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2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
6 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.
Dry 19%
Wet 33%
Snow 29%
Ice 5%
Comfort 5%
Value 10%
Dry 19% · Wet 33% · Snow 29% · Ice 5% · Comfort 5% · Value 10%
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Dry
Wet
Snow
Ice
Comfort
Value

Test Results Data

BEST Good Average Below Average
# Tyre Total Score Dry Wet Snow Ice Comfort Value
Braking M Subj. Dry Handling Points % Braking M Handling s Straight Aqua Km/H % Braking M Handling s % Braking M Handling s % Subj. Noise Points % Price Rolling Resistance kg / t %
1 ▲2 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 96.2% 29.38 2 5 98% 34.41 43.11 73.3 100% 11.61 73.6 97.8% 3.35 53.46 83.6% 4 2 80% 1311 3 5.94 2 83.6%
2 ▼1 Continental VikingContact 7 94.2% 29.64 3 4 3 93.9% 38.39 44.99 64.1 92.1% 11.46 2 72.25 99.4% 3.06 2 48.82 91.5% 5 100% 1621 6.05 79.1%
3 ▲1 Pirelli Ice Zero FR 93.7% 30.3 5 95.6% 37.84 3 44.13 2 63.3 93.4% 11.54 73.09 98.4% 3.43 49.43 3 86.4% 4 2 80% 1312 6.11 81.7%
4 ▲1 Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 91% 32.28 2 80.6% 39.2 46.35 63.4 90% 11.3 73.63 99% 2.54 49.83 99% 4 2 80% 982 2 6.18 86.8%
5 ▲1 Michelin X Ice Snow 90.4% 31.49 4 3 89.2% 40.23 44.71 3 65.3 2 90.8% 11.61 73.44 97.9% 3.39 52.54 83.9% 3 60% 1542 5.89 81.6%
6 ▼4 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 90.1% 30.22 3 89% 38.15 44.78 62.5 92.4% 11.58 72.86 3 98.4% 3.34 3 49.09 2 87.8% 2 40% 1465 6.03 3 80.8%
7 ▲1 Nereus NS805 Plus 89.6% 30.78 1 80.8% 37.29 2 45.31 65.2 3 93.2% 11.7 75.24 96.3% 3.62 50.63 83.3% 2 40% 682 6.14 97.3%
8 ▼1 Bridgestone Blizzak Ice 88.5% 28.69 2 89.8% 43.12 47.14 61.4 85.4% 11.5 3 72.73 2 98.8% 3.54 52.2 82.6% 3 60% 1586 6.2 77.8%
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Dry 98% Wet 100% Snow 98% Ice 84% Comfort 80% Value 84%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 29.38 M 2
Subj. Dry Handling 5 Points
Wet
Wet Braking 34.41 M
Wet Handling 43.11 s
Straight Aqua 73.3 Km/H
Snow
Snow Braking 11.61 M
Snow Handling 73.6 s
Ice
Ice Braking 3.35 M
Ice Handling 53.46 s
Comfort
Subj. Noise 4 Points 2
Value
Price 1311 3
Rolling Resistance 5.94 kg / t 2
Dry 94% Wet 92% Snow 99% Ice 92% Comfort 100% Value 79%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 29.64 M 3
Subj. Dry Handling 4 Points 3
Wet
Wet Braking 38.39 M
Wet Handling 44.99 s
Straight Aqua 64.1 Km/H
Snow
Snow Braking 11.46 M 2
Snow Handling 72.25 s
Ice
Ice Braking 3.06 M 2
Ice Handling 48.82 s
Comfort
Subj. Noise 5 Points
Value
Price 1621
Rolling Resistance 6.05 kg / t
3
93.7%
Dry 96% Wet 93% Snow 98% Ice 86% Comfort 80% Value 82%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 30.3 M
Subj. Dry Handling 5 Points
Wet
Wet Braking 37.84 M 3
Wet Handling 44.13 s 2
Straight Aqua 63.3 Km/H
Snow
Snow Braking 11.54 M
Snow Handling 73.09 s
Ice
Ice Braking 3.43 M
Ice Handling 49.43 s 3
Comfort
Subj. Noise 4 Points 2
Value
Price 1312
Rolling Resistance 6.11 kg / t
Dry 81% Wet 90% Snow 99% Ice 99% Comfort 80% Value 87%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 32.28 M
Subj. Dry Handling 2 Points
Wet
Wet Braking 39.2 M
Wet Handling 46.35 s
Straight Aqua 63.4 Km/H
Snow
Snow Braking 11.3 M
Snow Handling 73.63 s
Ice
Ice Braking 2.54 M
Ice Handling 49.83 s
Comfort
Subj. Noise 4 Points 2
Value
Price 982 2
Rolling Resistance 6.18 kg / t
5
90.4%
Dry 89% Wet 91% Snow 98% Ice 84% Comfort 60% Value 82%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 31.49 M
Subj. Dry Handling 4 Points 3
Wet
Wet Braking 40.23 M
Wet Handling 44.71 s 3
Straight Aqua 65.3 Km/H 2
Snow
Snow Braking 11.61 M
Snow Handling 73.44 s
Ice
Ice Braking 3.39 M
Ice Handling 52.54 s
Comfort
Subj. Noise 3 Points
Value
Price 1542
Rolling Resistance 5.89 kg / t
Dry 89% Wet 92% Snow 98% Ice 88% Comfort 40% Value 81%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 30.22 M
Subj. Dry Handling 3 Points
Wet
Wet Braking 38.15 M
Wet Handling 44.78 s
Straight Aqua 62.5 Km/H
Snow
Snow Braking 11.58 M
Snow Handling 72.86 s 3
Ice
Ice Braking 3.34 M 3
Ice Handling 49.09 s 2
Comfort
Subj. Noise 2 Points
Value
Price 1465
Rolling Resistance 6.03 kg / t 3
7
89.6%
Dry 81% Wet 93% Snow 96% Ice 83% Comfort 40% Value 97%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 30.78 M
Subj. Dry Handling 1 Points
Wet
Wet Braking 37.29 M 2
Wet Handling 45.31 s
Straight Aqua 65.2 Km/H 3
Snow
Snow Braking 11.7 M
Snow Handling 75.24 s
Ice
Ice Braking 3.62 M
Ice Handling 50.63 s
Comfort
Subj. Noise 2 Points
Value
Price 682
Rolling Resistance 6.14 kg / t
Dry 90% Wet 85% Snow 99% Ice 83% Comfort 60% Value 78%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 28.69 M
Subj. Dry Handling 2 Points
Wet
Wet Braking 43.12 M
Wet Handling 47.14 s
Straight Aqua 61.4 Km/H
Snow
Snow Braking 11.5 M 3
Snow Handling 72.73 s 2
Ice
Ice Braking 3.54 M
Ice Handling 52.2 s
Comfort
Subj. Noise 3 Points
Value
Price 1586
Rolling Resistance 6.2 kg / t
Not every driver has the same priorities. Adjust the category weightings above to re-rank the tyres based on what matters most to your driving style.
Scores are colour-coded from red (weakest) through yellow to green (strongest) to help you quickly spot each tyre's strengths and weaknesses.
The original test ranking is shown in the # column. Arrows indicate how each tyre moves when your custom weighting is applied.

