Test Charts / Teknikens Varld
2025 Studded, Friction and European 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
- 235/45 R18
- Tires tested
- 20
- Disciplines
- 6
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.
Wet
2Subj. Wet Handling
Subjective Wet Handling Score
Higher is better ↑Central European Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Points | Best | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -3.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -3.00 Points |
Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Points | Best | |
| 6 Points | Best | |
| 6 Points | Best | |
| 6 Points | Best | |
| 6 Points | Best | |
| 5 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 5 Points | -1.00 Points |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Points | Best | |
| 6 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 6 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 6 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 6 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 5 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 5 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 3 Points | -4.00 Points |
The difference between best and worst was 70% (7 Points).
Straight Aqua
Float Speed in mph
Higher is better ↑Central European Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 47.7 mph | Best | |
| 47.6 mph | -0.1 mph | |
| 47.2 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 42.9 mph | -4.8 mph | |
| 41.8 mph | -5.9 mph |
Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 39.6 mph | Best | |
| 39.4 mph | -0.2 mph | |
| 38.5 mph | -1.1 mph | |
| 38.2 mph | -1.4 mph | |
| 37.5 mph | -2.1 mph | |
| 35.2 mph | -4.4 mph | |
| 34.6 mph | -5.0 mph |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 41.5 mph | Best | |
| 40.1 mph | -1.4 mph | |
| 39.3 mph | -2.2 mph | |
| 38.9 mph | -2.6 mph | |
| 38.8 mph | -2.7 mph | |
| 36.5 mph | -5.0 mph | |
| 35.8 mph | -5.7 mph | |
| 35.8 mph | -5.7 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 27.5% (13.1 mph).
Snow
1Subj. Snow Handling
Subjective Snow Handling Score
Higher is better ↑Central European Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Points | Best | |
| 7 Points | Best | |
| 7 Points | Best | |
| 7 Points | Best | |
| 5 Points | -2.00 Points |
Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Points | Best | |
| 10 Points | Best | |
| 10 Points | Best | |
| 10 Points | Best | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -3.00 Points |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Points | Best | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -3.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -3.00 Points |
The difference between best and worst was 50% (5 Points).
Ice
1Subj. Ice Handling
Subjective Ice Handling Score
Higher is better ↑Central European Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Points | Best | |
| 3 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 3 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 3 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 2 Points | -2.00 Points |
Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Points | Best | |
| 8 Points | Best | |
| 7 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 6 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 6 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 4 Points | -4.00 Points |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Points | Best | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -3.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -3.00 Points | |
| 6 Points | -4.00 Points | |
| 4 Points | -6.00 Points |
The difference between best and worst was 80% (8 Points).
Comfort
1Subj. Comfort
Subjective Comfort Score
Higher is better ↑Central European Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Points | Best | |
| 8 Points | Best | |
| 7 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -1.00 Points |
Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Points | Best | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 9 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 8 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 7 Points | -3.00 Points | |
| 6 Points | -4.00 Points |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Points | Best | |
| 6 Points | Best | |
| 5 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 5 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 5 Points | -1.00 Points | |
| 4 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 4 Points | -2.00 Points | |
| 1 Points | -5.00 Points |
The difference between best and worst was 90% (9 Points).
Value
1Fuel Consumption
Fuel consumption in Liters per 100 km
Lower is better ↓Central European Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Extra fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.74 l/100km | Best | $2 | |
| 5.89 l/100km | +0.15 l/100km | $29 | |
| 5.94 l/100km | +0.20 l/100km | $39 | |
| 5.95 l/100km | +0.21 l/100km | $40 | |
| 5.98 l/100km | +0.24 l/100km | $46 |
Nordic Friction Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Extra fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.73 l/100km | Best | $0 | |
| 5.73 l/100km | Best | $0 | |
| 5.73 l/100km | Best | $0 | |
| 5.82 l/100km | +0.09 l/100km | $17 | |
| 5.89 l/100km | +0.16 l/100km | $29 | |
| 5.95 l/100km | +0.22 l/100km | $40 | |
| 5.99 l/100km | +0.26 l/100km | $48 |
Studded Winter Tires
| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Extra fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.89 l/100km | Best | $29 | |
| 5.95 l/100km | +0.06 l/100km | $40 | |
| 5.95 l/100km | +0.06 l/100km | $40 | |
| 5.96 l/100km | +0.07 l/100km | $42 | |
| 5.99 l/100km | +0.10 l/100km | $48 | |
| 5.99 l/100km | +0.10 l/100km | $48 | |
| 6.01 l/100km | +0.12 l/100km | $51 | |
| 6.01 l/100km | +0.12 l/100km | $51 |
The difference between best and worst was 4.9% (0.28 l/100km). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Toyo Observe Ice Freezer uses about 14 gal ($51) more fuel than the Continental VikingContact 8.
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.