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2026 AvD Winter Tire Test

Overall test winnerPirelli Cinturato Winter 3

The Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD) has tested 15 winter tires in 225/45 R17, the size fitted to compact cars such as the Audi A3, VW Golf and Skoda Octavia, working with the test company TEMPOTIRE and an Audi A3 as the test car.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson
10 min read
Tire shortlist Read the test
Tires tested
15
Tested size
225/45 R17
Test vehicle
Audi A3
Disciplines
6

At a glance

Tire shortlist

15 Tires tested

Published finishing positions, with the strengths and considerations from this test. Owner reviews cover other sizes and driving conditions.

1st

Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3

+The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 was the best tire in the test on wet roads. It stopped shortest in the wet by a clear margin, was second only to the Toyo for dry braking, earned AvD's top aquaplaning score and was rated the best tire in the dry as well. On snow it was safe and well balanced, with good grip and steering response, and its predicted tread life was the fourth longest in the test.

−The Pirelli was mid-field for snow braking, and several cheaper tires stopped shorter on snow. Its rolling resistance was only average, and as one of the more expensive tires here it was among the most costly to run per kilometer despite its good tread life.

5 owner reviews Test Results
2nd

Michelin Alpin 7

+The Michelin Alpin 7 was the best of the premium tires on snow, sharing the best premium snow braking result with the Goodyear and placing third in AvD's snow scoring behind only the two budget tires. It had the longest predicted tread life in the test, the second lowest rolling resistance and the best economy and environment score by a wide margin, which made it the cheapest premium tire to run per kilometer alongside the Goodyear. It stopped well in the wet and AvD rated it quiet and comfortable.

−The Michelin was only mid-field for dry braking, and its wet handling scores trailed the best tires in the test. It was also the most expensive set of tires in the test to buy.

11 owner reviews Test Results
3rd

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

+The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 shared the best premium snow braking result with the Michelin and was rated second only to the Pirelli in the wet, with AvD praising its controllable wet handling. Its predicted tread life was the second longest in the test, which gave it one of the lowest running costs of the premium tires, and AvD rated it quiet and comfortable.

−The Goodyear was mid-field for dry braking and its dry scores overall were behind the best tires. Its rolling resistance was slightly above the test average, and AvD marked it down for the low certification of its production in the environment chapter.

15 owner reviews Test Results
4th

Continental WinterContact TS 870

+The Continental WinterContact TS 870 was among the strongest tires on tarmac, sharing the second shortest wet braking distance with the Toyo, with the second best dry score in AvD's table, and AvD rated it third best in the wet. It had the third lowest rolling resistance, and AvD praised its precise steering, ride comfort and low noise. It had no real weakness on snow.

−The Continental was mid-field for snow braking and not among the best for dry braking. Its tread life was good but not among the best, and with one of the highest prices in the test it was the most expensive tire here to run per kilometer.

26 owner reviews Test Results
5th

Bridgestone Blizzak 6

+The Bridgestone Blizzak 6 had the lowest rolling resistance in the test by a clear margin and was also the lightest tire, which helped it to the third best economy and environment score. AvD rated it the best tire on the dry handling course, it stopped well in the wet, and it was safe and predictable on snow with good traction and grip.

−The Bridgestone was mid-field for snow braking and in the lower half of the field for dry braking, and AvD rated its aquaplaning resistance only mid-field. Its tread life was good rather than outstanding, and it was among the more expensive tires to run per kilometer.

9 owner reviews Test Results
6th

Kumho WinterCraft WP52+

+The Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus had the third shortest dry braking distance in the test, ahead of every premium tire except the Pirelli, and was in the upper half of the field for wet braking. AvD found it agile and quick on snow with good traction, and it was one of the cheaper tires in the test.

−The Kumho was mid-field for snow braking, and AvD scored its aquaplaning resistance, especially in curves, among the weaker results in the test. Its rolling resistance was above the test average, its tread life was average, and it lost points for the long transport distance from the factory.

6 owner reviews Test Results
7th

Hankook Winter I cept RS3

+The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 had the third longest predicted tread life in the test, ahead of the Pirelli, and the fourth lowest rolling resistance. AvD rated its aquaplaning resistance among the best, and found it neutral and easy to control on snow with good traction.

