Each autumn, drivers across temperate climates face a quiet but consequential question: how much performance are they willing to trade for convenience? Auto Motor und Sport's 2026 evaluation of nine all-season tyres, conducted on a Hyundai i20 in the 195/55 R16 size, offers a measured answer — one where Continental's AllSeasonContact 2 leads a field of capable but inherently compromised performers. The test affirms an enduring truth of engineering: a tool designed to serve two masters will always bow to physics, and the wisdom lies not in denying the trade-off, but in understanding when it is
Continental AllSeasonContact 2 tops AMS all-season tyre test; all nine models rated 'good' or better
All-season tyres remain a compromise between winter safety and summer performance.
Mark
So Continental won this test with 8.7 out of 10. That sounds like a strong score. Why didn't it hit "outstanding"?
Mimi
Because no tyre in the test did. The tester explained it pretty clearly—all-season tyres are built on a physical compromise. They can get close to winter tyre performance in snow, but that same design can't match summer tyre grip on dry roads. It's not a failure of engineering; it's the nature of the category.
Luke
Right, but I want to flag something: the test didn't include dedicated summer or winter tyres as controls. So we're not actually seeing the gap measured side-by-side. We're hearing the tester's assessment that the gap exists, which is probably true, but the numbers aren't in the test itself.
Mimi
That's a fair point. The tester is working from experience and the physics of tyre design, not from a direct comparison in this particular evaluation.
Mark
The Continental won on balance, then. What were its actual weaknesses?
Mimi
Two things. Aquaplaning reserves—meaning how much water it can push aside before losing grip—came up slightly short. And when you really pushed it hard in corners, there was some lateral rubbing. Minor issues in the context of the overall package, but they were there.
Luke
And that's worth noting because aquaplaning is a real safety issue. If you're in heavy rain and hydroplaning, that's not a minor thing. The test rated it as a small criticism, but the practical consequence matters.
Mark
What about the tyres that came second and third? Were they close?
Mimi
Vredestein's Quatrac was well-balanced—shortest wet braking distances, good snow handling. Pirelli's Cinturato had the best winter characteristics and aquaplaning resistance. Both had different trade-offs. The Vredestein was dinged for slightly longer dry braking; the Pirelli for longer wet braking and higher rolling resistance.
Luke
So if you're choosing between them, you're picking which weakness you can live with. That's the real story of all-season tyres.
Mark
And the rest of the field?
Mimi
Six more tyres all earned "good" ratings. Nokian came closest to "very good," missing by a tenth of a point. The others had more pronounced weaknesses—some understeered in corners, some had weak wet braking, some were noisier. But none of them failed the test.
Mark
So the takeaway is: all-season tyres work, but you're making a trade-off.
Mimi
Exactly. The tester's advice was practical: if you drive with foresight, avoid severe winter weather, and switch to all-seasons in October, you get wet-weather grip and winter readiness without the hassle of seasonal changes. It's a real option for certain drivers.
The Pulse
- Every tyre in the field cleared the 'good' threshold, yet none could escape the fundamental physics that prevent a single compound from mastering both summer heat and winter snow.
- Continental's AllSeasonContact 2 claimed the top score of 8.7/10, distinguished by its rare balance of snow forgiveness, dry-road confidence, and class-leading wet grip — minor aquaplaning shortfalls notwithstanding.
- The field behind Continental told a story of specialisation within compromise: Vredestein excelled in wet braking, Pirelli dominated winter roads, and Nokian came agonisingly close to 'very good' by a single tenth of a point.
- Weaker performers revealed where all-season design most often fractures — wet braking distances, nervous handling under sudden lane changes, and aquaplaning limits exposed the cost of trying to do everything.
- Tester Thiemo Fleck offered drivers a practical exit from the dilemma: switch in October, drive with foresight, avoid severe conditions, and the compromise becomes workable for the majority of European roads.
Each autumn, drivers across temperate climates face a quiet but consequential question: how much performance are they willing to trade for convenience? Auto Motor und Sport's 2026 evaluation of nine all-season tyres, conducted on a Hyundai i20 in the 195/55 R16 size, offers a measured answer — one where Continental's AllSeasonContact 2 leads a field of capable but inherently compromised performers. The test affirms an enduring truth of engineering: a tool designed to serve two masters will always bow to physics, and the wisdom lies not in denying the trade-off, but in understanding when it is acceptable.
Auto Motor und Sport's latest all-season tyre test, published in issue 20/2026, set nine tyres against each other in the 195/55 R16 size aboard a Hyundai i20. The headline finding was both encouraging and sobering: every candidate earned at least a 'good' rating, yet none reached 'outstanding.' Tester Thiemo Fleck traced this ceiling directly to physics — a tyre engineered for year-round use cannot simultaneously match a dedicated winter tyre on snow and a summer tyre on hot, dry asphalt.
