Every autumn the Touring Club Schweiz (TCS) publishes one of the most closely watched tyre tests in Europe. For 2026 its Test and Technology team tested 32 winter tyres in two popular sizes and scored them on 19 criteria. The results are clear: a handful of premium tyres stand out, while several cheaper models performed so badly in the wet or on snow that the TCS advises against buying them at all.
The full results are published in German and French, so this guide explains them in plain English. We also show how to find the top-rated tyres at Reifendirekt.ch, the Swiss online tyre shop that lists TCS, ADAC and ÖAMTC test verdicts on its product pages.
Find Winter Tyres at Reifendirekt
In this guide
- How the TCS Tested the Tyres
- The Top-Rated Tyres at a Glance
- Continental WinterContact TS 870: Winner for Small Cars
- Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3: Winner for Mid-Size Cars
- Michelin Alpin 7: Consistent in Both Sizes
- Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3: Built to Last
- The Tyres the TCS Says to Avoid
- How to Order the Winners at Reifendirekt
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
How the TCS Tested the Tyres
The TCS tested 16 tyres in size 185/65 R15, used on small cars such as the VW Polo, Renault Clio, Skoda Fabia and Toyota Yaris, and 16 in size 225/50 R17, used on the Audi A4, Skoda Octavia, Peugeot 3008 and several BMW and Mercedes models. The test cars were a Skoda Fabia and an Audi A4 Avant. Driving safety on dry, wet and wintry roads counts for 70% of the final score, and an environmental score covering wear, tyre abrasion, efficiency, noise and sustainability counts for 30%.
The Top-Rated Tyres at a Glance
These are the tyres the TCS rated very recommended (four stars) in 2026, with their overall scores.
| Tyre | Test size | TCS overall score | Rating | Stand-out strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental WinterContact TS 870 | 185/65 R15 | 66% (1st) | Very recommended | Best driving safety in its size |
| Michelin Alpin 7 | 185/65 R15 | 60% (2nd) | Very recommended | Good on dry, wet and winter roads |
| Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 | 225/50 R17 | 66% (1st) | Very recommended | Best wet grip and driving safety |
| Continental WinterContact TS 870 | 225/50 R17 | 64% (2nd) | Very recommended | Balanced, top sustainability score |
| Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 | 225/50 R17 | 62% (3rd) | Very recommended | Very good wear rating |
| Michelin Alpin 7 | 225/50 R17 | 60% (4th) | Very recommended | Strongest winter score of the top four |
Continental WinterContact TS 870: Winner for Small Cars
Continental’s WinterContact TS 870 is the tyre in our main picture, and it was rated very recommended in both test sizes. In 185/65 R15 it won outright with 66% and the best driving safety score in the test, 70%. It scored 74% on wet roads and 64% on wintry roads, and Continental says the TCS praised its precise steering on dry roads and its strong aquaplaning results. In 225/50 R17 it came second with 64%, stopping from 80 km/h on wet tarmac in 34.7 metres, the joint-best result in that size. Check TS 870 sizes at Reifendirekt.
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3: Winner for Mid-Size Cars
In the larger 225/50 R17 size, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 took first place with 66%. It earned the best driving safety score in that size, 68%, and the best wet-road score of the whole group, 76%. The TCS describes it as a very balanced tyre that is also good on efficiency and wear. Pirelli designed it for saloons and crossovers, with a V-shaped tread and what it calls Snow Keeper technology, which holds snow in the grooves for better grip on fresh snow.
Compare Top-Rated Winter Tyres
Michelin Alpin 7: Consistent in Both Sizes
Michelin’s Alpin 7 was rated very recommended in both sizes, finishing second in 185/65 R15 with 60% and fourth in 225/50 R17, also with 60%. In the larger size it scored 76% on wintry roads, the best winter result among the four leaders. Michelin says the Alpin 7 brakes and accelerates better on snow than its predecessor, the Alpin 6, and has a directional tread that reveals extra grooves as it wears.
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3: Built to Last
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 came third in 225/50 R17 with 62%. Its big strength is wear: it scored 82% for durability, far ahead of the two winners, and the TCS also noted good results on dry and wet roads, efficiency and tyre abrasion. If you drive a lot of kilometres each winter, that longevity is worth considering. In the smaller size it was rated recommended (three stars).
The Tyres the TCS Says to Avoid
The gaps in this test are large. In 185/65 R15, a car on the Bridgestone Blizzak LM 005 stopped from 80 km/h on wet tarmac in 33.5 metres, while the same car on the Rockblade Rock 868S needed 51.4 metres. Where the Bridgestone had already stopped, the Rockblade was still travelling at about 47 km/h. The TCS rated the Sunny Winter-max NW611, Atlas Polarbear HP and Rockblade Rock 868S not recommended. In 225/50 R17 it advises against six tyres: the Falken Eurowinter HS02 Pro, Toyo Observe EWS1, Tracmax Ice-Plus S210, Aptany RW211, Royal Black Royalwinter UHP and Sunwide Snowide, mainly because of poor driving safety.
How to Order the Winners at Reifendirekt
- Enter your tyre size from the sidewall of your current tyres, or search by your car model.
- Choose winter tyres and look for the snowflake symbol (3PMSF), which shows a tyre has passed a winter test.
- Open a product page to see its test verdicts from the TCS, ADAC and ÖAMTC, plus customer reviews.
- Compare prices, which are shown per tyre and include Swiss VAT and delivery within Switzerland. Delivery is free from two tyres.
Reifendirekt reminds drivers that the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm, but experts recommend at least 4 mm for winter tyres. If your current set is close to that, now is a good time to replace it. Start your tyre search at Reifendirekt.ch.
Conclusion
For small cars, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 is the clear TCS winner, with the Michelin Alpin 7 a strong alternative. For mid-size cars, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 leads, followed closely by Continental, Goodyear and Michelin. Whatever you drive, the test shows that a cheap tyre can cost you many metres of braking distance, so it pays to choose a top-rated model.
Shop Winter Tyres at Reifendirekt
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tyre won the TCS winter tyre test 2026?
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 won in 185/65 R15 and the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 won in 225/50 R17, both with 66%.
Are winter tyres compulsory in Switzerland?
There are no fixed dates, but your car must be fit for the conditions. Reifendirekt recommends tyres with the snowflake symbol for snow, ice and slush.
Does Reifendirekt deliver for free?
Prices include Swiss VAT and delivery within Switzerland, and delivery is free when you order two or more tyres.
