| Test Summary | |
| Wet Braking |
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| Dry Braking |
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 |
| Wet Handling |
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| Wear |
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 |
| Noise |
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
The test was won by the new Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen-1. Launched at the start of 2015, the UltraGrip Performance Gen-1 continues Goodyears excellent results in winter tyre tests, and proves its quality by being the most balanced tyre on test. Scoring highly in the snow, wet and dry testing, the tyre had good steering precision, a quiet ride and a low rolling resistance. The only negative of the tyre was a slight oversteer balance in the snow, causing the Mercedes C Class to be a little unstable at the limit.
Second place was taken by the Pirelli Sottozero Series 3 and third by the new Dunlop Winter Sport 5. The Pirelli enjoyed a good all round balance, and very direct steering leading to excellent stability, plus strong braking results in the dry and wet. The Dunlop had excellent aquaplaning results, making it particularly suited to the UK's winters, and strong braking in the dry and wet.
Strangely Continental found itself in fourth place overall with the WinterContact TS850. While the successor to the TS850 has now been announced, the TS850 still provided excellent aquaplaning resistance and a good all round balance of qualities, it was just bested by the top three newer patterns under braking tests.
The new Nokian WR D4 proved to be extremely strong on snow, but failed a little in the dry to end in fourth, while the cheapest tyre on test, the GT Radial, had an excellent result in fifth with the Champiro Winterpro HP having a good overall balance. Yokohama rounded out the top six, proving to be strong where the Nokian was weak in the dry, but weaker in the snow.
Results
Please note, the "comfort" score in this test includes noise, comfort and fuel efficiency.
Where's the best UHP winter tyre (the Pilot Alpin 4)?
strange they did not test the newer Continental TS850P, which is a more performance oriented tyre and also available in this size.
There is logic here. The P version of the tyre is an asymmetric tyre designed for better driving feel in the dry and wet. As such, it sacrifices a little snow performance over the non-P version of the tyre, and as these tests weight snow performance as the most important criteria, Continental were correct to submit the 850 rather than the 850P.
Conti TS850P they should test, I wanted to say exactly the same, given the competing higher performance models like Goodyear Ultragrip Gen-1, not UG9, Dunlop Wintersport 5, not Winter Response 2, Pirelli Sottozerro 3, not Snowcontrol III, and Bridgestone Blizzak 32S, not 32 or newer but usually in smaller size used LM001, on a car Mercedes C-Class with 17 inches wheels, so higher serie than a standard for VW Golf class.
Plus not sure why they missed Michelin & Hankook from the big 6. Pity, wett & dry have had also important weights, especially for real users, not only for this test drive.
Longevity missing completely? Again a pity for consumers.
Looking fwd to first spring test of summer tyres, coming...in March...
Hmm, where is the Continental tire? You just said it was on the fourth place, but in this top Nokian is on this position...
Hi Dorin,
Excellent point! We've updated the article to include the missing tyre, thank you for pointing it out.