−The Hankook was in the lower half of the field for all three braking tests, and its dry score was the lowest of any tire that AvD recommended. Its handling scores in the wet were also behind the best tires.

28 owner reviews Test Results
8th

Nexen Winguard Sport 3

+The Nexen Winguard Sport 3 had the third shortest snow braking distance in the test, ahead of every premium tire, and AvD found it easy to control on snow with good traction. It was the most comfortable tire in AvD's scoring and shared the best pass-by noise score, it was one of the lightest tires, and its low price made it the second cheapest tire to run per kilometer.

−The Nexen's wet braking was a clear step behind the main pack, and AvD found it short of lateral grip in wet corners, giving it one of the lowest wet scores of the tires it recommended. Its rolling resistance was above the test average and its tread life was only average.

Read owner reviews Test Results
9th

Linglong Sport Master Winter

+The Linglong Sport Master Winter was the cheapest tire in the test to run per kilometer and was named AvD's price-performance winner. It had no safety-relevant weakness, with mid-field braking on snow, in the wet and in the dry, and AvD rated it among the quickest tires on the dry handling course.

−The Linglong's overall grip level was below the leading tires, and AvD found it prone to understeer in tight wet corners. Its predicted tread life was among the shortest of the recommended tires, its rolling resistance was above the test average, and AvD rated its ride comfort among the weaker results.

4 owner reviews Test Results
10th

Giti GitiWinterW2

+The Giti GitiWinter W2 was good on snow, where AvD scored it level with the Continental and Bridgestone and praised its handling, balance and traction. AvD rated its aquaplaning resistance good, and its low price made it one of the cheaper tires to run per kilometer.

−The Giti was weak in the wet, with braking in the lower half of the field and an understeering wet handling result low enough to trigger AvD's safety downgrade. It was among the longest stopping tires in the dry, had the second highest rolling resistance in the test and its tread life was below average.

1 owner review Test Results
11th

Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro

+The Falken Eurowinter HS02 Pro had the fourth shortest dry braking distance in the test, and AvD rated it safe and stable in the dry with good steering and aquaplaning resistance. It was the only asymmetric tire in the test, and AvD noted its low wear rate and low weight.

−The Falken was one of the two weakest tires on snow, with the second longest snow braking distance and the second lowest snow score, lacking grip and traction on the snow handling course. It had the highest rolling resistance in the test, its tread life was below average, and it was among the more expensive tires to run per kilometer.

4 owner reviews Test Results
12th

Toyo Observe EWS1

+The Toyo Observe EWS1 had the shortest dry braking distance in the test, ahead of every premium tire, and shared the second shortest wet braking distance with the Continental. AvD rated it the fourth best tire in the wet, with the best curved aquaplaning score in the test and good straight-line aquaplaning resistance, and its low price made it one of the cheaper tires to run per kilometer.

−The Toyo was the weakest tire in the test on snow. It had the longest snow braking distance and the lowest snow score, with poor traction and grip, and AvD found it hard work to steer and nervous on snow. Its tread life and rolling resistance were only mid-field.

2 owner reviews Test Results
13th

Triangle WinterX TW401

+The Triangle WinterX TW401 was mid-field for snow braking, and AvD rated it reasonably safe on snow with good traction. It was one of the cheapest tires in the test, which made it the third cheapest to run per kilometer despite its short tread life.

−The Triangle was a long way behind the main pack for wet braking and among the longest stopping tires in the dry, and AvD found its grip limited and its steering slow and vague on tarmac, with oversteer in the dry that was hard to control. Its tread life was the second shortest in the test, its rolling resistance was among the highest and it was the heaviest tire tested.

2 owner reviews Test Results
14th

Double Coin DW300

+The Double Coin DW300 had the second shortest snow braking distance in the test and AvD's second best snow score, ahead of every premium tire. Its rolling resistance was better than the test average.

−The Double Coin had the second longest wet braking distance in the test, far behind every recommended tire, and was the second longest stopping tire in the dry. AvD found its handling unbalanced and vague on wet and dry roads, with little aquaplaning resistance and poor ride comfort, and its tread life was among the shortest in the test.

Read owner reviews Test Results
15th

Rockblade Icecruiser 1

+The Rockblade Icecruiser 1 had the shortest snow braking distance in the test and AvD's best snow score, ahead of every premium tire. It was also the cheapest tire in the test to buy.

