All-season tire tests and winter safety expert advice

Recent automotive testing and expert advice highlight key considerations for seasonal tire changes. A test conducted by auto motor und sport in Finland evaluated nine popular all-season tire brands. The Continental AllSeasonContact 2 emerged as the overall winner, noted for its performance on dry and wet roads and low rolling resistance. The Pirelli Cinturato Allseason SF3 ranked third but provided the best results specifically on snow, while the Vredestein Quatrac took second place for its balanced handling and braking performance.

Regarding safety during the transition to winter, experts from TÜV SÜD advise against using tires from different manufacturers or with significantly different tread depths. While legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm, specialists recommend at least 4 mm for the start of the winter season. Using mismatched tires can lead to uncontrollable vehicle behavior during emergency maneuvers or sudden braking.