Dr. Peter M Grosser

While searching for some objective comparative ratings of snow tires for my 2000 A4 1.8TQS, I stumbled on this web site (see link below) that has uploaded scanned copies of 13 (yes, 13!!) published snow tire comparison tests!! The great news is that the majority of these were done using Audis or VWs (some used BMWs - almost as good, no?), but the bad news is that they are all in German from a variety of German automobile magazines..... But before you all get too dissapointed, while the text might be a bit hard to interpret, I am sure most of you, being of above average intellect (you all own or are planning to own an Audi are you not?), should be able to get a lot of usefull info out of the many graphs and tabulated results. As an aid, I have provided below a translation of some of the technical terminology used.

I myself basically focused on comparing in these reports the Dunlop SP Winter M2, the Pirelli 210 SnowSport, the Michelin Pilot Alpin, and the Blizzak LM-22 (the top 4 northamerica-available contenders in my opinion) in size 205/55-16 H. The tests proved very insightful - but keep in mind that both FWD and RWD cars were used in the tests, that both 195/205 H-rated tires as well as smaller 175/185/195 T/Q-rated tires were tested, and that some tire brands changed models (while the same Dunlop was used in all tests, and for the most part the same Pilot Alpin, the Pirelli changed from the Asymetric to the SnowSport, and the Blizzak was never tested as it is new - the LM-18 was tested (relation to LM-22??) as was the WT-12 and the MZ-01/2).

After pouring over the test reports for 4-5 hours, I have found some very consistent findings, and I think I have come to a conclusion as to my best choice for a snow tire for the A4. I would be very interested to hear what other readers conclude from these reports. I will keep my choice to myself for now so as not to bias others (besides, I am no expert!).

Note: Once at the Web site, click on one of the "winterreifentests" (snow tire tests - the others are summer tire tests) and then on "originalbericht" to link to the actual publication. Thereafter, click on "nachste seite" for next page.

Mini German-English dictionary (let me know if I've omitted any major ones):

aquaplaning=hydroplaning
bedingt=conditionally
besonders=especially
bremsen/bremsweg=braking
eis=ice
empfehlung=recommendation
empfehlenswert=recommended
fahrbahn=road/track
federungskomfort=ride smoothness
geradeaus or langs=straight ahead
(abroll)gerausch=noise level
gewichtung=weighting
handling=duh!
hinterradantrieb=RWD
kreisfahrt=circular track
kurven...=curves
lenkbarkeit/handlichkeit=performance/handling
nasse=wet
notendurchschnitt=average
quer=laterally or cross-wise
reifen=tire
rollwiderstand=rolling resistance
schnee=snow
schwachen=weaknesses
sehr=very
starken=strengths
trocken=drt
verschleiss=wear
vorderradantrieb=FWD
zugkraft=traction

Hope this all of some use!!!<ul><li><a href="http://www.goodyear.de/service/testberichte/index.shtml">http://www.goodyear.de/service/testberichte/index.shtml</a</li></ul>

tbear

I would be pleased to be biased by what you learned in 4 -5 hours of comparison work! Please post your findings, I plan to order snows for my 2.7T this week.

CraigB

...the Dunlops performed the best (...since Good Year owns Dunlop). 8^) For non-biased reports, check out Tire Rack. As for me, I went with the LM-22s. I'm pleased with the dry handling and wet performance so far...now, if we'll just get some snow...<p><a href="http://www.users.uswest.net/~craiger/a4main.htm">
<img SRC="http://www.users.uswest.net/~craiger/cwb_ottosig.jpg" BORDER=0></a>

Dr. Peter M Grosser

Not a word was written on the Goodyear Germany site about the Dunlop Winter Sport M2's. Their entire "propaganda" commentary on each published test centered on the Goodyear Ultra Grip V available in Europe. I believe the Goodyear acquisition of Dunlop is quite recent? and many of these reports date to 1999 and even late 1998, but are still applicable as most of the tires tested, that are currently available here in NA, were available in Europe at that time.

Actually, the most consistently and most highly recommended snow tire was the Continental TS790!!, which, unfortunately, is not available in USA or CANADA (are you listening Continental - their technical customer service rep even denies that it exists - that's scary!). As for the Goodyear Ultra Grip - overall about midway up the pack of 12 or so - not a contender.

As for MY choice .... see other posting!

Dr. Peter M Grosser

Based on my detailed (but non-expert) review of these comparison reports, there were 2 snow tires that frequently came out on top in the 205/195 H-rated tests. It should be considered that the majority of the ratings were based on a weighting of 30% wet + 15% dry + 20% snow + 10% ice performance, with the remaining 25% divided as 10% wear + 10% economy + 5% comfort/noise. Also, the tests were divided pretty much half FWD and half RWD.

