2025 AMS Winter Tire Test

Auto Motor und Sport has published their winter tire test for 2025, testing ten tires in the popular 215/55 R17 size. The test field included nine new winter tires spanning from premium to budget segments, plus one retreaded tire. Testing was conducted on an Audi Q2 and SQ2, with testing covering snow, wet, and dry conditions.

EU Label Reliability Concerns

A critical focus of this test was examining EU tire label accuracy through rigorous follow-up testing with retail purchases. The Linglong Sport Master Winter exposed significant issues, carrying an optimistic A-rating for wet grip despite mid-pack actual performance. More concerning, retail samples performed over four percent worse in wet braking than the original test sample, with variations also found in samples under the previous "Grip Master Winter" name. The testers concluded that the Serbian manufacturing facility's process stability remains below European standards, and the self-certification system allows misleadingly optimistic claims without adequate oversight.

The Bridgestone Blizzak 6 showed the opposite pattern - retail samples performed four percent better in wet braking than initial test samples, suggesting early production batches hadn't reached optimal specification.

Test Results

Continental's TS 870 P took victory with the shortest wet braking distances (102 feet) and outstanding wet handling. It delivered reliable snow performance and excellent dry braking, with only slightly firm ride comfort as a minor weakness. The testers praised its trustworthy behavior across all conditions.

Goodyear's UltraGrip Performance 3 finished second and earned the recommendation for snow-rich regions. It achieved perfect subjective scores for wet handling, dry comfort, and snow dynamics, with the best rolling comfort in test. While braking distances were marginally longer than the Continental, it offered exceptional balance and confidence-inspiring handling.

Michelin's Alpin 7 excelled on snow with short wet braking distances but showed sluggish, heavily understeering wet handling. The magazine noted Michelin's reputation for exceptional tread life adds long-term value despite the wet handling quirks.

The Hankook i*cept RS3 emerged as the value recommendation with the shortest snow braking distances (89 feet) and best aquaplaning protection. It offered precise, almost summer-tire-like dry characteristics, though it exhibited strong understeer on snow and nervous wet handling requiring driver skill.

Vredestein's Wintrac Pro+ showed strong wet and dry performance but weaker snow braking. Follow-up testing revealed significant wet handling improvements over initial samples, suggesting early production refinement issues.

Bridgestone's Blizzak 6 led the snow category with outstanding winter performance but disappointed on wet roads with understeer and lift-off oversteer tendencies. The retail sample improvements suggest the tire's potential exceeds initial test results.

Pirelli's Cinturato Winter 2 delivered good wet and dry performance but struggled across all snow disciplines with low grip levels and limited reserves.

Budget and Retreaded Tires

The Linglong Sport Master Winter demonstrated balanced performance on reduced grip levels, with weak snow capability and sluggish wet handling showing lift-off oversteer. Beyond the label and consistency issues, the testers suggested it was optimized specifically for label criteria while neglecting handling dynamics and manufacturing consistency.

Falken's Eurowinter HS02 showed particularly weak snow performance across nearly all disciplines, with sluggish wet handling and poor dry steering response. The magazine suggested it might have been better developed as an all-season tire.

The Profil Winter Maxx retreaded tire proved catastrophically dangerous despite good snow performance. Wet braking required 172 feet - over 69 feet longer than the Continental - earning zero points. The tire simply slid away in wet corners with no resistance and showed unpredictable dry handling, likely due to mixed carcass structures from different original tires. At 480 euros per set, it wasn't genuinely cheap compared to budget new tires and cannot be recommended.

Conclusions

The test revealed that EU tire labels remain unreliable guides, particularly for manufacturers with less established quality control. Retreaded winter tires cannot deliver safe all-around performance for year-round winter use. The Continental suits wet-focused German conditions, the Goodyear excels in snowier regions with superior comfort, and the Hankook delivers the best value despite handling quirks. Budget options showed that aggressive pricing typically involves significant compromises in handling safety and manufacturing consistency.

Dry

Continental leads dry braking with the shortest stopping distances, followed closely by Linglong and Goodyear, while the retreaded Profil requires nearly 15% more distance to stop - a significant safety concern that foreshadows its wet weather struggles.

Goodyear takes the top spot in dry handling speed, with most premium tires clustered within 1 mph of each other, though the Profil again falls dramatically behind at over 6 mph slower, demonstrating its fundamental grip deficiencies.

Wet

Continental maintains its braking dominance on wet surfaces with the shortest distances, while the performance gap widens dramatically - the Profil requires an alarming 70 feet more to stop than the leader, a difference that could prove life-threatening in emergency situations.