−The Rockblade had the longest wet and dry braking distances in the test, with its wet braking far behind every other tire, and AvD rated it last by a wide margin in both the wet and the dry. It had the shortest predicted tread life, around half that of the longest-lasting tire, and the worst ride comfort in the test.

1 owner review Test Results

Tire shortlist

Compare selected tires

2026 AvD Winter Tire Test · 225/45 R17

TirePirelli Cinturato Winter 3Michelin Alpin 7Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3Continental WinterContact TS 870Bridgestone Blizzak 6Kumho WinterCraft WP52+Hankook Winter I cept RS3Nexen Winguard Sport 3Linglong Sport Master WinterGiti GitiWinterW2Falken EUROWINTER HS02 ProToyo Observe EWS1Triangle WinterX TW401Double Coin DW300Rockblade Icecruiser 1
Position1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th
Category scores (% of best)
Dry99.5%95.6%98.1%98.1%95.4%99.3%94.8%97.4%95.6%94.5%98.8%100%94.5%92.6%92.4%
Wet100%97.1%96.2%97.5%96.2%96%94.5%90.2%95.1%93.5%94.5%97.5%84%73.4%72.1%
Snow96%97.2%97.2%95.6%95.6%95.6%95.3%98%96%95.3%93.4%90.3%96%99.2%100%
Value77.4%88.8%83%75.9%81.4%78.2%84%80.1%79.1%77%70.3%78.6%73.9%74%72%
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Test Results

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The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

The Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD) has tested 15 winter tires in 225/45 R17, the size fitted to compact cars such as the Audi A3, VW Golf and Skoda Octavia, working with the test company TEMPOTIRE and an Audi A3 as the test car. Five premium tires from Pirelli, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental and Bridgestone were tested alongside tires from Kumho, Hankook, Nexen, Falken, Toyo, Giti, Linglong, Triangle, Double Coin and Rockblade, with the cheapest set costing less than half as much as the most expensive. AvD scores every test on a five-star scale and weights snow and wet at 30 percent each, with dry and an economy and environment chapter at 20 percent each.

The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 won by the narrowest of margins from the Michelin Alpin 7, the two tires finishing level on 4.51 stars before AvD's unrounded scores split them. The Pirelli was the best tire in the test on wet roads and stopped shortest in the wet, while the Michelin led the economy and environment chapter with the longest predicted tread life. The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, Continental WinterContact TS 870 and Bridgestone Blizzak 6 completed a top five rated very good. The Linglong Sport Master Winter was named AvD's price-performance winner. At the bottom of the table, the Rockblade Icecruiser 1 and Double Coin DW300 were the best two tires in the whole test on snow, then needed far more room than anything else to stop in the wet, and AvD rated both, along with the Triangle WinterX TW401, not recommended.

Test setup & methodology

The test setting, the conditions recorded and how the results contribute to the score.

Recorded test conditions

Recorded test conditions

Dry Braking
62.1 → 0.0 mph
Wet Braking
62.1 → 0.0 mph
Snow Braking
31.1 → 0.0 mph

AvD has published its full scoring table and a written verdict for every tire, and we show the three braking tests, rolling resistance and predicted tread life here, with a value figure we have calculated from AvD's set prices. AvD's rules also mark a tire down when it scores 3.9 stars or less in a safety-relevant test, which is why the Giti GitiWinter W2 placed tenth despite a higher overall score than the ninth-placed Linglong. This is our summary of the headline findings; for every score, the handling and aquaplaning results and AvD's methodology, see AvD's original test.

Snow

The two budget tires that finished at the bottom of the overall table stopped shortest on snow: the Rockblade was best, ahead of the Double Coin, with the Nexen third. The Goodyear and Michelin were the best of the premium tires, and most of the field from there down to the Hankook was covered by 2 feet. The Toyo stopped longest, 9 feet behind the Rockblade, and AvD placed it last for snow overall. That matches the Toyo's other recent tests, including the 2026 ADAC winter tire test, where it was also among the weakest on snow.

