{"id":5397,"date":"2025-09-30T07:03:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T07:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetirelab.com\/mag\/?p=5397"},"modified":"2025-09-30T07:04:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T07:04:00","slug":"deep-dive-automotorsports-latest-winter-tyre-test-for-2025-reveals-surprises-dangers-and-inconsistencies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/deep-dive-automotorsports-latest-winter-tyre-test-for-2025-reveals-surprises-dangers-and-inconsistencies\/","title":{"rendered":"Deep Dive: Automotorsport&#8217;s Latest Winter Tyre  Test for 2025 Reveals Surprises, Dangers, and Inconsistencies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Every year, the search for the perfect winter tyre begins. With vehicle running costs on everyone&#8217;s mind, the temptation to save a few hundred euros on a set of budget tyres is strong. But what do you sacrifice in safety and performance? To get to the bottom of this, the respected German magazine <em>Automotorsport<\/em> conducted an in-depth test on the common <strong>215\/55 R 17<\/strong> size. Their lineup was designed to find the truth, comparing top-tier offerings from Continental and Michelin against value-focused brands and even a super-cheap Linglong tyre, to see which ones truly deliver when conditions get tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">\u2630<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69d481756f47c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69d481756f47c\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/deep-dive-automotorsports-latest-winter-tyre-test-for-2025-reveals-surprises-dangers-and-inconsistencies\/#The_Snowy_Surprise_A_Retreaded_Tyre_Teaches_a_Lesson\" title=\"The Snowy Surprise: A Retreaded Tyre Teaches a Lesson\">The Snowy Surprise: A Retreaded Tyre Teaches a Lesson<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/deep-dive-automotorsports-latest-winter-tyre-test-for-2025-reveals-surprises-dangers-and-inconsistencies\/#Reality_Bites_A_Catastrophic_Failure_on_Wet_Roads\" title=\"Reality Bites: A Catastrophic Failure on Wet Roads\">Reality Bites: A Catastrophic Failure on Wet Roads<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/deep-dive-automotorsports-latest-winter-tyre-test-for-2025-reveals-surprises-dangers-and-inconsistencies\/#Dry_Performance_and_Deeper_Flaws\" title=\"Dry Performance and Deeper Flaws\">Dry Performance and Deeper Flaws<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/deep-dive-automotorsports-latest-winter-tyre-test-for-2025-reveals-surprises-dangers-and-inconsistencies\/#The_EU_labels_vs_reality\" title=\"The EU labels vs reality\">The EU labels vs reality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/deep-dive-automotorsports-latest-winter-tyre-test-for-2025-reveals-surprises-dangers-and-inconsistencies\/#Conclusion_The_Right_Tyre_for_the_Right_Job\" title=\"Conclusion: The Right Tyre for the Right Job\">Conclusion: The Right Tyre for the Right Job<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Snowy_Surprise_A_Retreaded_Tyre_Teaches_a_Lesson\"><\/span><strong>The Snowy Surprise: A Retreaded Tyre Teaches a Lesson<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When the snow testing started, the expected names rose to the top. The brand-new <strong>Bridgestone Blizzak 6<\/strong> was outstanding, delivering a balanced and leading performance, with the ever-competent <strong>Goodyear UltraGrip Performance<\/strong> hot on its heels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But here\u2019s where it gets interesting. Right behind these premium giants was a complete surprise: the <strong>Profil Winter Maxx<\/strong>, a retreaded tyre. Thanks to an extremely soft compound and a deep, aggressive tread pattern, it could genuinely challenge the top dogs on the white stuff. The testers noted that it demands a bit more from the driver, but in experienced hands, it provided confident and secure handling. A fascinating result, but would it last?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hankook, Michelin, and Continental also performed well, as expected. The only real disappointments in the snow were the Falken Eurowinter HS02, which struggled for grip and isn&#8217;t recommended for snowy regions, and the Vredestein, which showed some weakness in snow braking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reality_Bites_A_Catastrophic_Failure_on_Wet_Roads\"><\/span>Reality Bites: A Catastrophic Failure on Wet Roads<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the Profil Winter Maxx was the hero in the snow, it became the villain in the wet. The results were not just bad; they were downright dangerous. When braking from 80 km\/h on a wet surface, the retreaded tyre took <strong>nearly 53 metres<\/strong> to stop. To put that in perspective, that is over <strong>20 metres longer<\/strong> than the test average. It scored zero points for braking. In corners, it would simply slide away, and it offered no resistance to aquaplaning. The verdict from the German testers was blunt: &#8220;Finger weg!&#8221; (Hands off!