We’re receiving mixed messages from Auto Bild allrad. In their brief summary of the publication’s 2025 winter SUV tyre test, expert testers Dierk Möller and Martin Westerhoff state that “safety comes at a price,” a comment made in reference to two inexpensive but poorly performing products. But they then show this isn’t always the case by declaring a cheaper than average tyre (according to pricing information from Auto Bild allrad) joint winner of the test.
It’s a contradiction we can live with, and while agreeing that the chance of getting a good tyre increases when climbing the price scale – and plummets when parting with just a handful of readies – we are happy to see that good and affordable tyres are available. It is all a matter of knowing which products fit the bill, and in the test at hand, Auto Bild allrad examines a dozen tyre brands in 215/55 R17, a size suitable for many compact SUVs such as the VW T-Roc, Seat Ateca, Skoda Karoq, Toyota Yaris Cross, Hyundai Kona Electric and Fiat 500X. Möller and Westerhoff chose a T-Roc for their testing in snow, wet and dry conditions.
The results contain no major surprises, with four tyres gaining Auto Bild allrad’s top ‘exemplary’ rating. Occupying the upper step of the victors’ podium are joint winners the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 and Hankook Winter i*cept RS3, the latter being the aforementioned affordable champion. The Continental WinterContact TS 870P and Vredestein Wintrac Pro+ keep the winning pair company in equal third place.
Five tyres achieve a ‘good’ rating, with Möller and Westerhoff praising the first of these as “a good alternative at an affordable price.” This tyre is the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+, the cheapest of all ‘good’ or better rated tyres. The Kumho tyre was followed by the much pricier Michelin Alpin 7 as well as the rivals from Bridgestone, Pirelli and Falken.
A rating of ‘satisfactory’ is a result worthy of a second look, as within this category some motorists will find a tyre that matches their individual needs at a bargain price. One product, the Linglong Sport Master Winter, gained this rating.
The Leao Winter Defender UHP didn’t manage more than a ‘conditionally recommendable’ rating, placing it above only one competitor, the Tomket Snowroad Pro 3, a tyre which Auto Bild allrad declared ‘not recommendable’.
Rated exemplary
Test winner – Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
+ Traction champion on snow, balanced on all road conditions
– Slightly slower in dry handling
Test winner – Hankook Winter i*cept RS 3
+ Braking expert on snow-covered and wet roads, high traction on snow
– Comparatively lower energy-saving potential
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
+ Energy-saving expert that strikes the perfect balance across all disciplines
– Relatively high purchase price
Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
+ A master of balance that excels in all disciplines
– Slightly weaker in terms of comfort and energy-saving potential
Rated good
Kumho WinterCraft WP 52+
+ Bargain price with the shortest braking distances in dry conditions
– Aquaplaning occurs relatively early when cornering
Michelin Alpin 7
+ Snow specialist with strong handling on winter roads
– Overall slightly weaker in wet conditions, most expensive purchase price of all candidates
Bridgestone Blizzak 6
+ Snow ace with top performance on snow-covered roads
– Longer braking distances and weaker handling in wet conditions
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
+ Best cone slalom on snow with high lateral guidance, high rolling comfort
– Longer wet braking distances, higher rolling resistance
Falken EuroWinter HS02
+ Dry weather specialist that excels with short braking distances in these road conditions
– Slightly slower handling on snow and wet surfaces
Rated satisfactory
Linglong Sport Master Winter
+ Respectable performance on dry roads, affordable purchase price
– Weaker on wet roads and in snowy conditions
Conditionally recommendable
Leao Winter Defender UHP
+ Performs well on dry roads
– Lack of lateral guidance and steering precision when handling wet roads
Not recommendable
Tomket Snowroad Pro 3
+ Affordable price, high energy-saving potential
– Difficult to control in wet conditions, significant weaknesses on snow
