The BEST Studded Tires for 2025

Vi Bilägare evaluated eight different tire models in the popular SUV size of 235/60 R18. The test, featured in issue number 12, utilized a Volvo XC60 AWD as the primary vehicle to assess performance on ice, snow, and both wet and dry asphalt. The lineup included five premium brands—Continental, Goodyear, Michelin, Nokian, and Pirelli—alongside three more budget-focused offerings from Nexen, Goodride, and Triangle.

Test Publication:

235/60 R18 8 tires 6 categories

Similar Tests

Images courtesy of Vi Bilagare

Test Publication:

https://www.vibilagare.se/test/dacktest

Images courtesy of Vi Bilagare

Test Size: 235/60 R18

Tires Tested: 8 tires

Test Categories:
6 categories (13 tests)

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The test highlights the significant engineering compromises required when designing tires for heavy, powerful SUVs. The testers note that the performance gaps between the tires were larger than they typically see with smaller passenger car tires. A central theme is the direct trade-off between performance on ice and performance on wet asphalt, with the article stating that ice grip and wet grip are "opposites of each other". This conflict between competing characteristics is a recurring point, demonstrating that no single tire excels in all conditions.

This variability in performance is clearly illustrated by the results. The test winner, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10, delivered the best grip and handling on ice and snow but simultaneously had the longest braking distance on wet roads and the lowest resistance to aquaplaning. Conversely, the Triangle IceLynk TI501 produced a startlingly polarized result. Despite being a studded tire, its performance on ice was described as a "total lack" of grip, with braking distances more than double that of the top performers. However, the Triangle tire recorded the shortest braking distances of the entire group on both wet and dry asphalt.

Other tires showcased more balanced, if less specialized, performance. The second-place Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 was commended for providing a good balance between its ice and wet grip capabilities. The Continental IceContact 3, despite its name, showed a weakness on ice but was a strong and stable performer on snow and asphalt. Ultimately, the test demonstrates that for heavy SUVs, tire choice involves a critical evaluation of performance trade-offs, with even premium manufacturers prioritizing different characteristics in their designs.

Dry

On a dry surface, the Triangle delivers the best braking performance, while the Goodyear and Michelin require the longest distance to come to a stop.

Based on subjective feel, the Pirelli, Continental, and Michelin tires performed best on dry roads, while the Triangle and Goodride felt vague and unresponsive.

Wet

Demonstrating the trade-off with ice grip, the Triangle tire provides the shortest wet braking distance by a clear margin, while the ice-focused Michelin and Nokian tires require the most distance to stop.

The Pirelli tire was the fastest and most controllable around the wet handling circuit, whereas the Triangle was the slowest due to severe understeer.

The Pirelli and Nexen tires offer the best resistance to aquaplaning, while the test-winning Nokian is the most susceptible to losing grip in deep standing water

Snow

The braking distances on snow show only marginal differences between the tested tires, with the Nexen requiring a slightly longer distance to stop.

On snow, the acceleration grip is much more evenly matched between the tires, with only the Nexen showing a noticeable disadvantage.

Nokian was the fastest on the snow handling course with excellent control, while Goodride and Triangle were the slowest and least predictable.

Ice

Nokian delivers the shortest braking distance on ice, with Goodyear and Michelin also impressing, whereas the Triangle's stopping distance is more than double that of the leader.

Nokian provides the best acceleration on ice, followed by Goodyear and Michelin, while Triangle struggles significantly with almost non-existent grip.

The Nokian tire was the quickest and most controllable around the ice handling track, while the Triangle was the slowest by a considerable margin.

Comfort

In subjective noise evaluation, the Triangle and Michelin were the quietest and most pleasant-sounding tires, while the Nexen produced the most intrusive cabin noise, similar to a bad wheel bearing

Value

The Continental tire proved to be the most fuel-efficient with the lowest rolling resistance, while the Triangle was the least efficient.

Results

1^st

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 SUV

235/60 R18 107T

• Origin: Finland
• 3PMSF: no
• Weight: 15.9 kgs
• Tread: 9.4 mm
• Price: 2945.00

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 SUV demonstrates why Finnish expertise in winter conditions remains unmatched, delivering the test's best overall performance with exceptional ice grip capabilities. This tire excels particularly in winter handling scenarios, offering quick steering response and allowing drivers to change direction confidently without losing control on both ice and hard-packed snow. The grip balance is well-calibrated and the tire maintains excellent control even under pressure. However, the superior winter performance comes with trade-offs on wet surfaces, where it exhibits longer braking distances and earlier aquaplaning compared to competitors. On dry asphalt, the steering feel is somewhat non-linear, though the behavior during emergency maneuvers remains reassuringly predictable.

