Test Charts / Auto Express

2026 Auto Express 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: 11
Disciplines: 12

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	118 ft	-24 ft	0 mph
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	127 ft	-15 ft	0 mph
1Falken EUROWINTER HS02	142 ft	Best	0 mph
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	144 ft	+2 ft	10 mph
3Minerva Frostrack HP	145 ft	+3 ft	12 mph
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	146 ft	+4 ft	13 mph
5Hankook Winter I cept RS3	147 ft	+5 ft	15 mph
6Michelin Alpin 7	147 ft	+5 ft	15 mph
7Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	148 ft	+6 ft	16 mph
7Dunlop Winter	148 ft	+6 ft	16 mph
9Linglong Sport Master Winter	148 ft	+6 ft	16 mph
10Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	149 ft	+7 ft	17 mph
11Bridgestone Blizzak 6	150 ft	+8 ft	18 mph

The difference between best and worst was 27% (32 ft ≈ 2.2 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Bridgestone Blizzak 6 would still be travelling at 18 mph when the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 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
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	53.95 s	-3.35 s
1Minerva Frostrack HP	57.3 s	Best
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6	57.3 s	Best
3Hankook Winter I cept RS3	57.41 s	+0.11 s
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	57.53 s	+0.23 s
5Falken EUROWINTER HS02	57.59 s	+0.29 s
6Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	57.7 s	+0.40 s
6Linglong Sport Master Winter	57.7 s	+0.40 s
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	57.82 s	+0.52 s
8Michelin Alpin 7	57.88 s	+0.58 s
8Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	57.88 s	+0.58 s
10Dunlop Winter	57.94 s	+0.64 s
11Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	58.11 s	+0.81 s

The difference between best and worst was 7.7% (4.16 s).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	90 ft	-18 ft	0 mph
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	105 ft	-3 ft	0 mph
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	108 ft	Best	0 mph
2Hankook Winter I cept RS3	111 ft	+3 ft	13 mph
3Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	112 ft	+4 ft	14 mph
4Michelin Alpin 7	113 ft	+5 ft	16 mph
5Falken EUROWINTER HS02	113 ft	+5 ft	17 mph
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6	114 ft	+6 ft	18 mph
7Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	115 ft	+7 ft	19 mph
7Linglong Sport Master Winter	115 ft	+7 ft	19 mph
9Dunlop Winter	118 ft	+10 ft	23 mph
10Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	120 ft	+12 ft	25 mph
11Minerva Frostrack HP	130 ft	+22 ft	32 mph

The difference between best and worst was 44.2% (40 ft ≈ 2.7 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Minerva Frostrack HP would still be travelling at 32 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
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	85.53 s	-1.97 s
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	87.5 s	Best
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	87.5 s	Best
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	87.68 s	+0.18 s
3Falken EUROWINTER HS02	88.21 s	+0.71 s
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	88.56 s	+1.06 s
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	88.83 s	+1.33 s
5Michelin Alpin 7	88.83 s	+1.33 s
7Hankook Winter I cept RS3	89.19 s	+1.69 s
8Linglong Sport Master Winter	90.67 s	+3.17 s
9Dunlop Winter	90.77 s	+3.27 s
10Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	90.96 s	+3.46 s
11Minerva Frostrack HP	95.52 s	+8.02 s

The difference between best and worst was 11.7% (9.99 s).

Wet Circle
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	11.52 s	-0.58 s
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	12.1 s	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	12.17 s	+0.07 s
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	12.19 s	+0.09 s
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	12.36 s	+0.26 s
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6	12.37 s	+0.27 s
5Michelin Alpin 7	12.42 s	+0.32 s
6Falken EUROWINTER HS02	12.44 s	+0.34 s
7Hankook Winter I cept RS3	12.46 s	+0.36 s
8Dunlop Winter	12.58 s	+0.48 s
9Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	12.66 s	+0.56 s
10Linglong Sport Master Winter	12.71 s	+0.61 s
11Minerva Frostrack HP	13.02 s	+0.92 s

The difference between best and worst was 13% (1.5 s).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	53.2 mph	Best
2Hankook Winter I cept RS3	52.3 mph	-0.9 mph
3Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	52.1 mph	-1.1 mph
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	51.4 mph	-1.8 mph
5Michelin Alpin 7	50.2 mph	-3.0 mph
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	50.1 mph	-3.1 mph
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6	49.7 mph	-3.5 mph
7Falken EUROWINTER HS02	48.8 mph	-4.4 mph
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	48.5 mph	-4.7 mph
9Dunlop Winter	48.2 mph	-5.0 mph
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	47.8 mph	-5.4 mph
10Linglong Sport Master Winter	45.5 mph	-7.7 mph
11Minerva Frostrack HP	41.8 mph	-11.4 mph

