Reference All Season - Test Results

Test Statistics

3

Tests Completed

18^th

Average Position

11^th

Best Result

22^nd

Worst Result

Performance Analysis

The Reference All Season tire shows a split personality: it is frequently excellent in objective grip on dry and wet tarmac, and even delivers class-leading ice performance, yet it consistently struggles with aquaplaning and summer braking, dragging down overall rankings. In winter-focused tests, it often posts top-three results for dry/wet braking and handling and even wins key ice and rolling resistance metrics, but average-to-poor snow capability appears when compared to true winter tires. In summer tests, weak dry braking and notably poor straight and curved aquaplaning performance are recurring liabilities.

Performance Strengths

Dry and Wet Grip (On-Road) Strong Details
• 2nd place dry handling in 2024 Auto Bild Winter test (+2.1% from best)
• 3rd place wet braking in 2024 Auto Bild Winter test (+3.4% from best)
• 2nd place dry braking in 2024 UHP Winter comparison (+7.6% from best)
• 2nd place wet braking in 2024 UHP Winter comparison (+5.2% from best)
• 5th place wet braking in 2018 Auto Bild Winter (+1.7% from best)
Ice Performance Strong Details
• 1st place ice braking in 2024 UHP Winter comparison
• 1st place ice traction in 2024 UHP Winter comparison
Noise/Comfort and Efficiency Moderate Details
• 5th place noise in 2024 Auto Bild Winter (+1% from best)
• 3rd place noise in 2024 UHP Winter (+0.8% from best)
• 6th place noise in 2018 Auto Bild Winter (+1.4% from best)
• 1st place rolling resistance in 2024 UHP Winter; 7th/22 in 2018 Winter (+17.1% from best)
Light Off-Road Capability (SUV test) Minor Details
• 1st place sand traction in 2022 AutoBild SUV Summer
• 1st place grass traction in 2022 AutoBild SUV Summer
• 3rd place gravel traction in 2022 AutoBild SUV Summer (+3.6% from best)

Performance Weaknesses

Aquaplaning Resistance (Straight and Curved) Strong Details
• 18th/23 curved aquaplaning in 2024 Auto Bild Winter (+24.9% from best); 15th/23 straight aqua (+5.6%)
• 8th/9 curved aquaplaning in 2024 UHP Winter (+24.4% from best) despite 1st in straight aqua
• 22nd/22 straight and curved aquaplaning in 2022 Auto Bild Summer (+9.5% and +24.9% from best)
• 14th/22 straight aquaplaning in 2018 Auto Bild Winter (+9.9% from best)
Summer Dry Braking and Overall Summer Performance Strong Details
• 22nd/22 dry braking in 2022 Auto Bild Summer (+14.6% from best)
• 11th/11 dry braking in 2022 AutoBild SUV Summer (+18.3% from best)
• 11th/11 overall in 2022 AutoBild SUV Summer; 22nd/22 overall in 2022 Auto Bild Summer
Snow Performance Consistency vs. Winter Tires Moderate Details
• 19th/22 snow braking in 2018 Auto Bild Winter (+9.3% from best)
• 21st/22 snow handling in 2018 Auto Bild Winter (+5.1% from best)
• Mid-pack snow results in 2024 Auto Bild Winter (13th braking, 7th handling, 16th slalom)
Noise and Rolling Resistance in Summer SUV Context Minor Details
• 11th/11 noise in 2022 AutoBild SUV Summer (+3.8% from best)
• 8th/11 rolling resistance in 2022 AutoBild SUV Summer (+16.8% from best)