The winners were: Continental TS790 & Blizzak LM-18, with the Conti having a dry/wet performance edge and the Blizzak a snow/ice edge. Unfortunately, neither are available here, AND the Blizzak LM-18 LOOKS nothing like the LM-22, so I do not think any inferences can be made (as a note, Bridgestone US tech reps are unaware that the LM-18 exists)!!!

So, where do we go from here??? I had to focus on the tires available in NA

In a nut shell, I based my "meta-analysis" on pure performance numbers, disregarding wear, noise, and economy (rolling reistance). The idea was, choose the best performer as long as the non-performance characteristics of the winner were not way out of line (which they wern't). In the performance category, I crunched the data with a weighting of 40% wet, 30% dry, 20% snow, 10% ice performance. This distribution is roughly what I see on the roads here in a suburban location in Canada (near Ottawa, Ontario). While we get tons of snow, they are ultra-efficient at getting rid of it or melting it with salt, so we really only drive on snow at the height of a storm, with packed snow on residential streets and dry or wet (salted) freeways the rest of the time. I also focused primarily on those tests that used a FWD Audi or VW, and less on those that used the RWD 3-series BMW (I disregarded the Ford Focus study!), and only considered the H-rated comparisons.

The bottom line:

1 = Dunlop SP Winter Sport M2
2 = Pirelli 210 SnowSport
3 = Michelin Pilot Alpin

Based on the data, I clearly believe that the Dunlop offers the best all around combination of wet/dry vs snow/ice performance. The Pirelli seems to give better dry road performance at the expense of snow/ice, while the Michelin is the opposite with better behaviour on snow/ice but a softer less responsive dry/wet character.

Where does the new Blizzak LM-22 fit in?? It has pretty good snow/ice pedigree, but predecessors have been a bit mushy on the freeway. Apparently they have bettered the dry road character in this model, so it is probably an Alpin-type tire, but better. If this is true, then the order would be:

All-around (wet:dry:snow:ice 40:30:20:10 = Suburban?):
1. Dunlop 2. Pirelli 3. Blizzak 4. Michelin

Snow performance oriented (ie. Rural)
1. Blizzak 2. Michelin 3. Dunlop 4. Pirelli

Wet/Dry performance oriented (ie. Urban):
1. Pirelli 2. Dunlop 3. Blizzak 4. Michelin

A recent conversation with Eddy at TireRack pretty much supported this conclusion, but it certainly isn't gospel!!! Remeber, it is only based on my interpretation of the data, and I interpreted the numbers along the lines of the type of driving I most frequently encounter during the winter and the snow tire characteristics I consider most important!

Comments always welcome!!!

Reggie

Thanks for the info - greatly appreciated.

RKA

I'm too busy (lazy) to use your German to English dictionary! That was exactly the kind of information I was looking for.

WClark

I picked up a new set of the LM-22 for my '01 A4.

I also have a set of the previous Blizzak model in the same size (205/55x16) that my wife has used since 1997 on her GSX. I am not sure of the exact model designation. They are lightly worn despite the age because my wifes driving is limited to about 10 miles per day on relatively slow speed roads. We usually have the winter tires mounted from Dec 1 to April 1.

Neither tire is on the road right now and probably wont be until November'ish. You can make your own guesses on the effects of the changes I can see. Visual observations:

LM-22 is a directional tread design.

LM-22 feels like it uses a harder rubber compound but only slightly.

Blocks are a little larger on the LM-22. Spacing between blocks similar.

The cuts in each tire block (sort of like the slices in a Sperry Topsider) are similar.


I bought the LM-22 largely based on the excellent performance of the previous model on her GSX and the claimed improvements in high speed dry road performance. I commute about 70 miles a day...<p>2001 A4 1.8TQMS
http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=4960

Eddie@Tirerack

One thing to bear in mind is that many of the selections are based on driving conditions found in German high speed Autobahn style driving conditions which can be far different than what a lot of people will see here, so tires for European driving conditions are formulated differently then they will be for the US market, which is why the Blizzak LM18 is not offered here, etc.

Nice homework, however, but for tire comparisions of tires available here, that is why we take time to do our own driving & in house testingon the tires every year, so I get a chance to drive them all side by side to see first hand what the differences are (sometimes very subtle, sometimes not)

As always call me to discuss further- 800.428.8355, ext 369

Thanks!
Eddie<p>Call me direct to order, or list "Eddie 369" as your previous contact if you order online so I can track it for you!
<A HREF="http://www.tirerack.com" target="_blank">
<IMG SRC="http://www.e46fanatics.com/eddie/audi.jpg" border="0"></A>

Dr. Peter M Grosser

When does TireRack expect this year's snow tire testing results to be available?