AUTO BILD compared 10 tyres in size 225/55 R18.
winter tyres · BMW X1 · 225/55 R18 · 102V · 2026
Ivalo (Hankook Technotrac) · Papenburg (ATP) · Pferdsfeld (Triwo)
Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 wins with an overall grade of 1.3. At approximately €570 per set, it is also the cheapest of the three exemplary tyres. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 and Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 share second place on 1.4: Michelin leads the snow chapter, while Pirelli excels in wet braking and handling. Their strengths make the choice depend on the conditions the driver encounters most often.
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finishes fourth and has the shortest dry braking distance, 41.31 m. Bridgestone Blizzak 6 is fifth; it shares the lowest rolling resistance, 6.8 kg/t, with Goodyear. Linglong is fast in snow handling but loses points in the wet. The €330 Zeetex is the cheapest tyre, yet needs 57.5 m to stop on wet asphalt, compared with Pirelli’s 44.4 m. Its price comes with a substantial safety compromise.
Snow tests took place at Hankook Technotrac in Ivalo; wet and dry tests used ATP Papenburg and Triwo Pferdsfeld. Snow, wet and dry each contribute one third of the overall grade. Lower grades are better. If a safety-related discipline receives 2.5 or worse, one quarter of the worst safety grade is added. The published grades and penalties below are preserved, rather than recalculated from rounded chapter scores.
The specifications below describe the tested 225/55 R18 102V samples. Manufacturing country and weight can vary with size and production batch. EU label ratings describe this variant; the measured test noise is a separate result. Prices are approximate four-tyre set prices at publication, not current local offers. The PDF gives no tread-depth, mileage or wear measurements.
Overall grades: lower is better. Shared positions follow AUTO BILD.
Completed and corrected from the printed AUTO BILD 39/2026, pp. 58–63. Printed results take precedence over the online table. Lower grades are better. The magazine calls the top three “vorbildlich”; the online article uses “sehr gut”. Noise readings: 60 / 80 km/h. · Pirelli: Longitudinal aquaplaning 80.9 km/h; Cornering aquaplaning 3.2 m/s². · Bridgestone: Wet braking 46.8 m; Wet handling – objective 83.1 km/h. · Matador: 8/10.
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Results
| 1. | Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 | 1.3 | Exemplary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | Michelin PILOT ALPIN 5 (★100) | 1.4 | Exemplary |
| 2. | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 | 1.4 | Exemplary |
| 4. | GoodYear UltraGrip Performance 3 (★92) | 1.5 | Good |
| 5. | Bridgestone Blizzak 6 | 1.7 | Good |
| 6. | Falken EuroWinter HS02 Pro (★64) | 2.6 | Satisfactory |
| 7. | Linglong Sport Master Winter | 2.7 | Satisfactory |
| 8. | Matador MP93 Nordicca | 2.7 | Satisfactory |
| 9. | Prinx Winter Excelia | 3.1 | Satisfactory |
| 10. | Zeetex WH1000 SUV | 4.5 | Poor |
Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4
+ Balanced newcomer; cheapest of the three exemplary tyres
− Relatively weaker on snow
| Snow · Grade | 1.4 |
|---|---|
| Wet · Grade | 1.2 |
| Dry · Grade | 1.4 |
| Tested size | 225/55 R18 102V |
| Manufacturing country | Hungary |
