TEST

TEST

TEST

27 WINTER TIRES - SWEDEN’S BIGGEST TESTROBERT COLLINThis is how General Motors stopped Saab

Car7pages with

everything from Frankfurt

Stingiest in the world New Volvo XC60

pull a pint on the highway

Three smart small jeeps:Peugeot, Skoda Yeti & Nissan Qashqai

Finally!Audi R8 with V10

The Volvo-boss:We shall make

more sporty cars

7 salsa with Aftonbladet 1-2 October 2009 • Price 20kr

12 pages!

TEST.

The stud free tires result in very long braking distances - and are probably not even better for the environment. But worst of all are the embar-rassingly poor and cheap tires from China.TEXT ROBERT COLLIN FOTO LASSE ALLARD

2 Car

3Car

WINTER TYRES IN THIS YEAR’S

BIG TEST

27

Who takes responsibility when the German accidents become

common in Sweden?

TEST.

4 Car

Prohibiting good tires - encouraging bad tiresThe city of Stockholm wants to prohibit studded tires this winter. At Aftonbladet Bil we do not want to do that. Not after studying this year's big test of winter tires.Really long braking distances with stud free tires may be good for the environment. But not for safety. And, making matters worse, perhaps not even for the en-vironment. And if Stockholm politicians do not read our tire test at all, they are embarrass-ingly sloppy when reading the research results. Sure, studded tires tear up asphalt particles. But ALL tires are grinding down gravel and sand which snow in turn is spreading out to particles. And what is what? How much can be blamed on the studs? And how much of the particles are coming from the sand the city is spreading? Nobody knows.

“Real men drove stud free”The debate regarding studded and stud free tires has been around for many years. From the beginning it was lead by “real men” who certainly not needed studs to drive during winter. They did not even need winter tires. You could just as well use decent summer tires. If you were a real man. Then came the Law on winter tires. Sure, hesitant politicians weakened the proposal quite much before it was voted on. There were exceptions for cars with foreign number plates, for trucks and buses - and for days with bare roads! But after all, the law was a good contribution to safer winter traffi c. But the debate on studded tires never stopped. It was escalated by the big multinational tire companies that made every-thing to avoid development of studded tires just for the small Nordic markets. Authorities with fi nancial responsibility for the asphalted roads and streets are more than willing to follow their argu-ments, and lean against the vari-ous researches on how particles affect health.

In our tire tests we have many times shown how bad the stud free tires are on ice.

As summer tiresAnd we have also warned for the increasingly popular stud free high speed tires. I call them “Autobahn tires”, just because they are designed for high speeds on the Autobahn. Those tires are more similar to summer tires than the winter tires we are familiar with up here in the North. They have a rubber composi-tion and a rigid structure that can withstand speeds over 200 km / h on hot, dry asphalt. They have a dense pattern that pro-vides excellent stability at high speeds. The only difference with summer tires is that they have a certain preparation for cop- ing with snow and slush. But they have virtually no grip on ice. That is why we have mass collisions with up to one hundred cars on the German Autobahn every winter. Ice is on the road and motorists have no chance to avoid the accident when driving fast, close to each other and lack grip on ice. This is the tires our politicians and authorities opens the door to when lobbying against stud-ded tires. Who takes responsibility when the German accidents become common in Sweden? Claes Tingvall? Stockholm Environ-ment Mayor Ulla Hamilton? Infrastructure Minister Åsa Torstensson?

Right and wrong on asphaltMany believe that stud free tires are better than studded tires on asphalt. Right and wrong! Wrong - if we are talking about solving the stud free tires developed for our climate. Those tires are at least trying to have a grip on ice. For that rea-son they are extremely soft. It is soft rubber and tire lugs splitted into lots of “fi ns” in order to get a grip on ice.

