Menu

2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
6 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15, displaying how each tyre performed across all test categories. The spider chart below provides a complete overview of performance, where one hundred percent represents the best performance in each category. The larger the area covered by each tyre's plot, the better its overall performance.
How to read these charts: For each test category, data is presented relative to the best performing tire. The direction indicates whether lower or higher values are better - pay close attention to this when interpreting results.

Performance Overview

This radar chart shows relative performance across all test categories, with 100% representing the best performance in each category. Reference tires may have gaps where data is not available.

Fulda Kristall Montero 3
Sava Eskimo Ice
Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
Nokian WR D4
Kumho Winter Craft WP51
Goodyear UltraGrip 9
Michelin Alpin A4
Debica Frigo 2

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Spread: 3.55 M (12.8%) | Avg: 29.63 M

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nokian WR D4 with a result of 27.76 M. The difference between best and worst was 11.3%.
  1. Nokian WR D4
    27.76 M
  2. Michelin Alpin A4
    28.31 M
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
    29.13 M
  4. Kumho Winter Craft WP51
    29.59 M
  5. Fulda Kristall Montero 3
    30.11 M
  6. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
    30.23 M
  7. Debica Frigo 2
    30.56 M
  8. Sava Eskimo Ice
    31.31 M

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Spread: 9.75 M (32.6%) | Avg: 33.29 M

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Alpin A4 with a result of 29.9 M. The difference between best and worst was 24.6%.
  1. Michelin Alpin A4
    29.9 M
  2. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
    30.24 M
  3. Nokian WR D4
    31.34 M
  4. Kumho Winter Craft WP51
    32.62 M
  5. Fulda Kristall Montero 3
    32.67 M
  6. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
    32.85 M
  7. Debica Frigo 2
    37.01 M
  8. Sava Eskimo Ice
    39.65 M

Wet Handling (s)

Spread: 1.30 s (9.4%) | Avg: 14.25 s

Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Goodyear UltraGrip 9 with a result of 13.8 s. The difference between best and worst was 8.6%.
  1. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
    13.8 s
  2. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
    14 s
  3. Nokian WR D4
    14 s
  4. Michelin Alpin A4
    14 s
  5. Fulda Kristall Montero 3
    14.1 s
  6. Kumho Winter Craft WP51
    14.2 s
  7. Sava Eskimo Ice
    14.8 s
  8. Debica Frigo 2
    15.1 s

Straight Aqua (Km/H)

Spread: 13.70 Km/H (15.4%) | Avg: 82.38 Km/H

Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Goodyear UltraGrip 9 with a result of 88.8 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 15.4%.
  1. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
    88.8 Km/H
  2. Michelin Alpin A4
    85.1 Km/H
  3. Nokian WR D4
    84.9 Km/H
  4. Fulda Kristall Montero 3
    84.7 Km/H
  5. Kumho Winter Craft WP51
    83.2 Km/H
  6. Debica Frigo 2
    79.9 Km/H
  7. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
    77.3 Km/H
  8. Sava Eskimo Ice
    75.1 Km/H

Snow Performance Overview

Snow Braking (M)

Spread: 1.18 M (7.5%) | Avg: 16.34 M

Snow braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Goodyear UltraGrip 9 with a result of 15.79 M. The difference between best and worst was 7%.
  1. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
    15.79 M
  2. Debica Frigo 2
    16.06 M
  3. Michelin Alpin A4
    16.16 M
  4. Sava Eskimo Ice
    16.25 M
  5. Nokian WR D4
    16.33 M
  6. Fulda Kristall Montero 3
    16.34 M
  7. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
    16.81 M
  8. Kumho Winter Craft WP51
    16.97 M

Snow Traction (s)

Spread: 0.61 s (12.7%) | Avg: 5.04 s

Snow acceleration time (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Goodyear UltraGrip 9 with a result of 4.82 s. The difference between best and worst was 11.2%.
  1. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
    4.82 s
  2. Debica Frigo 2
    4.86 s
  3. Sava Eskimo Ice
    4.95 s
  4. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
    4.96 s
  5. Nokian WR D4
    5.04 s
  6. Michelin Alpin A4
    5.06 s
  7. Fulda Kristall Montero 3
    5.18 s
  8. Kumho Winter Craft WP51
    5.43 s

