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Ceat WinterDrive Test Results

Tested 2024 to 2025 2 publications

Tested 4 times by independent publications, the Ceat WinterDrive averages a finish of 17th.

  • 4Independent tests
  • 0Test wins
  • 0Podium finishes
  • 17thAverage finish
  • 54%Field beaten on average
  • 2Publications
Ceat WinterDrive

4 tests, 2024 to 2025

0%50%100%20242025Average 54%2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test (2024): P24 of 55, Beat 57% of the field2025 ADAC Winter Tire Test (2025): P10 of 31, Beat 70% of the field2025 Winter Tire Braking Test - 52 Sets! (2025): P19 of 51, Beat 64% of the field2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test (2025): P15 of 20, Beat 26% of the field
Share of the field beaten in each test, oldest to newest. Hover or tap a point for the test.
  • Test win
  • Second
  • Third
  • Average 54%
The latest test

2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test P15 of 20

The Ceat WinterDrive from this Indian manufacturer manages to deliver the absolute best cost-per-kilometer ratio in the test while maintaining respectable snow and dry road performance. This achievement comes from combining a competitive purchase price of approximately €380 per set with good projected mileage, making it extremely economical for high-mileage drivers on tight budgets. The tire performs adequately on snow with acceptable grip and braking, while dry road behavior remains within safe parameters. However, it shows its budget positioning most clearly on wet roads, where overall performance is weaker across handling, braking, and aquaplaning resistance. Despite these wet-weather limitations, it never enters truly dangerous territory. The Ceat represents a pragmatic choice for cost-conscious drivers who need winter capability but experience limited severe weather, making it suitable for urban environments where roads are typically cleared and wet performance is less critical than absolute bargain pricing.

Strong: Value Weak: Wet Handling Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

Record by discipline

Where the Ceat WinterDrive finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.

Discipline Tests Avg finish Field beaten Firsts
Dry
Dry Braking 2 P3 of 26.5 91% -
Dry Handling 1 P12 of 22 48% -
Wet
Wet Braking 4 P21.3 of 40 43% -
Wet Braking - Concrete 1 P14 of 31 57% -
Wet Handling 1 P21 of 22 5% -
Wet Circle 2 P16 of 26 36% -
Straight Aqua 2 P19 of 26.5 29% -
Curved Aquaplaning 1 P19 of 22 14% -
Snow
Snow Braking 4 P11 of 29.5 65% -
Snow Traction 2 P4.5 of 26.5 85% -
Snow Handling 1 P12 of 21 45% -
Snow Slalom 1 P11 of 22 52% -
Ice
Ice Braking 1 P2 of 31 97% -
Comfort
Subj. Comfort 1 P6 of 20 74% -
Noise 2 P6.5 of 26.5 78% -
Value
Wear 2 P4.5 of 25.5 86% -
Value 1 P1 of 20 100% 1
Rolling Resistance 1 P18 of 22 19% -
Fuel Consumption 1 P16 of 31 50% -
Abrasion 1 P13 of 31 60% -

Head-to-head record

Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Ceat WinterDrive. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.

Rival Shared tests Ahead Behind Level Finished ahead
Fulda Kristall Control HP2 4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind Compare with Kristall Control HP2 4 2 2 - 50%
Firestone Winterhawk 4 4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind Compare with Winterhawk 4 4 2 2 - 50%
Semperit Speed Grip 5 4 shared: 1 ahead, 3 behind Compare with Speed Grip 5 4 1 3 - 25%
Uniroyal WinterExpert 4 shared: 1 ahead, 3 behind Compare with WinterExpert 4 1 3 - 25%
Bridgestone Blizzak 6 4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind Compare with Blizzak 6 4 0 4 - 0%
Kleber Krisalp HP3 4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind Compare with Krisalp HP3 4 0 4 - 0%
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind Compare with UltraGrip Performance 3 4 0 4 - 0%
Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Landsail Winter Lander 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Giti GitiWinterW2 3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind 3 2 1 - 67%
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind Compare with Pilot Alpin 5 3 0 3 - 0%
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind Compare with Winter i cept evo3 3 0 3 - 0%
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind Compare with WinterContact TS 870 P 3 0 3 - 0%

Performance Analysis

Drawn from 4 tests. Updated October 28, 2026.

The Ceat WinterDrive's main strengths are running cost, tread life and dry braking, with useful snow traction as well. In Auto Bild's 2025 full winter test it had the lowest cost per kilometer and third-highest projected mileage, at 51,940 km. ADAC predicted 64,600 km, sixth of 31, and placed dry braking second of 31, just 1.4% behind the shortest stop. ADAC also recorded second in ice braking and third in snow traction. Auto Bild's snow traction was sixth of 22, although its snow handling was closer to mid-field. Overall it finished tenth of 31 with ADAC, rated satisfactory, and 15th of 20 with Auto Bild.

