Data Explorer / Tekniikan Maailma
2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test
- Tested size
- 205/55 R16
- Tires tested
- 14
- Disciplines
- 10
- Test vehicle
- VW Golf
Set the weightings
Move a slider. The other categories rebalance automatically to keep the total at 100%.
No test-specific category weights are recorded; this starts with season defaults.
Season defaults
Results
Movement is compared with the default calculation, not the published finishing order. Scores use unrounded totals for ranking.
This test ranks different groups separately. Read the full verdicts for each group; there is no single overall finishing order.
No ranking for this setup. Give at least one category a positive weight and include a discipline in each active category, or reset the weights.
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| ft ↓ | Points ↑ | ft ↓ | s ↓ | Points ↑ | ft ↓ | s ↓ | ft ↓ | s ↓ | Points ↑ | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nordic Friction Winter Tires | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 97.60 | 103 | 9 | 98.4 | 130 | 40.3 | 8 | 96.1 | 163 | 5.8 | 99.9 | 155 | 6.3 | 98.4 | 9 | 90.0 | |
StrengthsThe joint test winner and the top friction tire: rated best on snow, with the best snow traction and the second-shortest snow braking in the test, and easy, logical handling on ice. ConsiderationsIts wet braking is second from last of the friction tires and its steering is a little imprecise on wet asphalt. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry98.41 × 21% = 20.67 Wet96.07 × 37% = 35.54 Snow99.91 × 32% = 31.97 Ice98.41 × 5% = 4.92 Comfort90 × 5% = 4.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | 98.25 | 101 | 9 | 100.0 | 124 | 40.6 | 8 | 97.5 | 162 | 6.0 | 98.2 | 157 | 6.7 | 94.6 | 10 | 100.0 | |
StrengthsThe Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 has the shortest snow braking and a share of the shortest dry braking in the test, the second-best ice traction of the friction tires, and it is joint quietest. ConsiderationsSteering is imprecise on wet asphalt and its wet braking is below average. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry100 × 21% = 21 Wet97.54 × 37% = 36.09 Snow98.2 × 32% = 31.42 Ice94.62 × 5% = 4.73 Comfort100 × 5% = 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | 97.42 | 103 | 8 | 96.3 | 124 | 39.9 | 9 | 99.8 | 163 | 6.0 | 97.9 | 165 | 7.2 | 89.2 | 9 | 90.0 | |
StrengthsThe Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 is the best friction tire on wet asphalt, fastest on the wet handling track with a share of the top wet handling rating. ConsiderationsIts ice braking and traction are only fifth and joint fourth of the friction tires, and the front can lose grip at large steering angles on snow. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry96.27 × 21% = 20.22 Wet99.76 × 37% = 36.91 Snow97.93 × 32% = 31.34 Ice89.17 × 5% = 4.46 Comfort90 × 5% = 4.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 96.70 | 103 | 8 | 96.8 | 123 | 40.0 | 8 | 98.7 | 165 | 6.0 | 97.4 | 176 | 7.6 | 84.1 | 9 | 90.0 | |
StrengthsThe Hankook Winter i*cept IZ3 is second fastest on the wet handling track, joint shortest for wet braking of the friction tires and third for dry braking in the whole test. ConsiderationsIt has the longest ice braking in the test and is second from last for snow braking. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry96.78 × 21% = 20.32 Wet98.67 × 37% = 36.51 Snow97.38 × 32% = 31.16 Ice84.06 × 5% = 4.2 Comfort90 × 5% = 4.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 5 | 96.25 | 101 | 7 | 96.2 | 123 | 41.4 | 7 | 96.0 | 165 | 5.9 | 98.4 | 157 | 7.2 | 91.4 | 9 | 90.0 | |
StrengthsThe Falken Winterpeak F-Snow 1 shares the shortest dry braking in the test, is joint shortest for wet braking of the friction tires, and has good, predictable grip on ice. ConsiderationsRestless on snow, with skids at both ends, and slow, imprecise steering in evasive moves on asphalt. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry96.22 × 21% = 20.21 Wet95.96 × 37% = 35.51 Snow98.36 × 32% = 31.47 Ice91.35 × 5% = 4.57 Comfort90 × 5% = 4.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | 94.19 | 106 | 7 | 92.6 | 135 | 41.8 | 7 | 91.6 | 164 | 6.1 | 97.0 | 150 | 6.8 | 96.3 | 10 | 100.0 | |