Continental's AllSeasonContact 2 won the test with 8.7 out of 10, praised for its forgiving snow behaviour, strong dry performance, and top-tier wet grip. Rolling resistance was among the lowest in the field. Minor criticisms — slightly limited aquaplaning reserves and some lateral rubbing at cornering limits — were not enough to dim its overall balance. Vredestein's Quatrac finished second, distinguished by the shortest wet braking distances and agile wet-weather steering, though dry braking and damping fell slightly short. Pirelli's Cinturato All Season SF3 took third with the best winter road characteristics and strong aquaplaning resistance, offset by longer wet braking and higher rolling resistance.
The remaining six tyres each earned 'good' ratings with distinct personalities. Nokian's Seasonproof 2 missed 'very good' by a tenth of a point, excelling in winter dynamics and cabin quietness. Bridgestone's Turanza All Season 6 felt almost sporty in dry summer conditions but struggled in snow and wet. Uniroyal's AllSeasonExpert 3 balanced snow handling with comfort but showed nervous rear-end behaviour under sudden lane changes. Hankook's Kinergy 4S² braked safely in snow but was undermined by understeer and weak wet braking. Kleber's Quadraxer 3 was reliable and quiet but felt sluggish through corners. Falken's Euroall Season AS210 closed the field with short dry braking but faced penalties for wet performance and road noise.
Fleck's conclusion was pragmatic rather than dismissive. For drivers in regions with moderate winters who value convenience over peak performance in extreme conditions, the all-season compromise is genuinely workable — particularly for those who plan their switch in October, when wet grip and early-snow readiness matter most.
Auto Motor und Sport, the German automotive publication, has released its latest evaluation of all-season tyres, testing nine models in the 195/55 R16 size using a Hyundai i20. The results, published in issue 20/2026, reveal a field where every competitor cleared the "good" threshold, yet none reached the magazine's "outstanding" designation. The reason is fundamental: all-season tyres, by their nature, cannot match the performance of dedicated winter or summer alternatives on their respective terrains.
Tester Thiemo Fleck explained the physics plainly. While modern all-season designs can approach winter tyre capability in snow, the laws of physics prevent them from simultaneously delivering summer tyre grip on dry pavement. This inherent compromise means that even the strongest performers in the test carry trade-offs that keep them from the top rating.
Continental's AllSeasonContact 2 emerged as the winner, scoring 8.7 out of 10. The tyre impressed across multiple dimensions: it handled snow with a forgiving character, delivered strong dry-road performance, and provided top-tier wet grip. Rolling resistance was low, and energy efficiency ranked among the best in the field. The test did note two minor criticisms—aquaplaning reserves fell slightly short of ideal, and the tyre showed some lateral rubbing when pushed to cornering limits—but these did not overshadow its overall balance.
The second-place finisher, Vredestein's Quatrac, offered a well-balanced package with easily manageable snow dynamics and the shortest braking distances on wet surfaces. Its agile steering response in wet conditions and stable evasive maneuvers were strengths, though testers marked it down for slightly longer dry braking and lower inherent damping. Pirelli's Cinturato All Season SF3 took third place, delivering the best winter road characteristics in the test and excellent resistance to aquaplaning. Its dry braking was among the shortest, but it carried longer wet braking distances, higher rolling resistance, and some minor comfort trade-offs.
The remaining six tyres all earned "good" ratings. Nokian's Seasonproof 2 came closest to the "very good" tier, missing by a tenth of a point. It excelled in winter dynamics, cabin quietness, and aquaplaning protection, though wet braking and cornering grip proved limiting. Bridgestone's Turanza All Season 6 showed near-sporty performance in dry, summer-like conditions with strong ride comfort, but stumbled in snow and wet scenarios. Uniroyal's AllSeasonExpert 3 balanced snow handling with comfort but suffered from longer dry braking and nervous rear-end behavior during quick lane changes. Hankook's Kinergy 4S² delivered safe snow braking but was held back by understeer, higher rolling resistance, and weak wet braking. Kleber's Quadraxer 3 proved reliable in dry and snow braking with quiet operation, yet its cornering felt sluggish and understeering. Falken's Euroall Season AS210 rounded out the field with controllable snow performance and short dry braking, but faced penalties for wet braking, road noise, and aquaplaning limits.
Fleck's conclusion was direct: compared to dedicated summer and winter tyres, all-season models fall short in most respects across snow, ice, and heat. However, he offered a practical path forward for drivers willing to accept these limitations and avoid severe winter weather. Those who drive with foresight and plan to switch to all-season tyres in October gain access to a wide selection of models ready for early snow, while maintaining full tread grip in wet conditions throughout the transitional seasons. The test results suggest that for drivers in regions with moderate winters and those who prioritize convenience over maximum performance in extreme conditions, the compromise is workable.
Notable Quotes
While snow-focused models approach winter tyre performance, physical laws limit their dry road safety.— Thiemo Fleck, Auto Motor und Sport tester
Those who take the resulting limitations into account, drive with foresight, and are willing to forgo driving in severe winter weather should plan to switch to all-season tyres in October.— Thiemo Fleck, Auto Motor und Sport tester
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