For the 2019 summer season Auto Zeitung have tested nine 235/45 R18 summer tires, and included the summer-bias all season Michelin CrossClimate.

The stand out performances go to the new Continental Premium Contact 6 and Michelin Primacy 4, both showing extremely well balanced test results, and also the new Maxxis Premitra HP5. The quality of Maxxis tires has quietly improving quickly over the past 12 months, and it's great to see the Premitra HP5 prove it's excellent price / performance ratio.

It's also worth noting, which the Michelin CrossClimate only finished seventh place overall, this is the only tire on test which has any sort of ability in the snow. The trade for snow performance is often dry grip, but the CrossClimate held its own in a full summer tire test, which makes it unique amongst all season tires.

Dry

The dry testing was led by the top three tires overall, with the Continental, Michelin Primacy 4 and Maxxis trading places in the dry braking and dry handling testing. The Nankang AS1 was last in both tests.

Wet

The Michelin CrossClimate had a surprise advantage during wet braking, but couldn't match the performance during the wet handling lap. The Continental Premium Contact 6 was the best of the summer tires, with the Maxxis, Yokohama and Bridgestone all having excellent results. The Nankang AS1 was again last.

The Kumho was the best tire for straight aquaplaning resistance.

Environment

The Michelin Primacy 4 had an extremely low rolling resistance, while the Continental's only weakness was highlighted.

The Maxxis was the quietest tire on test, with a 1dB margin over the next best.

The cheapest set of tires on test, the Nankang AS1, were almost a third of the price of the most expensive.

Results

As always, you can see the full results on the Auto Zeitung website.