StrengthsThe Michelin X-Ice Snow has the shortest ice braking of the friction tires and is joint quietest. ConsiderationsIt has the longest wet braking and the weakest snow traction in the test, with sluggish handling on asphalt. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry92.61 × 21% = 19.45 Wet91.61 × 37% = 33.9 Snow96.98 × 32% = 31.03 Ice96.33 × 5% = 4.82 Comfort100 × 5% = 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 93.18 | 107 | 6 | 89.8 | 129 | 41.8 | 7 | 93.4 | 165 | 6.0 | 97.6 | 175 | 8.2 | 81.2 | 9 | 90.0 | |
StrengthsThe Radar Dimax Ice is quiet, with good rear stability. ConsiderationsIt has the lowest ice grip of the friction tires and insufficient grip on wet and dry asphalt, with the lowest dry handling rating in the test. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry89.75 × 21% = 18.85 Wet93.38 × 37% = 34.55 Snow97.56 × 32% = 31.22 Ice81.19 × 5% = 4.06 Comfort90 × 5% = 4.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Studded Winter Tires | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 4 | 96.52 | 106 | 8 | 97.7 | 122 | 41.5 | 8 | 93.7 | 165 | 6.0 | 98.6 | 111 | 4.8 | 95.6 | 7 | 100.0 | |
StrengthsThe joint test winner and the top studded tire: excellent and predictable on ice, third for ice braking and traction in the whole test. ConsiderationsLess precise and slow to react on asphalt, with the second-longest dry braking of the studded tires. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry97.69 × 21% = 20.52 Wet93.68 × 37% = 34.66 Snow98.64 × 32% = 31.57 Ice95.56 × 5% = 4.78 Comfort100 × 5% = 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 97.06 | 103 | 8 | 100.0 | 116 | 40.1 | 8 | 97.3 | 163 | 5.9 | 100.0 | 139 | 6.1 | 75.7 | 6 | 85.7 | |
StrengthsThe Continental IceContact 3 is the best studded tire on asphalt: shortest dry and snow braking and fastest wet handling of the studded group, with precise, easy handling. ConsiderationsIts ice grip is the weakest of the studded tires, and it is one of the two noisiest tires. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry100 × 21% = 21 Wet97.26 × 37% = 35.99 Snow100 × 32% = 32 Ice75.71 × 5% = 3.79 Comfort85.71 × 5% = 4.29 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 2 | 97.91 | 105 | 8 | 99.0 | 118 | 40.6 | 9 | 97.3 | 164 | 5.9 | 99.7 | 121 | 5.7 | 84.1 | 7 | 100.0 | |
StrengthsThe Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 is consistently good in all winter conditions, safe and stable on snow, with a share of the top wet handling rating and the third-shortest wet braking in the test. ConsiderationsIts lateral grip on ice is not at the highest level. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry98.96 × 21% = 20.78 Wet97.33 × 37% = 36.01 Snow99.72 × 32% = 31.91 Ice84.12 × 5% = 4.21 Comfort100 × 5% = 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 96.06 | 105 | 8 | 98.4 | 124 | 41.3 | 7 | 92.1 | 164 | 5.9 | 99.7 | 124 | 5.1 | 87.9 | 7 | 100.0 | |
StrengthsThe Michelin X-Ice North 4 has strong ice grip, fifth for ice braking and fourth for ice traction in the whole test. ConsiderationsImprecise steering, slow on snow and significant understeer in evasive maneuvers on asphalt. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry98.45 × 21% = 20.67 Wet92.11 × 37% = 34.08 Snow99.72 × 32% = 31.91 Ice87.94 × 5% = 4.4 Comfort100 × 5% = 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 6 | 95.40 | 110 | 8 | 95.3 | 119 | 41.5 | 7 | 93.6 | 166 | 6.0 | 98.4 | 106 | 4.6 | 100.0 | 6 | 85.7 | |
StrengthsThe Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3 has the best ice grip in the test for braking and cornering, with the shortest ice braking and the fastest ice traction. ConsiderationsWeak on asphalt: the longest dry braking in the test and slow steering, and second from last for snow braking. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry95.28 × 21% = 20.01 Wet93.59 × 37% = 34.63 Snow98.37 × 32% = 31.48 Ice100 × 5% = 5 Comfort85.71 × 5% = 4.29 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 1 | 98.03 | 104 | 8 | 99.7 | 113 | 41.0 | 8 | 97.8 | 164 | 5.9 | 99.9 | 136 | 5.8 | 78.5 | 7 | 100.0 | |