Snow Braking

Snow braking in feet (31 - 0 mph)

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestResidual speed
1Rockblade Icecruiser 1
 79 ft Best 0 mph
2Double Coin DW300
 80 ft +1 ft 7 mph
3Nexen Winguard Sport 3
 81 ft +2 ft 11 mph
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 81 ft +2 ft 13 mph
4Michelin Alpin 7
 81 ft +2 ft 13 mph
6Triangle WinterX TW401
 82 ft +3 ft 16 mph
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
 82 ft +3 ft 16 mph
6Linglong Sport Master Winter
 82 ft +3 ft 16 mph
9Continental WinterContact TS 870
 83 ft +4 ft 17 mph
9Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 83 ft +4 ft 17 mph
9Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
 83 ft +4 ft 17 mph
12Giti GitiWinterW2
 83 ft +4 ft 17 mph
12Hankook Winter I cept RS3
 83 ft +4 ft 17 mph
14Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 85 ft +6 ft 21 mph
15Toyo Observe EWS1
 88 ft +9 ft 25 mph

The difference between best and worst was 10.8% (9 ft ≈ 0.6 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Toyo Observe EWS1 would still be travelling at 25 mph when the Rockblade Icecruiser 1 had stopped.

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

AvD's wider snow scoring agreed. It rated the Rockblade and Double Coin the two best tires in its whole snow chapter, ahead of the Michelin in third, while the Toyo and Falken were the two weakest.

Wet

The Pirelli stopped shortest in the wet, 4 feet ahead of the Continental and Toyo, with the Michelin fourth and the Goodyear and Bridgestone close behind. At the other end the Rockblade needed 58 feet more road than the Pirelli and the Double Coin 55 feet more, and the Triangle was a clear third-worst. The same three tires were the bottom three in AvD's wet chapter, and the Pirelli was rated the best tire in the wet overall.

Wet Braking

Wet braking in feet (62 - 0 mph)

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestResidual speed
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
 151 ft Best 0 mph
2Continental WinterContact TS 870
 155 ft +4 ft 13 mph
2Toyo Observe EWS1
 155 ft +4 ft 13 mph
4Michelin Alpin 7
 156 ft +5 ft 14 mph
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 157 ft +6 ft 16 mph
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 157 ft +6 ft 16 mph
7Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
 157 ft +6 ft 16 mph
8Linglong Sport Master Winter
 159 ft +8 ft 18 mph
9Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 160 ft +9 ft 19 mph
9Hankook Winter I cept RS3
 160 ft +9 ft 19 mph
11Giti GitiWinterW2
 162 ft +11 ft 20 mph
12Nexen Winguard Sport 3
 168 ft +17 ft 25 mph
13Triangle WinterX TW401
 180 ft +29 ft 32 mph
14Double Coin DW300
 206 ft +55 ft 41 mph
15Rockblade Icecruiser 1
 210 ft +59 ft 42 mph

The difference between best and worst was 38.6% (59 ft ≈ 4 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Rockblade Icecruiser 1 would still be travelling at 42 mph when the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 had stopped.

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

Dry

The Toyo had the shortest dry braking distance, just ahead of the Pirelli and Kumho, with the Falken fourth. The Michelin and Bridgestone were only mid-field here, and the Double Coin and Rockblade were again the two longest, though the whole field was covered by 11 feet. In AvD's dry chapter the Pirelli scored best, followed by the Continental, while the Rockblade was rated well below the rest of the field.

Dry Braking

Dry braking in feet (62 - 0 mph)

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestResidual speed
1Toyo Observe EWS1
 136 ft Best 0 mph
2Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
 137 ft +1 ft 6 mph
3Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
 137 ft +1 ft 7 mph
4Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 138 ft +2 ft 9 mph
5Continental WinterContact TS 870
 139 ft +3 ft 11 mph
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 139 ft +3 ft 11 mph
7Nexen Winguard Sport 3
 140 ft +4 ft 13 mph
8Michelin Alpin 7
 142 ft +6 ft 17 mph
8Linglong Sport Master Winter
 142 ft +6 ft 17 mph
10Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 143 ft +7 ft 17 mph
11Hankook Winter I cept RS3
 144 ft +8 ft 18 mph
12Triangle WinterX TW401
 144 ft +8 ft 19 mph
12Giti GitiWinterW2
 144 ft +8 ft 19 mph
14Double Coin DW300
 147 ft +11 ft 22 mph
15Rockblade Icecruiser 1
 147 ft +11 ft 22 mph

The difference between best and worst was 8.2% (11 ft ≈ 0.8 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Rockblade Icecruiser 1 would still be travelling at 22 mph when the Toyo Observe EWS1 had stopped.