Goodyear edges ahead in wet handling, with Continental and Vredestein matching its pace, while the Profil's catastrophic wet performance continues with speeds over 8 mph slower than the leaders, earning it zero points in the overall wet assessment.

Hankook leads aquaplaning resistance with the highest float speed, though the premium field remains tightly grouped within 4 mph, while the Profil's poor showing at 10.5 mph below the leader confirms its lack of water clearing capability.

Snow

The Hankook delivers the shortest snow stopping distances, with the premium field separated by just 7 feet, while even the struggling Profil manages respectable performance here - the only test category where the retreaded tire approaches competitive standards.

Goodyear leads snow handling dynamics with Bridgestone close behind, while the performance spread of 3.5 mph from best to worst is relatively modest, confirming that winter-specific capability remains strong across the test field even for budget options.

Comfort

Goodyear achieves the best subjective comfort rating with excellent noise suppression and smooth rolling, while Continental, Linglong, Hankook, and Falken show slightly firmer characteristics over cross joints, and the Profil's booming, wummering abrollgeräusch (rolling noise) earns it the poorest comfort assessment in the test.

Goodyear produces the quietest external noise at 71.1 dB(A), with Continental and Profil matching closely behind, while the noisiest tire (Pirelli at 73.4 dB(A)) remains only 2.3 dB(A) louder - a difference barely perceptible to the human ear, showing modern tires have largely solved the noise issue.

Value

The Profil achieves the lowest rolling resistance, followed by Michelin and Continental sharing second place, while Hankook and Linglong show the highest resistance - though the 26% difference between best and worst translates to minimal real-world fuel consumption impact.

Results

1^st

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

215/55 R17 98V XL

The Continental TS 870 P takes the overall test victory with reliable and secure performance across all conditions. On snow, it delivers a safe and predictable driving experience, while on wet roads it provides outstanding grip for the shortest braking distances and excellent cornering stability. The testers found it to be particularly trustworthy and secure across all winter conditions. On dry asphalt, it also achieves the best braking performance with flawless overall capability. Minor limitations were noted in rolling comfort, where it can feel somewhat harsh over cross joints, but this doesn't detract from its status as the top choice for those prioritizing wet grip and all-around winter safety.

Dry99.3%

Wet99.2%

Snow94.6%

Comfort84.8%

Rolling Resistance92.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (16)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	1st / 10	100%
Dry Handling	6th / 10	98.55%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st / 10	100%
Wet Braking	1st / 10	100%
Wet Handling	2nd / 10	99.54%
Subj. Wet Handling	1st / 10	100%
Wet Circle	1st / 10	100%
Straight Aqua	5th / 10	96.75%
Curved Aquaplaning	5th / 10	91.19%
Snow Braking	6th / 10	94.77%
Snow Handling	5th / 10	98.26%
Subj. Snow Handling	3rd / 10	80%
Snow Circle	7th / 10	94.67%
Subj. Comfort	5th / 10	70%
Noise	2nd / 10	99.58%
Rolling Resistance	2nd / 10	92.86%

EU Label

B/B/71

Origin

Frankreich

Weight

8.93 kgs

Tread

8.2 mm

Price

187.00

2^nd

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

215/55 R17 98V XL

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is the recommended choice for snow-rich regions, combining winter strength with excellent all-around capability. It demonstrates dynamic, neutral, and very confident cornering on both snow and wet asphalt, with very good aquaplaning protection. The tire is easily controllable in dry conditions with ample reserves and offers the best rolling comfort in the test. Testers praised its stable handling characteristics and excellent noise suppression. The only marginal deficits noted were slightly longer braking distances on snow and wet surfaces compared to the very best, but overall it delivers a remarkably balanced and confidence-inspiring winter driving experience with outstanding comfort levels.

Dry99%

Wet98.3%

Snow98.8%

Comfort100%

Rolling Resistance84.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (16)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	3rd / 10	97.76%
Dry Handling	1st / 10	100%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st / 10	100%
Wet Braking	6th / 10	95.12%
Wet Handling	1st / 10	100%
Subj. Wet Handling	1st / 10	100%
Wet Circle	3rd / 10	99.34%
Straight Aqua	2nd / 10	98.13%
Curved Aquaplaning	2nd / 10	98.64%
Snow Braking	3rd / 10	96.8%
Snow Handling	1st / 10	100%
Subj. Snow Handling	1st / 10	100%
Snow Circle	2nd / 10	98.98%
Subj. Comfort	1st / 10	100%
Noise	1st / 10	100%
Rolling Resistance	4th / 10	84.42%