0 sek 2 4 6 8 10

Nokian 5,05,35,45,45,65,75,7

6,16,16,36,56,56,66,87,07,17,27,2

7,78,48,48,6

9,19,39,4

9,810,4

PirelliGislavedMichelin

GoodyearBridgestoneContinental

HankookVredestein

NankangKumho

ToyoMichelin

NokianBridgestone

GoodyearContinentalYokohama

SonarFalken

RoadstoneLinglong

GoodyearMichelin

ContinentalDunlop

Pirelli

0 m 10 20 30 40 50

Nokian 31,231,831,831,932,232,933,133,733,833,934,035,2

38,139,139,339,740,040,140,7

43,044,044,845,3

47,547,748,048,1

BridgestonePirelli

MichelinGoodyearHankook

VredesteinKumho

GislavedContinental

ToyoNankangMichelin

NokianRoadstoneGoodyear

BridgestoneYokohama

ContinentalSonar

LinglongGoodyear

ContinentalMichelin

FalkenDunlop

Pirelli

5Car

Acceleration on ice

Moose test on ice

We throttle, let the car’s traction control systems work and measure the time from 5 to 30 km / hr.

sec

Modifi ed moose test. We brake from 80 km / h and turn the steering wheel a half turn in order to avoid an accident. Then we measure the distance before the car has moved four meters laterally.

Studded tires Stud free tires Autobahn tiresPhoto: LASSE ALLARD

46

0 m 6050 70

Kumho 58,058,158,458,458,558,658,658,758,858,858,959,059,860,360,961,261,461,861,862,763,064,064,264,764,965,6

71,9

NokianContinental

PirelliNokian

BridgestoneBridgestone

GoodyearContinental

MichelinVredestein

HankookGislaved

YokohamaMichelin

GoodyearToyo

ContinentalSonar

LinglongDunlop

NankangGoodyear

PirelliMichelin

RoadstoneFalken

0 m

Nokian 37,137,237,337,437,437,537,737,837,938,138,438,939,039,039,039,640,0

41,241,341,641,642,142,142,343,043,343,6

MichelinGislaved

BridgestonePirelli

ContinentalContinental

NokianGoodyear

KumhoVredesteinYokohamaGoodyearHankookMichelin

BridgestoneToyo

ContinentalSonar

DunlopPirelli

GoodyearNankangMichelin

RoadstoneFalken

Linglong403530

0 m 20 40

Michelin 27,827,928,5

29,429,4

31,632,032,5

33,534,034,435,135,135,235,335,736,036,136,636,736,937,237,437,6

39,040,340,5

GoodyearDunlop

ContinentalPirelli

FalkenLinglong

RoadstoneVredestein

NankangKumho

GoodyearSonar

HankookContinental

GislavedPirelliToyo

BridgestoneMichelin

YokohamaMichelin

NokianBridgestone

NokianContinental

Goodyear0 m 10 20 30

Falken 28,929,029,129,129,429,829,929,930,030,030,030,130,330,430,530,630,630,730,830,930,931,231,231,231,431,431,8

MichelinContinental

GoodyearNankang

PirelliRoadstoneVredestein

ContinentalDunlop

MichelinLinglong

PirelliSonar

YokohamaBridgestone

HankookKumho

ContinentalGislaved

NokianGoodyearMichelin

ToyoBridgestone

NokianGoodyear

-

-

Brake test on snow

We are braking from 80 km / h to a standstill on a relatively hard packed surface.

Think about this before buying You fi nd all information on the sides of the tires. 205/55 16 (which we tested) means that the width is 205 mm, the “profi le”, i.e. the height from the asphalt to the edge of the rim is 55 percent of the width and 16 is the rim diameter - in inches.

Also check the four date digits: 4908 means week 49 in 2008. Never buy (without knocking down the price) an old tire. The rubber gets harder when aging, furthermore the tires use an older technology, it is not the ‘most recent model”.

Our prices are from online stores. Fitting of the tires is not included. Would you like to do business with the “rubber man”? Call a couple and check their prices! Half an hour on the phone can reduce the price with a few hundreds - per tire.

How we do the testIn 1984 when I began to test tires with Test World we did it properly. Everything was done again and again. Always in blind tests, not to be infl uenced by brand names. Always on well prepared courses. We knew even back then that variations in the surface could affect the results more than the tires. The driver’s skill was another hidden factor. Even then, the tire industry respected our results and our methods were considered world leading. Our methods have improved even more with computers and satellite-based instruments. But we have not changed the most important. We still do all the tests again and again. With different drivers, different temperatures, on courses that have been prepared again since the last test round. We still use reference tires which are being tested again in each subtest in order to see how temperature affects the results.

