Auto Bild large winter tire braking test 225/40 R18 2025
Big braking test of winter tires 2025
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Values are shown as a percentage of the best tyre's performance in the test. The discipline winner has 100%; 95% means a 5% weaker result — for braking distance, a 5% longer stopping distance.
Braking distance in the wet % of the best tyre in the test · ↑ higher is better 
Estimated mileage km · ↑ higher is better Test information
Battle of 52 sets of tires on water and snow
AutoBild magazine has once again prepared one of the most extensive tests of the season. In the opening round, it subjected 51 winter tires (plus one summer tire as a reference) to a demanding wet asphalt braking test from a speed of 80 km/h. The best 31 candidates then advanced to the decisive braking test on snow from a speed of 50 km/h.
The results show fundamental differences between premium manufacturers and cheap alternatives, where even a few extra meters can determine safety.
Braking on wet road surface (from 80 km/h)
The summer tire on wet asphalt showed a clear physical advantage, stopping in a distance of just 30.6 meters – a value that no winter tire was able to beat. Among the winter specialists, however, a tight battle broke out:
- Top performer on water: The shortest braking distance was achieved by the Goodyear tire (32.6m), closely followed by the Michelin tire (33.2m) and the pair Dunlop and Toyo (33.4m).
- Overall results: The best tires stopped within a range of 33 to 35 meters.
- Warning: The worst winter tires in the test needed more than 45 meters to stop. This extreme difference of more than 10 meters can mean the difference between a safe stop and a serious accident in a critical situation.
Braking on snow (from 50 km/h)
On the snowy track, the order was completely reversed, demonstrating the true justification for winter compounds. The summer tire failed here, needing as much as 51.1 meters to stop.
- King of snowy roads: The best braking performance on snow was demonstrated by the Kleber tire with a braking distance of just 27.1 meters, closely followed by the BFGoodrich tire (27.3 m).
- Strong premium: Excellent results were also confirmed by the Dunlop (27.5 m) and Michelin (27.8 m) tires.
- Class differences: The best tires clustered closely within a range of 27 to 29 meters, while the weakest winter tires needed more than 32 meters to stop.
Verdict and what comes next
The test clearly showed that a universal winter tire must handle a balanced compromise. While brands such as Michelin and Dunlop managed to deliver top-notch braking performance on both water and snow, many cheap tires burned out completely right in the first phase on wet asphalt.
The twenty tires with the shortest combined braking distance (water + snow) advance to the final comprehensive AutoBild test, where handling, noise levels, mileage, and rolling resistance will also be evaluated.
Auto Bild large winter tire braking test 225/40 R18 2025
52 products · click a column to sort| # | Tyre | Price from | Wet braking [%] ↕ | Snow braking [%] ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dunlop WINTER ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 120 € | 91.9 | 98.5 |
| 2. | Michelin PILOT ALPIN 5 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 146 € | 92.2 | 97.5 |
| 3. | Goodyear ULTRAGRIP PERFORMANCE 3 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 135 € | 93.9 | 95.1 |
| 4. | Kumho WINTERCRAFT WP52 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 92 € | 91.3 | 95.8 |
| 5. | Uniroyal WINTEREXPERT ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 117 € | 89.7 | 94.8 |
| 6. | Bridgestone BLIZZAK 6 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 124 € | 87.4 | 96.8 |
| 7. | Firestone WINTERHAWK 4 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 107 € | 87.9 | 96.1 |
| 8. | Toyo OBSERVE WINTER SPORT 1 ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 91.9 | 91.2 |
| 9. | Pirelli CINTURATO WINTER 2 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 137 € | 88.7 | 94.4 |
| 10. | Barum POLARIS 6 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 89 € | 87.2 | 96.1 |
| 11. | Bf goodrich G-FORCE WINTER2 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 104 € | 85 | 99.3 |
| 12. | Kleber KRISALP HP3 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 104 € | 84.5 | 100 |
| 13. | Continental WINTERCONTACT TS 870 P ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 138 € | 86 | 96.8 |
| 14. | Hankook W330A WINTER I*CEPT EVO3 X ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 109 € | 86 | 96.4 |
| 15. | Semperit SPEED-GRIP 5 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 120 € | 87.7 | 93.4 |
| 16. | Linglong Sport Master Winter ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 77 € | 85.7 | 94.4 |
| 17. | Vredestein WINTRAC PRO+ ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 114 € | 85 | 94.4 |
| 18. | Fulda KRISTALL CONTROL HP 2 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 108 € | 82.9 | 96.8 |
| 19. | Ceat WinterDrive ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 82.9 | 96.1 |
| 20. | Falken EUROWINTER HS02PRO ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 115 € | 85.5 | 91.9 |
| 21. | Sportiva Snow Win 3 | — | 83.8 | 92.8 |
| 22. | Apollo ASPIRE XP WINTER ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 133 € | 82 | 94.4 |
| 23. | Sava ESKIMO HP 2 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 90 € | 80.7 | 96.4 |
| 24. | Giti GITIWINTER W2 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 107 € | 81.2 | 95.4 |
| 25. | Paxaro PAXARO WINTER ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 83.8 | 91.2 |
| 26. | Platin RP-70 WINTER ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 99 € | 80.5 | 95.1 |
| 27. | Debica FRIGO HP 2 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 97 € | 80.3 | 94.8 |
| 28. | Yokohama V906 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 112 € | 80.7 | 93.4 |
| 29. | Lassa Snoways 4 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 146 € | 79.7 | 88.9 |
| 30. | Landsail Winter Lander ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 83.8 | 83.4 |
| 31. | Rotalla S210 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 92 € | 79.1 | 83.1 |
| 32. | Kenda WINTERGEN 2 KR501 ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 78.9 | — |
| 33. | Tracmax ICE-PLUS S210 M+S 3PMSF ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 78.9 | — |
| 34. | Trazano Z-507 ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 78.7 | — |
| 35. | Gt radial WINTER PRO 2 SPORT ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 114 € | 78.1 | — |
| 36. | Royal black ROYALWINTER UHP ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 110 € | 77.7 | — |
| 37. | Sumitomo WT200 | — | 77.7 | — |
| 38. | Tigar WINTER 1 ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 77.1 | — |
| 39. | Davanti WINTOURA ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 76.7 | — |
| 40. | Nankang Winter Activa SV 4 ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 76.7 | — |
| 41. | Goodride ZuperSnow Z507 | — | 76.3 | — |
| 42. | Imperial SnowDragon UHP ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 72 € | 75.7 | — |
| 43. | West lake SW608 SNOWMASTER ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 74.8 | — |
| 44. | Maxxis PREMITRA SNOW WP6 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 84 € | 74.6 | — |
| 45. | Star Performer Stratos UHP 11 | — | 74.3 | — |
| 46. | Tomket SNOWROAD PRO 3 XL ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 74.1 | — |
| 47. | Atlas POLARBEAR UHP XL BSW M+S 3PMSF ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 72.5 | — |
| 48. | Sunny WINTERMAX NW211 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 87 € | 72 | — |
| 49. | Milever MW255 WINTER-MAX A1 ✓ Available in size 225/40 R18 | from 62 € | 71.5 | — |
| 50. | Infinity EcoZen XL ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | 70.7 | — |
| 51. | Windforce SNOWBLAZER UHP ✕ Unavailable in size 225/40 R18 | — | — | — |
| 52. | Reference Summer | — | — | — |
Wet braking [%]
Snow braking [%]
Big braking test of winter tires 2025