Auto Bild winter tire test for SUVs 225/55 R18 2026

SUVs and crossovers are heavier and taller than regular passenger cars, which is why the quality of winter tires matters even more for them. The German magazine AUTO BILD tested ten winter tires in the size 225/55 R18 on a BMW X1. The winner offers top performance at a reasonable price, but the last tire in the test seriously failed on wet roads.

How the testing was done

• Snow: Hankook's winter test center Technotrac near Ivalo, Finland. Handling, slalom, and traction were measured.
• Wet and dry: the ATP Papenburg and Triwo Pferdsfeld test tracks in Germany. Braking, handling, and aquaplaning were measured both on straights and in corners.
• Noise: measurement of pass-by exterior noise.

The test vehicle was a BMW X1. For comparison, the testers also measured a summer tire.

Hankook won with a rating of "very good". The testers praise its balanced performance in all conditions and favorable price. It received the best partial score in the test for wet conditions and was second best in wet braking. It was the fastest on the dry circuit.

Pirelli is a wet-weather specialist. It had the shortest braking distance of all on wet surfaces and was the fastest on the wet circuit. It is also very quiet. It has minor weaknesses on dry roads.

Michelin offers, according to the testers, "excellent winter characteristics" and is supreme on dry roads. On wet surfaces it is slightly weaker than the best.

Hankook, Pirelli, and Michelin were labeled by AUTO BILD as exemplary. Each has different strengths, so the choice between them depends on what matters most to you.

• Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 had the shortest braking distance on dry roads in the test and is very good in snow. It has minor weaknesses on wet surfaces.
• Bridgestone Blizzak 6 is strong in snow and has low rolling resistance, meaning lower fuel consumption. It has minor weaknesses on both wet and dry surfaces.

According to the testers, both tires are fully adequate for a safe winter.

• Falken Eurowinter HS02 Pro offers decent driving characteristics in snow and is very quiet. It is weaker in aquaplaning.
• Linglong Sport Master Winter had the best handling in snow in the entire test, is confident on dry roads, and is very cheap. However, it is weak on wet surfaces, which earned it a lower overall rating.
• Matador MP93 Nordicca is very good in snow and quiet when driving. It has weaknesses on wet roads.
• Prinx Winter Excelia has good performance in snow, but has weak lateral grip on wet surfaces and a high price relative to its performance.

Zeetex was the only tire to receive a "poor" rating. Its only advantage is a very low price. It brakes unacceptably long on wet surfaces: from 100 km/h it needed 57.5 meters, while the winning Pirelli stopped after just 44.4 meters. At the point where the car with Pirelli tires had already stopped, the car with Zeetex tires was still traveling at almost 48 km/h. It also has weak lateral grip in the rain.

Tip: switch tires on time

AUTO BILD recommends switching to winter tires before the first snowfall, as it can be difficult to get an appointment at tire shops once the season begins.