The test is done at Test World in Ivalo. The results are compiled by Jukka Antila.

Brake test on wet asphalt

Moose test on snow

Moose test on dry asphalt

We brake hard and let the ABS work. The braking distanc is measured from 60 km/h to a standstill.

Modifi ed moose test. We are doing a modifi ed form of the moose test to get an accurate measure. We do as we did on ice, the metering instru-ment is a Race Logic VBox III GPS.

Modifi ed moose test. We are braking from 80 km / h and turn the steering wheel a half turn in order to avoid an accident. Then we measure the distance when the car has moved four meters laterally.

Studded tires Stud free tires Autobahn tires

47BiL

0 m 10 20 30

Michelin 26,426,826,826,927,027,728,128,328,428,628,628,828,928,928,929,129,229,229,429,629,629,930,030,030,330,731,3

ContinentalGoodyear

PirelliDunlopFalken

LinglongVredesteinRoadstoneGoodyearNankangHankook

ContinentalKumho

PirelliSonar

GislavedToyo

BridgestoneBridgestone

MichelinNokian

MichelinYokohama

NokianContinental

Goodyear

0 sek 2 4 6

Nokian 5,25,35,35,35,35,35,35,35,45,45,45,45,45,45,55,55,55,55,55,65,65,75,75,85,85,8

6,5

BridgestoneContinental

GislavedKumhoNokian

PirelliVredestein

BridgestoneContinental

GoodyearMichelinMichelin

YokohamaContinental

DunlopGoodyearHankook

ToyoNankang

SonarLinglong

PirelliGoodyearMichelin

RoadstoneFalken

-

Acceleration on snow

Moose test on wet asphalt

We throttle. We let the car’s traction control systems work and measure the time from 5 to 30 km / h.

Modifi ed Moose test. We are braking from 80 km / h and turn the steer-ing wheel a half turn in order to avoid an accident. Then we measure the distance when the car has moved four meters laterally.

“Tires from China are not even worth the money”Soft tires mean poor stability on asphalt. This means long braking distances and poor lateral grip. Right - if we are talking about the increasingly popular stud free tires developed for Central Europe. But - those tires are of course ex-tremely poor on both snow and ice.

We have to put up with wearTire manufacturers are doing eve-rything they can to develop a good, stud free winter tire, but so far all attempts have failed. That is why we cannot do without studs. Studded tires are good on all surfaces. They have grip on snow and ice and has decent stability and braking distances on asphalt. Well, they wear on the roads. But that is a disadvantage we have to endure. For road safety.

What about the air in the subway?Why do politicians in Stockholm want to prohibit studded tires? Is it really all about the particles and our health? Or pure economics, when streets and roads must be asphalted more often? If it comes to our health Stock-holm ought to do something about the particle level in the subway immediately. It is much higher and more dangerous than the particles in Hornsgatan a dry spring day. Are there any more people than I who suspect that there is a dog bur-ied in the alleged particle mountain? There are three types of winter tires: stud free tires - model Nordic and Central European - and studded tires. The Nordic stud free tires which are acclaimed in some tire tests and by the authorities and environmental

organizations are, in principle, bad on all surfaces except snow, where they may even be better than studded tires. The Central European tires are ex-cellent alternatives to summer tires. They are bad on snow and slush and even bad on hard packed snow and ice. And the studded tires that work on all surfaces. But there are of course differences between good and bad within each group.

Enormous differencesExpensive tires from major manu-facturers are usually better than the cheap tires from China. It sounds obvious. “You get what you pay for”. But the difference is often so big that China-tires are not even worth the money. They are often so poor that they should not be allowed. But there are no rules about how tires should work. If the manufacturer says they are winter tires, they are recognized as winter tires.

Encouraging crappy tires Somewhere there must be quite distressing for the authorities: They allow any crap you want as long as it says “winter tires” on the side. And they want to stop people in buying the best available on the market and who are willing to pay extra to travel safely on winter roads. Good studded tires will be prohib-ited. Crap stud free tires from China will be allowed. Yes, even encour-aged. It is quite frustrating. Both for us doing tests of the tires. And probably for those who are trying to produce the best and safest winter tires.