1st: Continental Premium Contact 6
235/45 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 36 M 100% Dry Handling 1st 59.3 s 100% Wet Braking 2nd 57.7 M 54.6 M +3.1 M 94.63% Wet Handling 1st 90 s 100% Straight Aqua 5th 74 Km/H 75.1 Km/H -1.1 Km/H 98.54% Noise 7th 71 dB 68 dB +3 dB 95.77% Price 8th 555 265 +290 47.75% Rolling Resistance 8th 8.34 kg / t 7.2 kg / t +1.14 kg / t 86.33% The best tire in the wet by a margin, shortest dry braking and excellent dry handling, good level of comfort. None mentioned. Read Reviews    Buy from £144.39
2nd: Michelin Primacy 4
235/45 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 36.6 M 36 M +0.6 M 98.36% Dry Handling 2nd 59.7 s 59.3 s +0.4 s 99.33% Wet Braking 6th 60.6 M 54.6 M +6 M 90.1% Wet Handling 6th 94.2 s 90 s +4.2 s 95.54% Straight Aqua 7th 72.3 Km/H 75.1 Km/H -2.8 Km/H 96.27% Noise 7th 71 dB 68 dB +3 dB 95.77% Price 9th 590 265 +325 44.92% Rolling Resistance 1st 7.2 kg / t 100% Good results in the dry and wet, very low rolling resistance. None mentioned. Read Reviews    Buy from £150.61
3rd: Maxxis Premitra HP5
235/45 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 36.4 M 36 M +0.4 M 98.9% Dry Handling 3rd 60.2 s 59.3 s +0.9 s 98.5% Wet Braking 5th 59.2 M 54.6 M +4.6 M 92.23% Wet Handling 2nd 91.2 s 90 s +1.2 s 98.68% Straight Aqua 6th 73.2 Km/H 75.1 Km/H -1.9 Km/H 97.47% Noise 1st 68 dB 100% Price 3rd 345 265 +80 76.81% Rolling Resistance 7th 8.31 kg / t 7.2 kg / t +1.11 kg / t 86.64% Up there with premium rivals at a lower price, good in the wet, short dry braking. Average rolling resistance, average comfort, average dry handling. Read Reviews
4th: Pirelli CINTURATO P7
235/45 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 37.5 M 36 M +1.5 M 96% Dry Handling 3rd 60.2 s 59.3 s +0.9 s 98.5% Wet Braking 3rd 58.8 M 54.6 M +4.2 M 92.86% Wet Handling 8th 96.6 s 90 s +6.6 s 93.17% Straight Aqua 3rd 74.2 Km/H 75.1 Km/H -0.9 Km/H 98.8% Noise 3rd 70 dB 68 dB +2 dB 97.14% Price 5th 465 265 +200 56.99% Rolling Resistance 6th 8.19 kg / t 7.2 kg / t +0.99 kg / t 87.91% Good results in the dry and wet, short wet braking. None mentioned. Read Reviews    Buy from £116.06
5th: Bridgestone Turanza T005
235/45 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 36.8 M 36 M +0.8 M 97.83% Dry Handling 8th 60.7 s 59.3 s +1.4 s 97.69% Wet Braking 8th 66.6 M 54.6 M +12 M 81.98% Wet Handling 3rd 92.8 s 90 s +2.8 s 96.98% Straight Aqua 2nd 74.3 Km/H 75.1 Km/H -0.8 Km/H 98.93% Noise 7th 71 dB 68 dB +3 dB 95.77% Price 7th 540 265 +275 49.07% Rolling Resistance 2nd 7.46 kg / t 7.2 kg / t +0.26 kg / t 96.51% Short dry braking and good ride quality, low rolling resistance, very good aquaplaning resistance. Long wet braking distances. Read Reviews    Buy from £128.53
6th: Yokohama BluEarth AE50
235/45 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 37.8 M 36 M +1.8 M 95.24% Dry Handling 6th 60.4 s 59.3 s +1.1 s 98.18% Wet Braking 4th 59 M 54.6 M +4.4 M 92.54% Wet Handling 4th 93.4 s 90 s +3.4 s 96.36% Straight Aqua 8th 70.8 Km/H 75.1 Km/H -4.3 Km/H 94.27% Noise 3rd 70 dB 68 dB +2 dB 97.14% Price 6th 470 265 +205 56.38% Rolling Resistance 3rd 7.68 kg / t 7.2 kg / t +0.48 kg / t 93.75% A well balanced tire, low rolling resistance. Reduced aquaplaning resistance. Read Reviews
7th: Michelin CrossClimate+
235/45 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 39.2 M 36 M +3.2 M 91.84% Dry Handling 6th 60.4 s 59.3 s +1.1 s 98.18% Wet Braking 1st 54.6 M 100% Wet Handling 7th 96 s 90 s +6 s 93.75% Straight Aqua 9th 70.4 Km/H 75.1 Km/H -4.7 Km/H 93.74% Noise 10th 72 dB 68 dB +4 dB 94.44% Price 10th 645 265 +380 41.09% Rolling Resistance 4th 7.78 kg / t 7.2 kg / t +0.58 kg / t 92.54% The shortest wet braking distances. The only tire with snow capability. Relatively weak wet lateral stability, increased noise levels, long dry braking. Read Reviews
8th: Apollo Aspire XP
235/45 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 37.4 M 36 M +1.4 M 96.26% Dry Handling 5th 60.3 s 59.3 s +1 s 98.34% Wet Braking 7th 65.8 M 54.6 M +11.2 M 82.98% Wet Handling 5th 94 s 90 s +4 s 95.74% Straight Aqua 4th 74.1 Km/H 75.1 Km/H -1 Km/H 98.67% Noise 3rd 70 dB 68 dB +2 dB 97.14% Price 4th 400 265 +135 66.25% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.16 kg / t 7.2 kg / t +0.96 kg / t 88.24% Good aquaplaning resistance. Long wet braking, soft sidewalls so poor lateral stability. Read Reviews
9th: Kumho Ecsta HS51
235/45 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 39.2 M 36 M +3.2 M 91.84% Dry Handling 8th 60.7 s 59.3 s +1.4 s 97.69% Wet Braking 9th 73.1 M 54.6 M +18.5 M 74.69% Wet Handling 9th 98 s 90 s +8 s 91.84% Straight Aqua 1st 75.1 Km/H 100% Noise 3rd 70 dB 68 dB +2 dB 97.14% Price 2nd 325 265 +60 81.54% Rolling Resistance 9th 8.49 kg / t 7.2 kg / t +1.29 kg / t 84.81% Good aquaplaning resistance. Long braking distances in the dry and wet, high rolling resistance, low comfort. Read Reviews
10th: Nankang AS1
235/45 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 39.2 M 36 M +3.2 M 91.84% Dry Handling 10th 60.9 s 59.3 s +1.6 s 97.37% Wet Braking 10th 77.3 M 54.6 M +22.7 M 70.63% Wet Handling 10th 99.9 s 90 s +9.9 s 90.09% Straight Aqua 10th 68.2 Km/H 75.1 Km/H -6.9 Km/H 90.81% Noise 2nd 69 dB 68 dB +1 dB 98.55% Price 1st 265 100% Rolling Resistance 10th 8.92 kg / t 7.2 kg / t +1.72 kg / t 80.72% None mentioned. Unstable at the limit during wet handling and long stopping distances during wet braking, highest rolling resistance. Read Reviews    Buy from £107.54