Wet-road performance is the recurring limitation. Auto Bild's 2025 full test placed wet braking 20th of 22, 20.7% from the best, and wet handling 21st of 22. ADAC's wet braking was better at 14th of 31 and 8.8% behind, but wet handling was still only adequate, with early understeer and oversteer. Straight aquaplaning was 21st of 31 with ADAC, while Auto Bild placed both aquaplaning disciplines well down the field. Dry stopping is much stronger than steering precision: ADAC found steering corrections necessary and limited confidence in evasive maneuvers. Noise was relatively low in both full tests, but Auto Bild found high rolling resistance.

Performance Strengths

  • Value for money Minor in 1 of 2 tests
    Details
    • 1st of 20 for cost per kilometer, 7.32 per 1,000 km, 2025 Auto Bild full winter test
  • Tread life Moderate in 1 of 2 tests
    Details
    • 3rd of 20 for projected wear, 51,940 km, 2025 Auto Bild full winter test
    • 6th of 31, 64,600 km, 2025 ADAC winter test
  • Dry braking Moderate in 1 of 2 tests
    Details
    • 2nd of 31, 1.4% from best, 2025 ADAC winter test
    • 4th of 22, 2025 Auto Bild full winter test
  • Snow traction Moderate in 2 of 2 tests
    Details
    • 3rd of 31, 2025 ADAC winter test
    • 6th of 22, 2025 Auto Bild full winter test
  • Road noise Moderate
    Details
    • 7th of 31, 2025 ADAC winter test
    • 6th of 22, 2025 Auto Bild full winter test

Performance Weaknesses

  • Wet handling Strong in 2 of 2 tests
    Details
    • 21st of 22, 2025 Auto Bild full winter test
    • Only adequate handling with early understeer and oversteer, 2025 ADAC winter test
  • Wet braking Moderate in 1 of 2 tests
    Details
    • 20th of 22, 20.7% from best, 2025 Auto Bild full winter test
    • 14th of 31, 8.8% from best on asphalt and concrete, 2025 ADAC winter test
    • 28th of 55, 2024 Auto Bild braking test
  • Aquaplaning resistance Moderate in 1 of 2 tests
    Details
    • 21st of 31 in straight aquaplaning, 2025 ADAC winter test
    • 17th of 22 straight and 19th curved, 2025 Auto Bild full winter test
  • Steering feel Minor in 1 of 2 tests
    Details
    • ADAC criticised dry steering precision and feedback, requiring corrections, in its 2025 winter test

Every test, newest first 4

Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.

2025 3 tests
P15 of 20 Beat 26% of the field

2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test

Auto Bild 225/40 R18

The Ceat WinterDrive from this Indian manufacturer manages to deliver the absolute best cost-per-kilometer ratio in the test while maintaining respectable snow and dry road performance. This achievement comes from combining a competitive purchase price of approximately €380 per set with good projected mileage, making it extremely economical for high-mileage drivers on tight budgets. The tire performs adequately on snow with acceptable grip and braking, while dry road behavior remains within safe parameters. However, it shows its budget positioning most clearly on wet roads, where overall performance is weaker across handling, braking, and aquaplaning resistance. Despite these wet-weather limitations, it never enters truly dangerous territory. The Ceat represents a pragmatic choice for cost-conscious drivers who need winter capability but experience limited severe weather, making it suitable for urban environments where roads are typically cleared and wet performance is less critical than absolute bargain pricing.

StrongValue WeakWet Handling WinnerMichelin Pilot Alpin 5

P10 of 31 Beat 70% of the field

2025 ADAC Winter Tire Test

ADAC 225/40 R18

The Ceat WinterDrive fails to achieve good ratings on dry and wet roads and therefore misses a good driving safety score, and despite achieving a good environmental rating, only manages a satisfactory overall evaluation. For driving safety, the tire shows weaknesses in precision and steering feedback on dry roads, lacking the accuracy and directness expected for good ratings during steering input and cornering - steering corrections are needed to maintain the desired path, and during sudden evasive maneuvers the WinterDrive doesn't fully convince as the test vehicle tends to oversteer, especially when counter-steering, with sliding phases that could be shorter, resulting in limit behavior that isn't critical but only achieves satisfactory ratings, though dry braking distances are clearly rated as good. On wet surfaces, the Ceat also only manages satisfactory ratings overall - while it achieves good braking distance scores, it only receives satisfactory ratings for both longitudinal and lateral aquaplaning resistance, and its handling performance is rated as just adequate due to insufficient combination of longitudinal and lateral forces, causing the test vehicle to understeer early and lack precision over the course with moderate limit performance and adequate safety reserves. In winter conditions, however, the WinterDrive achieves clearly good ratings with above-average performance in both snow and ice braking distances as well as snow traction, plus good handling results where the test vehicle can be steered precisely with consistently good reserves. Regarding environmental performance, this Indian-manufactured tire receives good ratings with above-average predicted mileage, low tire wear, and good efficiency thanks to low fuel consumption, though its weight is slightly elevated.

StrongDry BrakingIce Braking WinnerGoodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

2024 1 test

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