No more frightening of all-season tires. The Czech test proved their abilities

Of course, it is still a better solution to put the car in high-quality winter tires during this period and replace them with special summer tires in the spring, however, year-round tires may not be bad at all, especially in winter. A new test showed it.

Eight special winter tires and seven all-season tires. They competed in a new test of the Autoclub of the Czech Republic, which took place in Ulrichen, Switzerland at the foot of the Alps. The aim was to evaluate the properties of designs in operation in all climatic conditions that may occur during the winter.

You will find the exact results in the tables in our gallery

These were specifically tires with size 205/55 R16. This time, the Goodyear Ultra Grip 9+ winter tire served as the reference tire (with an index of 100). This is, of course, a winter coat.

“From the driving community, we often encounter questions about whether it is appropriate to wear all-season tires or it is better to change shoes before the season. That’s why before this winter we decided on a big test in which we examine the properties of both types and compare them,” explained Libor Budina, manager of Road Safety Autoklub ČR.

Testing took place on dry, wet and snowy roads. The properties of tires were tested in a total of 16 disciplines. The response to acceleration, braking, and the limits of aquaplaning in the longitudinal and transverse directions were objectively investigated using recording technology. Noise and rolling resistance were measured on dry roads. On the contrary, traction in wheel slip was tested on a snow-covered track.

Other disciplines included passing through a circular track with a wet surface, where the time of the car was measured in both directions. And finally – on the circuits during the so-called Handling, the licensed test drivers test the handling of the car. Again, the time for the bike is assessed. The subjective evaluation of the car’s response to steering and its stability is also important. Of course, test drivers do not know in advance what footwear they will start with.

They won the medal position

“The test results will help the consumer choose the tire that best suits his needs. The consumer should monitor those parameters that are key to him. Other preferences will be given to the driver, who drives mostly in the city, where most of the winter there is more wet or dry frost, others who drive at higher altitudes, where there is more often snow on the roads, “said Libor Budina.

If someone moves a lot of time in the snow, then they should choose a real winter tire. For example, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM 005, which even surpassed the reference tire. Of the all-season tires, the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 2 tire had the best results on the white snowflake surface. It even took a very flattering fourth place. He then finished fifth in the overall standings. Even better (compared to all 17 tires) were the fourth year-round Michelin CrossClimate + and the third Continental AllSeason Contact in fourth place.

In a direct comparison of the overall points scored, Continental AllSeason Contact lost only 0.2 percent and Michelin 0.7 percent. In some parameters, year-round tires surpass winter tires. For example, the product of the French tire company Michelin was the best of all the products evaluated when driving dry, and Bridgestone Weather Control dominated the ranking in the discipline of dry driving.

In this size, one premium all-season tire can be purchased in online stores for approximately CZK 1,800 (Continental).

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