Consumer advice magazine Which? completed an extensive winter tire test in the Alps, taking into account six sizes.
Each tire was given a percentage score and ranked accordingly in its size division. In addition, the magazine presented a star rating out of five in each category it tested, namely: dry braking, dry handling, wet braking, wet handling, braking on snow, traction on snow, cornering on snow, braking on ice, cornering on ice, fuel economy, noise and wear.
Tires from Michelin, Continental, Dunlop, Vredestein, Fulda and Semperit were awarded “best buy” status. Which? also gives tires performing particularly badly a “don’t buy” rating, and this year’s list included the Falken Eurowinter HS439, the Marangoni 4 Winter, Sava’s Eskimo S3, the Star Performer Winter and the Kenda Polar Trax KR19.
Which? magazine’s complete “Best Buy” winter tire list by size:
175/65 R14T
Continental WinterContact TS800
Michelin Alpin A4
Dunlop SP Winter Response
185/60 R14H
Vredestein Snowtrac 3
Fulda Montero 3
Continental WinterContact TS 800
Bridgestone Blizzak LM 30
185/65 R15T
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D MO
Fulda Kristall Montero 3
195/65 R15T
Continental WinterContact TS830
Goodyear UltraGrip 8
Semperit Speed-Grip 2
205/55 R16H
Continental WinterContact TS 830
Goodyear UltraGrip 7+
Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3
225/45 R17H
Michelin Alpin A4
Continental WinterContact TS830P (Tyres & Accessories)