Discussion

6 comments
  1. Pedro Neves archived

    We can't find a Vi Bilagare test with an all season or winter tyre as a reference. Maybe next year we see them test Nordic Friction winter tyres with a Michelin CrossClimate 2, a Bridgestone WC A005 Evo or a Continental AllSeasonContact as an all season reference and/or a Nokian WR Snowproof, a Continental WC TS860 or a Bridgestone Blizzac LM005 as a winter tyre reference. It should be interesting, since the only test where we can get all seasons vs winters vs Nordics is the one you did (great test, by the way):
    https://www.tyrereviews.com...

    #6393
    1. TyreReviews Pedro Neves archived

      Vi did make a test with the all season contact in, I've not published it yet though. I believe the reason it's not done often is because no manufacturer officially sells all season tyres in Nordic climates as they're really not suitable for the heavy winters with a lot of ice.

      #6394
      1. Pedro Neves TyreReviews archived

        I live in a warm climate, so I have to admit that I have no idea what tyres one can buy in a nordic climate, but I thought that people in those countries fitted all season tyres during spring and leave them throught the summer and autumn. That's why I thought it could be didactical to have an all season as a reference for them. In fact, all seasons are not appropriate for a harsh winter, up to the point where (and according to Michelin's website) the norwegian and swedish authorities decided to not recognize the Michelin CrossClimate as a legal tyre to be used in the winter, despite its 3PMSF rating!...

        #6395
        1. TyreReviews Pedro Neves archived

          I like your theory, however I fear if people had all seasons on in the summer, they would be more inclined to leave them on in winter, which is maybe why the extra law for the CC!

          I will get that article up on the site though, so keep an eye out in the next few days

          #6396
          1. Pedro Neves TyreReviews archived

            I just digged into this matter and found out at Continental's website that there may not exactly be an extra law for Michelin's CC. It's just that Norway demands that even tyres that have the M+S had to be especially developed for winter conditions but Sweden, on the other hand, seems to have some special regulation against the CC, according to Michelin's sweden website. Check out this links:
            https://www.continental-tir...
            https://www.michelin.se/aut... (scroll down and click at "Villkor" for note 2, although it should rather be note 1)
            Michelin seems to be the only responsible or respectful manufacturer that advises consumers from Sweden and Norway (in the respective country website) that the CC (their only all season tyre) is not appropriate for their winter months (Oct-Apr in Norway and Dec-Mar in Sweden).

            #6397
            1. TyreReviews Pedro Neves archived

              Good sleuthing! As I mentioned, I've not dug into this a huge amount but in casual conversations I've had with manufacturers, some don't offer them to sale to dealers. Obviously with the internet this doesn't mean they're not available though.

              As you said, something like the CC2 would be a great "summer" tyre for those climates for a lot of cars.

              #6399