Tyrereviews Winter SUV Tire Test 235/60 R18 2023

Can a heavy SUV with all-wheel drive hide the shortcomings of cheaper tires, or is premium footwear the only safety guarantee? An extensive test of nine high-performance winter tires in the popular 235/60 R18 size examined their limits on snow, water, and dry asphalt. The testing also focused on noise, comfort, and rolling resistance, which is key for electric vehicles.

The clear champion on snow and in wet braking became the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV tire, while the titles for wet handling and fuel economy were split between Pirelli and Continental.

• King of winter roads: The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV tire played in a league of its own on snow. It found traction and lateral grip where others failed, confirming that even a heavy AWD vehicle cannot change the physical limits of a top-tier tire.
• Braking and Traction: In snow braking distance, the Hankook Winter I*Cept Evo3 narrowly triumphed over the Nokian. In acceleration and grip, Michelin dominated once again, followed by the newcomer Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2.
• Hazard at the back: The budget Leao tire lagged behind the top performers in both braking distance and grip characteristics by a frightening 20%. On snow, it offered zero grip and did not meet the appropriate safety standard.

• Handling: The top four tires (Pirelli, Goodyear, Continental, Michelin) were separated in lap time by an incredible 0.4%. The fastest time and best sporty feel were delivered by the Pirelli tire, while Goodyear and Maxxis scored with exemplary predictability and confidence at the limit.
• Wet braking: The shortest braking distance was achieved by Michelin, closely followed by Bridgestone.
• Battling deep water: In both longitudinal and lateral aquaplaning, the Nokian Snowproof 2 SUV pulled significantly ahead of its rivals, beating the second-placed Bridgestone with a huge margin.

• Consumption and range: If you drive an electric vehicle or are looking for maximum fuel economy, Continental demonstrated the lowest rolling resistance with a historically largest lead over the competition. Second place went to Bridgestone.
• Comfort and noise: The most pleasant and quietest companion for long distances was Michelin, along with the Bridgestone and Goodyear tires. The Pirelli tire offered a quiet, low-frequency sound, but had a somewhat firmer chassis feel.
• Dry braking: In the only test where the Chinese Leao surprisingly performed well, it managed to narrowly beat the top-tier Pirelli.

• For extreme winter and snow: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV (unmatched by competition).
• For wet roads and fast driving: Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 and Goodyear.
• For electric vehicles and low consumption: Continental (unbeaten rolling resistance).
• Affordable and safe choice: Hankook or Maxxis.
• Budget tires (Leao): Avoid them – not even 4x4 drive will save you on snow and water with these tires.