We push a selection of winter tyres to the max in all conditions to see which is Britain's best

• 1Introduction – currently reading
• 2Continental WinterContact TS 870
• 3Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
• 4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
• 5Hankook i*cept RS3
• 6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
• 7Michelin Alpin 6
• 8Vredestein Wintrac Pro
• 9Alternative tyre choices
• 10Results by category

While all-season tyres are garnering attention from both car manufacturers and drivers, the ultimate solution for coping with our increasingly extreme weather is to swap your tyres to suit the conditions.

An all-season tyre is always a compromise, albeit one many drivers are happy to accept, but when temperatures drop and snow is on the ground, a winter design is the most effective. Around seven degrees centigrade is the point where the performance balance shifts into a winter tyre’s favour in the temperature-sensitive wet braking, cornering and handling tests.

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For 2023, we chose the 225/45R17 size to put our winter tyres through their paces, with the help of Pirelli in a snow-covered Sweden, and Continental at the Pferdsfeld proving ground in Germany.

Continental and Bridgestone renewed their battle for winter supremacy with the same tyres as 2022, while Hankook, Pirelli and Michelin returned with an unchanged line-up. Dutch producer Vredestein was back with the Wintrac Pro, while the delayed Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 made its test debut. We also reintroduced our summer and all-season comparisons, using the current winners in each sector.

What we tested

In the past we bought our test tyres, but this year shipping difficulties meant we asked makers to supply samples. To ensure we tested what you can buy, we compared the wet braking results of the top three against bought examples. All were the same as the supplied samples.

We list the speed and weight ratings (right), plus the EU tyre label grades, where A is the best for fuel economy (RR) and wet grip (WG). Pass-by noise (N) is rated in decibels, so less is best.

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005	91 H RR: C WG: A N: 71
Continental WinterContact TS 870	94 V RR: C WG: B N: 70
Goodyear Ultragrip Performance 3	94 V RR: C WG: B N: 71
Hankook Winter i*cept RS3	91 H RR: D WG: B N: 72
Michelin Alpin 6	91 H RR: D WG: B N: 69
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2	94 V RR: C WG: B N: 72
Vredestein Wintrac Pro	94 H RR: D WG: B N: 72
Bridgestone Potenza Sport (summer tyre)	94 Y RR: D WG: A N: 72
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 (all-season tyre)	94 W RR: C WG: B N: 72

How we tested

Snow

Just when we thought our tyre testing was back to normal following the restrictions forced by the pandemic, the weather threw a spanner in the works. Despite our heading north at a time which should have guaranteed good testing conditions, unseasonably warm weather at Pirelli’s Sottozero proving ground near Flurheden, Sweden, ruled out our handling tests.

We had to rely on proving-ground staff for traction and braking results completed when temperatures dropped. For braking, they measured the distance taken to slow from 35-10kph (22-6mph) while traction recorded the time taken to accelerate between the two speeds.

Wet

To assess straight-line deep-water ability, the Contidrom rail system is used to accelerate the car with one wheel in water and the other in the dry. We measure the speed when the wheel in water is spinning 15 per cent more than the one in the dry.

The lateral test sees how a tyre behaves when those water-shifting channels are cornering. Lateral G is measured as the car is driven at ever higher speeds around a large tarmac circle with a flooded section.

Maintenance at the Contidrom meant we headed to Pferdsfeld near Frankfurt and the TRIWO test track for wet and dry handling, then the tyres returned to the Contidrom for braking and cornering tests.

The first measures the distance to stop from 80kph (50mph). Cornering is done on a flooded 57.5-metre circle.

Dry

For braking, we measure the distance taken to stop from 100kph (62mph), while lateral grip and traction are assessed on the Pferdsfeld handling circuit.

Cabin Noise

We coast down from 80kph (50mph) over rough and smooth tarmac, plus concrete paving, in two directions, measuring average noise levels.

Fuel economy

The key measurement here is rolling resistance. This measures the power, and as a result fuel or battery, required to roll a weighted tyre at two speeds. A four to five per cent difference in rolling resistance equates to around a one per cent change in consumption.

Prices

We sourced these from our online tyre- retailer test winner Black Circles, and the figures include fitting.

How we chose a winner

We slightly revised our scoring this year, after converting all results to percentages, with 50 per cent going to wet performance, 20 to snow, 20 to dry and the remainder to noise, fuel economy and price. The results given for each tyre rank the test winner at 100 per cent and the remainder are rated relative to that.

In this review

• 1Introduction – currently readingWe push a selection of winter tyres to the max in all conditions to see which is Britain's best
• 2Continental WinterContact TS 870A strong all-round showing put the Continental into a lead over arch rival Bridgestone that it never lost
• 3Bridgestone Blizzak LM005The Blizzak LM005 won our snow braking and snow traction tests, and was close to taking top spot overall
• 4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is a great all-round tyre in winter conditions
• 5Hankook i*cept RS3The Hankook i*cept RS3 came alive in the dry and wet, but it comes at the expense of grip in the snow
• 6Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2The Pirelli was on the pace in the dry, but struggled for stability in the downhill stop
• 7Michelin Alpin 6Fuel economy has improved over time, but sadly the same cannot be said for cabin noise
• 8Vredestein Wintrac ProThe Wintrac Pro was at its weakest in the wet, where lacked the balance of its rivals
• 9Alternative tyre choicesNot sure about winter tyres? Here are two other options
• 10Results by categoryWhich winter tyre performed well in which area? Our tables reveal all
  

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