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Falken Eurowinter HS449 Test Results

Tested 2012 to 2020 5 publications

Tested 15 times by independent publications, the Falken Eurowinter HS449 averages a finish of 11th.

  • 15Independent tests
  • 0Test wins
  • 0Podium finishes
  • 11thAverage finish
  • 46%Field beaten on average
  • 5Publications
Falken Eurowinter HS449

15 tests, 2012 to 2020

0%50%100%2012201320142015201620172020Average 46%2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tire Braking Test (2012): P5 of 43, Beat 90% of the field2012 European Tire Test - 205/55 R16 (2012): P13 of 16, Beat 20% of the field2012 Auto Bild Top 15 Winter Tire Test (2012): P11 of 15, Beat 29% of the field2013 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/60 R15 (2013): P13 of 17, Beat 25% of the field2013 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test (2013): P8 of 8, Beat 0% of the field2014 50 Winter Tire Braking Overview (2014): P17 of 49, Beat 66% of the field2015 Winter Tire Market Overview (2015): P7 of 51, Beat 88% of the field2015 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 (2015): P6 of 19, Beat 72% of the field2015 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 165/70 R14 (2015): P7 of 16, Beat 60% of the field2015 Auto Bild Top 18 Winter Tire Test (2015): P13 of 18, Beat 29% of the field2015 AMS UHP Winter Tire Test (2015): P9 of 10, Beat 11% of the field2016 Winter Tire Market Overview (2016): P12 of 49, Beat 74% of the field2016 AutoBild Winter Tire Test (2016): P17 of 20, Beat 16% of the field2017 50 Winter Tire Shoot Out (2017): P21 of 50, Beat 55% of the field2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tire Test (2020): P9 of 17, Beat 50% 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 46%
The latest test

2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tire Test P9 of 17

The Falken is a good choice for climates where wet snow and wet roads are common, because it scores better than average in the winter tire category, with Good ratings for braking in both wet and dry conditions—where most winter tires lag. It also earns Good ratings for handling. If you’re looking for a quiet winter tire, however, there are less noisy options.

Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Head-to-head record

Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Falken Eurowinter HS449. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.

Rival Shared tests Ahead Behind Level Finished ahead
Continental WinterContact TS 850 11 shared: 0 ahead, 11 behind 11 0 11 - 0%
Semperit Speed Grip 2 10 shared: 1 ahead, 9 behind 10 1 9 - 10%
Kleber Krisalp HP2 9 shared: 8 ahead, 1 behind 9 8 1 - 89%
Barum Polaris 3 9 shared: 3 ahead, 6 behind 9 3 6 - 33%
Nokian WR D3 9 shared: 2 ahead, 7 behind 9 2 7 - 22%
Michelin Alpin A4 9 shared: 1 ahead, 8 behind 9 1 8 - 11%
Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3 8 shared: 1 ahead, 7 behind 8 1 7 - 13%
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 7 shared: 7 ahead, 0 behind 7 7 0 - 100%
Firestone Winterhawk 3 7 shared: 5 ahead, 2 behind 7 5 2 - 71%
Fulda Kristall Control HP 7 shared: 4 ahead, 3 behind 7 4 3 - 57%
Uniroyal MS+ 77 7 shared: 3 ahead, 4 behind 7 3 4 - 43%
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 6 shared: 1 ahead, 5 behind 6 1 5 - 17%
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 6 shared: 0 ahead, 6 behind 6 0 6 - 0%
Viking Snow Tech II 5 shared: 4 ahead, 1 behind 5 4 1 - 80%
Yokohama W drive V905 5 shared: 2 ahead, 3 behind 5 2 3 - 40%
Hankook Winter i cept RS 5 shared: 2 ahead, 3 behind 5 2 3 - 40%
Hankook Winter i cept RS2 5 shared: 2 ahead, 3 behind 5 2 3 - 40%
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 5 shared: 1 ahead, 4 behind 5 1 4 - 20%
Dunlop Winter Response 2 5 shared: 0 ahead, 5 behind 5 0 5 - 0%
Kormoran Snowpro B2 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%

Against its own line

The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.

Tire Tests Wins Avg finish Field beaten
Falken Eurowinter HS439 Predecessor 2 0 15th 38%
Falken Eurowinter HS449 This tire 15 0 11th 46%

Performance Analysis

Drawn from 15 tests. Updated October 28, 2026.

The Falken Eurowinter HS449 generally did better in braking qualifiers than in full winter tests, with wet braking and handling its more convincing qualities. It was fifth of 43 in Auto Bild's 2012 braking test, then 11th of 15 in the full test, where wet stopping and stable handling earned praise but winter ability was limited. The same pattern appeared in 2015: seventh of 51 in Auto Bild's overview, then 13th of 18 in the full test. ADAC's sixth of 19 in 2015 was a stronger full-test result, while Consumer Reports placed it ninth of 17 in 2020 and rated wet and dry braking and handling Good.

Wear and efficiency are recurring weaknesses. ADAC criticised high wear in 2013, while Auto Bild noted low mileage in 2012 and 2015 and higher fuel consumption or rolling resistance. Aquaplaning reserves were criticised in Auto Bild's 2015 and 2016 tests, with the latter also finding poor dry performance and placing it 17th of 20. Snow results are inconsistent: Auto Bild found balanced snowy-road handling in 2015 and acceptable snow performance in 2016, but Auto Zeitung's last-of-eight result in 2013 brought criticism of both snow and wet grip. That wet verdict is unusually negative beside the other wet assessments. Low price and comfort earned praise, while noise impressions differed between tests.

Performance Strengths

Performance Weaknesses

Do owners agree with the tests?

Every tester write-up on the Falken Eurowinter HS449 (6 tests) and 30 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.

Where owners and testers agree

  • Ice grip strength in 1 of 6 tests 9 praise, 1 criticise of 30 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Rolling resistance weakness in 2 of 6 tests 0 praise, 3 criticise of 30 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Value for money strength in 1 of 6 tests 6 praise, 0 criticise of 30 reviews · Read those reviews

Where they disagree

  • Wet grip weakness in 1 of 6 tests 13 praise, 0 criticise of 30 reviews · Read those reviews

Raised by owners, not by any test of this tire

  • Slush performance no test mentions it 3 praise, 0 criticise of 30 reviews · Read those reviews

Every test, newest first 15

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

2020 1 test
P9 of 17 Beat 50% of the field

2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tire Test

Consumer Reports 215/60 R16

The Falken is a good choice for climates where wet snow and wet roads are common, because it scores better than average in the winter tire category, with Good ratings for braking in both wet and dry conditions—where most winter tires lag. It also earns Good ratings for handling. If you’re looking for a quiet winter tire, however, there are less noisy options.

WinnerBridgestone Blizzak WS90

2017 1 test
2016 2 tests
2015 5 tests
2014 1 test
2013 2 tests
P8 of 8 Beat 0% of the field

2013 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test

Auto Zeitung 195/65 R15

The budget Falken slips up on snow and has trouble in the wet , so it can not compete with the premium tires on test

WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 850

2012 3 tests

Back to the Falken Eurowinter HS449 overview

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