7Car

20 m0 m

Nokian

Goodyear

Michelin

Gislaved

Continental

Toyo

Bridgestone

Vredestein

Hankook

Kumho

Nankang

Roadstone

Pirelli

Michelin

Goodyear

Nokian

Bridgestone

Continental

Yokohama

Falken

Sonar

Linglong

Goodyear

Continental

Michelin

Dunlop

Pirelli

81,3 m

AUTOBAHNDÄCK ODUBBAT

TEST.ABS - braking on ice

stud free tires are not good“Really long braking distances with

for the environment nor for safety”

Robert Collin, Test Manager:

Take a look - this differs the worst from the best tires

8 Car

80 m60 m40 m

49,1

53,0

53,4

54,0

54,5

54,5

54,9

55,1

59,4

60,1

61,1

68,8

51,4

61,8

63,0

63,7

64,4

66,3

67,7

74,1

68,8

72,4

73,5

75,3

75,5

78,0

81,3

49,1 m63,0 m

DUBBAT

So did we do the testsBrake testing was done on polished ice and shows the car’s braking

distance in 50 km / h. Every tire had 16-20 brake tests - and the entire test series was done three times at

different days and at different temperatures. Every attempt was performed on a new,

unused part of the test course. The results were calculated

using standard methods.

Studded tiresStud free tires

Autobahn tires

9Car

50 BiL

?+?+?+?+

Michelin X-Ice North XIN2Pris: 1 355 kr

?+?+?+?+

Continental ContiWinter-Viking 2Pris: 1 211 kr

?+?+?+

Vredestein ArctracPris: 1 685 kr

?+?+?+?+

Nokian Hakka-peliitta 7Pris: 1 431 kr

?+?+?+?+

Pirelli Winter Carving EdgePris: 986 kr

- - - - -

+ + + + +

TEST.

30%

10%

5%

10%

5%

20%

5%

5%

5%

5%

10%

10%

15%

5%

5%

5%

10%

5%

5%

15%

5%

5%

5%

100%

8

8

9

9

10

9

10

9

8

3

4

6

4

6

4

9

8

7,5

8

7

8

9

10

9

9

9

9

4

5

6

4

7

4

7

7

7,4

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

8

3

3

3

3

4

7

7

8

7,5

9

9

9

8

10

9

9

9

8

4

5

5

5

7

3

6

7

7,4

7

6

9

9

10

9

8

9

8

5

5

8

6

8

3

7

7

7,4

This is a brand new tire with an old name, check that it is named “XIN2” “so you get the correct tires. Michelin wins when it comes to general perform-ance, it is very good and safe on snow and ice, never gives you a surprise, and is almost not affected of roads having wheel tracks. However, the asphalt grip could be better.

This is how we found the pricesThe prices to the tires in the test are the lowest we found when we checked online tire stores. The prices are for 205/55 16 “. In a few cases where we did not fi nd the tires on the net, we called dealers and got their prices. The price includes only the tires, not balancing and mounting. Note that tire prices vary dramatically, sometimes it can vary with up to 500 crowns from various stores - so you can save money if you put some time in searching.

STUDDED TIRES

Importance of the result: ICE ABS braking on ice Acceleration on ice Moose test on ice Driving performance, subjective SNOW ABS braking on snow Acceleration on snow Moose test on snow Driving performance, subjective SLUSH Slush driving WET ASPHALT ABS braking on wet asphalt Moose test on wet asphalt Driving performance, subjective DRY ASPHALT Moose test on dry asphalt Driving performance, subjective ECONOMY AND COMFORT Noise, subjective Stability, subjective Rolling resistance

OVERALL RESULT

Easy driving on all surfaces, stable.

Grip on wet asphalt.

An incredible winter tire! The new Hakka 7 is superior on ice, but it beats its competitors even on snow. The tire is ridiculously easy to drive and predictable even in the worst crisis. Its weakness is the grip on asphalt, but not even on bare roads the tire behaves badly.

Slightly behind the very best, but per-haps the choice for driving on asphalt. Conti produced its compromise for bare roads, which can be costly on winter roads. The tire has good steer-ing qualities and good control when almost skidding. The tire is easy to drive on bare roads in all situations.

