Test: Which is the best winter tire 225/45 R18?

Winter is just around the corner and with it the period when our roads can turn into icy and snowy slides, especially at night. But don’t worry, because we have the solution to help you drive safely to your destination: our large winter tire test with 54 brands and types in size 225/45 R18 will make it clear which tire is the true winter king. Grip and safety are central in this test. From the A for Apollo to the Y for Yokohama, we test all tires on offer, whether in regular stores or online. There are the well-known A-brands with their cheaper B and C variants, but many manufacturers from all over the world are also trying to gain a foothold in the European market. Unfortunately, among the tires of brands that are sometimes completely unknown to the general public, there are many cheap products with questionable properties, as our tests show time and time again. The problem for the potential buyer: all tires are round and black, but what they really have to offer in terms of dynamics and safety can only be found out through serious tests such as ours. In order to carry out this, the 54 candidates (which we purchased undercover) first passed a selection round, during which we each simulated an emergency stop at 80 km/h on a wet road surface. Only the best-decelerating tires advanced to the second round, where they were also checked for their braking power on a snowy track. In the final, the twenty best candidates met each other for an exciting final battle. Read all about their strengths and weaknesses on this page.

Brake test with 54 tires to select the best 20

First of all, we carry out a safety test with the 55 tires: in the first phase, all tires must qualify in a braking test on wet roads. Tires that disappoint in this area will not advance to the next round. Only the tires that perform the best participate in the snow tests. The twenty winter tires with the shortest braking distances ultimately qualify for the final.

Test parts on snow

Michelin dominates the snow rankings together with its B brands BFGoodrich and Kleber. The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 delivers undisputedly the best performance when measuring traction, braking in snow and on courses that test driving behaviour. Only when it comes to lateral grip, the cheaper home-grown competitor manages to narrowly trump it. With exceptions, the other candidates also deliver reliable performance. Among premium manufacturers, only the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 makes a slip on the slalom test. Due to the limited lateral grip, the test BMW is more likely to slide over the front wheels in bends. Due to a lack of stability in corners, the Falken Eurowinter HS02 Pro and the low-budget tire – which was tested for reference in all test disciplines – disappoint, including in the snow assessment.

Test parts on wet roads

The BMW 3 Series that we used as a test car places high dynamic demands on the tires. It is all the more surprising that the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 can hold its own perfectly under braking and on the wet track. It even finishes ahead of the benchmark summer tires. Toyo’s Observe 944, on the other hand, is not really in its element on wet roads. It lacks good lateral grip without reliable lateral control and when the rear axle breaks away, the Speed-Grip 5 from Semperit and the low-budget tire from an unknown manufacturer that took part in this test as a ‘deterrent’ also do not leave a commendable impression. If there is a danger of aquaplaning, Hankook’s balanced Winter i*cept evo³ tire offers the greatest safety reserves.

Test parts on dry road surface

The WinterContact TS 870 P from Continental and the Pilot Alpin 5 from Michelin managed to collect the most points with safe handling and direct steering responses on dry roads. The handling of Firestone’s Winterhawk 4, on the other hand, can only be classified as ‘link’.

Costs

The expected mileage has the greatest influence on the point score for the cost section. Goodyear’s UltraGrip Performance 3 has the longest expected lifespan with a mileage of 45,500, calculated for the driven wheels. In terms of price-performance ratio, the Polaris 5 from Barum comes first with a convincing service life and a low price. It also comes out on top in terms of rolling resistance.

The top 5 winter tires 225/45 R18

1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
2. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
3. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
4. BF Goodrich G-Force Winter2
5. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2

Extensive results and graphs

All results are also shown in graphs, as well as an overview of all tires and their performance. We cannot show this on the web page, but you will find it in the PDF that you can download on this page.

Price comparator

With the AutoWeek Car Tire Price Comparator we offer you a handy tool to find the best offers on summer tires. The price comparator currently provides an overview of the complete range of 16 different tire providers. The results are also here all tire tests from the past 9 years.