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All Season vs Winter vs Nordic vs Studded Tyres

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

Adjust Result Weighting

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 Traction s Handling s % Braking M Traction s Handling s % Noise dB % Rolling Resistance kg / t %
1 Continental WinterContact TS 860 95.6% 41.9 2 5 96.4% 26.6 2 40.45 2 74.9 97.9% 18.9 3 4.55 3 90.81 3 93.5% 14.15 3 7.61 3 58.49 3 73.9% 67.1 2 98.7% 4.66 95.9%
2 ▼1 Continental AllSeasonContact 95% 40.1 5 100% 25.9 39.63 74.6 2 100% 20.8 4.77 98.88 86.8% 15.09 8.16 60.57 70.1% 68 3 97.4% 4.56 3 98%
3 ▼2 Reference Winter Studded 92.5% 46.54 3 3 81.7% 30.06 3 43.65 3 60 87.5% 17.74 2 4.19 86.76 99.7% 9.9 4.55 54.18 2 99.8% 70.1 94.4% 4.54 2 98.5%
4 ▼3 Reference Winter Nordic 91.4% 45.1 3 2 80.6% 31.58 44.4 62 3 85.3% 17.56 4.23 2 87.47 2 99.4% 11.06 2 6 2 53.85 88.4% 66.2 100% 4.47 100%
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Dry 96% Wet 98% Snow 94% Ice 74% Comfort 99% Value 96%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 41.9 M 2
Subj. Dry Handling 5 Points
Wet
Wet Braking 26.6 M 2
Wet Handling 40.45 s 2
Straight Aqua 74.9 Km/H
Snow
Snow Braking 18.9 M 3
Snow Traction 4.55 s 3
Snow Handling 90.81 s 3
Ice
Ice Braking 14.15 M 3
Ice Traction 7.61 s 3
Ice Handling 58.49 s 3
Comfort
Noise 67.1 dB 2
Value
Rolling Resistance 4.66 kg / t
Dry 100% Wet 100% Snow 87% Ice 70% Comfort 97% Value 98%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 40.1 M
Subj. Dry Handling 5 Points
Wet
Wet Braking 25.9 M
Wet Handling 39.63 s
Straight Aqua 74.6 Km/H 2
Snow
Snow Braking 20.8 M
Snow Traction 4.77 s
Snow Handling 98.88 s
Ice
Ice Braking 15.09 M
Ice Traction 8.16 s
Ice Handling 60.57 s
Comfort
Noise 68 dB 3
Value
Rolling Resistance 4.56 kg / t 3
Dry 82% Wet 88% Snow 100% Ice 100% Comfort 94% Value 99%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 46.54 M
Subj. Dry Handling 3 Points 3
Wet
Wet Braking 30.06 M 3
Wet Handling 43.65 s 3
Straight Aqua 60 Km/H
Snow
Snow Braking 17.74 M 2
Snow Traction 4.19 s
Snow Handling 86.76 s
Ice
Ice Braking 9.9 M
Ice Traction 4.55 s
Ice Handling 54.18 s 2
Comfort
Noise 70.1 dB
Value
Rolling Resistance 4.54 kg / t 2
Dry 81% Wet 85% Snow 99% Ice 88% Comfort 100% Value 100%
View detailed scores
Dry
Dry Braking 45.1 M 3
Subj. Dry Handling 2 Points
Wet
Wet Braking 31.58 M
Wet Handling 44.4 s
Straight Aqua 62 Km/H 3
Snow
Snow Braking 17.56 M
Snow Traction 4.23 s 2
Snow Handling 87.47 s 2
Ice
Ice Braking 11.06 M 2
Ice Traction 6 s 2
Ice Handling 53.85 s
Comfort
Noise 66.2 dB
Value
Rolling Resistance 4.47 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

11 comments
  1. Masch archived

    I live in South West Norway, where winter is mostly wet asphalt, but with periods of everything from snow, through slush to thick, uneven, wet ice. Up to now I have driven on nordic winter tyres, but will soon be switching to quite a heavy EV. I have read that nordic rubber doesn't suit EVs well and was wondering if the extra weight might warrant using a good European tyre, like the winter contact TS870p, which has better drainage and might be better in the wet conditions that we get the most. The standard winter tyres for the car in Norway are Viking contact 7.

    #7444
    1. TyreReviews Masch archived

      I know a lot of the US guys really rate the X-Ice Snow on the Teslas, which I realise is a nordic winter tyre but it seems less extreme than some.

