Autobild Winter Tyre Test 2024 for SUVs: Why All-Wheel Drive Isn’t Enough

The Autobild Winter Tyre Test 2024 for SUVs has once again highlighted a critical safety message: owning an SUV with all-wheel drive (AWD) does not guarantee safety in winter conditions. Many SUV owners assume that their vehicles are fully equipped to handle snow and ice due to AWD capabilities. However, this confidence can be misplaced.

While AWD improves traction during acceleration by distributing power to all four wheels, it doesn’t enhance braking or cornering on slippery surfaces. The test emphasizes that “the best all-wheel drive cannot replace a winter tyre,” underscoring the indispensable role of proper winter tyres for safe driving during the colder months.

The Pitfalls of Using Summer Tyres in Winter: Concrete Data from the Autobild Test

To demonstrate the stark performance differences, Autobild included a summer tyre in all test disciplines. The results were eye-opening:

• Braking on Snow: In a braking test from 50 km/h on snow, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 winter tyre stopped in just 20.5 meters. In contrast, the summer tyre took an alarming 54.4 meters to come to a stop—almost 34 meters longer, equivalent to several car lengths. This significant difference could mean the difference between a safe stop and a collision.

• Handling on Snow: During handling tests, the summer tyre was “totally overwhelmed,” offering virtually no grip and “slithering helplessly over the track.” The test report described the summer tyre as “wintertauglich wie eine Badehose”—as suitable for winter as a swimsuit. Even the lowest-ranked winter tyre outperformed the summer tyre by a substantial margin.

If you need to run one tyre all year long, the allseason tyres are now good enough to do so – there is no point in using summer tyre in winter and changing tyres when the temperatures drop is crucial.

How the Autobild Test Was Conducted: Vehicles, Conditions, and Disciplines

The Autobild evaluated twelve winter tyres of the size 245/45 R18 across a variety of conditions and disciplines to simulate real-world winter driving scenarios for SUVs. Here’s how the test was structured:

• Snow and Ice Tests: Conducted in Ivalo, Finland, north of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures drop well below freezing. This location provided optimal conditions to assess traction, braking, handling, slalom performance, and overall control on snow and ice.

• Wet and Dry Tests: Performed at the ATP test site in Emsland, Lower Saxony, Germany. The tyres were tested for braking distances, aquaplaning resistance, and noise levels on wet surfaces.

• Dry Handling Tests: Held at the TRIWO test center in Pferdsfeld, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, to evaluate performance on dry roads, including braking, handling, and rolling resistance.

An SUV equipped with AWD was used for consistency across all tests.

The winners

Snow Performance

• Top Performer: The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 dominated the snow tests, securing first place in all snow disciplines—braking, handling, slalom, and traction. It offered excellent grip and control, making it the top choice for snowy conditions.

• Other Notable Performers: Premium brands like Continental, Goodyear, Bridgestone, and Vredestein also delivered strong performances on snow, providing good safety margins.

Wet Conditions

• Best Braking on Wet Roads: The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P achieved the shortest braking distances on wet roads, outperforming competitors and enhancing safety during rain and slush.

• Handling and Aquaplaning Resistance: The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 excelled in wet handling and circle track tests. Tyres from Maxxis, Giti, and Continental provided the best resistance against aquaplaning, a critical factor during heavy rainfall.

Dry Road Performance

• Winter Tyre Standout: While the summer tyre naturally performed best on dry roads, among winter tyres, the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 again showed superior performance with the shortest braking distances and dynamic handling.

• Fuel Efficiency: Tyres from Goodyear, Continental, and Bridgestone offered the lowest rolling resistance, contributing to better fuel economy without compromising safety.

Budget Tyres and Safety Concerns

The test also highlighted significant performance gaps with budget tyres. The Imperial ICE-Plus S210, a lower-priced option, showed substantially poorer performance, especially in wet conditions. It had longer braking distances and lower resistance to aquaplaning, leading Autobild to rate it as “nicht empfehlenswert” (not recommended).

If you don’t want to invest in a premium tyre, you still have options to buy a good and safe tyre – there is Hankook, which is cheaper and got the highest “exemplary” rating and then there are Vredestein, Kumho or even Giti that have gotten “good” rating while having a friendly price.