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

Rolling Resistance

The Bridgestone had the lowest rolling resistance in the test by a clear margin, with the Michelin and Continental next. The Falken, Giti and Triangle had the highest.

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestExtra fuel / year
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 7.32 kg/t Best $0
2Michelin Alpin 7
 7.92 kg/t +0.60 kg/t $24
3Continental WinterContact TS 870
 8.23 kg/t +0.91 kg/t $37
4Hankook Winter I cept RS3
 8.53 kg/t +1.21 kg/t $49
5Double Coin DW300
 8.58 kg/t +1.26 kg/t $51
6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
 8.59 kg/t +1.27 kg/t $51
7Rockblade Icecruiser 1
 8.72 kg/t +1.40 kg/t $56
8Toyo Observe EWS1
 8.88 kg/t +1.56 kg/t $63
9Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 8.89 kg/t +1.57 kg/t $63
10Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
 9.03 kg/t +1.71 kg/t $69
11Nexen Winguard Sport 3
 9.04 kg/t +1.72 kg/t $69
12Linglong Sport Master Winter
 9.12 kg/t +1.80 kg/t $72
13Triangle WinterX TW401
 9.18 kg/t +1.86 kg/t $75
14Giti GitiWinterW2
 9.23 kg/t +1.91 kg/t $77
15Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 9.24 kg/t +1.92 kg/t $77

The difference between best and worst was 26.2% (1.92 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro uses about 21 gal ($77) more fuel than the Bridgestone Blizzak 6.

Adjust the assumptions

Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions.

12,000 mi
$3.60/gal
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.

Wear and Value

AvD calculates each tire's tread life from its measured wear. The Michelin was predicted to last longest, ahead of the Goodyear, with the Hankook third and the Pirelli fourth. The Rockblade's predicted tread life was around half of the Michelin's, and the Triangle and Double Coin were the next shortest.

Wear

Predicted tread life in KM

Higher is better ↑
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Michelin Alpin 7
 34,172 miles Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 32,249 miles -1,923 miles
3Hankook Winter I cept RS3
 28,410 miles -5,762 miles
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
 27,447 miles -6,725 miles
5Continental WinterContact TS 870
 26,495 miles -7,677 miles
6Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 26,129 miles -8,043 miles
7Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
 24,124 miles -10,048 miles
8Toyo Observe EWS1
 23,774 miles -10,398 miles
9Nexen Winguard Sport 3
 23,715 miles -10,457 miles
10Giti GitiWinterW2
 22,352 miles -11,820 miles
11Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 21,784 miles -12,388 miles
12Linglong Sport Master Winter
 21,422 miles -12,750 miles
13Double Coin DW300
 20,423 miles -13,749 miles
14Triangle WinterX TW401
 18,905 miles -15,267 miles
15Rockblade Icecruiser 1
 17,283 miles -16,889 miles

The difference between best and worst was 49.4% (16,889 miles).

Dividing AvD's price for a set by the predicted tread life gives a cost per kilometer. The Linglong was cheapest to run, ahead of the Nexen, and the Triangle's very low price put it third despite its short tread life. The Michelin and Goodyear were the cheapest of the premium tires per kilometer thanks to their long life, while the Continental was the most expensive tire in the test to run.

