Winter is coming fast and you still haven’t decided which model to choose for your winter tyres? See the results of tests organised by ADAC for 195/65 R15 size tyres and choose the optimal model for your car. Read our article and stop worrying about winter!
There are many winter tyres available on the market too. Every year, manufacturers are trying to meet the needs of drivers and supply more and more technologically advanced models. 195/65 R15 is one of the most popular tyre sizes among drivers visiting our website. The popularity of this size persuaded ADAC to include it in this year's winter tyres test.
As winter approaches, many drivers start thinking about which tyres to put on their car.
Check out the 195/65 R15 size tyres!
What are ADAC tests?
ADAC is one of the world's largest automotive associations. Its activities are focused on examination of road traffic components crucial for drivers, e.g., tunnel capacities, safety of car components, child seats, navigation systems etc. The organisation has almost 17 million official members.
ADAC has almost 17 million members.
ADAC tests check the quality of workmanship and factors affecting the safety of individual models introduced onto the market every season by global corporations. The following elements are tested: fuel efficiency, wear resistance, driving comfort and tyre behaviour on dry, wet, icy and snow-covered roads.
In each category, the tyre may obtain a grade from 1 to 5 (highly recommended, recommended, satisfactory, sufficient, not recommended). Grades obtained in individual areas are summarised and presented as a consistent, reliable evaluation.
Size 195/65 R15. Is it for me?
The choice of the tyre is extremely important. Information about the correct size of tyres is always presented in the manual of the car or on its fuel filler flap. If you already have a set of summer tyres, the size information is shown on the side of each tyre.
Winter tyres are exposed to significant challenges.
195/65 R15 size is extremely popular, especially in the segment of passenger cars with higher engine power. Tyres of this size are often installed on vehicles such as:
- Škoda Octavia II
- Opel Vectra C
- BMW 3
- Audi A4
- Volkswagen Passat
- Volvo V40
- Hyundai i30
- Mercedes C
If you are not sure what size you need, then feel free to use our selection guide.
16 of the best
For this winter, ADAC checked 16 195/65 R15 size winter models provided by different, well-known manufacturers. The tested products were both leaders in the premium market, as well as young aspiring brands. It is worth remembering that not all new models are included in the results. For example, products from Pirelli and Bridgestone could not take part in all tests, as they were not et available on the market at the time of the tests.
ADAC tests are considered by many drivers as the most reliable.
195/65 R15 size tyres, included in this year's ADAC list:
Outside competition
ADAC tests are considered not only as the most prestigious, but also extremely demanding. They check the suitability of tyres in different weather conditions, analysing every detail of their operation. In tests for 195/65 R15 size winter tyres, only three models were rated as ‘good’, confirming the extremely high quality of tested products, they included:
Continental WinterContact TS860
a new model from the leading German tyre manufacturer could not pass unnoticed. Continental is one of the most popular and recognisable tyre companies in the world. Their tyres are distinguished by excellent quality and innovative solutions. It is also the case with the TS860. The tyre was graded as ‘good’ in 5 out of 6 analysed categories and obtained a lower, ‘satisfactory’ grade only in the comfort category.
Buy Continental WinterContact TS860
Esa+ Tecar Super Grip 9
the latest model from the Tecar International group took second place. Many drivers may be surprised by the fact that this tyre was ahead of products offered by well-known companies, such as Michelin, Goodyear and Dunlop. It was only slightly below the winner in categories related to behaviour on different road surfaces.
Kleber Krisalp HP3
a French company with more than a 100 year presence on the market. Their safety and adaptability to weather conditions is appreciated by many drivers. Krisalp HP3 continues a great tradition started in France. The tyre obtained results similar to other awarded models, receiving only slightly lower grades in terms of behaviour on icy and wet roads.
Buy Kleber Krisalp HP3
Fierce battle for the remaining positions
This year's ADAC test results showed that the fight for customers on the tyre market is really ferocious. As many as 11 tyre models were graded ‘satisfactory’, confirming their good performance and reliability of the product. The differences between individual positions were very small The range of products with graded ‘satisfactory’ was between 2.6 and 3.3. The Winter Response 2 from Dunlop didn’t quite make the podium.
Buy Dunlop Winter Response 2
The ranking also includes products from other premium companies. Some of models that were graded ‘satisfactory’ include the Vredestein Snowtrac 5, Nokian WR D4, Michelin Alpin 5 and the Goodyear UltraGrip 9. The lowest rating in this assessment was granted to Eskimo S3+, a tyre supplied by Slovenian company, Sava.
Are you looking for a specific performance parameters? See which tyres were the highest graded in individual categories:
| Dry road: | Yokohama W.drive V905 (note 1,7) |
| Wet road: | Continental WinterContact TS860 (note 1,8) Goodyear UltraGrip 9 (note 1,9) |
| Snow-covered road: | Nokian WR D4 (note 1,7) Continental WinterContact TS860 (note1,9) Sava Eskimo S3+ (note 1,9) |
| Icy road: | Esa+Tecar Super Grip 9 (note 2,1) Komfort i Hałas Semperit Master-Grip 2 (note 3,0) Goodyear UltraGrip 9 (note 3,1) Dunlop Winter Response 2 (note 3,2) |
| Comfort and Noise: | Semperit Master-Grip 2 (note 3,0) Goodyear UltraGrip 9 (note 3,1) Dunlop Winter Response 2 (note 3,2) |
| Fuel efficiency | Esa+Tecar Super Grip 9 (note 1,7) Dunlop Winter Response 2 (note 1,8) Firestone Winterhawk 3 (note 1,8) |
| Durability | Michelin Alpin 5 (note 1,5) |
Check results of previous ADAC test for 195/65 R15 size tyres!
Selecting winter tyres may be complicated. Let us help you!
The upcoming winter should make you think about replacing your summer tyre with winter models? Choosing the right tyres may be quite a challenge. Follow a few simple steps that we listed for you and the selection process will be much simpler:
Check the size – the first step you need to take is to check the size of tyres on your car. If you use summer tyres, then check the size on tyre sidewall. It uses a sequence of numbers and letters, e.g., 195/65 R15. Manufacturer information about the proper tyre size may often be found in the vehicle door area, on the fuel filler flap or in the user manual.
Think, how many tyres you need – If you have an efficient set of winter tyres in your garage or basement and only one or two tyres are worn, you don't have to buy a whole set. However, you must remember that identical tyres have to be installed across the same axle. The best performance is achieved with the same tyre model on each wheel.
Verify your needs – are you an urban driver, who spends most of the time driving on well-maintained roads? Or maybe you often drive off-road? Do you prefer dynamic or economical driving? Before buying tyres, consider your expectations. Diversified offers allow you to choose from models tailored to each driving style.
Specify your budget – one of the most important considerations when buying tyres. You should also think about the class of the tyre. Basically, there are three basic classes:
- premium – top performance, advanced technology, but also a higher price,
- medium – good value for money,
- economic – the lowest prices, good performance based on slightly older technologies.
The class should be chosen, not only according to your requirements, but also to your needs (preferred driving style, annual mileage, parameters of your car, etc.)
Select tyre elements for your needs – when choosing a tyre model, remember that different treads have different features and some of them perform better in certain situations than others. On passenger cars, there are three basic types of tread:
- asymmetrical – consisting of two independent parts suitable for different road conditions,
- symmetrical – stable performance on different surfaces,
- directional – the tread is V-shaped and is quite good in water and mud removal.
Asymmetric treads are considered to be more comfortable and economical, while directional treads seem to perform better in heavy rain.
If, after going through all the steps, you are still unsure what tyres you should buy, then contact our specialists who will help you choose the best model for your needs!