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2014 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
8 min read Updated

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The overall scores below are calculated using our weighting system. Since the original publication may use a different scoring methodology that wasn't shared, these results may differ from their published rankings. You can adjust the weightings below to explore how different priorities affect the results.

Test Results Data

BEST Good Average Below Average
# Tyre Total Score
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Discussion

10 comments
  1. CePal archived

    Guys, what would you advice me to get for older Mercedes E-klasse (W210 E320 CDI) diesel in 215/55R16 dimension? I live in Hampshire. I commute to work on motorbike all-year-round except 5 inches of snow on roads. The car is for weekends, really bad weather (last year I went on the bike home from work at Xmas time midnight when the worst wind had hit M3 and made it safely) and vacation - I would like to go skiing once or twice this winter, probably driving across Europe. So the tyre shouldn't wear too quickly, for English Winter it should be hard enough to not melt in 12C temperatures, it should be good for lots of water, sleet and ice - yeah we do get black ice here, although the salt usually prevents it. I don't mind if it's noisier or less comfy. But it should have good grip in all conditions, only deep snow NOT being a concern.

    I was advised to get Dunlop 4D - but they might wear a bit too quickly? So how about Michelin A4? They are the most expensive, but they're known for endurance and low fuel consumption, but I can't confirm that on my experience.

    Thanks a lot for the tips... I have seen the tests, but each time you're testing, the very same tyres end up in totally different order and one is asking, how much objective or rather paid off these tests were indeed!

    #1247
    1. TyreReviews CePal archived

      Continental WinterContact TS850. Originally they seemed to have poor wear, but in this years tests that seems to have improved.

      Fair play on all year bike use! I wish we could say the same, but after just 600 warm miles this year the bike has been put away for winter!!

      #1248
  2. Czech archived

    The new Vredestein Snowtrac 5 has been already tested e.g. in the Autozeitung (205/55 R16 H): http://www.autozeitung.de/w...

    #1238
    1. TyreReviews Czech archived

      Thank you for the link :)

      #1239
  3. Miki archived

    The old 4D in first place?they are still good tyre but i do not like them,i waiting to be tested the new Snowtrac 5 what do you thing about that tire?i now have Conti TS850 and i want to change it is very good,but i like to test every year another tire:) Michelin Alpin 5,Nokian WRD3,A3,(they are a little old) or Vredestein Snowtrac 5,in your opinion?:)205/55r16 size
    Thx

    #1233
    1. TyreReviews Miki archived

      The 4D has always seemed to work better in the larger sizes, and there's nothing to say Dunlop haven't updated the compound for this year.

      Sadly we know nothing about the Snowtrac 5 outside of the press releases, we don't currently have a relationship with Vredestein / Apollo.

      What do you want from your winter tyre? If it was us, we'd probably pick the Nokian WR A3, but that's because it works for the UK winters which is mostly dry / wet.

      #1235
      1. miki TyreReviews archived

        Here in eastern europe most for wet and snow:)

        #1236
          1. Cristi TyreReviews archived

            Dunlop update 4D in 2013? I had Dunlop 4D from 2012 and they have poor wear.

            #1282
            1. TyreReviews Cristi archived

              The manufacturers put small updates in their tyres all the time. There's a good chance it will have been updated since 2012.

              #1283