StrengthsThe Pirelli Ice Zero 2 has the shortest wet braking in the test and precise steering. ConsiderationsOversteer on ice makes it harder to control, and the rear can lose grip in evasive moves on snow. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry99.73 × 21% = 20.94 Wet97.81 × 37% = 36.19 Snow99.91 × 32% = 31.97 Ice78.48 × 5% = 3.92 Comfort100 × 5% = 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 93.65 | 106 | 7 | 96.1 | 134 | 42.1 | 6 | 87.1 | 167 | 6.0 | 98.0 | 109 | 4.7 | 97.7 | 7 | 100.0 | |
StrengthsThe Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi32 has excellent braking and traction on ice, second in the whole test for both. ConsiderationsLast for snow braking and on the wet handling track, with the lowest wet handling rating and difficult control in evasive maneuvers. Score contributionCategory score × of overall score Dry96.07 × 21% = 20.18 Wet87.08 × 37% = 32.22 Snow98.02 × 32% = 31.37 Ice97.73 × 5% = 4.89 Comfort100 × 5% = 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Raw results do not change when you move the sliders. Scroll horizontally to see every discipline.
Not ranked: a measurement needed for these weights is missing. Missing results are not treated as zero or redistributed.
Reference tires provide context only. They do not set the benchmark and cannot win the personalised ranking.
Weighting vs real impact
What decides this ranking
The weighting is how much each category counts. The real impact is how much of the difference between the tires it creates: a discipline in which every tire performed about the same barely changes the order, however much it counts.
No weighting is recorded for this test, so the weighting here starts from Tire Reviews’ season defaults, not from the test’s own scoring.
- Dry Weighting 21% Real impact 19%
- Wet Weighting 37% Real impact 46%
- Snow Weighting 32% Real impact 10%
- Ice Weighting 5% Real impact 17%
- Comfort Weighting 5% Real impact 9%
- Subj. Wet Handling counts for 4.1% of the score but creates 13% of the difference between the tires, because their results in it were far apart.
- Snow Traction counts for 17.3% of the score but creates only 6% of the difference, because most tires performed about the same in it.
Every discipline 10
| Discipline | Weighting | Real impact |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 17.4% | 10% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 3.6% | 8% |
| Wet Braking | 16.7% | 22% |
| Wet Handling | 16.3% | 12% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 4.1% | 13% |
| Snow Braking | 14.7% | 4% |
| Snow Traction | 17.3% | 6% |
| Ice Braking | 2.5% | 8% |
| Ice Traction | 2.5% | 9% |
| Subj. Noise | 5% | 9% |
How it is worked out: each discipline’s weighting is multiplied by the spread of its results (the gap across the middle half of the tires, as a percentage of the best result), then shared out so that all the disciplines add up to 100%. It estimates what separates the tires; it is not a second set of weights, and it follows the weights you set.
This test ranks its groups separately, so the spread is measured within each group.
How your ranking is calculated
Each discipline is scored against the best non-reference tire in the full test field: best ÷ result × 100 when lower is better, or result ÷ best × 100 when higher is better. Discipline scores are rounded to two decimal places, then combined using your weights.
Within-category weights divide that category’s share of the overall score. A 50% wet category and 40% wet-braking share give wet braking 20% of the total. A weight is a scoring priority, not a measure of its actual effect on the ranking: the performance gaps matter too. What decides this ranking ↑
Published joint positions are preserved separately. Calculated positions tie only when their underlying scores match; two displayed scores can look equal after rounding.
A zero weight excludes that category or discipline. At least one active discipline is required, and the disciplines in every active category must have a positive total.