Value

Euros/1000km based on cost/wear

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestcost per 1,000 miles
1Linglong Sport Master Winter
 7.98 Price/1000 Best €26.55
2Nexen Winguard Sport 3
 8.52 Price/1000 +0.54 Price/1000 €26.64
3Triangle WinterX TW401
 8.71 Price/1000 +0.73 Price/1000 €28.52
4Giti GitiWinterW2
 8.9 Price/1000 +0.92 Price/1000 €28.53
5Toyo Observe EWS1
 9.28 Price/1000 +1.30 Price/1000 €26.93
6Rockblade Icecruiser 1
 9.35 Price/1000 +1.37 Price/1000 €27.22
7Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
 9.4 Price/1000 +1.42 Price/1000 €27.96
8Hankook Winter I cept RS3
 9.62 Price/1000 +1.64 Price/1000 €24.97
9Double Coin DW300
 10.19 Price/1000 +2.21 Price/1000 €27.14
10Michelin Alpin 7
 11.64 Price/1000 +3.66 Price/1000 €24.26
11Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
 11.66 Price/1000 +3.68 Price/1000 €30.04
12Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
 11.84 Price/1000 +3.86 Price/1000 €33.41
13Bridgestone Blizzak 6
 12.6 Price/1000 +4.62 Price/1000 €22.96
14Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
 12.68 Price/1000 +4.70 Price/1000 €30.32
15Continental WinterContact TS 870
 14.19 Price/1000 +6.21 Price/1000 €30.76

The difference between best and worst was 77.8% (6.21 Price/1000). Over 25,000 miles the cheapest tire to own (Bridgestone Blizzak 6) works out €261 cheaper than the most expensive (Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro).

How this is calculated

Assumes a typical car doing 29 mpg (rolling resistance causing 20% of fuel use), fuel at €6.25 per gallon and €70 fitting per set of four. Purchase prices are from the time of the 2026 test; financing costs are excluded.

Results

The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 is AvD's test winner, the strongest tire in the wet and dry and safe on snow, with the Michelin Alpin 7 level with it on stars and the pick for drivers who want the longest-lasting tire. The Goodyear, Continental and Bridgestone are close behind, all rated very good. The Kumho, Hankook, Nexen and price-performance winner Linglong are all rated good, and the Giti, Falken and Toyo are recommended, each with a clear weak area. The Triangle, Double Coin and Rockblade are all rated not recommended: two of them were the best tires on snow, but their wet braking is far behind the rest of the field.

1st

Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3

225/45 R17 94V XL
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
AvD Test Winner / Very Good Testsieger / sehr gut
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 is AvD's test winner, rated very good, finishing level with the Michelin on stars and ahead on AvD's unrounded score. It is the strongest tire here on wet and dry roads and does everything needed on snow, which makes it the best all-round choice in the test for drivers who see more rain than snow.
Dry99.5%
Wet100%
Snow96%
Value77.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better2nd / 15137 ft+1 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better1st / 15151 ftBest in this discipline
Snow BrakingLower is better6th / 1582 ft+3 ft
WearHigher is better4th / 1527,447 miles-6,725 miles
ValueLower is better14th / 1512.68 Price/1000+4.70 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better6th / 158.59 kg/t+1.27 kg/t
Price
560.00
2nd

Michelin Alpin 7

225/45 R17 94V XL
Michelin Alpin 7
AvD Very Good sehr gut
The Michelin Alpin 7 finished second, rated very good and level with the winner on stars. It pairs strong snow performance with by far the best wear and efficiency in the test, so it suits drivers who cover high mileages and want a tire that lasts, as long as they accept a high purchase price and slightly weaker wet handling than the Pirelli.
Dry95.6%
Wet97.1%
Snow97.2%
Value88.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better8th / 15142 ft+6 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better4th / 15156 ft+5 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better4th / 1581 ft+2 ft
WearHigher is better1st / 1534,172 milesBest in this discipline
ValueLower is better10th / 1511.64 Price/1000+3.66 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better2nd / 157.92 kg/t+0.60 kg/t
Price
640.00
3rd

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

225/45 R17 94V XL
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
AvD Very Good sehr gut
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished third, rated very good and only just behind the two newer premium tires above it. It is a consistent all-rounder with no weak area on snow or in the wet and excellent tread life.
Dry98.1%
Wet96.2%
Snow97.2%
Value83%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better5th / 15139 ft+3 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better5th / 15157 ft+6 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better4th / 1581 ft+2 ft
WearHigher is better2nd / 1532,249 miles-1,923 miles
ValueLower is better11th / 1511.66 Price/1000+3.68 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better9th / 158.89 kg/t+1.57 kg/t
Price
605.00
4th