      If the Viking Contact 7 is an OE tyre for the vehicle it will have been developed with the weight and torque in mind so that would likely be the best option.

      #7445
      1. Masch TyreReviews archived

        Thanks for that. After reading your reply and checking out the local company that deals with tyres for Polestar, I went with the X-Ice Snow. Not the best in the wet, but one of the better nordics and a good all-rounder.

        #7448
  2. Mike archived

    It's pretty cool to see how different types of winter tyres act and compare to each other. I've long wanted to test different "blends" myself but, well, real life and budgets and stuff like that. However...
    I live in a nordic country and we have mandatory winter tyres that have to have M+S and 3PMSF ratings on them from December 1st until last day of February. You can legally run your summer tyres from March 1st but that I would consider as chasing the Darwin's award.
    I have used different winter tyres over the 12 years I've owned cars. I've used expensive studs, very very cheap chinese brands, mid-range winter tyres, very expensive top of the line nordic un-studded tyres and I once did try chasing the Darwin's award by replacing winters with summers on 1st of March. I survived. It was a poor winter tho, no snow, no ice, just cold and dry roads. But I have not tested a proper good quality all-season tyre during winter.
    Now, I've looked at most of the tyre tests and yes, nordic and studded "blends" are awesome on snow and ice. You really can't beat a set of Nokians or Contis doing their business on snow and ice. But, as I am a city dweller who quite occasionally takes a drive out of town, mostly on major roads, 90% of my driving time is spent on wet roads since we use a stupendous amount of salt on our roads. The temperature is mostly a few degrees below freezing and we get an occasional snow-storm or overnight fresh powder but there's hardly ever any ice on the roads. It's a bit different when navigating through supermarket parking lots, it seems that nobody tends to those, and small city streets in residential areas might have a lof of loose or packed snow as it's really difficult to clean those areas up with cars that are parked everywhere. But the speeds are low and the chance to slip and crash are non-existent unless you drive like an idiot.
    So here I am, wondering away, if I should take a plunge and try a decent set of all-seasons next time I replace winter tyres. Or not.

    #6425
    1. TyreReviews Mike archived

      It's an interesting dilemma, but I'm not sure you'll find a tester / tyre company in the world that would recommend an all season tyre as a winter for nordic climates, as ice is the downfall.

      It's worth remembering that these Conti all season tyres are a fairly winter bias set, and a tyre like the CrossClimate or A005 would be even further back on ice.

      #6426
      1. Mike TyreReviews archived

        Back again to regret and repent my stupid ideas.
        The thing that got me thinking about using all-seasons was that we haven't had a proper winter in years now. Well, proper winter happened. It's mayhem. There's so much snow. And ice. And it's fun. Unless you have to dig out your car every morning from the snow.
        Yes, Nordic blends all the way. I pity the fools with no proper rubber and am ashamed of my heretical thinking. I hope the Spanish Inquisition won't catch me.

        #6428
        1. TyreReviews Mike archived

          Glad you came to that conclusion before purchasing any tyres :)

          #6430
        2. Jacek Figuła Mike archived

          There is one gap in recomment - You haven't bought nor tested and all-season tire. So that's a shame because I thought that would be respectfull information. Nonetheless good for you that you have proper tires anyway. : )

          #7302
            1. Jacek Figuła TyreReviews archived

              Yes you have! Thank you for that, at last I can compare results of test made in the same environment and conditions. My comments was about Mike's heretical thinking. :)
              I am very close to buy an all-season tire (vector gen-3) as winter tires for my S-max 2.2 200hp but there is still a bit of concern if that will be fine with occasional snow in Poland where i live. I have used an all-seasons before as allyear tire (Quadraxer 2 and Nokian weatherproof) on my Skoda Rapid and Renault Megane 3 but an S-max is way heavier and powerfull.
              On one hand all-seasons seems to be better at everything except snow vs winter tires but on the other the difference is not that big. But on the snow the difference is theoretically not that big either but in the real life amount of snow might be way bigger that on the video with test.
              Tests will be tests, I guess everyone have to make his own choice. :)
              I do enjoy watching your videos TyreReviews, as an engineer I appreciate methodology and precision with a bit of entertainment.
              Cheers!

              #7306
              1. TyreReviews Jacek Figuła archived

                I think if it's just snow, I'll be fine with all season as winter. However if you start to see any serious ice or compacted snow, that's when the winter tyre stretches its legs :)

                #7309