The Premiums
The Continental PremiumContact 5 was both the overall test winner and also the "eco" winner. While the third placed Michelin Energy Saver+ shared many of the test-winning characteristics of the Conti, the surprise was that Michelin's usual strength of a low wear rate was actually bettered by the CPC5. A high wear rate has historically been a weakness for the German brand in user reviews, but in this test it was Goodyear that came last for wear, with stablemate Dunlop also languishing near the bottom for that category. Test-leading low rolling resistance from the EfficientGrip Performance and Sport BluResponse do mean some of that expense is recovered at the pump, but it didn't help the Goodyear's overall poor ranking of 11th - the lowest of the Premium brands. The Bridgestone Turanza T001 meanwhile struggled with both longevity and economy as well as for noise, while the Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde's good handling performance was let down by a high rolling resistance.
The Rest
The rise of the mid-range brands (and likewise poor performance of some premiums) may seem a surprise in isolation, but it is actually becoming a growing trend in group tests. Hankook, Nexen and Vredestein all received the top "exemplary" rating, with the Hankook Kinergy Eco K425 coming a highly creditable second overall. The Nexen N'blue HD Plus and Vredestein Sportrac 5 completed the top five. All three makes showed very well rounded driving performance and safety characteristics.
What was a surprise was the two Chinese "no-name" brands of Zeetex and Roadstone making it into the Top 18 final test. Costing around a hundred Euros less per set than the test-winning Continental, the two budget tires weren't without their weaknesses - The ZT 1000 with low wet grip and resistance to aquaplaning as well as poor wear, and the CP 661 with poor wet and dry handling, long dry braking and also high wear - but both were there on merit and the Zeetex even earned a "satisfactory" rating. Both also finished ahead of the straggling Uniroyal. The RainExpert's directional tread pattern meant it aced the straight-aquaplaning test but struggled with understeer and braking in the dry. It also suffered from a high wear rate and high rolling resistance. All this meant parent brand Continental had the dubious honour of coming both first and last in the test.
As usual, the overall places are ranked as per Auto Bild's weighting, and this may differ from our own unweighted 'total' score.
The Results
1st: Continental Premium Contact 5 | |
| Best premium tire without faults. Good steering precision,
good margin against aquaplaning, short wet and dry braking, best wear. Price. Read Reviews |
2nd: Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco | |
| Top performance in both wet and dry conditions. Stable
cornering and short braking distances in the wet. Very good ride
comfort and low rolling resistance. Slightly delayed turn-in. Read Reviews Buy from £104.99 |
3rd: Michelin Energy Saver+ | |
| Premium energy saving tire, with balanced wet and dry
handling qualities, low wear and low rolling resistance. Comparatively high cost. Read Reviews |
4th: Nexen N Blue HD+ | |
| Well balanced and low-cost eco tires with safe handling
qualities in both wet and dry as well as short braking distances. Low
noise. Only average wear. Read Reviews Buy from £65.30 |
5th: Vredestein Sportrac 5 | |
| Dry specialist with best handling qualities and good
steering precision. Stable
characteristics in the wet. Short wet and dry braking, good value for money. Slightly increased rolling resistance. Read Reviews |
6th: Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde | |
| Premium tire with balanced safe handling qualities in all
weather conditions. Stable cornering in the wet, good aquaplaning
reserves, low wear rate. Significantly increased rolling resistance. Read Reviews Buy from £72.97 |
7th: Dunlop Sport BluResponse | |
| Dynamic, sporty handling qualities in both wet and dry.
Precise steering behaviour
with good feedback. Short wet and dry braking. High wear, high price. Read Reviews Buy from £75.14 |
8th: Bridgestone Turanza T001 | |
| Wet specialist with best dynamic handling qualities. Best
for curved aquaplaning.
Good comfort. Increased rolling resistance, wear rate only satisfactory. Read Reviews |
9th: Falken ZIEX ZE914 EcoRun | |
| Balanced safe handling characteristics in both wet and dry.
Short dry braking distances, good value for money. Poor in curved aquaplaning, moderate comfort. Read Reviews |
10th: Fulda EcoControl HP | |
| Harmonious safe driving in wet and dry. Quick response and
precise steering in the dry. Moderate value for money with high wear and high rolling resistance. Read Reviews |
11th: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance | |
| Dynamic wet handling behaviour with good precision. Short
braking distances in both wet and dry. Lowest rolling resistance. Significantly limited tread life, high price. Read Reviews Buy from £72.22 |
12th: Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27 | |
| Balanced handling characteristics in both wet and dry. Low
rolling resistance,
good value for money. Slightly longer wet braking distances, worst against curve
aquaplaning. Read Reviews |
13th: Sava intensa hp | |
| Good security reserves against aquaplaning, safe driving behaviour and
good response in the wet. Best value for money. Tendency to understeer in the dry, increased rolling resistance. Read Reviews |
14th: Zeetex ZT1000 | |
| Quiet and with a pleasant ride comfort. Low rolling
resistance and price. Poor wet handling, increased wear and limited curved aquaplaning. Read Reviews |
15th: Apollo Alnac 4g | |
| Good aquaplaning properties, stable cornering in the wet and dry. Delayed steering response and longer braking distances in
the wet. Moderate comfort, high wear. Read Reviews |
16th: Yokohama BluEarth AE01 | |
| Safe dry handling, low rolling resistance. Understeer and long braking in the wet. Moderate comfort.
Read Reviews |
17th: Roadstone CP661 Classe Premiere | |
| Good aquaplaning properties, quiet, low price. Understeer in both wet and dry. Long dry braking distances.
Increased wear. Read Reviews |
18th: Uniroyal RainExpert | |
| Good security reserves against aquaplaning, balanced wet handling. Understeer and longer braking distances in the dry. Poor
wear, high rolling resistance.
Read Reviews |
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