3. Nokian Weatherproof

“As you’d expect from a Finnish brand, it’s very strong on snow”

IT’S another podium finish for this former champion. As you might expect from a Finnish brand, the Nokian proved strong on snow; both it and outgoing champ Goodyear had a clear margin over rivals.

The Nokian was the star of the test for handling in the snow, with a great balance and strong traction.

Nothing could touch the Nokian in the deep-water assessments. In the curved aquaplaning test it was well ahead of even the Hankook in second.

It worked less well in the shallower water, and the balance it showed on the snow proved more difficult to find. It turned in sharply but grip bled away as the lock increased.

In wet braking it fared worst in the higher temperatures, where it needed more than three metres longer to stop than the second-placed Nexen and six metres more than the Michelin.

However, the Weatherproof was by far the most frugal tyre here.