Ice Performance Overview

Ice Braking (M)

Spread: 4.25 M (21.8%) | Avg: 21.96 M

Ice braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Debica Frigo 2 with a result of 19.51 M. The difference between best and worst was 17.9%.
  1. Debica Frigo 2
    19.51 M
  2. Nokian WR D4
    21.23 M
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
    21.6 M
  4. Kumho Winter Craft WP51
    21.81 M
  5. Sava Eskimo Ice
    22.44 M
  6. Fulda Kristall Montero 3
    22.47 M
  7. Michelin Alpin A4
    22.85 M
  8. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
    23.76 M

Ice Traction (s)

Spread: 1.74 s (26.8%) | Avg: 7.14 s

Ice acceleration time (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Debica Frigo 2 with a result of 6.49 s. The difference between best and worst was 21.1%.
  1. Debica Frigo 2
    6.49 s
  2. Sava Eskimo Ice
    6.57 s
  3. Kumho Winter Craft WP51
    7.02 s
  4. Nokian WR D4
    7.03 s
  5. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
    7.12 s
  6. Michelin Alpin A4
    7.32 s
  7. Fulda Kristall Montero 3
    7.33 s
  8. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
    8.23 s

Ice Handling (s)

Spread: 4.40 s (17.1%) | Avg: 28.91 s

Ice handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Sava Eskimo Ice with a result of 25.8 s. The difference between best and worst was 14.6%.
  1. Sava Eskimo Ice
    25.8 s
  2. Debica Frigo 2
    27.4 s
  3. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
    28.2 s
  4. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
    29.8 s
  5. Nokian WR D4
    29.8 s
  6. Michelin Alpin A4
    30 s
  7. Fulda Kristall Montero 3
    30.1 s
  8. Kumho Winter Craft WP51
    30.2 s

Value Performance Overview

Rolling Resistance (kg / t)

Spread: 1.08 kg / t (13.5%) | Avg: 8.55 kg / t

Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Debica Frigo 2 with a result of 7.99 kg / t. The difference between best and worst was 11.9%.
  1. Debica Frigo 2
    7.99 kg / t
  2. Nokian WR D4
    8.12 kg / t
  3. Goodyear UltraGrip 9
    8.26 kg / t
  4. Fulda Kristall Montero 3
    8.29 kg / t
  5. Sava Eskimo Ice
    8.81 kg / t
  6. Kumho Winter Craft WP51
    8.87 kg / t
  7. Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
    8.95 kg / t
  8. Michelin Alpin A4
    9.07 kg / t

Overall Findings

Based on the weighted scoring from all tests, here are the overall results:

Position Tyre Score
Nokian WR D4 0%
2 Goodyear UltraGrip 9 0%
3 Michelin Alpin A4 0%
4 Fulda Kristall Montero 3 0%
5 Debica Frigo 2 0%
6 Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 0%
7 Kumho Winter Craft WP51 0%
8 Sava Eskimo Ice 0%

Similar Tyre Tests

Show All winter tyre tests
2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test
January 2026 275/35 R19 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 7 tyres
2025 TUV Test of Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 vs Rivals
October 2025 Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 5 tyres
2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test
October 2025 235/45 R18 Continental VikingContact 8 20 tyres
2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test
October 2025 245/45 R19 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 10 tyres
2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test
October 2025 225/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 22 tyres
2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets!
October 2025 225/40 R18 Dunlop Winter Response 2 52 tyres

Discussion

2 comments
  1. Dorin archived

    Good to see such a test. Here, in Romania, Debica Frigo 2 is frequently equipping cars as European winter tire, but no one knows it is a nordic winter tire. Maybe considering it belongs to a different category could explain its weaknesses in dry and wet.

    #2956
  2. Andy Holmes archived

    I have to say that budget tyres performing poorly against premium tyres does nothing to portray the differences between euro and Nordic winter tyres!
    It is representitive of the differences yeah but not particularly credible...

    #2955