Dry

88%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	6th	46.11 M	44.3 M	+1.81 M	96.07%
Subj. Dry Handling	4th	4 Points	5 Points	-1 Points	80%

Wet

92.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	7th	49.69 M	43.25 M	+6.44 M	87.04%
Wet Handling	5th	64.09 s	63.31 s	+0.78 s	98.78%
Straight Aqua	8th	66 Km/H	71.5 Km/H	-5.5 Km/H	92.31%

Snow

99%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	5th	11.35 M	11.13 M	+0.22 M	98.06%
Snow Traction	3rd	1.79 s	1.77 s	+0.02 s	98.88%
Snow Handling	1st	68.4 s			100%

Ice

100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	1st	11.49 M			100%
Ice Traction	1st	2.72 s			100%
Ice Handling	1st	84 s			100%

Comfort

97.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	5th	74.5 dB	72.6 dB	+1.9 dB	97.45%

Value

96.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Fuel Consumption	3rd	6.5 l/100km	6.3 l/100km	+0.2 l/100km	96.92%

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2^nd

Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 SUV

235/60 R18 107T

• Origin: Germany
• 3PMSF: no
• Weight: 15.0 kgs
• Tread: 9.8 mm
• Price: 2594.00

The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 SUV comes closest to challenging Nokian in winter conditions, offering impressive grip in both longitudinal acceleration and braking scenarios on ice. While the tire matches Nokian's performance in straight-line winter driving, it falls short in cornering precision, displaying delayed steering response and an inconsistent grip balance that can shift unpredictably between understeer and oversteer. On wet roads, Goodyear performs admirably with strong aquaplaning resistance and short braking distances, though it lacks the precise steering feel found on dry asphalt. The tire also shows slightly higher rolling resistance compared to some competitors, affecting fuel economy.

Dry

87.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	7th	46.99 M	44.3 M	+2.69 M	94.28%
Subj. Dry Handling	4th	4 Points	5 Points	-1 Points	80%

Wet

95.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	4th	47.9 M	43.25 M	+4.65 M	90.29%
Wet Handling	4th	63.96 s	63.31 s	+0.65 s	98.98%
Straight Aqua	3rd	69.4 Km/H	71.5 Km/H	-2.1 Km/H	97.06%

Snow

98.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	3rd	11.23 M	11.13 M	+0.1 M	99.11%
Snow Traction	5th	1.8 s	1.77 s	+0.03 s	98.33%
Snow Handling	5th	70.2 s	68.4 s	+1.8 s	97.44%

Ice

95.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	2nd	12.38 M	11.49 M	+0.89 M	92.81%
Ice Traction	2nd	2.83 s	2.72 s	+0.11 s	96.11%
Ice Handling	2nd	85.9 s	84 s	+1.9 s	97.79%

Comfort

98.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	3rd	73.9 dB	72.6 dB	+1.3 dB	98.24%

Value

95.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Fuel Consumption	7th	6.6 l/100km	6.3 l/100km	+0.3 l/100km	95.45%

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3^rd

Continental IceContact 3

235/60 R18 107T

• Origin: Poland
• 3PMSF: no
• Weight: 15.7 kgs
• Tread: 8.3 mm
• Price: 2933.00

The Continental IceContact 3 may not lead in pure ice performance, but it compensates with exceptional road manners and predictable behavior that builds driver confidence. This tire excels at communicating grip limits to the driver, providing early warning when approaching the adhesion threshold, combined with calm, controlled behavior under pressure featuring mild understeer that's easy to manage. Continental performs significantly better on snow than ice, and truly shines on asphalt with outstanding straight-line stability and confident handling during emergency maneuvers. The tire also achieves the best rolling resistance in the test, contributing to improved fuel economy, though ice grip remains its relative weakness.

Dry

99.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	2nd	45 M	44.3 M	+0.7 M	98.44%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st	5 Points			100%

Wet

94.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5th	48.04 M	43.25 M	+4.79 M	90.03%
Wet Handling	3rd	63.71 s	63.31 s	+0.4 s	99.37%
Straight Aqua	6th	68.1 Km/H	71.5 Km/H	-3.4 Km/H	95.24%

Snow

99.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	1st	11.13 M			100%
Snow Traction	1st	1.77 s			100%
Snow Handling	2nd	68.6 s	68.4 s	+0.2 s	99.71%

Ice

84.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	4th	15.93 M	11.49 M	+4.44 M	72.13%
Ice Traction	4th	3.26 s	2.72 s	+0.54 s	83.44%
Ice Handling	4th	86.9 s	84 s	+2.9 s	96.66%

Comfort

98.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	2nd	73.6 dB	72.6 dB	+1 dB	98.64%

Value

100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Fuel Consumption	1st	6.3 l/100km			100%

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4^th

Michelin X Ice North 4 SUV

235/60 R18 107T

• Origin: Germany
• 3PMSF: no
• Weight: 15.3 kgs
• Tread: 8.4 mm
• Price: 2722.00

The Michelin X-Ice North 4 SUV has long been a favorite for combining strong ice and snow braking performance with refined on-road characteristics, maintaining its reputation in this larger SUV dimension. While braking capabilities on winter surfaces remain impressive, the tire shows some limitations during more aggressive cornering, particularly struggling with larger steering inputs. On asphalt, the tire exhibits pronounced understeer under pressure, which contributes to a calm and safe character in emergency situations without risk of sudden breakaway. The major weakness lies in wet weather performance, where grip is notably compromised with poor cornering ability and the longest stopping distances in the test, though it compensates with low road noise and good rolling resistance.