| Approximate price per set (€) | 570 |
| Tested tyre weight (kg) | 11.8 |
| EU fuel efficiency | B |
| EU wet grip | B |
| EU noise class | B |
| EU exterior noise (dB) | 72 |
| High-speed test passed | ✓ |
| Safety penalty | 0.0 |
| Grade | Weighting (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow traction (N) | 3672 | 1.6 | 30 |
| Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) | 28.4 | 1.4 | 30 |
| Snow handling – objective (km/h) | 42.2 | 1.3 | 30 |
| Snow cornering (m/s²) | 4.08 | 1.6 | 10 |
| Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) | 83 | 1.1 | 20 |
| Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) | 3.6 | 1.1 | 10 |
| Wet handling – objective (km/h) | 84.3 | 1.2 | 30 |
| Wet circle cornering (s) | 16.35 | 1.7 | 10 |
| Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 45.2 | 1.2 | 30 |
| Dry handling – objective (km/h) | 114.1 | 1.0 | 30 |
| Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 42.14 | 1.6 | 30 |
| Exterior noise (60 / 80 km/h · dB(A)) | 67.4 / 70.9 | 1.3 | 15 |
| Rolling resistance (kg/t) | 7.8 | 1.8 | 15 |
| Comfort (Grade) | 1.2 | 1.2 | 10 |
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
+ Best wet braking and handling; very quiet
− Minor dry-road weaknesses
| Snow · Grade | 1.5 |
|---|---|
| Wet · Grade | 1.2 |
| Dry · Grade | 1.7 |
| Tested size | 225/55 R18 102V |
| Manufacturing country | Italy |
| Approximate price per set (€) | 720 |
| Tested tyre weight (kg) | 11.2 |
| EU fuel efficiency | C |
| EU wet grip | A |
| EU noise class | B |
| EU exterior noise (dB) | 72 |
| High-speed test passed | ✓ |
| Safety penalty | 0.0 |
| Grade | Weighting (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow traction (N) | 3744 | 1.3 | 30 |
| Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) | 29 | 1.7 | 30 |
| Snow handling – objective (km/h) | 41.9 | 1.4 | 30 |
| Snow cornering (m/s²) | 4.11 | 1.5 | 10 |
| Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) | 80.9 | 1.6 | 20 |
| Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) | 3.2 | 1.6 | 10 |
| Wet handling – objective (km/h) | 85.3 | 1.0 | 30 |
| Wet circle cornering (s) | 16.11 | 1.1 | 10 |
| Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 44.4 | 1.0 | 30 |
| Dry handling – objective (km/h) | 111.5 | 1.8 | 30 |
| Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 42.32 | 1.7 | 30 |
| Exterior noise (60 / 80 km/h · dB(A)) | 66.7 / 71.1 | 1.2 | 15 |
| Rolling resistance (kg/t) | 7.8 | 1.9 | 15 |
| Comfort (Grade) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 10 |
Michelin PILOT ALPIN 5 (★100)
+ Outstanding winter performance; confident on dry roads
− Slightly weaker in the wet
| Snow · Grade | 1.1 |
|---|---|
| Wet · Grade | 1.7 |
| Dry · Grade | 1.6 |
| Tested size | 225/55 R18 102V |
| Manufacturing country | Spain |
| Approximate price per set (€) | 740 |
| Tested tyre weight (kg) | 11.3 |
| EU fuel efficiency | C |
| EU wet grip | B |
| EU noise class | B |
| EU exterior noise (dB) | 70 |
| High-speed test passed | ✓ |
| Safety penalty | 0.0 |
| Grade | Weighting (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow traction (N) | 3781 | 1.1 | 30 |
| Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) | 27.7 | 1.0 | 30 |
| Snow handling – objective (km/h) | 42.5 | 1.0 | 30 |
| Snow cornering (m/s²) | 4.17 | 1.3 | 10 |
| Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) | 80.7 | 1.7 | 20 |
| Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) | 3.1 | 1.8 | 10 |
| Wet handling – objective (km/h) | 83.7 | 1.6 | 30 |
| Wet circle cornering (s) | 16.36 | 1.7 | 10 |
| Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 47.1 | 1.7 | 30 |
| Dry handling – objective (km/h) | 112.6 | 1.5 | 30 |
| Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 41.8 | 1.4 | 30 |
| Exterior noise (60 / 80 km/h · dB(A)) | 67.8 / 71.2 | 2.2 | 15 |
| Rolling resistance (kg/t) | 7.7 | 1.7 | 15 |
| Comfort (Grade) | 1.2 | 1.2 | 10 |
GoodYear UltraGrip Performance 3 (★92)
+ Excellent on snow and dry roads; shortest dry braking distance
− Minor wet-road weaknesses
| Snow · Grade | 1.2 |
|---|---|
| Wet · Grade | 1.9 |
| Dry · Grade | 1.4 |
| Tested size | 225/55 R18 102V |
| Manufacturing country | Poland |
| Approximate price per set (€) | 720 |
| Tested tyre weight (kg) | 11.6 |
| EU fuel efficiency | B |
| EU wet grip | C |
| EU noise class | B |
| EU exterior noise (dB) | 71 |
| High-speed test passed | ✓ |
| Safety penalty | 0.0 |
| Grade | Weighting (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow traction (N) | 3781 | 1.1 | 30 |
| Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) | 28.1 | 1.3 | 30 |
| Snow handling – objective (km/h) | 42.5 | 1.2 | 30 |
| Snow cornering (m/s²) | 4.22 | 1.1 | 10 |
| Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) | 78.1 | 2.3 | 20 |
| Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) | 2.8 | 2.2 | 10 |
| Wet handling – objective (km/h) | 84 | 1.5 | 30 |
| Wet circle cornering (s) | 16.34 | 1.7 | 10 |
| Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 48.1 | 1.9 | 30 |
| Dry handling – objective (km/h) | 112.7 | 1.5 | 30 |
| Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 41.31 | 1.2 | 30 |
| Exterior noise (60 / 80 km/h · dB(A)) | 67.9 / 71.8 | 2.1 | 15 |
| Rolling resistance (kg/t) | 6.8 | 1.1 | 15 |
| Comfort (Grade) | 1.3 | 1.3 | 10 |
Bridgestone Blizzak 6
+ Low rolling resistance; strong on snow
− Minor wet and dry weaknesses
| Snow · Grade | 1.5 |
|---|---|
| Wet · Grade | 1.8 |
| Dry · Grade | 1.7 |
| Tested size | 225/55 R18 102V |
| Manufacturing country | Poland |
| Approximate price per set (€) | 660 |
| Tested tyre weight (kg) | 10.1 |
| EU fuel efficiency | B |
| EU wet grip | B |
| EU noise class | B |
| EU exterior noise (dB) | 70 |
| High-speed test passed | ✓ |
| Safety penalty | 0.0 |
| Grade | Weighting (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow traction (N) | 3678 | 1.6 | 30 |
| Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) | 28.5 | 1.4 | 30 |
| Snow handling – objective (km/h) | 41.7 | 1.4 | 30 |
| Snow cornering (m/s²) | 4.09 | 1.5 | 10 |
| Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) | 78.9 | 2.1 | 20 |
| Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) | 3.1 | 1.8 | 10 |
| Wet handling – objective (km/h) | 83.1 | 1.9 | 30 |
| Wet circle cornering (s) | 16.35 | 1.7 | 10 |
| Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 46.8 | 1.6 | 30 |
| Dry handling – objective (km/h) | 112.8 | 1.4 | 30 |
| Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 43.09 | 2.1 | 30 |
| Exterior noise (60 / 80 km/h · dB(A)) | 69.6 / 72.6 | 2.7 | 15 |
| Rolling resistance (kg/t) | 6.8 | 1.1 | 15 |
| Comfort (Grade) | 1.4 | 1.4 | 10 |
Falken EuroWinter HS02 Pro (★64)
+ Decent snow performance; very quiet
