Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D

Good for UK winters, with strong wet performance and competent on snow.

Dunlop has to settle for sixth this year, after a podium finish for the 4D in 2012. However, it’s extremely hard to separate it from the Goodyear, Michelin and Hankook – overall results on snow and in the wet were remarkably similar. The Winter Sport had a slight edge in the wet, winning the braking test and runner-up on the handling track. It lacked the winning Continental’s sharpness, but hung on well through the long turns under power. There was a small amount of rear movement, which gave it a good balance and secure feel. Decent results in aquaplaning backed this up. It was near the top of the table in the dry, too – third in braking and just off the pace on the handling circuit. These promising performances were dashed when the Dunlop dropped behind its fourth-placed rival in the frozen north. Braking and traction saw it at the top of the table, and in the circle it came fifth. But like our overall runner-up, it struggled with slush. It was also a step behind the best on the handling track, with noticeably less grip on the fresh snow than the Conti.