Continental WinterContact TS 870

225/45 R17 94V XL
Continental WinterContact TS 870
AvD Very Good sehr gut
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished fourth and is rated very good. It is a balanced, safe premium winter tire with strong wet and dry grip and good efficiency, held back only by its cost per kilometer.
Dry98.1%
Wet97.5%
Snow95.6%
Value75.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better5th / 15139 ft+3 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better2nd / 15155 ft+4 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better9th / 1583 ft+4 ft
WearHigher is better5th / 1526,495 miles-7,677 miles
ValueLower is better15th / 1514.19 Price/1000+6.21 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better3rd / 158.23 kg/t+0.91 kg/t
Price
605.00
5th

Bridgestone Blizzak 6

225/45 R17 94V XL
Bridgestone Blizzak 6
AvD Very Good sehr gut
The Bridgestone Blizzak 6 completed the top five and is rated very good. It is an efficient, safe winter tire with no real weakness in any condition, and the best choice in the test for drivers who want the lowest rolling resistance.
Dry95.4%
Wet96.2%
Snow95.6%
Value81.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better10th / 15143 ft+7 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better5th / 15157 ft+6 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better9th / 1583 ft+4 ft
WearHigher is better6th / 1526,129 miles-8,043 miles
ValueLower is better13th / 1512.6 Price/1000+4.62 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better1st / 157.32 kg/tBest in this discipline
Price
530.00
6th

Kumho WinterCraft WP52+

225/45 R17 94V XL
Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
AvD Good gut
The Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus finished sixth, the best of the tires rated good. It is a strong braking tire at an attractive price, with weaker aquaplaning protection the main thing to accept.
Dry99.3%
Wet96%
Snow95.6%
Value78.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better3rd / 15137 ft+1 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better7th / 15157 ft+6 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better9th / 1583 ft+4 ft
WearHigher is better7th / 1524,124 miles-10,048 miles
ValueLower is better7th / 159.4 Price/1000+1.42 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better10th / 159.03 kg/t+1.71 kg/t
Price
365.00
7th

Hankook Winter I cept RS3

225/45 R17 94V XL
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
AvD Good gut
The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 finished seventh and is rated good. Its long tread life, low rolling resistance and good aquaplaning protection make it a sensible, economical choice, but it does not match the leading tires for braking or dry grip.
Dry94.8%
Wet94.5%
Snow95.3%
Value84%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better11th / 15144 ft+8 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better9th / 15160 ft+9 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better12th / 1583 ft+4 ft
WearHigher is better3rd / 1528,410 miles-5,762 miles
ValueLower is better8th / 159.62 Price/1000+1.64 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better4th / 158.53 kg/t+1.21 kg/t
Price
440.00
8th

Nexen Winguard Sport 3

225/45 R17 94V XL
Nexen Winguard Sport 3
AvD Good gut
The Nexen Winguard Sport 3 finished eighth and is rated good. It is a comfortable, good-value winter tire that does well on snow, with its longer wet braking the main compromise.
Dry97.4%
Wet90.2%
Snow98%
Value80.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better7th / 15140 ft+4 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better12th / 15168 ft+17 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better3rd / 1581 ft+2 ft
WearHigher is better9th / 1523,715 miles-10,457 miles
ValueLower is better2nd / 158.52 Price/1000+0.54 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better11th / 159.04 kg/t+1.72 kg/t
Price
325.00
9th

Linglong Sport Master Winter

225/45 R17 94W XL
Linglong Sport Master Winter
AvD Best Value Winner / Good Preis-Leistungs-Sieger / gut
The Linglong Sport Master Winter finished ninth, rated good and AvD's price-performance winner. It cannot match the established brands for grip or tread life, but it is safe in every condition and very cheap to buy and run.
Dry95.6%
Wet95.1%
Snow96%
Value79.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better8th / 15142 ft+6 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better8th / 15159 ft+8 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better6th / 1582 ft+3 ft
WearHigher is better12th / 1521,422 miles-12,750 miles
ValueLower is better1st / 157.98 Price/1000Best in this discipline
Rolling ResistanceLower is better12th / 159.12 kg/t+1.80 kg/t
Price
275.00
10th

