Auto Zeitung all-season tire test 225/45 R17 2026

The size 225/45 R17 is used on many compact cars, for example the VW Golf, Audi A3 or Škoda Octavia. The German magazine Auto Zeitung, together with the testing facility GTÜ and the automobile clubs ARBÖ and ACV, tested ten all-season tires in this size. The winner was clear, but the test also brought a few surprises, for example the disappointment of the Finnish winter specialist on snow.

Which tires were tested

• Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
• Continental AllSeasonContact 2
• Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3
• Michelin CrossClimate 3
• Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
• Falken Euroall Season AS220 Pro
• Hankook Kinergy 4S2
• Nokian Seasonproof 2
• Giti GitiAllSeason AS2
• Linglong Sport Master 4S

All the tires were bought by the testers in a regular shop; the manufacturers did not supply them.

How the testing was done: winter in Sweden, summer in Spain

The snow tests took place in February in northern Sweden. The wet and dry road tests were deliberately moved by the magazine to May in Spain. According to Auto Zeitung, summers are getting hotter, which is why grip in warm conditions is becoming increasingly important for an all-season tire.

Snow, wet and dry have equal weight in the evaluation. The "dry" category also includes wear, rolling resistance and noise.

Pirelli won clearly. On snow it was only in the middle of the ranking, but on both wet and dry roads it was the best, braking shortest on both surfaces with a significant lead:

• on wet, it stopped 1 meter sooner than the second-placed Continental,
• on dry, it stopped 1.3 meters sooner than the second-placed Bridgestone.

On dry pavement it also had the fastest lap on the track and the best rating for driving safety. On wet pavement it shared the fastest time with Nokian. Auto Zeitung also gave it a recommendation for price-to-performance ratio.

Who it's for: drivers in areas with mild winters and hot summers, exactly the conditions the test was designed for.

Continental is tuned more for winter. On snow it was the second fastest on the track and had the second best safety rating. On wet surfaces it braked second best and was also among the most comfortable tires. Its weakness is aquaplaning in a straight line, where it started to float among the first.

Goodyear is a strong all-round tire. On snow it had the third best traction, on wet surfaces it was among the best in braking and handling, and on dry surfaces it was the second fastest on the track. It also stood out with the highest estimated mileage in the test. Its weakness is braking on dry surfaces, where it needed 4.9 meters more than Pirelli.

Note: Goodyear today also sells a newer model in this size, the Vector All Season 4.

Michelin was in a league of its own on snow: best traction, best safety rating, highest lateral grip, and on the snow track it was almost two seconds faster than the second-placed Continental. It was also the quietest and is among the tires with the lowest wear.

On wet surfaces, however, it is weaker: it was the slowest on the wet track and showed significant understeer. It therefore finished fourth. If you drive where it really snows and can accept weaker grip on wet roads, this is the best choice.

From a Finnish brand with a winter tradition, you would expect strong performance on snow. However, Nokian was among the weakest on snow in both traction and lateral grip. On wet roads, though, it excelled: the best driving safety rating on wet surfaces, which the testers attributed to flawless handling, and the fastest lap together with Pirelli. It also had the lowest rolling resistance, meaning the lowest fuel consumption. On dry roads, however, it reaches the limit of grip sooner.

• Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 had the second shortest braking distance on dry roads, the fastest slalom time on dry roads, and high comfort. It was also the only one with the lowest cost per kilometer thanks to its long lifespan. On snow it braked weaker and is among the noisier tires.
• Hankook Kinergy 4S2 had the third best safety rating on snow and was the best against aquaplaning in a curve and the fastest in the wet circle. It is weaker when braking on wet surfaces.

These three tires finished without a recommendation:

• Giti GitiAllSeason AS2 is the paradox of the test. It braked shortest on snow of all, but longest on wet surfaces, up to 5.5 meters more than Pirelli. It has the shortest lifespan, which was more than 21,000 km shorter than the Goodyear's. Since it costs almost as much as premium tires, it is the most expensive to operate.
• Linglong Sport Master 4S surprisingly braked third best on dry roads. On snow, however, it had the lowest safety rating due to sudden loss of front axle grip and significant understeer. It also has the highest rolling resistance and weaker comfort. Thanks to its low price, however, it is third in cost per kilometer.
• Falken Euroall Season AS220 Pro finished last. On snow it had little grip, although it remained predictable, and on the track it was more than seven seconds slower than Michelin. However, it is comfortable and quiet inside the cabin.

Note: Falken has since changed the rubber compound of the AS220 Pro and promises better grip on snow and wet surfaces.