EU Label

C/C/71

Origin

Polen

Weight

8.91 kgs

Tread

8.2 mm

Price

177.00

3^rd

Michelin Alpin 7

215/55 R17 98V XL

The Michelin Alpin 7 provides secure and dynamic snow performance with good safety reserves in corners and short braking distances on wet roads. The tire delivers a balanced performance on dry asphalt as well. However, testers noted sluggish and heavily understeering behavior on wet surfaces, which doesn't inspire much confidence, and it showed some aquaplaning sensitivity. On snow, while generally good, the handling requires an experienced driver due to its characteristics. The tire can feel somewhat harsh over cross joints, affecting comfort. From experience, Michelin tires are known for particularly good durability and longevity, which adds value despite the handling quirks on wet roads.

Dry97.3%

Wet95.9%

Snow96.5%

Comfort89.7%

Rolling Resistance92.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (16)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	8th / 10	95.4%
Dry Handling	5th / 10	98.64%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st / 10	100%
Wet Braking	2nd / 10	99.36%
Wet Handling	5th / 10	98.18%
Subj. Wet Handling	5th / 10	80%
Wet Circle	5th / 10	98.8%
Straight Aqua	9th / 10	91.88%
Curved Aquaplaning	9th / 10	78.98%
Snow Braking	5th / 10	95.77%
Snow Handling	4th / 10	98.67%
Subj. Snow Handling	3rd / 10	80%
Snow Circle	1st / 10	100%
Subj. Comfort	3rd / 10	80%
Noise	4th / 10	99.44%
Rolling Resistance	2nd / 10	92.86%

EU Label

C/B/71

Origin

Italien

Weight

9.61 kgs

Tread

8.2 mm

Price

190.00

4^th

Hankook Winter I cept RS3

215/55 R17 98V XL

The Hankook i*cept RS3 delivers the shortest braking distances on snow and provides confident cornering on wet surfaces with the best aquaplaning protection in the test. It offers very precise, almost summer-tire-like driving characteristics with pronounced reserves in dry corners. However, the tire exhibits strong and confidence-reducing understeer on snow, and can be nervous and sensitive to load changes on wet surfaces. In dry conditions, while the reserves are excellent, braking distances are somewhat longer than the leaders. The tire can also feel harsh over cross joints. Despite these handling quirks, it represents good value and delivers secure all-around performance, making it a solid choice for those seeking the most performance for their money.

Dry97.3%

Wet97%

Snow95%

Comfort84.3%

Rolling Resistance79.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (16)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	7th / 10	95.61%
Dry Handling	7th / 10	98.46%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st / 10	100%
Wet Braking	5th / 10	95.71%
Wet Handling	4th / 10	98.63%
Subj. Wet Handling	5th / 10	80%
Wet Circle	2nd / 10	99.73%
Straight Aqua	1st / 10	100%
Curved Aquaplaning	1st / 10	100%
Snow Braking	1st / 10	100%
Snow Handling	6th / 10	97.55%
Subj. Snow Handling	7th / 10	70%
Snow Circle	6th / 10	94.92%
Subj. Comfort	5th / 10	70%
Noise	6th / 10	98.61%
Rolling Resistance	9th / 10	79.27%

EU Label

C/B/72

Origin

Ungarn

Weight

10.02 kgs

Tread

8.2 mm

Price

131.00

5^th

Vredestein Wintrac Pro+

215/55 R17 98V XL

The Vredestein Wintrac Pro+ offers very decent winter performance with the exception of somewhat weaker braking on snow. It stands out particularly for its dynamic and reliable wet handling (ranked second-best on wet surfaces overall) and provides steering-responsive, dynamic performance in dry corners. The tire is always safely controllable in dry conditions and offers good comfort. However, the unbalanced and not very stable wet handling, combined with somewhat longer wet braking distances, are notable weaknesses that emerged in the main test but showed significant improvement in follow-up testing. On snow, while generally competent, the braking performance falls slightly behind. Overall, it represents a good value option with strong wet and dry traction capabilities for those in less snow-heavy regions.

