Winter Tyre Comparison

It won't be long before 2022 gives way to 2023. That means our daily commute will soon become snowy and slippery. And that means it's time to start thinking about the best tires to keep you on the road instead of stuck in a ditch next to it.

Jonathan Benson at Tyre Reviews looked at seven winter tyres designed for extreme snow/ice conditions. Moreover, these are studless winter tyres because studs aren't allowed in many locations. As per usual, the testing is extremely thorough with evaluations on snow, ice, wet roads, and dry conditions. Handling and braking performance is considered. 

The tyres used in the test include the Continental VikingContact 7, Cooper Weathermaster S100, Federal Himalaya ICEO, Michelin X-Ice Snow, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5, Pirelli Ice Zero FR, and the Yokohama Iceguard IG53. 

The general takeaway from the test is that all the brands handle snow and ice well, but some certainly do the job better than others. On rough ice, the Federal was the slowest while the Continental delivered the fastest time. However, Benson noted that the Continental was more prone to sudden loss of grip, leading him to prefer the Michelin for overall grip and confidence. 

In snow, all the tyres were very similar in performance. The top four tyres had results within one percent of each other, but the Nokian was the fastest of the bunch. Yokohama tyres yielded the slowest results, but we're talking about a difference of approximately three seconds from worst to first. 

Comprehensive testing procedures took place, which even includes wet performance in cold temperatures to simulate a winter day just above the freezing point. Benson highlights the Nokian, Continental, and Michelin brands as being top choices.