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So who mastered the wet? Unsurprisingly, the <strong>Continental TS 870<\/strong> was in a league of its own, earning a top score and confirming its reputation as a rain master. Vredestein and Goodyear also delivered top-tier wet performance. Michelin, Pirelli, and Hankook followed with only minor weaknesses. The budget-friendly Linglong and the Falken, however, were relegated to the &#8220;third league&#8221; in these crucial conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dry_Performance_and_Deeper_Flaws\"><\/span>Dry Performance and Deeper Flaws<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On dry tarmac, the leaders asserted their dominance. The <strong>Goodyear<\/strong> was praised for its combination of stable cornering dynamics and superior comfort, while the <strong>Continental<\/strong> impressed with the shortest braking distances and a flawless overall feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is also where the detailed engineering of premium tyres shines through. While the budget Linglong and Falken tyres could brake reasonably well, their flaws were in the details: vague steering response, poor lateral support in corners, and a lack of stability during evasive manoeuvres. The testers also noted that noise and comfort were areas where significant development work is still needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the retreaded tyre? It was just as lost in the dry as in the wet. Poor braking, unpredictable sliding in corners, and nasty rolling noises. The testers astutely pointed out that its inconsistent handling was likely due to the use of different underlying carcasses\u2014the tyre&#8217;s internal steel and fabric structure\u2014a common issue with retreaded products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_EU_labels_vs_reality\"><\/span>The EU labels vs reality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the part of the review true tyre nerds live for. <em>Automotorsport<\/em> didn&#8217;t just take the results at face value; they compared them to the EU Tyre Label and even bought some of the tyres again from retailers for a follow-up test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Linglong Sport Master Winter came with a self-declared &#8220;A&#8221; rating for wet grip\u2014the highest possible. This would suggest it should outperform legends like Conti and Goodyear. The reality? Not even close. The test suggests that the tyre was likely engineered to perform well in the specific, narrow tests for the label (like straight-line braking) while neglecting other critical dynamic properties. The magazine called the label &#8220;deceiving.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The re-test revealed even more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Continental:<\/strong> The store-bought tyres performed identically to the test tyres. A model of consistency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bridgestone:<\/strong> The tyre purchased later was actually measurably <em>better<\/em> in the wet than the initial test tyre, suggesting early production samples may not have been fully optimized.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Linglong:<\/strong> This was the most damning finding. The company had recently changed the tyre&#8217;s name from &#8220;Grip Master&#8221; to &#8220;Sport Master.&#8221; The magazine tested both, and both performed <em>worse<\/em> than the original test tyre, with wet braking distances increasing by 3-4%. This points to a significant lack of process stability and manufacturing consistency at their Serbian factory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_The_Right_Tyre_for_the_Right_Job\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion: The Right Tyre for the Right Job<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, which tyre should you buy? As always, it depends on your priorities. <em>Automotorsport<\/em> provides a clear summary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>For Absolute Wet Safety:<\/strong> If you face mostly cold, rainy winters and less snow, the test-winning <strong>Continental TS 870<\/strong> is the proven choice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Best All-Rounder:<\/strong> For a tyre that does everything exceptionally well, from snow to dry roads, the <strong>Goodyear UltraGrip Performance<\/strong> is the one to beat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>For Snowy Regions:<\/strong> If you need top-tier performance in heavy snow, the new <strong>Bridgestone Blizzak 6<\/strong> is your champion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Value King:<\/strong> For the most performance for your money, the <strong>Hankook i*cept RS3<\/strong> currently delivers the best bang for your buck.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every year, the search for the perfect winter tyre begins. With vehicle running costs on everyone&#8217;s mind, the temptation to save a few hundred euros on a set of budget tyres is strong. But what do you sacrifice in safety and performance? To get to the bottom of this, the respected German magazine Automotorsport conducted [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5397"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5397\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5401,"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5397\/revisions\/5401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.testneumaticos.es\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}