SUV and 4x4 Tire Tests

Auto Bild Allrad tested nine summer tires in size 255/45 R 19, a popular fitment for AWD SUVs such as the VW Tiguan, Audi Q3, Seat Tarraco, Tesla Model Y, and Volvo XC40. Wet and dry tests were carried out at the Goodyear test facility in Mireval, southern France, while off-road handling was assessed on the rally course at Drive Control in nearby Monteils. In addition to the standard wet and dry tests, the tires were evaluated in off-road handling on gravel and traction tests on grass, gravel, and sand - which is an interesting choice given the high performance and summer nature of these products!

Three of the most popular all-terrain tires on the market go head-to-head in a comprehensive on-road, off-road, and winter comparison. Despite sharing the same LT 275/65R18 Load Range E sizing and severe snow rating, the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3, Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent Enlighten, and Cooper Discoverer Stronghold A/T each target distinctly different buyers — and our testing confirms just how different they really are.

Auto Bild SportsCars published their second all-season tire test in October, evaluating ten tires in the 215/50 R 18 size. The test included products ranging from established premium manufacturers such as Continental, Pirelli, and Goodyear through to budget offerings from Linglong and Fortuna. All testing was conducted using a VW T-Roc R equipped with a 300 PS turbocharged engine and 4Motion all-wheel drive. 

For this test I have taken five of the most popular snow-rated all-terrain tires in LT 265/70 R17 and tested them in snow and ice to find out which one is best for the upcoming winter!

In order to give you the complete picture, each tire has been tested and rated in snow handling, snow circle, snow traction and braking, and ice traction and braking!

Tire Rack published their latest all-terrain tire test in October 2025, testing nine different tires from three types of all-terrain categories. The test looked at one On-Road All-Terrain tire, four Off-Road All-Terrain tires, and four Rugged All-Terrain tires, checking how each performs on normal roads where most people drive.

Swedish automotive magazine Vi Bilägare has conducted a test of eight Nordic friction tires (studless winter tires) in dimension 235/60 R18, a popular size for vehicles like the Volvo XC60 which served as the test vehicle. The test comprised 13 separate testing rounds across four different surfaces: ice, snow, wet asphalt, and dry asphalt. 

For its 2025 winter tire test, German publication Auto Bild Sportscars evaluated twelve winter tires in the popular SUV size of 235/50 R 19. The test also included a reference summer tire and an all-season tire to provide broader context. All tires were fitted to an Audi Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro with 245 PS. The cold weather tests on snow and ice were conducted in Vidsel, Sweden , while the wet and dry performance evaluations took place at Bridgestone's test facility in Aprilia, Italy.

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 comprehensive assessments across snow, wet, and dry conditions.

For 2025 Auto Bild All Rad (the SUV and 4x4 version of the magazine) have tested eleven tires in the 215/55 R17 size. This dimension is commonly fitted to compact SUVs and crossovers, including models such as the VW T-Roc, Seat Ateca, Skoda Karoq, Toyota Yaris Cross, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Fiat 500X. The test was conducted on a VW T-Roc and included both summer and winter reference tires to benchmark the all-season performance.

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 has been a benchmark all-terrain tire thanks to its excellent comfort, low road noise, strong off-road traction and outstanding snow performance. Pirelli’s brand-new Scorpion XTM arrives with bold claims that it matches or outperforms the KO3 across dry, wet, snow, mud and grass, while improving rolling resistance and steering response. I set out to see how those claims stack up with back-to-back subjective testing on-road and off-road.

Below is the data from the Die-Reifen summer touring tire test which tested seven popular summer tires in 205/55 R17 using a VW T-Roc.

Auto Bild have conducted mini three set all-season tire test specifically designed for electric vehicles, testing them in the 245/45 R19 size using a Hyundai Ionic 6S. The German publication put the Hankook iON FlexClimate, Michelin CrossClimate 2, and Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV through the usual testing across multiple climate zones to assess their performance in all weather conditions.

Germany's influential motoring club, ADAC, has published the results of its 2025 all-terrain tire test, delivering a disappointing result for drivers considering these tires for their SUVs, campers, and pickups. ADAC tested eight popular all-terrain tires in the common 225/65 R17 size, focusing on whether their rugged looks translate to competent all-around performance, particularly for European road use, and included a winter rated all season tire as a reference.

Nokian have just announced the Nokian SeasonProof 2, the first tire from their new, state of the art factory in Europe. They are hopeful this will finally be the tire that brings them to the front of the all season market, so of course I had to test it!

In this test, I will be testing seven of the best all season tires in the popular 235/55 R18 tire size. As these are all season tires, I will be testing them in all seasons, covering the dry, wet and snow performance of these tires, and testing the noise, comfort and rolling resistance levels of the tires to help you make the most informed choice for your own driving needs.

In their latest tire test, Teknikens Värld magazine has put eight leading SUV tires through their paces. Using the popular Volvo XC60 as their test platform with the increasingly common 235/55 R19 tire size, the Swedish publication's experienced test team subjected each tire to a battery of challenges ranging from emergency braking and handling to comfort and fuel efficiency assessments.

AutoBild has recently conducted an on and off-road tire test of ten SUV tires in size 255/55 R18, evaluating their performance on both asphalt and in off-road conditions. The test included premium brands like Pirelli, Bridgestone, Michelin, Falken, Vredestein and Kumho, alongside budget options from Triangle and Hifly.

The testing was split into three main categories: on-road wet performance, on-road dry performance, and off-road capability across various terrains including grass, sand, gravel, and loose stone surfaces. 

The Italian newspaper al Volante has just published a tire test with both the new Pirelli Cinturato C3 AND the Michelin Primacy 5!

The test was somewhat limited, for example there was no dry handling, but it gives a good overview of the new tires relative performance.

Vi Bilägare magazines summer tire test features eight tires in size 235/55 R19, focusing on performance for EV SUVs. Testing took place in unusually cold conditions near Madrid, Spain, where temperatures hovered around 10°C - similar to Scandinavian spring or autumn weather.

The test featured six standard aftermarket tires from premium and budget manufacturers, alongside two OE (Original Equipment) tires specifically designed for Volkswagen and Volvo vehicles. The testing vehicle was a Kia EV6, a battery-electric SUV weighing 2,031kg, with some measurements also taken using a Tesla Model Y.

The all weather category of tires is quickly growing in popularity, as a tire that can be used in all weathers is a big advantage for people living in snowy climates, it saves changing tires twice a year between an all season and a winter product.

To find out which of these new all weather category tires is best, I have tested them in the dry, wet, snow and ice to give you a really good overview of their abilities, and also looked into the the rolling resistance, comfort, noise levels and value, to find out which tire is best in all conditions.

THIS DATA IS BASED ON INTERNAL MICHELIN TESTING.

Now that's clearly out of the way, I think it's quite an interesting datapoint. I'm confident the data will be good as when companies put competitor data in the public eye, they risk being sued over it, so they triple check everything is fair.