Sport Auto winter tire test 205/45 R17 2026

Sporty small cars and rear-wheel-drive roadsters need quality tyres in winter more than ordinary family cars do. The German magazine sport auto therefore tested nine winter tyres in the size 205/45 R17 on the Mazda MX-5. The winner received the highest rating of "excellent," while the cheapest tyre in the test failed.

Which cars fit the 205/45 R17 size

Mazda MX-5 and Mazda 2, Mini (various models), Peugeot 208, Renault Clio and Zoe, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai i20, Suzuki Swift Sport, Alpine A110, Abarth/Fiat 124 Spider, Fiat 500e, Lancia Ypsilon, MG3, Mitsubishi Colt and others.

Which tyres were in the test

• Bridgestone Blizzak 6
• Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
• Falken Eurowinter HS02
• Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
• Hankook Winter i*cept RS3
• Kleber Krisalp HP3
• Linglong Sport Master Winter
• Michelin Alpin 7
• Nokian Snowproof 3P (new)

Winter tests took place at the Nokian test track near Ivalo, Finland, at temperatures around and below −10 °C. These were followed by tests on wet and dry asphalt and laboratory measurements of rolling resistance. The test car was the Mazda MX-5, whose balanced rear-wheel-drive chassis reveals even subtle differences between tyres.

Weighting of individual categories:

• wet: 35%
• dry: 30%
• snow: 20%
• environment (rolling resistance, noise): 15%

The testers give the highest weight to wet conditions, as winters in Central Europe today tend to be cold and rainy rather than snowy, with snow and slush occurring only occasionally.

Continental was the only tyre to receive the highest rating of "excellent." The testers praised its strong grip in all winter conditions and harmonious balance on snow. On wet surfaces it was exceptionally good: the shortest wet braking distance in the test, the best lateral grip, and the best traction on snow. On dry roads it is precise and easy to control, and it also has low rolling resistance. The only minor drawback is its resistance to aquaplaning.

The new Nokian Snowproof 3P is, according to the testers, a "wet-weather expert." On rainy winter roads it offers the highest safety in the test, brakes short on both wet and dry surfaces, and is very well balanced. Minor drawbacks are a slightly slower steering response on dry roads and higher rolling resistance. A rating of "very good" combined with a lower price makes it the best price-to-performance ratio in the test.

Goodyear was the best on snow: it has the best balance, the largest safety margins, and is the easiest to control. It also received a rating of "very good" and the testers recommend it as an all-round tyre. Its weakness is a somewhat longer wet braking distance, where it fell behind the best performers by about a meter.

• Bridgestone Blizzak 6 brakes excellently on wet roads and is precise and lively on dry roads. It is weaker on snow: it brakes longer and feels more nervous in corners.
• Michelin Alpin 7 has the lowest rolling resistance in the test, making it, according to the testers, ideal for electric vehicles. However, it brakes longer on wet surfaces and has weaker resistance to aquaplaning.
• Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 is the best in lateral aquaplaning and performed well on wet roads. It has weaker traction on snow. The testers rate it as a good tyre for a fair price.

• Falken Eurowinter HS02 ("satisfactory") brakes well on dry roads, but is average on snow and wet surfaces and has high rolling resistance.
• Kleber Krisalp HP3 ("sufficient") is the paradox of the test. It braked best of all on snow, yet had the longest braking distances on wet and dry roads. For this, the testers downgraded it by one level.
• Linglong Sport Master Winter ("insufficient"), the cheapest tyre in the test, has the weakest performance on snow, wet, and dry surfaces. It is also the noisiest, has the highest rolling resistance, and shows unpredictable behavior. Due to shortcomings in stability on snow and wet roads, the testers downgraded it by two levels.