The difference between best and worst was 21.5% (11.4 mph).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	11.5 ft/s²	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	11.4 ft/s²	-0.1 ft/s²
3Hankook Winter I cept RS3	11.3 ft/s²	-0.2 ft/s²
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6	11.2 ft/s²	-0.3 ft/s²
5Continental WinterContact TS 870	11.1 ft/s²	-0.4 ft/s²
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	10.9 ft/s²	-0.6 ft/s²
6Dunlop Winter	10.8 ft/s²	-0.7 ft/s²
7Michelin Alpin 7	10.5 ft/s²	-1.0 ft/s²
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	10.5 ft/s²	-1.0 ft/s²
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	10.5 ft/s²	-1.0 ft/s²
9Falken EUROWINTER HS02	10.4 ft/s²	-1.1 ft/s²
10Linglong Sport Master Winter	9.2 ft/s²	-2.3 ft/s²
11Minerva Frostrack HP	6.0 ft/s²	-5.5 ft/s²

The difference between best and worst was 47.4% (5.5 ft/s²).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Hankook Winter I cept RS3	61 ft	Best	0 mph
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	62 ft	+1 ft	5 mph
3Dunlop Winter	62 ft	+1 ft	7 mph
4Michelin Alpin 7	62 ft	+1 ft	8 mph
5Continental WinterContact TS 870	62 ft	+1 ft	10 mph
6Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	62 ft	+1 ft	11 mph
7Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	63 ft	+2 ft	14 mph
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	63 ft	+2 ft	14 mph
9Linglong Sport Master Winter	64 ft	+3 ft	15 mph
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	64 ft	+3 ft	17 mph
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02	65 ft	+4 ft	19 mph
11Minerva Frostrack HP	66 ft	+5 ft	21 mph
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	138 ft	+77 ft	60 mph

The difference between best and worst was 125.7% (77 ft ≈ 5.2 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Minerva Frostrack HP would still be travelling at 21 mph when the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 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
1Dunlop Winter	6 s	Best
2Hankook Winter I cept RS3	6.03 s	+0.03 s
3Michelin Alpin 7	6.05 s	+0.05 s
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	6.06 s	+0.06 s
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	6.15 s	+0.15 s
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	6.19 s	+0.19 s
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6	6.21 s	+0.21 s
7Linglong Sport Master Winter	6.31 s	+0.31 s
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	6.36 s	+0.36 s
9Continental WinterContact TS 870	6.37 s	+0.37 s
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02	6.55 s	+0.55 s
11Minerva Frostrack HP	6.75 s	+0.75 s
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	18.87 s	+12.87 s

The difference between best and worst was 214.5% (12.87 s).

Snow Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	86 s	Best
2Hankook Winter I cept RS3	86.43 s	+0.43 s
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	86.43 s	+0.43 s
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	86.87 s	+0.87 s
5Michelin Alpin 7	86.96 s	+0.96 s
6Linglong Sport Master Winter	87.22 s	+1.22 s
7Bridgestone Blizzak 6	87.49 s	+1.49 s
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	87.67 s	+1.67 s
8Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	88.02 s	+2.02 s
8Dunlop Winter	88.02 s	+2.02 s
10Falken EUROWINTER HS02	88.93 s	+2.93 s
11Minerva Frostrack HP	91.98 s	+5.98 s
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	127.79 s	+41.79 s

The difference between best and worst was 48.6% (41.79 s).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental WinterContact TS 870	67.4 dB	Best
2Falken EUROWINTER HS02	67.5 dB	+0.10 dB
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	67.5 dB	+0.10 dB
2Linglong Sport Master Winter	67.5 dB	+0.10 dB
5Minerva Frostrack HP	67.6 dB	+0.20 dB
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	67.6 dB	+0.20 dB
5Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	67.6 dB	+0.20 dB
8Dunlop Winter	67.9 dB	+0.50 dB
9Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	68 dB	+0.60 dB
10Michelin Alpin 7	68.1 dB	+0.70 dB
11Hankook Winter I cept RS3	68.2 dB	+0.80 dB
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	68.2 dB	+0.80 dB
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	68.4 dB	+1.00 dB

All the tires in the Noise test finished less than 3% apart.

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Michelin Alpin 7	7.4 kg/t	Best	$0
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	7.85 kg/t	+0.45 kg/t	$18
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	8.2 kg/t	+0.80 kg/t	$32
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	8.26 kg/t	+0.86 kg/t	$34
5Dunlop Winter	8.31 kg/t	+0.91 kg/t	$36
6Falken EUROWINTER HS02	8.34 kg/t	+0.94 kg/t	$37
7Hankook Winter I cept RS3	8.38 kg/t	+0.98 kg/t	$39
RefContinental PremiumContact 7	8.43 kg/t	+1.03 kg/t	$41
8Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	8.45 kg/t	+1.05 kg/t	$42
RefPirelli Cinturato All Season SF3	8.78 kg/t	+1.38 kg/t	$55
9Minerva Frostrack HP	8.86 kg/t	+1.46 kg/t	$58
10Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6	9.2 kg/t	+1.80 kg/t	$71
11Linglong Sport Master Winter	9.52 kg/t	+2.12 kg/t	$84

The difference between best and worst was 28.6% (2.12 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Linglong Sport Master Winter uses about 23 gal ($84) 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.