The Italians have improved their Carving tires and fi xed an impressive grip on winter roads. The steering characteristics are precise which makes driving a pleasure. On asphalt you get average qualities, with sud-den rear axle drops as sad surprises.

The Dutch Vre-destein is another manufacturer that gives priority to safety qualities on bare roads at the expense of winter grip. On snow it works fi ne, but on ice it is a bit behind the best. On asphalt, it is very good even in tough evasion manoeuvres.

Grip and driving qualities on all winter conditions.

Very poor on wet and dry asphalt.

Handling and grip on winter roads and bare roads

No weak- nesses.

Grip and driving qualities on snow and ice.

Overboard on asphalt.

Grip and driving qualities on snow and asphalt.

No weak- nesses.

10 Car

Speed category: T 190 km/h

Speed category: T Speed category: T

Speed category: T Speed category: T

51BiL

?+?+?+

Kumho I’zen KW22Pris: 1 465 kr

_-

Roadstone Winguard 231Pris: 825 kr

?+

Nankang Snow Winter SW-5Pris: 675 kr

?+?+?+

Hankook Winter I*PikePris: 1 080 kr

?+

Toyo Observe G2SPris: 1 795 kr

- - - - -

+ + + + +

?+?+?+

Bridgestone Noranza 2Pris: 1 236 kr

-

+

7

8

10

7

10

9

9

9

9

3

4

3

3

4

8

8

8

7,0?+?+?+

Goodyear Ultra-Grip ExtremePris: 1 244 kr

-

+

8

8

9

7

8

8

9

7

8

4

5

4

4

4

5

7

7

6,9?+?+?+

Gislaved NordFrost 5Pris: 1 211 kr

-

+

8

8

8

8

9

9

10

9

8

4

4

5

4

6

4

7

6

7,1

5

5

8

6

10

9

8

8

8

5

5

6

4

7

6

8

6

6,8

6

6

9

6

9

8

7

7

8

4

5

7

4

7

4

7

6

6,7

5

6

7

4

6

8

3

3

7

5

5

8

6

9

2

5

8

5,8

8

5

8

6

8

8

6

5

7

4

4

3

3

3

2

3

8

5,7

3

2

5

3

5

6

2

4

9

6

5

5

5

5

4

2

6

4,77

German Conti is slowly dismantling the Gislaved legend who used to be “Best in Test “. Now the tires with Conti’s own brand is to be the best. Nordfrost is ok in all areas but not sticking out. The tire is quiet but rapid steering movements can cre-ate skids.

Finnish Nokian is generous to its Japanese partner, and this year they are building a really decent winter tire for Bridgestone. Winter qualities are good even if the feeling can be dif-fused. It works fi ne on slush, but it is un-easy on asphalt and do not like abrupt manoeuvres.

Good on ice, decent on snow. Calm and quiet, and some-times a bit too slow in reactions, which can make driving a bit complicated. The same is true on asphalt, its steers away a bit too late during evasion ma-noeuvres. The best quality is perhaps that it is so quiet.

The best of the Asian tires, but that does not say much. It is the best on snow, where it is really good. But the grip is not good enough on ice, the tire responds late to steering and it is easy to lose control. The tire is stable on asphalt, but can create skids on the rear wheels during evasive manoeuvres.

The next Korean is nervous and tricky on ice. The grip in curves is good, but when braking, throt-tling or steering in a curve the grip disap-pears right away and it is diffi cult to regain control. It is better on snow and best on asphalt where it handles abrupt steering movements and have short braking distances.

Now we skid from Korea to Taiwan with a bad grip on ice and snow, but most of all poor driving performance. It can suddenly lose the grip and without warning the front wheels may spin, and sometimes the rear wheels. You never know in advance. But on asphalt, it is really good. It feels wrong for the winter.

Now we skid on to Japan, though this time it is the bare road that creates the worst problem. Toyo is tricky with serious rear skids. It is not good on snow either. When steering or braking, you risk to skid. In fact, it is only on ice it works somewhat.

Korean Roadkill has probably never been tested on snow and ice until we took the tire to Ivalo. The test team was cheerful going 20 years back in time. 20 years ago it could stand a chance in the middle of the crowd. Winter grip is really bad. Summer grip much better.

