All-season tire tests reveal performance differences by weather and vehicle type

Recent testing by Auto Bild and ADAC has evaluated the performance of all-season tires compared to specialized summer and winter models. In the 215/55 R18 size category, which is common for electric vehicles, the Hankook iON FlexClimate emerged as the winner. It demonstrated balanced performance, particularly excelling on wet roads and showing durability that could last nearly twice as long as cheaper alternatives, though it lagged behind competitors like Continental, Kleber, and Pirelli on continuous snow.

For the 225/40 R18 size, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3 was rated as 'very good,' performing well across snow, wet, and dry surfaces.

Comparative data indicates that while all-season tires like the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 or Continental AllSeasonContact 2 can nearly match mid-range winter tires on packed snow, dedicated winter tires such as the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 or Continental WinterContact TS870 still provide superior braking and traction on pure ice and deep snow. All-season tires tend to be more effective in conditions involving wet asphalt and temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, whereas specialized winter tires may have longer braking distances on dry or slightly damp asphalt at higher temperatures due to their softer compounds.