Giti GitiWinterW2

225/45 R17 94V XL
Giti GitiWinterW2
AvD Recommended Empfehlenswert
The Giti GitiWinter W2 finished tenth and is rated recommended. Its overall score was higher than the Linglong's, but its weak wet handling cost it a place under AvD's downgrade rules. It is a capable, cheap snow tire that asks for compromises in the wet.
Dry94.5%
Wet93.5%
Snow95.3%
Value77%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better12th / 15144 ft+8 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better11th / 15162 ft+11 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better12th / 1583 ft+4 ft
WearHigher is better10th / 1522,352 miles-11,820 miles
ValueLower is better4th / 158.9 Price/1000+0.92 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better14th / 159.23 kg/t+1.91 kg/t
Price
320.00
11th

Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro

225/45 R17 94V XL
Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
AvD Recommended Empfehlenswert
The Falken Eurowinter HS02 Pro finished eleventh and is rated recommended. It is a safe tire on wet and dry roads but weak on snow and costly to run, so it best suits drivers in regions that see little snow.
Dry98.8%
Wet94.5%
Snow93.4%
Value70.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better4th / 15138 ft+2 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better9th / 15160 ft+9 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better14th / 1585 ft+6 ft
WearHigher is better11th / 1521,784 miles-12,388 miles
ValueLower is better12th / 1511.84 Price/1000+3.86 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better15th / 159.24 kg/t+1.92 kg/t
Price
415.00
12th

Toyo Observe EWS1

225/45 R17 94V XL
Toyo Observe EWS1
AvD Recommended Empfehlenswert
The Toyo Observe EWS1 finished twelfth and is rated recommended. It is one of the best tires in the test on wet and dry roads, but its snow results are a serious weakness for a winter tire, a pattern seen in its other recent tests as well.
Dry100%
Wet97.5%
Snow90.3%
Value78.6%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better1st / 15136 ftBest in this discipline
Wet BrakingLower is better2nd / 15155 ft+4 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better15th / 1588 ft+9 ft
WearHigher is better8th / 1523,774 miles-10,398 miles
ValueLower is better5th / 159.28 Price/1000+1.30 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better8th / 158.88 kg/t+1.56 kg/t
Price
355.00
13th

Triangle WinterX TW401

225/45 R17 94V XL
Triangle WinterX TW401
The Triangle WinterX TW401 finished thirteenth and is rated not recommended. It copes on snow, but its poor wet braking and weak grip on tarmac are serious safety shortcomings.
Dry94.5%
Wet84%
Snow96%
Value73.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better12th / 15144 ft+8 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better13th / 15180 ft+29 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better6th / 1582 ft+3 ft
WearHigher is better14th / 1518,905 miles-15,267 miles
ValueLower is better3rd / 158.71 Price/1000+0.73 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better13th / 159.18 kg/t+1.86 kg/t
Price
265.00
14th

Double Coin DW300

225/45 R17 94V XL
Double Coin DW300
The Double Coin DW300 finished fourteenth and is rated not recommended. Its strong snow results do not make up for wet braking that falls far short of the rest of the field, and AvD warned against buying it. Its wet braking was also near the bottom of earlier tests.
Dry92.6%
Wet73.4%
Snow99.2%
Value74%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better14th / 15147 ft+11 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better14th / 15206 ft+55 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better2nd / 1580 ft+1 ft
WearHigher is better13th / 1520,423 miles-13,749 miles
ValueLower is better9th / 1510.19 Price/1000+2.21 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better5th / 158.58 kg/t+1.26 kg/t
Price
335.00
15th

Rockblade Icecruiser 1

225/45 R17 94V XL
Rockblade Icecruiser 1
The Rockblade Icecruiser 1 finished last and is rated not recommended. Its excellent snow results come with wet and dry braking so poor that it is a safety risk, and its short tread life removes most of its price advantage.
Dry92.4%
Wet72.1%
Snow100%
Value72%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better15th / 15147 ft+11 ft
Wet BrakingLower is better15th / 15210 ft+59 ft
Snow BrakingLower is better1st / 1579 ftBest in this discipline
WearHigher is better15th / 1517,283 miles-16,889 miles
ValueLower is better6th / 159.35 Price/1000+1.37 Price/1000
Rolling ResistanceLower is better7th / 158.72 kg/t+1.40 kg/t
Price
260.00

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Where these tires were tested again, and how the verdict held up.

More tire tests2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tire Test2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test2026 Winter Tire Braking Test - 50 SetsAll tests: Winter Tires
Best tiresBest Winter TiresBest UHP Winter TiresBest Studless Winter Tires

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