Five Of The Best Winter Tyres
Best Winter Tyres
Specially designed for cold-weather use, winter tyres feature an alternative construction to summer tyres, placing emphasis on grip and traction that kicks in when temperatures drop below 7°C.
This blog collates five of our top-rated winter tyres, all of which combine the following essential attributes:
· Reduced braking distances by over two car lengths in snowy and wet conditions
· Improved traction, stability and handling in cold temperatures and wintery weather
· Comply with European winter tyre legislation
Read on to learn what our top five best winter tyre choices in 2019/2020 are:
Continental WinterContact TS 860
Building on the success of its predecessor (the TS 850), which topped no fewer than 47 comparative tests run by the European Trade Press, the TS860 was always going to face an uphill struggle for superiority. However, it’s made some suitability impressive improvements all round. When braking on ice, for instance, braking distances decrease by 4%, while braking distances in rainy conditions are shortened by 5%. These subtle improvements combine to make big changes in driving performance, including improved lateral control, low rolling resistance and a high mileage potential.
Bottom Line: Superb winter tyre with industry leading handling and braking specificationss in both wet and dry conditions. Noise levels are its main disadvantage.
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Referred to as a snow specialist by Auto Bild due to its combination of traction, short stopping distances and aquaplaning protection, Dunlop’s Winter Sport 5 has been topping winter tyre charts since 2015. Adding extra tread blocks to increase the surface area that comes into contact with the road, thus improving traction, Dunlop also carved deeper grooves into the Winter Sport 5, speeding up water removal as a result. And in addition to its soaring scores across a range of best-in-class tyre tests, the Winter Sport 5 is great for fuel economy and performs quietly and efficiently in numerous wintery conditions.
Bottom line: A quiet, fuel efficient tyre featuring more tread blocks that its rivals, the Winter Sport 5 boasts improved traction and short stopping distances, making it a premium snow specialist.
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 2
Aimed at the high-performance market, the UltraGrip Performance 2 excels in all winter conditions. Featuring Winter Grip Technology that facilitates better elasticity at low temperatures, the Goodyear maintains grip in subzero temperatures, allowing you to enjoy easier acceleration and hill-climbing in both wet and dry conditions. In addition, Goodyear’s improved Adaptive SipeGrip Technology enhances grip and cuts breaking distances on hard-packed snow and ice.
Bottom Line: A benchmark winter tyre that excels in all areas. It’s quiet, provides a good balance between grip and fuel economy, and consistently tops performance tests.
Michelin Alpin 6
Michelin have futureproofed their design with Alpin 6, producing an exemplary winter tyre that boasts peak performance in both rain and snow. Its key innovation comes in the form of grooves that emerge and widen as the tyre wears, providing protection right down to the minimum legal tread (1.6mm). The globally renowned German car magazine, Auto Bild, states the Alpin 6 has precise steering, short stopping distances, high mileage potential and doesn’t easily aquaplane, making Michelin’s entry onto our list a no brainer.
Bottom line: Futureproof tyre (late 2018) that handles snow and rain with ease thanks to its innovative emerging groove design. Combines all the attributes of a top winter tyre, including short stopping distance, aquaplane resistance and precise steering.
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Having tackled snow-packed roads since 2013, the Winter Sottozero 3 remains a winter tyre stalwart. Featuring technology that remains close to the latest winter tyre releases in 2019, the Pirelli offers stable lateral control, low rolling resistance and short stopping distances in a variety of driving conditions.
Bottom line: Impressive tyre with good longevity, however, new cutting-edge designs slightly surpass its performance specifications.
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