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2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
5 min read Updated
Contents
  1. Introduction
  2. Dry
  3. Wet
  4. Snow
  5. Environment
  6. Results
  7. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
  8. Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
  9. Nokian WR SUV 3
  10. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
  11. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
  12. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
  13. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
  14. Yokohama W Drive
  15. Wanli Snowgrip S1083

Test Summary
Wet Braking Yokohama W Drive
Dry Braking Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
Wet Handling Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
Wear Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
Rolling Resistance Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
Noise Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
Snow Handling Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
For 2018, the German publication Auto Zeitung have tested nine SUV / 4X4 winter tyre patterns in the popular 235/60 R18 size using an Audi Q5.

The tyres on test covered the premium and midrange segments, with a single budget tyre included, the Wanli Snowgrip S1083. The Wanli tyre was less than half the price of the most expensive tyres on test, so it will be interesting to see whether the Chinese manufactured tyre can improve on past performances.

Dry

The top two tyres during dry braking testing also happened to be the worst two tyres overall on test, with the Wanli and Yokohama tyres drawing in first place. There was a larger than normal spread across the dry braking testing, with nearly 4 meters covering the best to worst on test.

Dry Braking

Spread: 3.60 M (8.1%)|Avg: 46.06 M
Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)
  1. Yokohama W Drive
    44.60 M
  2. Wanli Snowgrip S1083
    44.60 M
  3. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
    45.20 M
  4. Nokian WR SUV 3
    45.90 M
  5. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
    46.00 M
  6. Continental Winter Contact TS 850
    46.10 M
  7. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
    46.90 M
  8. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
    47.00 M
  9. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
    48.20 M

The dry handling testing was much closer, with less than one second covering all nine tyre patterns. This time the Nokian WR SUV3 proved to be the best of the group.

Dry Handling

Spread: 0.90 s (1.4%)|Avg: 66.36 s
Dry handling time in seconds (Lower is better)
  1. Nokian WR SUV 3
    65.80 s
  2. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
    65.80 s
  3. Yokohama W Drive
    66.00 s
  4. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
    66.40 s
  5. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
    66.50 s
  6. Wanli Snowgrip S1083
    66.60 s
  7. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
    66.70 s
  8. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
    66.70 s
  9. Continental Winter Contact TS 850
    66.70 s

Wet

The all important wet testing was dominated by the Michelin Latitude Alpin 2, which had both the shortest wet braking distance and the quickest wet handling lap.

After winning the dry braking test, the Wanli budget tyre proved that in the wet, you still get what you pay for, finishing a long distance behind the pack in both tests.

Wet Braking

Spread: 15.80 M (28.9%)|Avg: 59.91 M
Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)
  1. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
    54.70 M
  2. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
    55.30 M
  3. Continental Winter Contact TS 850
    56.10 M
  4. Nokian WR SUV 3
    58.10 M
  5. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
    59.70 M
  6. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
    60.20 M
  7. Yokohama W Drive
    60.80 M
  8. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
    63.80 M
  9. Wanli Snowgrip S1083
    70.50 M

Wet Handling

Spread: 10.70 s (12.2%)|Avg: 91.38 s
Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)
  1. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
    87.60 s
  2. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
    88.10 s
  3. Nokian WR SUV 3
    89.50 s
  4. Continental Winter Contact TS 850
    90.20 s
  5. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
    91.10 s
  6. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
    91.30 s
  7. Yokohama W Drive
    92.50 s
  8. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
    93.80 s
  9. Wanli Snowgrip S1083
    98.30 s

The straight aquaplaning test brought the first win for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV.

Straight Aqua

Spread: 9.30 Km/H (11.9%)|Avg: 74.18 Km/H
Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)
  1. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
    78.10 Km/H
  2. Continental Winter Contact TS 850
    76.30 Km/H
  3. Nokian WR SUV 3
    76.20 Km/H
  4. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
    75.30 Km/H
  5. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
    74.90 Km/H
  6. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
    73.20 Km/H
  7. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
    72.80 Km/H
  8. Yokohama W Drive
    72.00 Km/H
  9. Wanli Snowgrip S1083
    68.80 Km/H

Snow

The Bridgestone LM80 EVO proved to be the most effective tyre during the snow braking testing.

Snow Braking

Spread: 3.80 M (16%)|Avg: 24.90 M
Snow braking in meters (Lower is better)
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
    23.80 M
  2. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
    24.00 M
  3. Wanli Snowgrip S1083
    24.40 M
  4. Nokian WR SUV 3
    24.40 M
  5. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
    24.60 M
  6. Continental Winter Contact TS 850
    24.70 M
  7. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
    24.90 M
  8. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
    25.70 M
  9. Yokohama W Drive
    27.60 M

While the Michelin Latitude Alpin 2 won the snow handling test.

