If your SUV sits on 235/50 R19—think Audi Q3, VW Tiguan R, Lexus NX F Sport and similar crossovers—this new German comparison puts the current crop of winter tyres through a genuinely demanding programme: snow and ice in Vidsel, Sweden, then wet and dry at Bridgestone’s proving ground in Aprilia, Italy. The test team also ran a modern all-season and a summer tyre as benchmarks on an Audi Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro (AWD, 245 hp).
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Test set-up in a sentence
Snow/ice disciplines (braking, traction, slalom/handling) up north; wet/dry (braking, handling, aquaplaning, noise and rolling resistance) down south—so you see where each pattern excels and where trade-offs appear.
Snow & ice: the winter specialists earn their name
The gap between proper winters and a summer tyre is stark. From 50 km/h on snow, the best winter set stops around 29.5–30.2 m, while the summer needs ~49 m—nearly 20 m more. The all-season lands in between (~31.7 m), which is instructive: usable, yes, but not peak winter performance.
Beyond straight-line braking, the hierarchy stays similar in slalom and traction. Bridgestone posts the strongest average tractive force on snow, with Goodyear and Michelin close behind, helping them stay tidy and predictable when you squeeze the throttle out of a slick corner. Pirelli impresses with lateral grip in the snow slalom—handy for quick avoidance manoeuvres—while some budget entrants feel less consistent at the limit.
Snow takeaways:
- Stopping power: top winters ~30 m vs ~49 m for the summer control.
- Get-you-moving muscle: Bridgestone leads traction; Pirelli shines in snow slalom grip.
- All-season ≠ winter: decent compromise, but a step behind the best in pure-snow tasks.
Wet: different priorities reshuffle the pack
On consistently watered circuits, Pirelli, Vredestein, and Goodyear set very high average speeds in wet handling. In emergency stopping, Vredestein distinguishes itself with notably short wet-braking distances. Aquaplaning tells a different story: Nokian is the clear water-evacuation champ in both straight-line and curve aquaplaning, creating extra margin in heavy standing water—even if its overall wet/dry braking isn’t the shortest.
Wet takeaways:
- Fast and confidence-inspiring: Pirelli / Vredestein / Goodyear on wet handling.
- Aquaplaning reserves: Nokian leads in both longitudinal and lateral tests.
Dry: control, comfort, and efficiency
On cold, dry asphalt, Continental looks especially composed, delivering the shortest 100–0 km/h dry stop (~40 m) and one of the highest average speeds in dry handling—impressively close to the summer reference. Michelin pairs competitive dry dynamics with the lowest measured rolling resistance in the group, a nice bonus for fuel or range. For cabin serenity, Pirelli registers the lowest pass-by noise, while Hankook sits at the louder end of the scale.
Dry & usability takeaways:
- Emergency stop hero: Continental (~40 m from 100 km/h).
- Low drag: Michelin tops rolling resistance.
- Quietest pass-by: Pirelli; Hankook is audibly louder.
Verdict patterns (without the big results table)
- Top tier, “no-regrets” choices: Bridgestone Blizzak 6 (★91), Continental WinterContact TS 870 P (★93), Michelin Alpin 7. They combine real winter bite with well-rounded wet/dry manners; Bridgestone is the snow-traction benchmark, Continental owns dry braking and crisp handling, Michelin brings balance plus class-leading efficiency.
- Very strong contenders: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 (★83), Vredestein Wintrac Pro+ (★67), Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X. If pricing or availability nudges you away from the big three, these sets are easy to recommend—just match to your priorities (e.g., Vredestein for wet braking value, Pirelli for sporty feel, Goodyear for snowy roads, Hankook for a rounded skill set).
- Situational picks: Nokian Snowproof 2 SUV (★61) brings superb aquaplaning safety, which is gold in heavy rain, but trades away some braking sharpness elsewhere. Falken and Giti can work on a budget with mindful expectations.
- Skip: Superia Bluewin UHP 3 lands “not recommended” here due to very weak wet performance—exactly where you don’t want surprises.
What to buy—by use case
- Alpine trips & regular snow: Start with Bridgestone, Goodyear, Michelin.
- Mixed winter with lots of rain: Vredestein (wet braking) or Nokian (aquaplaning safety).
- Sporty road feel on cold days: Continental (dry control & braking), Pirelli (lively, precise).
- Range/consumption matters: Michelin for its rolling-resistance edge.