− No outstanding strengths; weaker aquaplaning resistance
| Snow · Grade | 1.8 |
|---|---|
| Wet · Grade | 2.1 |
| Dry · Grade | 1.9 |
| Tested size | 225/55 R18 102V |
| Manufacturing country | Turkey |
| Approximate price per set (€) | 530 |
| Tested tyre weight (kg) | 11.2 |
| EU fuel efficiency | C |
| EU wet grip | B |
| EU noise class | B |
| EU exterior noise (dB) | 71 |
| High-speed test passed | ✓ |
| Safety penalty | 0.6 |
| Grade | Weighting (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow traction (N) | 3597 | 2.0 | 30 |
| Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) | 29.4 | 1.9 | 30 |
| Snow handling – objective (km/h) | 41.6 | 1.4 | 30 |
| Snow cornering (m/s²) | 3.88 | 2.2 | 10 |
| Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) | 77.3 | 2.5 | 20 |
| Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) | 2.7 | 2.3 | 10 |
| Wet handling – objective (km/h) | 83.2 | 1.9 | 30 |
| Wet circle cornering (s) | 16.33 | 1.7 | 10 |
| Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 48.2 | 2.0 | 30 |
| Dry handling – objective (km/h) | 111.9 | 1.7 | 30 |
| Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 43.61 | 2.3 | 30 |
| Exterior noise (60 / 80 km/h · dB(A)) | 67.7 / 72 | 1.1 | 15 |
| Rolling resistance (kg/t) | 8.1 | 2.0 | 15 |
| Comfort (Grade) | 2.2 | 2.2 | 10 |
Linglong Sport Master Winter
+ Best snow handling; confident on dry roads; inexpensive
− Wet weaknesses led to a downgrade
| Snow · Grade | 1.5 |
|---|---|
| Wet · Grade | 2.6 |
| Dry · Grade | 1.8 |
| Tested size | 225/55 R18 102V |
| Manufacturing country | Serbia |
| Approximate price per set (€) | 370 |
| Tested tyre weight (kg) | 11.8 |
| EU fuel efficiency | D |
| EU wet grip | A |
| EU noise class | B |
| EU exterior noise (dB) | 72 |
| High-speed test passed | ✓ |
| Safety penalty | 0.8 |
| Grade | Weighting (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow traction (N) | 3525 | 2.4 | 30 |
| Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) | 28.2 | 1.3 | 30 |
| Snow handling – objective (km/h) | 43 | 1.0 | 30 |
| Snow cornering (m/s²) | 4.16 | 1.3 | 10 |
| Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) | 75.9 | 2.9 | 20 |
| Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) | 2.6 | 2.4 | 10 |
| Wet handling – objective (km/h) | 80.3 | 3.0 | 30 |
| Wet circle cornering (s) | 16.69 | 2.6 | 10 |
| Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 48.8 | 2.1 | 30 |
| Dry handling – objective (km/h) | 111.9 | 1.7 | 30 |
| Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 42.32 | 1.7 | 30 |
| Exterior noise (60 / 80 km/h · dB(A)) | 69.7 / 73.7 | 2.0 | 15 |
| Rolling resistance (kg/t) | 8 | 1.9 | 15 |
| Comfort (Grade) | 2.1 | 2.1 | 10 |
Matador MP93 Nordicca
+ Strong snow handling; quiet
− Wet-road weaknesses
| Snow · Grade | 1.8 |
|---|---|
| Wet · Grade | 2.4 |
| Dry · Grade | 2.0 |
| Tested size | 225/55 R18 102V |
| Manufacturing country | Germany |
| Approximate price per set (€) | 490 |
| Tested tyre weight (kg) | 10.5 |
| EU fuel efficiency | D |
| EU wet grip | C |
| EU noise class | B |
| EU exterior noise (dB) | 72 |
| High-speed test passed | ✓ |
| Safety penalty | 0.7 |
| Grade | Weighting (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow traction (N) | 3493 | 2.5 | 30 |
| Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) | 29 | 1.7 | 30 |