No serious weak-nesses, qualities on snow and ice.

Grip on asphalt

Grip on ice, snow and slush, stability.

Qualities on as-phalt..

Noise Level, grip on ice.

Driving dynamics on asphalt.

Noise Level, brak-ing and ACC on the snow. Grip on ice

Noise Level, brak-ing and ACC on the snow. Grip on ice

Grip and handling on bare ground.

The quali- ties on winter roads, noise.

Brake grip on ice.

Driving dynamics of snow and bare ground.

Grip on asphalt.

All quali ties on winter roads.

11Car

Speed category: T Speed category: T Speed category: T Speed category: T Speed category: T Speed category: T Speed category: T Speed category: T

52 BiL

?+?+?+ ?+?+ ?+?+?+?+ ?+?+ ?+?+

- - - - - -

+ + + + + +

30%

10%

5%

10%

5%

20%

5%

5%

5%

5%

10%

10%

15%

5%

5%

5%

10%

5%

5%

15%

5%

5%

5%

100%

4

5

5

6

10

9

9

7

8

2

3

3

4

4

9

7

9

6,1

5

5

5

7

8

9

7

7

8

3

3

4

5

6

10

10

8

6,4

3

4

4

6

9

9

7

5

9

3

3

5

5

6

9

8

8

6,0

4

4

4

4

10

9

9

9

9

2

2

3

5

6

10

5

7

6,0

4

4

4

5

10

9

6

7

8

3

4

3

4

3

9

5

9

5,7

4

4

5

4

10

9

7

6

10

1

2

2

3

3

9

8

8

5,7

TEST.

Michelin X-Ice XI2Pris: 1 247 kr

Yokohama Ice Guard ig30Pris: 1 480 kr

Bridgestone Blizzak Nordic WN-01Pris: 1 100 kr

Nokian Hakka-peliitta RPris: 1 238 kr

Continental ContiViking Contact 5Pris: 1 172 kr

Goodyear Ice Navi ZeaPris: 1 325 kr

Michelin is by far the best of the stud free tires. This is the best tire on ice with good grip and silent quali-ties. But the best is the balance between the winter and bare road qualities, which represents a chal-lenge for the stud free tires.

STUD FREE TIRES

Importance of the result: ICE ABS braking on ice Acceleration on ice Moose test on ice Driving performance, subjective SNOW ABS braking on snow Acceleration on snow Moose test on snow Driving performance, subjective SLUSH Slush driving WET ASPHALT ABS braking on wet asphalt Moose test on wet asphalt Driving performance, subjective DRY ASPHALT Moose test on dry asphalt Driving performance, subjective ECONOMY AND COMFORT Noise, subjective Stability, subjective Rolling resistance

OVERALL RESULT

Grip on ice, the performance on asphalt

No weak- nesses.

Nokian is second best in the group, but a far worse choice than Miche-lin. Safe on snow and ice and possible to maintain control even when skidding. But far to weak on bare roads. Braking grip is poor and it is diffi cult to control when driving fast. Lowest rolling resist-ance in the test!

Here is a tire with good balance between its quali-ties: grip on snow; ice, slush and snow free. It means that the driver has pretty good control when not demanding too much from the tire. Unfortunately it is too little of everything.

Best stud free tire on snow with good grip and precise steering. On ice the grip is not as good as the best competitors. Good steering qualities, but pushed too much the result may be long and dif-fi cult skids. It is safe on slush but slow braking qualities on asphalt.

The old best seller Blizzak made the rear tires skid on asphalt and was really dangerous. The new tire built by Nokian has come to grips with the rear tires, but is still unstable on bare roads. On winter roads the tire is a medium performer in most things.

The American multinational giant is using its Japanese tires as the “Nordic alternative”. It is not a success. Just as Blizzak is qualities on asphalt miserable. It is diffi cult to drive and it has a bad grip. On snow and ice the grip is good, but it is diffi cult to control without skidding.

Qualities on snow and ice, friction.

Grip and driving qualities on asphalt.

Even, driving quality on asphalt.

No weak- nesses.

Grip and handling qualities on snow, noise.

Qualities on wet asphalt.

Even fric- tion.

No weak- nesses.

Slush quali-ties, braking grip on snow.

