ADAC 15-inch winter tyre test — 2026
ADAC tyre tests are considered among the most authoritative in the industry and are known for their strict criteria, which was fully demonstrated in the latest test comparing winter tyres in the size185/65 R15for compact cars. The test included 16 models, and only two tyres received a "Good" rating, while another five were rated "Adequate". All others received either a "Mediocre" or "Poor" rating, meaning they cannot be recommended for purchase. ADAC concluded that these disappointing results are due to the fact that smaller-sized tyres do not receive the same level of development attention as larger-diameter tyres. For example,Bridgestonedoes not offer its latest winter model in the size selected for testing, but only its predecessor. In addition, there are significant issues with performance characteristics: approximately every third tyre showed defects affecting safety during tests on dry surfaces.
List of participants:
Continental WinterContact TS 870
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
The snow tests were conducted at the UTAC test track in Finland, and the shortest braking distance was achieved by the tyresBarum, which managed to slightly outperformGoodyear, whereas poor results were demonstrated byLinglongandAtlas.
Barum also have excellent traction on snow-covered surfaces, although in this discipline they were inferior toRockblade. At the same time, Linglong lagged hopelessly behind all other test participants.
On ice, the Rockblade stop the car the fastest, while Linglong again show poor results, but Goodyear perform even worse in their tasks.
In the wet braking performance test (one of the key criteria for European-type winter tyres), the results varied significantly. The residual speed of the vehicle on the Rockblade when decelerating from 80 km/h was 47 km/h compared to the Bridgestone, and ADAC notes that an accident in such a situation would have serious consequences.
The braking distance on wet concrete was also measured, and the leaders and outsiders remained the same here.
Rockblade also stood out in the straight aquaplaning resistance test, as they withstand speeds 30 km/h lower than the best tyre when driving through a deep water layer, which is a completely unsatisfactory result. In addition, during cornering aquaplaning resistance tests, Rockblade tyres received the lowest possible rating.
On dry surfaces, Linglong and Kumho demonstrated the best braking performance, while Barum and tires took the last positions.Viking.
The most durable tyres, according to the test results, wereKumho, whereas the Bridgestone's tread life is almost half.
ADAC also measures how much rubber a tyre loses with each kilometre, as the volume of micro-particles released into the air is important; Atlas tyres were rated best in this regard, while Bridgestone performed worst.
The weight of the tires is also an environmentally significant factor, as it affects fuel consumption, so this factor was taken into account as well. The lightest tires wereContinental, Goodyear andNokian, while Linglong took a place at the end of the list.
To assess tyre fuel efficiency, fuel consumption was measured at 100 km/h, with Barum and Atlas sharing first place, while Linglong again performed the worst.
Barum tires are not only energy-efficient but also quiet, while Bridgestone and Kumho were the loudest in the test conducted according to ISO standards.
Although the overall test results were described as "unsatisfactory," the performance of the Continental WinterContact TS 870 shows that owners of small cars can still choose genuinely high-quality winter tires that provide the necessary level of safety in all conditions.
The "Good" rating was also awarded to the tyresMichelinAlpin 7, which, although slightly inferior to Continental in various disciplines, were recognized as recommended due to their good balance of driving characteristics on different types of surfaces.
The podium also included Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 tires, which performed well in wet surface tests and winter conditions, with their main drawback being increased noise.
That Hankook competes on equal footing with premium products is becoming routine, but Linglong Sport Master Winter sharing third place is quite a sensation—most likely, this is the first tyre from a Chinese brand to win a bronze in any ADAC test category. While the tyres don't boast outstanding handling characteristics, their effective braking performance in all conditions was sufficient to secure a high final rating.
Tyres rated "Satisfactory" can be recommended, but only with certain reservations and exclusively to drivers who clearly understand their requirements and are willing to accept some drawbacks. For instance, those living in rainy regions would be well suited withHankookWinter i*cept RS3,OptimoWinter Touring OW41 and Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, whereas the Linglong Sport Master Winter performed better in tests on dry surfaces, where others faced difficultiesGT RadialWinterPro2 Evo.
The other tires have more significant weaknesses. For example, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 performed excellently on wet surfaces, but handling on dry pavement was difficult, and on snow the tires showed low grip levels—so low that while a vehicle on other tires could make an emergency maneuver to avoid an obstacle, a vehicle on Bridgestone tires would most likely continue moving straight ahead. In turn, the Nokian Snowproof 2,VredesteinWintrac, Barum Polaris 6, Kumho WinterCraft WP52+, and Viking WinTech NewGen perform excellently on snow, but showed weak results on dry asphalt, while the representatives of Asian exoticsSunnyThe Winter-max NW611 and Rockblade Rock 868S, along with the Atlas Polarbear HP, are also effective on snow-covered and icy surfaces, but they dangerously increase braking distance on wet roads, indicating an imbalance in their performance characteristics.
