Best winter tyres 2024
We push a selection of winter tyres to the max in all conditions to see which is Britain's best
This year’s winter tyre test focuses on the big-selling 205/55 R16. Many of us risk running summer tyres through the coldest seasons, but winter designs are the best solution for the worst weather.
In our last test of this size in 2022, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was the winner and returns to defend its title. Unfortunately, a lack of stock prevented Bridgestone, the runner-up last time, competing with its new Blizzak 6, but there are six other contenders, a number of them also returning. These include the Hankook i’cept RS3, which was third last time, and the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 and Vredestein Wintrac, which were joint fourth.
They are joined by Goodyear with its UltraGrip Performance 3, the tyre that wasn’t quite ready in time for the 2022 test, and Falken with its Eurowinter HS02. Additionally, we have included a budget tyre to illustrate what performance you can expect versus the premium brands.
In this instance it’s the Goodride Snowmaster S608. We’ve also added a summer and all-season comparison from the winners in this size, Hankook and Continental.
What we tested
UK supply, stock and transport problems meant we asked the tyre makers to supply samples. Most chose a speed rating of H (118mph) and a weight rating of 91, apart from Vredestein, which went for a 94.
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EU label ratings are included for fuel economy, rolling resistance (RR) and wet grip (WG), which range from A to E (with A being best), plus pass-by noise (N), which is measured in decibels, so the lower the number the better.
| Continental WinterContact TS 870 | 91H RR: C WG: B N: B (70) |
| Falken Eurowinter HS02 | 91H RR: D WG: B N: A (69) |
| Goodride Snowmaster S608 | 91H RR:C WG:C N: B (72) |
| Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 | 91H RR: C WG: B N: B (70) |
| Hankook i’cept RS3 | 91H RR: C WG: B N: B (72) |
| Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 | 91H RR: C WG: B N: A (69) |
| Vredestein Wintrac | 94H RR: C WG: B N: B (70) |
How we tested them
Snow
For the snow tests, we headed to Hankook’s Technotrac facility at Ivalo, Finland, 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle. Conditions were good, with track temperatures ranging from minus 7 to minus 12 deg C.
We tested braking from 35-10kph (22-6mph) and acceleration from 10-35kph (6-22mph). The handling test was on a gently rising and falling 1.2km (0.75 mile) track which had a challenging variety of corners that tested handling, stability under braking, and traction exiting turns.
Wet tests
Both the wet and dry assessments were carried out at Continental’s Contidrom near Hannover in Germany, where temperatures were on the cusp of ideal. Winter tyres are designed to work below 7 deg C and that was where temperatures sat during our tests.
Our wet tests measure each tyre’s braking and cornering ability, plus their resistance to aquaplaning. Straight-line braking from 50mph to zero was done on a rail, ensuring that the same piece of asphalt was used each time, while wet cornering was derived from lap times on a 57.5m- diameter circle. The 1.1 mile wet handling circuit has a mix of corners and revealed each tyre’s handling and breakaway characteristics, cornering grip, traction and braking composure.
In straight-line aquaplaning we measured the speed at which the tyre running in 9mm of water was slipping by 15 per cent compared to the other wheel on a dry surface. In curved aquaplaning, each tyre is run through a curve flooded to 5mm at speeds from 37 up to 56mph and the average residual lateral acceleration was then calculated.
Dry
Dry braking distances were measured from 62mph (100kmh) to zero. We measured lap times on a one-mile section of the dry handling circuit that allowed us to assess handling balance, grip, transient stability and traction.
Noise
We measured sound levels in the cabin in a coast-down test from 100kph (62mph) on three surfaces, from smooth to coarse. We then took the average.
Fuel economy
We measured rolling resistance, the energy required to turn a loaded tyre. The less energy required, the more economical a tyre will be. A four to five per cent change in rolling resistance is equivalent to a one per cent shift in fuel consumption.
Prices
These were sourced from online retailer test winner Blackcircles and are for a fitted tyre. For tyres not sold by the company, an average of prices at other retailers was used.
Calculating a winner
The results for each test category are converted into percentages with the top tyre rated at 100 per cent and the rest scored relative to this. In terms of the overall score, 50 per cent is allocated to wet performance, 20 per cent to snow and 20 per cent to dry, with the emphasis on handling and braking. The final 10 per cent is shared between the other tests.
