The annual winter tyre test conducted by ADAC can be a great guide to the best models available on the market. The German automobile club conducts a number of road safety activities, of which the reliable and independent tyre tests are the most popular and much appreciated by drivers. The ADAC test methodology is transparent and characterised by a high degree of objectivity. The organisation selects a dozen or so models on the basis of the current market situation, buys them in a publicly accessible place and then tests them. The ADAC looks at them in terms of eight parameters: performance on dry surfaces, performance on wet surfaces, performance on snowy surfaces, performance on icy surfaces, noise, fuel consumption and durability. In each category, scores are awarded on a scale of 1 to 5. The highest-scoring model becomes the best winter tyre in the test.
The ADAC winter tyre test, just like its summer counterpart, is carried out every year in two sizes. These are always the sizes popular with drivers in Europe. One is fitted on small city cars, the other on larger ones - SUVs and vans. The size distinction gives drivers a better idea of whether a particular tyre model will work well in their vehicle.
It is not only the winner of a particular test that is noteworthy. The ADAC results over several years create a kind of ranking of winter tyres in a particular size for drivers. The models that performed well in the German automobile club's tests guarantee solid performance in all aspects important for winter driving. This is because, in order to receive a positive recommendation in the ADAC winter test, a tyre must show good marks in each of the parameters tested. Comprehensive performance is a guarantee of safety on the road.
The ADAC winter tyre tests are also a great guide to tyre choice for drivers who are not familiar with the market. A recommendation from an independent organisation is a guarantee of a safe choice.
Winter tyre tests are also a great indicator for drivers who are not familiar with the market.