Poor on asphalt.

Speed category: T Speed category: T 190 km/h

Speed category: R 170 km/h

Speed category: Q 160 km/h Speed category: R

Speed category: Q

53BiL

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1

1

2

1

8

8

4

5

6

8

7

8

7

9

9

7

5

5,3

1

0

1

1

7

8

3

3

8

9

7

6

5

8

9

5

5

4,8

0

0

1

1

6

7

4

5

8

8

7

8

6

8

9

7

5

5,0

2

1

2

2

6

6

3

3

6

10

7

7

7

7

9

8

4

5,0

1

1

1

1

6

6

3

3

5

10

8

8

7

9

8

5

6

4,8

3

3

3

2

8

7

4

3

4

4

4

3

5

5

7

7

7

4,5

2

2

1

1

2

2

1

3

7

7

6

8

7

9

9

3

6

4,3

2

2

3

1

7

7

1

3

6

6

5

4

5

6

7

4

6

4,333

Pirelli Sottozero Winter 210 Serie 2Pris: 1 250 kr

Falken Euro-winter HS439Pris: 977 kr

Linglong Winter-HeroPris: 545 kr

Michelin Primacy AlpinPris: 1 143 kr

Continental ContiWinter-Contact TS830Pris: 1 172 kr

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3DPris: 1 183 kr

Goodyear Ultra Grip 7+Pris: 1 095 kr

Sonar Polar Fox PF-1Pris: 600 kr

Yet another winter tire without any grip for winter surfaces. But it is marketed as” designed for the real winter “. Falken has no grip on ice and is even worse on snow. It loses grip everywhere and at all times. It is a dangerous, But: Ap-proved by Vägverket (SRA)!

The German wins the group by a small margin, and epitomizes an Autobahndäck. It is best on snow and asphalt, but not that good on ice, which is hardly found in Cen-tral Europe. It is easy to drive with good steering qualities, it is stable and very quiet, but has high rolling resistance.

Dunlop demon-strates the dilemma of high speed winter tires - they are often very dangerous on snow and ice. The tire is nervous under all winter conditions, but worst on ice, and to gain control after skidding is virtually impossible. Good on wet asphalt, but lose grip here too.

With Pirelli WINTER 210 you do NOT want to end up on an icy spot, do not experience sudden frost, do not drive on black ice. But it is a winter tire and the type Vägverket (SRA) and many municipalities want you to change to. Without studs! How-ever, on wet asphalt, it works really well. Congratulations, Tingvall!

Here is a high speed tire which oddly enough has ok grip on ice, but is falling through on any other road conditions. It is mediocre on snow, not good on slush, and strange enough - it’s not even really good on bare roads. Furthermore, it has an extremely slow roll.

A high speed tire with safe qualities on asphalt, the braking distance is the shortest in the entire test, and the rear axle never loses its grip, but it is diffuse and slow. Grip on ice is decent - good! But when it is snow or slush on the road, stay at home or fi nd a parking spot!

Chinese Sonar surprised on ice with the best grip in the group. But on snow the grip is worse, and on asphalt and in slush, it is really bad. The problem is that the grip can disappear in a fraction of a second, especially on wet asphalt when you really want to feel safe.

Grip and handling on asphalt.

Grip and handling on winter roads.

Grip on snow, driving qualities.

Grip on ice, rolling resistance.

Wet grip and han-dling qualities on dry asphalt. Grip on ice, rolling resistance.

Grip and handling qualities on wet asphalt Grip and driving qualities on ice.

Wet grip.

Rolling resistance.

Handling and grip on wet asphalt.

Grip on snow.

Grip on ice.

Driving dynam-ics on all road surfaces, noise!

13Car

“Chinese Plingplong has a surprisingly good grip in the longitudinal direc-tion on both snow and ice. It drives and brakes well. But it loses grip with the rear wheels and it is just as hopeless to drive both on snow and ice. You may risk to collide with an oncoming car with your rear.

Longitu dinal grip on snow and ice.

Driving dynamics on all road condi-tions. Noise.

HIGH SPEED TIRES

Speed category: T Speed category: H 210 km/h

Speed category: H Speed category: H Speed category: H Speed category: H Speed category: H Speed category: H