| Test Summary | |
| Wet Braking | Continental Sport Contact 5 Dunlop SportMaxx RT |
| Dry Braking | Michelin Primacy 3 Pirelli Cinturato P 7 Ecoimpact Continental Sport Contact 5 Bridgestone Turanza T001 Dunlop SportMaxx RT Hankook Ventus Prime2 |
| Rolling Resistance | Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance |
| Noise | Michelin Primacy 3 Apollo Aspire 4G Fulda SportControl |
| Snow Braking | Michelin Primacy 3 |
| Snow Handling | Nexen N Fera SU1 Atlas Sport Green |
Following on from yesterdays 50 tire shootout, Auto Bild have tested the top 15 tires more thoroughly, putting them through the usual mix of wet, dry, wear and NVH tests in 225/50 R17 on a BMW 320i Touring.
The Premiums
This test had a slightly strange mix of tires on show from the premium manufacturers. Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear and Dunlop provided their premium touring tires, whereas Continental and Dunlop provided their ultra high performance summer tires.
With the test weighted towards wet performance and price per mile, Michelin got the balance spot on with the Michelin Primacy 3 thanks to its excellent all round performance combined with exceptionally low wear. Pirelli scored a strong second with their updated P7 Cinturato, the Eco Impact, and Continental rounded out the top three with the Sport Contact 5 having another strong all round performance.
Surprisingly, Goodyear were beaten to fourth position by Fulda, who are owned by Goodyear and considered a sub brand, thanks to the SportControls excellent value for money, while the sister tire from Dunlop had to settle for 13th place thanks to very high wear - it scored strongly in all other tests.
Bridgestone finished the test second to last, again thanks to high wear, which is unusual for a Bridgestone tire.
The Rest
As mentioned Fulda had a very strong showing to finish fourth - while it only scored joint highest in the comfort test, an all round strong performance coupled with a low price earned its excellent finish. Sava, another Goodyear Dunlop brand finished in sixth, showing there are some very promising mid range brands out there if you're not overly interested in dynamic qualities, which this test largely ignored.
A couple of new brands took seventh and ninth place, sandwiching the established Kumho in eighth. Nexen and Hankook finished the tenth and twelfth, leaving this round of the Korean battle won by Kumho.
The Results
1st: Michelin Primacy 3 | |
| The Michelins performed flawlessly, with sharp dynamic handling, low fuel consumption and the best wear, meaning the price per mile was class leading. An all round briliant tire None Read Reviews Buy from £127.42 |
2nd: Pirelli Cinturato P 7 Ecoimpact | |
| The Pirelli is a very balanced summer tire with excellent braking on wet and dry roads, precise steering response, and low wear Aquaplaning Read Reviews |
3rd: Continental Sport Contact 5 | |
| Excellent driving performance in wet and dry conditions, short wet and dry braking, good wear, low rolling resistance Expensive Read Reviews Buy from £119.11 |
4th: Fulda SportControl | |
| Good safety reserves with aquaplaning, well-balanced handling in wet and dry conditions, good value for money Increased fuel consumption Read Reviews |
5th: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance | |
| Safe handling qualities and short braking distances on dry roads, good wear, lowest fuel consumption Slightly noisy Read Reviews Buy from £116.16 |
6th: Sava intensa uhp | |
| Stable driving on a wet track, good aquaplaning properties, short dry braking distances Slow steering response, increased rolling resistance Read Reviews |
7th: Atlas Sport Green | |
| Good safety reserves with aquaplaning, short dry braking distances, low pass-by noise, best price-performance ratio Average handling / steering feel, only moderate comfort Read Reviews |
8th: Kumho Ecsta KU39 | |
| Good aquaplaning results, short braking distances on dry roads, quiet pass-by noise, good value for money Poor mileage, slow steering response Read Reviews |
9th: Point S Summerstar Sport 2 | |
| Short braking distances on wet and dry roads, quiet pass-by noise Average handling in the wet Read Reviews |
10th: Nexen N Fera SU1 | |
| Quiet pass-by noise, good price-performance ratio, good economy Average handling and grip on dry and wet roads Read Reviews Buy from £99.28 |
11th: General Altimax UHP | |
| Short braking distances on both wet and dry conditions, low pass-by noise, low price Poor dry handling and braking Read Reviews |
12th: Hankook Ventus Prime2 | |
| Convincing handling qualities on wet and dry roads, pleasant ride comfort Very high wear, high cost considering performance Read Reviews |
13th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT | |
| Sporty handling qualities, good safety margins when aquaplaning, short braking distances Very high wear, high price, cost-effectiveness is restricted Read Reviews Buy from £128.74 |
14th: Bridgestone Turanza T001 | |
| Good performance on a wet track, good safety reserves to aquaplaning Very high wear, high price, restricted economy Read Reviews Buy from £129.19 |
15th: Apollo Aspire 4G | |
| Balanced safe driving characteristics, short braking distances, good comfort Significantly increased rolling resistance Read Reviews |
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