ADAC winter tire test reveals nine models fail to meet recommendations

The German automobile club ADAC has released its 2026 winter tire test results, revealing disappointing performance across many tested models. In a study of 16 winter tires specifically for small and compact cars (size 185/65 R15), only two models received a 'good' overall rating.

The Continental WinterContact TS 870 emerged as the top performer with an overall score of 2.2, followed by the Michelin Alpin 7. However, the results were described by experts as 'shocking,' as nine of the 16 tested models failed to receive a recommendation from ADAC.

The testing criteria accounted for driving safety on dry, wet, snowy, and icy surfaces, which comprised 70% of the total score, while the remaining 30% was based on environmental impact. Five other models received a 'satisfactory' rating, meaning they can only be recommended with certain limitations.