Winter tires

AUTO BILD sportscars tyre test 2026: 225/45 R18 — winter tyres — Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

Jiri Zelinka Author Jiri Zelinka
6 min read

AUTO BILD sportscars compared 12 tyres in size 225/45 R18.

Michelin wins with 1.2, followed by Bridgestone and Goodyear. Continental and Pirelli share fourth. Dunlop offers good value. Pirelli stops in 49.3 m on wet roads, versus 67.7 m for Leao. The magazine advises against Falken and Leao.

winter tyres · BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupé · BMW M240i · 225/45 R18 · 2026

Vidsel (Bridgestone) · Aprilia (Bridgestone)

Overall grades: lower is better. Shared positions follow AUTO BILD.

The printed AUTO BILD sportscars 11/2026 results take precedence. Pirelli shares fourth in print but appears fifth online. Published category grades, safety adjustments and final grades are preserved. Snow, wet and dry each contribute one third. The summer reference is unranked; mileage was not tested.

Results

1. Michelin PILOT ALPIN 5 (★100) 1.2 Exemplary
2. Bridgestone Blizzak 6 1.3 Exemplary
3. GoodYear UltraGrip Performance 3 (★92) 1.4 Exemplary
4. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 1.5 Good
4. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 1.5 Good
6. Dunlop Winter 1.7 Good
7. Nokian Snowproof 3P 2.3 Good
8. Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 W330 2.5 Satisfactory
9. Nexen Winguard Sport 3 2.6 Satisfactory
10. Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 2.8 Satisfactory
11. Falken EuroWinter HS02 Pro (★63) 3.4 Satisfactory
12. Leao Winter Defender UHP 4.3 Sufficient

Michelin PILOT ALPIN 5 (★100)

+ Shortest snow and dry braking; strong handling

− Highest price

Snow · Grade 1.1
Wet · Grade 1.3
Dry · Grade 1.3
Approximate price per set (€) 760
EU D/B/A 68
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2699 1.1
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 25.1 1.1
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 66.4 1.1
Snow cornering (m/s²) 4.17 1.3
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 77.4 1.2
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 2.65 1.3
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 70.4 1.2
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 52.8 1.4
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 98.8 1.1
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 40.8 1.1
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 8.60 1.9
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 70.2 1.4
Comfort (Grade) 1.2 1.2

Bridgestone Blizzak 6

+ Excellent handling; strong snow grip

− Slightly longer dry braking

Snow · Grade 1.2
Wet · Grade 1.3
Dry · Grade 1.5
Approximate price per set (€) 630
EU C/B/B 70
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2658 1.3
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 25.3 1.2
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 66.3 1.2
Snow cornering (m/s²) 4.22 1.0
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 76.0 1.4
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 2.56 1.4
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 71.1 1.1
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 52.0 1.3
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 98.8 1.1
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 42.5 1.5
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 8.40 1.7
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 71.3 1.9
Comfort (Grade) 1.5 1.5

GoodYear UltraGrip Performance 3 (★92)

+ Strong on snow and wet roads

− Dry performance below the leaders

Snow · Grade 1.5
Wet · Grade 1.3
Dry · Grade 1.6
Approximate price per set (€) 690
EU C/B/B 71
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2624 1.6
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 25.7 1.6
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 66.2 1.3
Snow cornering (m/s²) 4.20 1.1
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 77.3 1.2
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 2.59 1.4
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 70.2 1.3
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 52.1 1.3
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 97.3 1.8
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 42.5 1.5
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 8.30 1.5
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 70.7 1.6
Comfort (Grade) 1.2 1.2

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

+ Strong dry and wet handling; lowest rolling resistance

− Lower snow traction

Snow · Grade 1.8
Wet · Grade 1.5
Dry · Grade 1.3
Approximate price per set (€) 700
EU C/B/B 71
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2582 2.2
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 25.8 1.7
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 65.4 1.8
Snow cornering (m/s²) 4.18 1.3
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 72.9 2.0
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 2.37 2.0
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 70.4 1.2
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 52.0 1.3
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 98.7 1.2
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 41.7 1.3
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 7.50 1.0
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 70.7 1.6
Comfort (Grade) 1.2 1.2

Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3

+ Shortest wet braking; good dry braking

− Weaker on snow

Snow · Grade 1.7
Wet · Grade 1.3
Dry · Grade 1.5
Approximate price per set (€) 680
EU C/A/B 72
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2610 1.6
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 25.7 1.6
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 64.6 2.0
Snow cornering (m/s²) 3.99 1.7
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 75.1 1.6
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 2.45 1.7
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 69.6 1.5
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 49.3 1.0
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 97.9 1.6
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 42.0 1.4
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 8.10 1.3
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 71.1 1.8
Comfort (Grade) 1.6 1.6