| Snow handling – objective (km/h) | 42.3 | 1.2 | 30 |
| Snow cornering (m/s²) | 4.04 | 1.7 | 10 |
| Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) | 77 | 2.6 | 20 |
| Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) | 3 | 2.0 | 10 |
| Wet handling – objective (km/h) | 81.6 | 2.5 | 30 |
| Wet circle cornering (s) | 16.81 | 2.9 | 10 |
| Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 48.8 | 2.1 | 30 |
| Dry handling – objective (km/h) | 111 | 2.0 | 30 |
| Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 43.45 | 2.3 | 30 |
| Exterior noise (60 / 80 km/h · dB(A)) | 68.4 / 71.9 | 1.4 | 15 |
| Rolling resistance (kg/t) | 7.8 | 1.8 | 15 |
| Comfort (Grade) | 1.8 | 1.8 | 10 |
Prinx Winter Excelia
+ Newcomer; good on snow
− Weak wet lateral grip; high price for the performance
| Snow · Grade | 1.7 |
|---|---|
| Wet · Grade | 2.9 |
| Dry · Grade | 2.0 |
| Tested size | 225/55 R18 102V |
| Manufacturing country | Thailand |
| Approximate price per set (€) | 530 |
| Tested tyre weight (kg) | 12 |
| EU fuel efficiency | C |
| EU wet grip | B |
| EU noise class | B |
| EU exterior noise (dB) | 72 |
| High-speed test passed | ✓ |
| Safety penalty | 0.9 |
| Grade | Weighting (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow traction (N) | 3591 | 2.0 | 30 |
| Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) | 28.9 | 1.6 | 30 |
| Snow handling – objective (km/h) | 41.1 | 1.6 | 30 |
| Snow cornering (m/s²) | 4.09 | 1.5 | 10 |
| Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) | 78.6 | 2.2 | 20 |
| Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) | 3.3 | 1.5 | 10 |
| Wet handling – objective (km/h) | 78.4 | 3.8 | 30 |
| Wet circle cornering (s) | 17.18 | 3.8 | 10 |
| Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 50.5 | 2.5 | 30 |
| Dry handling – objective (km/h) | 110.4 | 2.2 | 30 |
| Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 43.55 | 2.3 | 30 |
| Exterior noise (60 / 80 km/h · dB(A)) | 67.4 / 71.1 | 1.2 | 15 |
| Rolling resistance (kg/t) | 7.3 | 1.5 | 15 |
| Comfort (Grade) | 2.3 | 2.3 | 10 |
Zeetex WH1000 SUV
+ Lowest price in the test
− Unacceptable wet braking; poor wet lateral grip
| Snow · Grade | 3.8 |
|---|---|
| Wet · Grade | 3.9 |
| Dry · Grade | 2.5 |
| Tested size | 225/55 R18 102V |
| Manufacturing country | China |
| Approximate price per set (€) | 330 |
| Tested tyre weight (kg) | 11.9 |
| EU fuel efficiency | C |
| EU wet grip | B |
| EU noise class | B |
| EU exterior noise (dB) | 71 |
| High-speed test passed | ✓ |
| Safety penalty | 1.1 |
| Grade | Weighting (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow traction (N) | 3169 | 4.2 | 30 |
| Snow braking (50→0 km/h · m) | 31.8 | 3.8 | 30 |
| Snow handling – objective (km/h) | 38.9 | 3.8 | 30 |
| Snow cornering (m/s²) | 3.73 | 2.7 | 10 |
| Longitudinal aquaplaning (km/h) | 73.9 | 3.4 | 20 |
| Cornering aquaplaning (m/s²) | 2.4 | 2.7 | 10 |
| Wet handling – objective (km/h) | 77.3 | 4.2 | 30 |
| Wet circle cornering (s) | 17.29 | 4.1 | 10 |
| Wet braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 57.5 | 4.3 | 30 |
| Dry handling – objective (km/h) | 110.8 | 2.1 | 30 |
| Dry braking (100→0 km/h · m) | 43.42 | 2.3 | 30 |
| Exterior noise (60 / 80 km/h · dB(A)) | 68 / 72.5 | 3.9 | 15 |
| Rolling resistance (kg/t) | 8.4 | 2.2 | 15 |
| Comfort (Grade) | 2.9 | 2.9 | 10 |
Original test · AUTO BILD 39/2026 · 58–63
Tom Salt/AUTO BILD