The days are getting shorter, temperatures are falling, it’s getting wet, dark and cold. Time for all motorists to prepare for the change to winter tires. In the current ADAC model test, there are a few clear top performers, a large midfield and clear tail lights that you better not rely on. If you do it cleverly, you can also save some money.
ADAC tests winter tires: These models are ahead
With bad weather, the winter tires have to be unpacked and put on again soon. If the old ones from last year are still good, lucky. But often a new set is needed to make it safely through the cold season. This could get expensive, According to the ADAC, you can also keep the costs down by choosing the right model. This is one of the results of the automobile club’s current winter tire test.
33 tires from two dimensions were tested, each suitable for small cars or SUVs in the lower price category. For small cars such as the VW Polo or Opel Corsa, the ADAC recommends four models with the rating “good” in size 185/65 R15 (T): Continental Winter Contact TS 870 (view on Amazon) Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, Semperit Speed-Grip 5 and Michelin Alpin 6.
The four models impressed the ADAC testers with their performance in the wet, snow and on dry roads. The other places in the list of results below are recommended with restrictions, in descending order of placement:
On the other hand, the two taillights in the comparison from China are not recommended: The Imperial and Wanli tires have clearly in the test longer braking distances shown in difficult weather conditions. The tires from Dunlop, Fulda and Barum, which were rated “sufficient”, show fewer serious limitations, but according to the ADAC, driving behavior is also negatively affected.
Drivers of a small car can look forward to the opportunity to save. According to ADAC, they are top rated models hardly more expensive than those with medium rating. In return, they sometimes offer significantly better properties such as low wear and high mileage. So if you take a close look at the selection, you can have something of the new set of winter tires for longer.
You can see what the wrong winter tires can lead to in the video:
SUV drivers can use cheaper winter tires without hesitation
Things are even looking a little better for SUVs: in size 215/60 R16, suitable for the Skoda Karoq and Audi Q3, for example, the ADAC recommends the best-placed tires without reservation. There were no weaknesses in the main criteria Continental WinterContact TS 870, Dunlop Winter Sport 5, Goodyear UltraGrip Performance + and Michelin Alpin 6 again (view at Amazon):
According to the test, however, there are in the large midfield real alternatives where savings can be made. Because the other places usually only performed worse in one category than the top places. Depending on your personal driving profile, a significantly cheaper tire with the result “satisfactory” could turn out to be better than the top places in the ranking, according to the ADAC.