Snow Handling

Spread: 5.80 s (7.2%)|Avg: 82.47 s
Snow handling time in seconds (Lower is better)
  1. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
    80.20 s
  2. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
    81.10 s
  3. Nokian WR SUV 3
    81.30 s
  4. Continental Winter Contact TS 850
    81.80 s
  5. Wanli Snowgrip S1083
    82.20 s
  6. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
    82.20 s
  7. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
    83.60 s
  8. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
    83.80 s
  9. Yokohama W Drive
    86.00 s

Environment

The Continental WinterContact TS850 P proved to have the lowest fuel use on test.

Rolling Resistance

Spread: 1.39 kg / t (19.8%)|Avg: 7.90 kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)
  1. Continental Winter Contact TS 850
    7.03 kg / t
  2. Wanli Snowgrip S1083
    7.39 kg / t
  3. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
    7.47 kg / t
  4. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
    7.87 kg / t
  5. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
    8.10 kg / t
  6. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
    8.14 kg / t
  7. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
    8.33 kg / t
  8. Yokohama W Drive
    8.38 kg / t
  9. Nokian WR SUV 3
    8.42 kg / t
19,000 km
£1.45/L
--
Annual Difference
--
Lifetime Savings
--
Extra Fuel/Energy
--
Extra CO2

Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tyre age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.

During internal noise testing, all nine tyres were within just two decibels of each other.

Noise

Spread: 2.00 dB (2.8%)|Avg: 72.33 dB
External noise in dB (Lower is better)
  1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
    71.00 dB
  2. Yokohama W Drive
    72.00 dB
  3. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
    72.00 dB
  4. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
    72.00 dB
  5. Continental Winter Contact TS 850
    72.00 dB
  6. Wanli Snowgrip S1083
    73.00 dB
  7. Nokian WR SUV 3
    73.00 dB
  8. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
    73.00 dB
  9. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
    73.00 dB

The Nokian proved to be good value, finishing third place overall but significantly cheaper than the most expensive tyres on test.

Price

Spread: 380.00 (140.7%)|Avg: 528.89
Price in local currency (Lower is better)
  1. Wanli Snowgrip S1083
    270.00
  2. Yokohama W Drive
    410.00
  3. Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
    440.00
  4. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
    550.00
  5. Nokian WR SUV 3
    550.00
  6. Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
    600.00
  7. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
    640.00
  8. Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
    650.00
  9. Continental Winter Contact TS 850
    650.00

Results

1st

Michelin Latitude Alpin 2

235/60 R18
Michelin Latitude Alpin 2
Total: 843
Dry 120
Wet 143
Snow 143
Comfort 7
Rolling Resistance 15
Noise 9
Overall 406
Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts
2nd

Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV

235/60 R18
Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
Total: 838
Dry 134
Wet 132
Snow 132
Comfort 8
Rolling Resistance 25
Noise 9
Overall 398
Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts
3rd

Nokian WR SUV 3

235/60 R18
Nokian WR SUV 3
Total: 810
Dry 128
Wet 131
Snow 131
Comfort 7
Rolling Resistance 15
Noise 8
Overall 390
Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts
4th

Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV

235/60 R18
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
Total: 817
Dry 127
Wet 147
Snow 115
Comfort 5
Rolling Resistance 16
Noise 18
Overall 389
Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts
5th

Pirelli Scorpion Winter

235/60 R18
Pirelli Scorpion Winter
Total: 788
Dry 129
Wet 116
Snow 130
Comfort 8
Rolling Resistance 21
Noise 9
Overall 375
Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts
6th

Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO

235/60 R18
Bridgestone Blizzak LM80 EVO
Total: 746
Dry 123
Wet 97
Snow 135
Comfort 9
Rolling Resistance 17
Noise 10
Overall 355
Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts
7th

Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV

235/60 R18
Toyo Snowprox S954 SUV
Total: 730
Dry 123
Wet 121
Snow 104
Comfort 8
Rolling Resistance 18
Noise 8
Overall 348
Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts
8th

Yokohama W Drive

235/60 R18
Yokohama W Drive
Total: 679
Dry 136
Wet 108
Snow 80
Comfort 7
Rolling Resistance 15
Noise 9
Overall 324
Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts
9th

Wanli Snowgrip S1083

235/60 R18
Wanli Snowgrip S1083
Total: 669
Dry 134
Wet 59
Snow 123
Comfort 7
Rolling Resistance 22
Noise 8
Overall 316
Read Reviews Test Results Results Table Test Charts

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