Dry96.1%

Wet98.5%

Snow92.9%

Comfort93.8%

Rolling Resistance81.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (16)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	9th / 10	93.97%
Dry Handling	9th / 10	97.56%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st / 10	100%
Wet Braking	3rd / 10	97.81%
Wet Handling	2nd / 10	99.54%
Subj. Wet Handling	1st / 10	100%
Wet Circle	6th / 10	98.67%
Straight Aqua	3rd / 10	97.88%
Curved Aquaplaning	3rd / 10	95.25%
Snow Braking	9th / 10	91.89%
Snow Handling	9th / 10	95.81%
Subj. Snow Handling	3rd / 10	80%
Snow Circle	7th / 10	94.67%
Subj. Comfort	2nd / 10	90%
Noise	7th / 10	97.53%
Rolling Resistance	7th / 10	81.25%

EU Label

C/B/71

Origin

Ungarn

Weight

9.76 kgs

Tread

8.4 mm

Price

145.00

6^th

Bridgestone Blizzak 6

215/55 R17 98V XL

The Bridgestone Blizzak 6 excels on snow and dry roads but lacks the necessary grip on wet surfaces. It demonstrates outstanding performance on snow with a balanced overall capability, leading the snow category. On dry asphalt, it provides secure braking and easily controllable driving behavior with pronounced reserves. However, testers found all snow disciplines delivered comparatively lower grip levels overall. The tire's main weakness is on wet roads where it tends toward understeer with strong front-axle grip and shows a tendency for lift-off oversteer, though it does brake and handle aquaplaning situations well. The unbalanced and somewhat less stable wet handling holds it back from a higher ranking despite its winter and dry road strengths.

Dry97.1%

Wet93.9%

Snow97.3%

Comfort88.8%

Rolling Resistance84.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (16)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	4th / 10	96.89%
Dry Handling	4th / 10	98.91%
Subj. Dry Handling	7th / 10	88.89%
Wet Braking	9th / 10	93.69%
Wet Handling	8th / 10	96.51%
Subj. Wet Handling	7th / 10	70%
Wet Circle	6th / 10	98.67%
Straight Aqua	7th / 10	94.13%
Curved Aquaplaning	7th / 10	89.15%
Snow Braking	4th / 10	96.11%
Snow Handling	2nd / 10	98.98%
Subj. Snow Handling	2nd / 10	90%
Snow Circle	3rd / 10	98.73%
Subj. Comfort	3rd / 10	80%
Noise	7th / 10	97.53%
Rolling Resistance	4th / 10	84.42%

EU Label

C/B/70

Origin

Polen

Weight

9.65 kgs

Tread

8.1 mm

Price

169.00

7^th

Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2

215/55 R17 98V XL

The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 is generally reliable but struggles somewhat on snow-covered roads. It provides strong grip in wet corners and good braking with safe aquaplaning behavior. In dry conditions, it offers secure braking and easily controllable handling with pronounced reserves, though it can be somewhat unbalanced with less stable wet handling. On snow, the tire has particular difficulty across all disciplines with comparatively low grip levels and limited reserves. Testers noted rough rolling characteristics and profile noise during cornering. The tire's wet performance is solid, but the noticeable weakness in snow capability means it's better suited for regions with milder winters and primarily wet, cold conditions rather than heavy snowfall.

Dry97.7%

Wet96.7%

Snow92.2%

Comfort83.4%

Rolling Resistance80.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (16)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	6th / 10	95.82%
Dry Handling	3rd / 10	99.1%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st / 10	100%
Wet Braking	7th / 10	94.83%
Wet Handling	6th / 10	98.03%
Subj. Wet Handling	4th / 10	90%
Wet Circle	3rd / 10	99.34%
Straight Aqua	4th / 10	97.75%
Curved Aquaplaning	4th / 10	94.24%
Snow Braking	7th / 10	93.47%
Snow Handling	8th / 10	95.91%
Subj. Snow Handling	7th / 10	70%
Snow Circle	9th / 10	93.65%
Subj. Comfort	5th / 10	70%
Noise	10th / 10	96.87%
Rolling Resistance	8th / 10	80.25%

EU Label

C/B/71

Origin

Rumänien

Weight

9.61 kgs

Tread

8.2 mm

Price

181.00

8^th

Linglong Sport Master Winter

215/55 R17 98V XL

The Linglong Sport Master Winter delivers balanced performance on reduced grip levels overall, but has pronounced weaknesses that limit its appeal. It provides decent braking on both wet and dry asphalt with good aquaplaning protection, and shows sluggish but easily controllable handling on dry roads. However, on snow it demonstrates weak performance across all disciplines except cornering grip. On wet surfaces, the tire exhibits sluggish steering with limited reserves and a tendency toward lift-off oversteer, which is concerning. In dry conditions, while cornering stability is weak, it maintains some basic competence. The tire feels somewhat harsh over cross joints. Most critically, the EU label's optimistic A-rating for wet grip proved misleading - the actual performance doesn't match this claim, and process stability in the Serbian manufacturing facility appears questionable based on follow-up testing showing significant variation between production batches.

