 ft | Best | 0 mph | |
| 163 ft | +1 ft | 4 mph | |
| 163 ft | +1 ft | 6 mph | |
| 164 ft | +2 ft | 7 mph | |
| 165 ft | +3 ft | 9 mph | |
| 165 ft | +3 ft | 10 mph | |
| 165 ft | +3 ft | 11 mph |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Residual speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 163 ft | Best | 0 mph | |
| 164 ft | +1 ft | 4 mph | |
| 164 ft | +1 ft | 6 mph | |
| 164 ft | +1 ft | 6 mph | |
| 165 ft | +2 ft | 8 mph | |
| 166 ft | +3 ft | 10 mph | |
| 167 ft | +4 ft | 12 mph |
All the tires in the Snow Braking test finished less than 3% apart. From 80 mph, the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi32 would still be travelling at 14 mph when the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 had stopped.
Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.
Snow Traction
Snow acceleration time (3 - 22 mph)
Lower is better ↓Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 5.8 s | Best | |
| 5.9 s | +0.10 s | |
| 6 s | +0.20 s | |
| 6 s | +0.20 s | |
| 6 s | +0.20 s | |
| 6 s | +0.20 s | |
| 6.1 s | +0.30 s |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 5.9 s | Best | |
| 5.9 s | Best | |
| 5.9 s | Best | |
| 5.9 s | Best | |
| 6 s | +0.10 s | |
| 6 s | +0.10 s | |
| 6 s | +0.10 s |
The difference between best and worst was 5.2% (0.3 s).
Ice
2Ice Braking
Ice braking in feet (31 - 0 mph)
Lower is better ↓Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Residual speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 ft | Best | 0 mph | |
| 155 ft | +5 ft | 14 mph | |
| 157 ft | +7 ft | 18 mph | |
| 157 ft | +7 ft | 18 mph | |
| 165 ft | +15 ft | 24 mph | |
| 175 ft | +25 ft | 30 mph | |
| 176 ft | +26 ft | 31 mph |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Residual speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 106 ft | Best | 0 mph | |
| 109 ft | +3 ft | 12 mph | |
| 111 ft | +5 ft | 17 mph | |
| 121 ft | +15 ft | 28 mph | |
| 124 ft | +18 ft | 30 mph | |
| 136 ft | +30 ft | 38 mph | |
| 139 ft | +33 ft | 39 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 65.6% (70 ft ≈ 4.7 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Hankook Winter i cept IZ3 would still be travelling at 50 mph when the Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3 had stopped.
Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.
Ice Traction
Ice acceleration time (3 - 12 mph)
Lower is better ↓Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 6.3 s | Best | |
| 6.7 s | +0.40 s | |
| 6.8 s | +0.50 s | |
| 7.2 s | +0.90 s | |
| 7.2 s | +0.90 s | |
| 7.6 s | +1.30 s | |
| 8.2 s | +1.90 s |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 4.6 s | Best | |
| 4.7 s | +0.10 s | |
| 4.8 s | +0.20 s | |
| 5.1 s | +0.50 s | |
| 5.7 s | +1.10 s | |
| 5.8 s | +1.20 s | |
| 6.1 s | +1.50 s |
The difference between best and worst was 78.3% (3.6 s).
Comfort
1Subj. Noise
Subjective in car noise levels
Higher is better ↑Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Points | Best | |
| 10 Points | Best | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Points | Best | |
| 7 Points | Best | |
| 7 Points | Best | |
| 7 Points | Best | |
| 7 Points | Best | |
| 6 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 6 Points | -1.00 Points |
The difference between best and worst was 40% (4 Points).
Test setup & methodology
The test setting, the conditions recorded and how the results contribute to the score.
Recorded test conditions
Recorded test conditions
- Wet Braking
- 49.7 → 0.0 mph
- Snow Braking
- 49.7 → 0.0 mph
- Snow Traction
- 3.1 → 21.7 mph
- Ice Braking
- 31.1 → 0.0 mph
- Ice Traction
- 3.1 → 12.4 mph