Test Charts / Motor

2025 Motor 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: 8
Disciplines: 15
Test vehicle: VW Golf (Skoda Octavia for straight aquaplaning)

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.

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	146 ft	Best	0 mph
2Nokian Snowproof 2	148 ft	+2 ft	8 mph
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	149 ft	+3 ft	11 mph
4Laufenn I Fit+	151 ft	+5 ft	13 mph
5Michelin Alpin 7	151 ft	+5 ft	14 mph
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6	151 ft	+5 ft	14 mph
7Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	152 ft	+6 ft	15 mph
8Kormoran Kormoran Snow	156 ft	+10 ft	20 mph

The difference between best and worst was 7% (10 ft ≈ 0.7 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Kormoran Kormoran Snow would still be travelling at 20 mph when the Continental WinterContact TS 870 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Laufenn I Fit+	53.1 s	Best
2Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	53.3 s	+0.20 s
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	53.5 s	+0.40 s
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6	53.7 s	+0.60 s
5Michelin Alpin 7	54 s	+0.90 s
6Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	54.2 s	+1.10 s
7Nokian Snowproof 2	54.3 s	+1.20 s
8Kormoran Kormoran Snow	55.4 s	+2.30 s

The difference between best and worst was 4.3% (2.3 s).

Subj. Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	7.5 Points	Best
2Laufenn I Fit+	7 Points	-0.50 Points
3Michelin Alpin 7	6.7 Points	-0.80 Points
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6	6.2 Points	-1.30 Points
5Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	6 Points	-1.50 Points
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	6 Points	-1.50 Points
7Nokian Snowproof 2	5.9 Points	-1.60 Points
8Kormoran Kormoran Snow	4.9 Points	-2.60 Points

The difference between best and worst was 34.7% (2.6 Points).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	174 ft	Best	0 mph
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	175 ft	+1 ft	6 mph
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	176 ft	+2 ft	8 mph
4Michelin Alpin 7	180 ft	+6 ft	15 mph
5Laufenn I Fit+	184 ft	+10 ft	19 mph
6Nokian Snowproof 2	185 ft	+11 ft	20 mph
7Kormoran Kormoran Snow	204 ft	+30 ft	31 mph
8Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	219 ft	+45 ft	36 mph

The difference between best and worst was 25.9% (45 ft ≈ 3 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Tomket Snowroad Pro 3 would still be travelling at 36 mph when the Continental WinterContact TS 870 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	85.9 s	Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	86.3 s	+0.40 s
3Laufenn I Fit+	87.2 s	+1.30 s
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6	87.7 s	+1.80 s
5Michelin Alpin 7	88.4 s	+2.50 s
6Nokian Snowproof 2	89 s	+3.10 s
7Kormoran Kormoran Snow	91.6 s	+5.70 s
8Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	96.8 s	+10.90 s

The difference between best and worst was 12.7% (10.9 s).

Wet Circle
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	0.74 g	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	0.73 g	-0.01 g
3Bridgestone Blizzak 6	0.72 g	-0.02 g
4Michelin Alpin 7	0.7 g	-0.04 g
4Laufenn I Fit+	0.7 g	-0.04 g
4Nokian Snowproof 2	0.7 g	-0.04 g
7Kormoran Kormoran Snow	0.62 g	-0.12 g
7Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	0.62 g	-0.12 g

The difference between best and worst was 16.2% (0.12 g).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	53.6 mph	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	53.4 mph	-0.2 mph
3Nokian Snowproof 2	52.6 mph	-1.0 mph
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6	51.3 mph	-2.3 mph
4Michelin Alpin 7	51.3 mph	-2.3 mph
6Laufenn I Fit+	47.7 mph	-5.9 mph
7Kormoran Kormoran Snow	44.5 mph	-9.1 mph
8Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	43.4 mph	-10.2 mph

The difference between best and worst was 18.9% (10.2 mph).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	12.2 ft/s²	Best
2Nokian Snowproof 2	12.1 ft/s²	-0.1 ft/s²
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	12.1 ft/s²	-0.1 ft/s²
4Michelin Alpin 7	11.2 ft/s²	-1.0 ft/s²
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	11.0 ft/s²	-1.2 ft/s²
6Laufenn I Fit+	10.1 ft/s²	-2.1 ft/s²
7Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	8.5 ft/s²	-3.7 ft/s²
8Kormoran Kormoran Snow	8.3 ft/s²	-3.9 ft/s²