Dry

96.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	8th	47.21 M	44.3 M	+2.91 M	93.84%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st	5 Points			100%

Wet

93%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	8th	50.73 M	43.25 M	+7.48 M	85.26%
Wet Handling	6th	64.78 s	63.31 s	+1.47 s	97.73%
Straight Aqua	5th	68.6 Km/H	71.5 Km/H	-2.9 Km/H	95.94%

Snow

98.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	4th	11.24 M	11.13 M	+0.11 M	99.02%
Snow Traction	2nd	1.78 s	1.77 s	+0.01 s	99.44%
Snow Handling	4th	69.6 s	68.4 s	+1.2 s	98.28%

Ice

90.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	3rd	14.19 M	11.49 M	+2.7 M	80.97%
Ice Traction	3rd	2.95 s	2.72 s	+0.23 s	92.2%
Ice Handling	3rd	86.5 s	84 s	+2.5 s	97.11%

Comfort

98.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	3rd	73.9 dB	72.6 dB	+1.3 dB	98.24%

Value

97.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Fuel Consumption	2nd	6.45 l/100km	6.3 l/100km	+0.15 l/100km	97.67%

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5^th

Pirelli Scorpion IceZero 2

235/60 R18 107H

• Origin: Romania
• 3PMSF: no
• Weight: 15.5 kgs
• Tread: 8.7 mm
• Price: 2479.00

The Pirelli Scorpion IceZero 2, despite its SUV-specific naming, closely resembles the manufacturer's standard IceZero2 in both tread design and performance characteristics. Ice grip doesn't match the premium competitors' standards, and the tire displays an oversteer-biased balance on snow and ice where the rear end tends to step out first, though this behavior is never surprising or uncontrollable. Where Pirelli truly excels is on asphalt surfaces, offering the best steering feel and responsiveness of any tire in the test, with exceptional ability to navigate quickly around obstacles in emergency situations. The tire also leads in aquaplaning resistance and achieves the highest cornering speeds on wet surfaces, though road noise levels are among the higher in the group.

Dry

98.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	4th	45.75 M	44.3 M	+1.45 M	96.83%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st	5 Points			100%

Wet

97.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	3rd	46.97 M	43.25 M	+3.72 M	92.08%
Wet Handling	1st	63.31 s			100%
Straight Aqua	1st	71.5 Km/H			100%

Snow

99.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	2nd	11.19 M	11.13 M	+0.06 M	99.46%
Snow Traction	3rd	1.79 s	1.77 s	+0.02 s	98.88%
Snow Handling	3rd	69.1 s	68.4 s	+0.7 s	98.99%

Ice

77.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	6th	17.76 M	11.49 M	+6.27 M	64.7%
Ice Traction	5th	3.45 s	2.72 s	+0.73 s	78.84%
Ice Handling	6th	93.2 s	84 s	+9.2 s	90.13%

Comfort

97.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	7th	74.8 dB	72.6 dB	+2.2 dB	97.06%

Value

96.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Fuel Consumption	3rd	6.5 l/100km	6.3 l/100km	+0.2 l/100km	96.92%

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6^th

Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3

235/60 R18 107T

• Origin: South Korea
• 3PMSF: no
• Weight: 14.9 kgs
• Tread: 8.6 mm
• Price: 2140.00

The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 features the hardest rubber compound in the test, resulting in significant grip challenges on winter surfaces, particularly struggling with snow adhesion compared to other test participants. The grip balance is heavily understeer-biased, with the front wheels consistently losing grip first in a sudden, unpredictable manner that provides little warning to the driver. Safety levels improve considerably on asphalt where aquaplaning resistance is good and both braking distances and cornering behavior maintain high standards, especially on wet surfaces. However, the tire's major drawback is an unacceptably high noise level that becomes intrusive, making it the loudest option in the test.

