Auto Bild large winter tire braking test 225/40 R18 2025

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.

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.

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.

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.