The sacrifices that the team at Auto Bild make for us. This year, in the interests of better-informed tyre purchases, they headed to the ski fields of New Zealand. In this snowy landscape at the far end of the world, testers Dierk Möller and Martin Westerhoff evaluated the performance of 30 all-season tyre models. Afterwards, they intensively tested the 15 tyres with the shortest combined wet and dry braking distances, and found that while five of these finalists delivered “performance at the highest level,” not all tyres were up to the job.
Introducing its size 225/40R18 all-season tyre test, Auto Bild mulls over a question that many have asked – are all-season tyres genuine all-rounders or an uneasy compromise? To add to this debate, the motoring publication mounted the 15 finalists on a VW Golf GTI and tested them on snowy, wet and dry surfaces. The test team also examined each tyre’s environmental and economic qualities.
Two of the 15 candidates challenge the common perception of the all-season tyre as a one size fits all solution. For its third generation CrossClimate, Michelin has released two versions, the Cross Climate 3 and CrossClimate 3 Sport. Auto Bild tests both in the snows of New Zealand.
They also included a summer and winter tyre in testing to compare their performance with that of the all-season counterparts. Addressing this all-rounder/compromise issue, Auto Bild testers Möller and Westerhoff note that the current crop of all-season tyres goes a long way towards bridging the gap between summer and winter products. Out of the 15 candidates they tested, eleven achieved a rating of ‘good’ or better, with Michelin and Pirelli in particular demonstrating the advantages of premium development.
Snow performance
Both versions of the Michelin CrossClimate 3 excelled in snow testing, outperforming all rivals in four disciplines. “The real surprise, however, is that the tested winter tyre now only has the edge over the best all-season tyres in the particularly safety-critical discipline of braking on snow,” adds Auto Bild. This progress within the all-season segment comes at a price, with cheaper tyres “lagging well behind” the best performers. The summer tyre proved unsuitable and dangerous in snowy conditions.
Wet grip & handling
On wet roads, the premium summer tyre set the benchmark. Among all-season products, the Vredestein performed best overall, edging out Pirelli and Continental in the weighted average of wet-weather disciplines. Hankook, along with second brand Laufenn and Michelin second brand Kleber, also delivered strong results. The Michelin CrossClimate 3, which was dominant in snow, revealed weaknesses in wet handling and the skid circle – although the Sport variant performed significantly better. Budget brand Roadhog faired worst in wet testing.
Dry-road capability
In dry testing, Pirelli, Bridgestone, and the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport set the standard. The Ceat and Linglong tyres delivered respectable results, while the Dunlop All Season 2 fell back, barely qualifying for the overall assessment. The Auto Bild testers stress that summer tyres still deliver unmatched dry performance and driving enjoyment, while winter tyres should not be used during warmer months.
Sustainability & cost
Auto Bild also awarded its Eco-Meister or Green Tyre seal of approval, which recognises efforts to combine performance with environmental sustainability. The test team declared the Michelin CrossClimate 3 its Green Tyre thanks to its use of innovative raw materials, low emissions, and recyclability, achieving an overall ‘good’ rating. Although the Dunlop All Season 2 achieved the best environmental balance, it only managed a ‘satisfactory’ overall result due to performance limitations.
In terms of running costs, the Dunlop All Season 2 offered the longest mileage, proving more cost-effective than budget competitors. By contrast, when travelling 71,500 miles, the Golf GTI would have needed an additional set of tyres (compared with the Dunlop) when shod with the Roadhog RGAS02.
Premium advantage
The Auto Bild testers concluded that truly balanced, top-performing all-season tyres remain the preserve of premium manufacturers. The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 led the field narrowly, while the testers highlighted Michelin’s decision to differentiate between two distinct CrossClimate 3 variants as an “innovative approach.” Whether other manufacturers adopt similar strategies remains to be seen.
How the tyres performed
Rated exemplary
Test winner: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3
+ Confident all-rounder with balanced performance in all weather conditions, sporty handling
– Above average wear
Continental AllSeasonContact 2
+ Balanced all-rounder with impressive performance in all road conditions, good driving dynamics
– Slightly limited mileage
Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport
+ Brand new all-weather tyre with outstanding driving dynamics in a wide range of weather conditions, strong in winter use
– Highest cost per kilometre driven of all candidates
Vredestein Quatrac
+ Wet weather specialist with high safety reserves, confident in all weather conditions
– Above average wear
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
+ All-round talent that strikes the perfect balance on any surface, strong price-performance ratio
– Slightly longer braking distances in wet and dry conditions
Rated good
Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
+ Summer specialist with excellent dry handling and high safety reserves in wet conditions
– Somewhat weaker on snow
Eco-Meister Green Tyre: Michelin CrossClimate 3
+ Snow king that can compete even with top winter tyres, very high mileage, therefore strong in terms of cost
– Somewhat weaker in wet conditions
Ceat 4 SeasonDrive X5
+ Budget surprise with short braking distances in all road conditions
– Slight weakness in aquaplaning
Kleber Quadraxer 3
+ Snow talent and best second brand from a premium manufacturer (Michelin)
– Slightly weaker in dry conditions, increased rolling resistance and therefore higher energy consumption
Laufenn G Fit 4S
+ Wet weather specialist with impressive value for money
– Slightly weaker in dry conditions, loudest rolling noise of all candidates
Sailun Atrezzo 4Seasons Ultra
+ Budget-friendly with low rolling resistance and balanced performance in wet conditions
– Somewhat weaker in snow, imprecise steering response
Rated satisfactory
Dunlop All Season 2
+ Long-distance champion, very strong in terms of cost
– Downgraded due to weaknesses in dry conditions and aquaplaning
Toyo Celsius AS2
+ High mileage at low cost
– Prevented a better result due to slight weaknesses in snow
Linglong Sport Master 4S
+ Dry weather specialist, confident on wet roads, low purchase price
– Overall weaker performance on snow
Conditionally recommendable
Roadhog RGAS02
+ Bargain price with respectable performance in dry conditions
– Weaknesses in snow, no longer recommended in wet conditions, high wear