Dry

88.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	3rd	45.26 M	44.3 M	+0.96 M	97.88%
Subj. Dry Handling	4th	4 Points	5 Points	-1 Points	80%

Wet

97.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	2nd	46.54 M	43.25 M	+3.29 M	92.93%
Wet Handling	2nd	63.46 s	63.31 s	+0.15 s	99.76%
Straight Aqua	2nd	70.5 Km/H	71.5 Km/H	-1 Km/H	98.6%

Snow

94%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	8th	11.82 M	11.13 M	+0.69 M	94.16%
Snow Traction	8th	1.9 s	1.77 s	+0.13 s	93.16%
Snow Handling	7th	72.2 s	68.4 s	+3.8 s	94.74%

Ice

79.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	5th	16.75 M	11.49 M	+5.26 M	68.6%
Ice Traction	6th	3.47 s	2.72 s	+0.75 s	78.39%
Ice Handling	5th	91.7 s	84 s	+7.7 s	91.6%

Comfort

96.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	8th	75.5 dB	72.6 dB	+2.9 dB	96.16%

Value

96.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Fuel Consumption	3rd	6.5 l/100km	6.3 l/100km	+0.2 l/100km	96.92%

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7^th

Triangle IcelynX TI501

235/60 R18 107T

• Origin: China
• 3PMSF: no
• Weight: 16.4 kgs
• Tread: 9.1 mm
• Price: 1499.00

The Triangle IceLynx TI501 presents a puzzling contradiction, being a studded tire with virtually non-existent ice grip that performs worse than even worn friction tires on slippery surfaces. Ice braking distances are more than double those of the best performers, making it genuinely dangerous on winter roads, while snow performance is only marginally better with the tire struggling to maintain grip in corners despite adequate straight-line traction. Surprisingly, the tire redeems itself on asphalt with the shortest braking distances in the test, particularly excelling on wet surfaces, though it suffers from severe understeer and reluctance to change direction quickly. The one saving grace is exceptionally low road noise with a smooth, homogeneous sound character free from disturbing resonances or frequencies.

Dry

70%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	1st	44.3 M			100%
Subj. Dry Handling	8th	2 Points	5 Points	-3 Points	40%

Wet

98%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	1st	43.25 M			100%
Wet Handling	7th	64.79 s	63.31 s	+1.48 s	97.72%
Straight Aqua	4th	68.8 Km/H	71.5 Km/H	-2.7 Km/H	96.22%

Snow

96.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	6th	11.36 M	11.13 M	+0.23 M	97.98%
Snow Traction	7th	1.85 s	1.77 s	+0.08 s	95.68%
Snow Handling	6th	71.9 s	68.4 s	+3.5 s	95.13%

Ice

61.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	8th	25.48 M	11.49 M	+13.99 M	45.09%
Ice Traction	8th	5.19 s	2.72 s	+2.47 s	52.41%
Ice Handling	8th	96.6 s	84 s	+12.6 s	86.96%

Comfort

100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	1st	72.6 dB			100%

Value

94%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Fuel Consumption	8th	6.7 l/100km	6.3 l/100km	+0.4 l/100km	94.03%

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8^th

Goodride IceMaster Spike Z 506

235/60 R18 107T

• Origin: China
• 3PMSF: no
• Weight: 16.7 kgs
• Tread: 8.9 mm
• Price: 1675.00

The Goodride IceMaster Spike Z-506, despite marketing claims of Finnish development, struggles to live up to its Nordic associations with consistently poor performance across most test categories. The tire's relatively stiff construction and hard rubber compound work adequately on asphalt surfaces where it achieves middle-of-the-pack ratings at best, but winter performance is severely compromised with low grip levels and a tendency toward sudden breakaway when adhesion is lost. The tire consistently ranks among the worst performers regardless of test conditions, offering little in the way of redeeming qualities beyond short asphalt braking distances and reasonable wet grip, ultimately earning last place in the overall standings due to its comprehensive mediocrity.

Dry

78.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	5th	45.89 M	44.3 M	+1.59 M	96.54%
Subj. Dry Handling	7th	3 Points	5 Points	-2 Points	60%

Wet

93.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	6th	48.5 M	43.25 M	+5.25 M	89.18%
Wet Handling	7th	64.79 s	63.31 s	+1.48 s	97.72%
Straight Aqua	7th	67.8 Km/H	71.5 Km/H	-3.7 Km/H	94.83%

Snow

96.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Snow Braking	7th	11.38 M	11.13 M	+0.25 M	97.8%
Snow Traction	6th	1.83 s	1.77 s	+0.06 s	96.72%
Snow Handling	8th	72.3 s	68.4 s	+3.9 s	94.61%

Ice

75.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Ice Braking	7th	17.8 M	11.49 M	+6.31 M	64.55%
Ice Traction	7th	3.73 s	2.72 s	+1.01 s	72.92%
Ice Handling	7th	94 s	84 s	+10 s	89.36%

Comfort

97.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	6th	74.7 dB	72.6 dB	+2.1 dB	97.19%

Value

96.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Fuel Consumption	3rd	6.5 l/100km	6.3 l/100km	+0.2 l/100km	96.92%

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