Dunlop Winter

+ Good value; strong dry performance

− Weaker on wet roads

Snow · Grade 1.8
Wet · Grade 1.9
Dry · Grade 1.5
Approximate price per set (€) 560
EU C/B/B 71
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2618 1.6
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 26.3 2.0
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 65.6 1.7
Snow cornering (m/s²) 3.98 1.7
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 75.3 1.6
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 2.61 1.4
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 68.8 2.0
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 56.6 2.2
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 98.3 1.5
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 42.1 1.4
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 8.20 1.4
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 70.6 1.6
Comfort (Grade) 1.7 1.7

Nokian Snowproof 3P

+ Good on snow; quiet

− Slowest dry handling; imprecise wet steering

Snow · Grade 1.6
Wet · Grade 1.8
Dry · Grade 1.7
Approximate price per set (€) 620
EU B/B/B 72
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2620 1.6
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 25.8 1.7
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 66.1 1.4
Snow cornering (m/s²) 4.11 1.5
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 74.9 1.6
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 2.45 1.7
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 67.8 2.5
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 52.2 1.3
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 95.7 2.4
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 42.5 1.5
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 7.80 1.1
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 69.7 1.2
Comfort (Grade) 1.7 1.7

Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 W330

+ Good on snow; best aquaplaning resistance

− Long wet braking; highest noise and rolling resistance

Snow · Grade 1.6
Wet · Grade 1.9
Dry · Grade 2.1
Approximate price per set (€) 520
EU D/B/B 72
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2613 1.6
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 25.7 1.6
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 65.7 1.6
Snow cornering (m/s²) 4.01 1.7
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 79.3 1.0
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 3.05 1.0
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 69.2 1.8
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 60.7 2.7
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 97.1 2.0
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 43.4 2.0
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 9.30 2.5
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 73.6 2.4
Comfort (Grade) 1.5 1.5

Nexen Winguard Sport 3

+ Quietest; short wet braking

− Limited aquaplaning reserves

Snow · Grade 2.0
Wet · Grade 1.9
Dry · Grade 1.9
Approximate price per set (€) 470
EU C/B/B 72
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2604 1.7
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 26.2 2.0
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 64.4 2.2
Snow cornering (m/s²) 3.96 1.9
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 67.4 2.7
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 1.86 3.2
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 69.4 1.7
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 50.7 1.2
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 96.2 2.2
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 44.5 2.3
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 8.10 1.3
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 69.0 1.0
Comfort (Grade) 1.5 1.5

Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6

+ Affordable; balanced on wet and dry roads

− Weakest snow category; longest snow braking

Snow · Grade 2.6
Wet · Grade 1.8
Dry · Grade 2.1
Approximate price per set (€) 400
EU D/B/B 70
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2543 2.6
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 27.2 2.6
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 63.7 2.6
Snow cornering (m/s²) 3.73 3.0
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 78.2 1.1
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 2.72 1.2
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 68.4 2.2
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 56.1 2.0
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 96.3 2.2
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 43.5 2.1
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 8.50 1.8
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 71.6 2.1
Comfort (Grade) 1.7 1.7

Falken EuroWinter HS02 Pro (★63)

+ Comfortable; good dry performance

− Long wet and snow braking; magazine advises against it

Snow · Grade 2.3
Wet · Grade 2.9
Dry · Grade 1.9
Approximate price per set (€) 490
EU D/B/B 70
95V 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2592 2.0
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 26.7 2.3
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 63.5 2.7
Snow cornering (m/s²) 3.88 2.2
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 66.9 2.8
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 2.06 2.8
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 69.1 1.8
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 65.2 3.9
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 97.1 2.0
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 43.3 2.0
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 8.40 1.7
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 71.0 1.8
Comfort (Grade) 1.5 1.5

Leao Winter Defender UHP

+ Low price; decent dry performance

− Very long wet braking; difficult wet handling; magazine advises against it

Snow · Grade 2.2
Wet · Grade 3.9
Dry · Grade 2.0
Approximate price per set (€) 320
EU D/C/B 72
95H 225/45 R18
Grade
Snow traction (N) 2575 2.4
Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) 26.7 2.3
Snow handling – objective (km/h) 64.7 2.0
Snow cornering (m/s²) 3.88 2.2
Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) 67.9 2.6
Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) 2.20 2.6
Wet handling – objective (km/h) 64.0 4.1
Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) 67.7 4.7
Dry handling – objective (km/h) 96.1 2.3
Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) 42.8 1.8
Rolling resistance (kg/t) 8.60 1.9
Exterior noise (80 km/h · dB(A)) 71.1 1.8
Comfort (Grade) 1.9 1.9

Original test · AUTO BILD sportscars 11/2026 · 52–57

Christoph Börries/AUTO BILD