Die Reifentester published the first winter tyre test of the season – 215/55 R17

The latest winter tire test from Die Reifentester is a good reminder of how much the game has changed. They picked the popular size 215/55 R17, bolted them onto a VW Passat and a Skoda Superb, and set off to see what today’s winter tires can really do. Seven dedicated winter models lined up, plus one all-season outsider – the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen3 – just to check how much trouble an all-weather tire can cause in a field of specialists.

What makes the test interesting is the spread of disciplines. In Finland, on Nokian’s “White Hell” proving ground, they ran the classic snow chapters: braking distances, traction when pulling away, and handling through corners. Then the whole caravan moved south to Spain, to Nokian’s new “Hakka Ring,” where the focus was on wet and dry behavior: braking hard from motorway speeds, stability through corners, how the cars reacted when pushed a little too far. They didn’t stop there – aquaplaning tests in deep water, rolling resistance checks to see who saves the most fuel (or range in an EV), and even interior noise and comfort ratings. In short, it wasn’t just about who bites into snow, but who copes best with the kind of mixed conditions most of us actually drive in.

On snow, the Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 3 was clearly the sharpest tool. Braking, traction, overall confidence – it gave the strongest winter feel. Michelin and Pirelli followed not far behind, while Continental and Bridgestone did a solid job without stealing the show. Nokian never embarrassed itself, but it also never took the spotlight. And then there was the Vector all-season, which managed to hang in surprisingly well on the white stuff, though you could still tell it wasn’t born for deep winter.

Once the snow melted and the test cars hit bare asphalt, the picture flipped. Continental’s TS 870 P felt at home on wet and dry tarmac, stopping shorter and steering more precisely than the rest. That balance explains why it took the overall win, even if it wasn’t the king of snow. Vredestein showed it can keep up here too, while Bridgestone put in an especially strong performance in wet braking.

Nokian finally had its day in the aquaplaning basin, holding on longer before floating off. Michelin stood out for efficiency, with lower rolling resistance and a quiet, easy ride, although the biggest surprise was again the Vector all-season, which actually posted the best efficiency numbers of all. Comfort and cabin noise turned out to be close across the board, but Goodyear Ultra Grip and Michelin were the most pleasant companions for long journeys.

What this all adds up to is not one clear champion, but a set of very good tires that shine in different ways. The Goodyear Ultra Grip 3 is the snow expert, Continental’s TS 870 P makes the most sense for the wet and dry mix that many drivers face, Michelin adds comfort and efficiency, Nokian proves its worth when roads turn into rivers, and the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons shows just how far all-season tires have come.

Reading through the results, it’s obvious that the old “October to Easter” mantra doesn’t hold up anymore. Winter tires are still unmatched in real snow, but in milder climates the definition of “best” depends more on how and where you drive than on a single test score.

Winter vs allseason tyre results:

We decided to put the tested Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons G3 into perspective in the tested disciplines and compare its strengths and weaknesses. It seems like it didn’t go to good for the allseason tyre, but the tyres featured in this test were mostly premium and the GY Vector 4 Seasons G3 is already quite outdated as it was released in 2020.