Dry97.7%

Wet93.2%

Snow91.6%

Comfort83.6%

Rolling Resistance79.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (16)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	2nd / 10	97.98%
Dry Handling	2nd / 10	99.19%
Subj. Dry Handling	7th / 10	88.89%
Wet Braking	4th / 10	96.89%
Wet Handling	7th / 10	96.66%
Subj. Wet Handling	8th / 10	60%
Wet Circle	9th / 10	96.68%
Straight Aqua	8th / 10	92%
Curved Aquaplaning	8th / 10	84.75%
Snow Braking	8th / 10	92.52%
Snow Handling	7th / 10	96.11%
Subj. Snow Handling	10th / 10	60%
Snow Circle	5th / 10	95.43%
Subj. Comfort	5th / 10	70%
Noise	9th / 10	97.26%
Rolling Resistance	9th / 10	79.27%

EU Label

D/A/72

Origin

Serbien

Weight

9.52 kgs

Tread

8.2 mm

Price

80.00

9^th

Falken EUROWINTER HS02

215/55 R17 98V XL

The Falken Eurowinter HS02 rolls somewhat past its target with weak winter performance despite reasonable pricing. While it provides decent braking on wet and dry asphalt, the tire's snow capability is its major shortcoming. On snow, it delivers weak performance across nearly all disciplines with low reserves, making it unsuitable for snow-rich regions. The wet handling is sluggish with limited reserves and concerning lift-off oversteer tendencies. In dry conditions, while grip levels and reserves are adequate, the steering response is poor and it can feel harsh over cross joints. The tire also produces noticeable interior noise from both rolling and lateral scrubbing during cornering. Overall, it represents a compromised package that might have been better developed as an all-season tire rather than a dedicated winter tire.

Dry95.6%

Wet92.6%

Snow89.1%

Comfort84.4%

Rolling Resistance82.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (16)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	5th / 10	96.46%
Dry Handling	8th / 10	98.28%
Subj. Dry Handling	9th / 10	77.78%
Wet Braking	8th / 10	93.98%
Wet Handling	9th / 10	94.84%
Subj. Wet Handling	8th / 10	60%
Wet Circle	8th / 10	97.34%
Straight Aqua	6th / 10	95.25%
Curved Aquaplaning	6th / 10	90.17%
Snow Braking	10th / 10	88.31%
Snow Handling	10th / 10	94.27%
Subj. Snow Handling	7th / 10	70%
Snow Circle	10th / 10	89.85%
Subj. Comfort	5th / 10	70%
Noise	5th / 10	98.75%
Rolling Resistance	6th / 10	82.28%

EU Label

C/B/70

Origin

Türkei

Weight

10.2 kgs

Tread

8.2 mm

Price

132.00

10^th

Profil Winter Maxx

215/55 R17 94H

The Profil Winter Maxx is a retreaded tire that can handle snow but is otherwise dangerous and unacceptable. On snow, it surprisingly delivers good performance - this is the only surface where it shows competence. However, on wet roads it's a catastrophe with non-existent grip: braking distances over 66 feet longer than average are simply dangerous, it slides away in corners with no resistance, offers no aquaplaning protection, and exhibits unpredictable handling. On dry asphalt, it also fails completely with poor braking, sliding in corners, booming rolling noise, and no definable driving behavior. The testers noted uneven side-to-side turn-in response and difficult-to-calculate self-steering characteristics, likely due to the use of different carcass structures in the retreading process. Despite being inexpensive and having the lowest rolling resistance, this tire received zero points for wet braking and an overall failing grade - it simply cannot be recommended under any circumstances except perhaps for dedicated snow-only use.

Dry83.2%

Wet68.5%

Snow96.6%

Comfort69.8%

Rolling Resistance100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (16)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	10th / 10	87.03%
Dry Handling	10th / 10	91.4%
Subj. Dry Handling	10th / 10	22.22%
Wet Braking	10th / 10	59.43%
Wet Handling	10th / 10	79.06%
Subj. Wet Handling	10th / 10	20%
Wet Circle	10th / 10	76.99%
Straight Aqua	10th / 10	78.88%
Curved Aquaplaning	10th / 10	70.51%
Snow Braking	2nd / 10	98.19%
Snow Handling	3rd / 10	98.88%
Subj. Snow Handling	3rd / 10	80%
Snow Circle	4th / 10	97.72%
Subj. Comfort	10th / 10	40%
Noise	2nd / 10	99.58%
Rolling Resistance	1st / 10	100%

Origin

9.86

Weight

9..86 kgs

Tread

8.5 mm

Price

120.00