The difference between best and worst was 31.7% (3.9 ft/s²).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	93 ft	Best	0 mph
2Michelin Alpin 7	94 ft	+1 ft	8 mph
3Laufenn I Fit+	94 ft	+1 ft	9 mph
4Nokian Snowproof 2	94 ft	+1 ft	11 mph
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	94 ft	+1 ft	11 mph
4Kormoran Kormoran Snow	94 ft	+1 ft	11 mph
7Bridgestone Blizzak 6	96 ft	+3 ft	15 mph
8Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	97 ft	+4 ft	16 mph

The difference between best and worst was 4.2% (4 ft). From 80 mph, the Tomket Snowroad Pro 3 would still be travelling at 16 mph when the Continental WinterContact TS 870 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Snow Traction
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	28 ft	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	28 ft	0 ft
3Michelin Alpin 7	28 ft	0 ft
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	29 ft	+1 ft
5Laufenn I Fit+	29 ft	+1 ft
5Kormoran Kormoran Snow	29 ft	+1 ft
7Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	29 ft	+1 ft
8Nokian Snowproof 2	29 ft	+1 ft

The difference between best and worst was 6% (1 ft).

Snow Traction
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	635 lbf	Best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	635 lbf	Best
3Michelin Alpin 7	635 lbf	0 lbf
4Laufenn I Fit+	631 lbf	-4 lbf
5Kormoran Kormoran Snow	631 lbf	-4 lbf
6Nokian Snowproof 2	627 lbf	-8 lbf
7Bridgestone Blizzak 6	624 lbf	-11 lbf
8Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	612 lbf	-23 lbf

The difference between best and worst was 3.7% (23 lbf).

Snow Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Alpin 7	74.6 s	Best
2Kormoran Kormoran Snow	74.8 s	+0.20 s
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	75.1 s	+0.50 s
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	76.2 s	+1.60 s
5Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	76.6 s	+2.00 s
5Laufenn I Fit+	76.6 s	+2.00 s
7Nokian Snowproof 2	76.8 s	+2.20 s
8Bridgestone Blizzak 6	77 s	+2.40 s

The difference between best and worst was 3.2% (2.4 s).

Comfort

Subj. Comfort
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	7 Points	Best
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6	7 Points	Best
3Nokian Snowproof 2	6.5 Points	-0.50 Points
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	6.5 Points	-0.50 Points
3Michelin Alpin 7	6.5 Points	-0.50 Points
6Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	6 Points	-1.00 Points
6Laufenn I Fit+	6 Points	-1.00 Points
8Kormoran Kormoran Snow	5.5 Points	-1.50 Points

The difference between best and worst was 21.4% (1.5 Points).

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	63.7 dB	Best
2Michelin Alpin 7	64.3 dB	+0.60 dB
3Nokian Snowproof 2	64.8 dB	+1.10 dB
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	65.1 dB	+1.40 dB
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	65.4 dB	+1.70 dB
6Laufenn I Fit+	65.5 dB	+1.80 dB
7Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	65.8 dB	+2.10 dB
8Kormoran Kormoran Snow	66.9 dB	+3.20 dB

The difference between best and worst was 5% (3.2 dB).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Michelin Alpin 7	0.76 kg/t	Best	$0
2Nokian Snowproof 2	0.79 kg/t	+0.03 kg/t	$12
3Bridgestone Blizzak 6	0.81 kg/t	+0.05 kg/t	$19
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	0.81 kg/t	+0.05 kg/t	$19
5Laufenn I Fit+	0.83 kg/t	+0.07 kg/t	$27
6Tomket Snowroad Pro 3	0.84 kg/t	+0.08 kg/t	$31
6Kormoran Kormoran Snow	0.84 kg/t	+0.08 kg/t	$31
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	0.89 kg/t	+0.13 kg/t	$50

The difference between best and worst was 17.1% (0.13 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 uses about 14 gal ($50) more fuel than the Michelin Alpin 7.

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.

Gas/Diesel Electric

Annual Mileage

12,000 mi

km (L)

miles (US gal)

Fuel Price

$3.60/gal

GBP (£)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Set my vehicle consumption

Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tire age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.