Finnish magazine Moottori have recently compared eight 205/55 R16 tire patterns which sit in the midrange price category!

While midrange tires are cheaper than their premium rivals, they're not the cheapest tires available on market, so in theory should still provide a reasonable level of performance, just offering better value.

The full test data is below, and it's a shame Moottori didn't include a premium tire as a reference to see exactly what performances change as the price gets cheaper.

It's also worth noting, Semperit is owned by Continental, Kleber by Michelin and Goodyear owns Debica.

Dry

During dry testing, the Semperit SpeedLife 2 offered the most grip during the dry braking testing, and the Nokian and Kleber proved to have the best subjective handling. Interestingly Moottori didn't offer the dry handling laptimes.

Wet

Semperit continued its strong performance in the wet, offering the highest grip in wet braking and handling, which isn't a huge surprise given Semperit is own by wet weather kings, Continental. As in the dry testing, Maxxis was again extremely close to Semperit.

Environment

Maxxis proved to have an excellent blend of wet performance and low rolling resistance.

While Cooper had the lowest noise.

Results

1st: Semperit SpeedLife 2
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 24.85 M 100% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 8.8 Points 9 Points -0.2 Points 97.78% Wet Braking 1st 27.8 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 57.7 s 100% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 8.5 Points 8.9 Points -0.4 Points 95.51% Straight Aqua 1st 86.5 Km/H 100% Noise 2nd 66.5 dB 66.4 dB +0.1 dB 99.85% Rolling Resistance 3rd 8.29 kg / t 7.87 kg / t +0.42 kg / t 94.93% High aquaplaning resistance, short braking distance on dry and wet surfaces. Tendency for liftoff oversteer. Read Reviews
2nd: Maxxis Premitra HP5
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 24.86 M 24.85 M +0.01 M 99.96% Subj. Dry Handling 4th 8.4 Points 9 Points -0.6 Points 93.33% Wet Braking 2nd 27.9 M 27.8 M +0.1 M 99.64% Wet Handling 1st 57.7 s 100% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 8.5 Points 8.9 Points -0.4 Points 95.51% Straight Aqua 6th 80 Km/H 86.5 Km/H -6.5 Km/H 92.49% Noise 6th 67.1 dB 66.4 dB +0.7 dB 98.96% Rolling Resistance 1st 7.87 kg / t 100% Good handling on dry surfaces, short braking distance on dry and wet surfaces, low rolling resistance. Unstable during high speed cornering, increased noise. Read Reviews
2nd: Nokian Nordman SX2
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 25.37 M 24.85 M +0.52 M 97.95% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 9 Points 100% Wet Braking 3rd 28.8 M 27.8 M +1 M 96.53% Wet Handling 3rd 58 s 57.7 s +0.3 s 99.48% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 8.5 Points 8.9 Points -0.4 Points 95.51% Straight Aqua 2nd 80.5 Km/H 86.5 Km/H -6 Km/H 93.06% Noise 8th 67.3 dB 66.4 dB +0.9 dB 98.66% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.51 kg / t 7.87 kg / t +0.64 kg / t 92.48% Good handling on dry and wet surfaces, including during emergency maneuvers, high aquaplaning resistance. Increased noise. Read Reviews
4th: Debica Presto HP
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 24.97 M 24.85 M +0.12 M 99.52% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 8 Points 9 Points -1 Points 88.89% Wet Braking 5th 29.7 M 27.8 M +1.9 M 93.6% Wet Handling 4th 58.1 s 57.7 s +0.4 s 99.31% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 8.9 Points 100% Straight Aqua 3rd 80.2 Km/H 86.5 Km/H -6.3 Km/H 92.72% Noise 4th 66.6 dB 66.4 dB +0.2 dB 99.7% Rolling Resistance 7th 8.96 kg / t 7.87 kg / t +1.09 kg / t 87.83% Good handling on dry and wet surfaces, short braking distance on a dry surface. High rolling resistance, low resistance to aquaplaning, long braking distance on wet surfaces. Read Reviews
5th: Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 25.26 M 24.85 M +0.41 M 98.38% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 9 Points 100% Wet Braking 6th 30.1 M 27.8 M +2.3 M 92.36% Wet Handling 7th 60.2 s 57.7 s +2.5 s 95.85% Subj. Wet Handling 2nd 8.6 Points 8.9 Points -0.3 Points 96.63% Straight Aqua 6th 80 Km/H 86.5 Km/H -6.5 Km/H 92.49% Noise 2nd 66.5 dB 66.4 dB +0.1 dB 99.85% Rolling Resistance 2nd 7.93 kg / t 7.87 kg / t +0.06 kg / t 99.24% Good handling on dry surfaces, low rolling resistance. Average wet handling and long wet braking. Read Reviews
6th: Cooper Zeon CS8
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 25.44 M 24.85 M +0.59 M 97.68% Subj. Dry Handling 8th 7 Points 9 Points -2 Points 77.78% Wet Braking 4th 29.6 M 27.8 M +1.8 M 93.92% Wet Handling 5th 58.4 s 57.7 s +0.7 s 98.8% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 8.4 Points 8.9 Points -0.5 Points 94.38% Straight Aqua 8th 79.2 Km/H 86.5 Km/H -7.3 Km/H 91.56% Noise 1st 66.4 dB 100% Rolling Resistance 8th 9.36 kg / t 7.87 kg / t +1.49 kg / t 84.08% Low noise, acceptable in the dry. Low wet grip, high rolling resistance. Read Reviews    Buy from £84.26
7th: Sumitomo BC100
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 25.92 M 24.85 M +1.07 M 95.87% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 8.2 Points 9 Points -0.8 Points 91.11% Wet Braking 6th 30.1 M 27.8 M +2.3 M 92.36% Wet Handling 6th 59.9 s 57.7 s +2.2 s 96.33% Subj. Wet Handling 7th 7.9 Points 8.9 Points -1 Points 88.76% Straight Aqua 4th 80.1 Km/H 86.5 Km/H -6.4 Km/H 92.6% Noise 6th 67.1 dB 66.4 dB +0.7 dB 98.96% Rolling Resistance 6th 8.65 kg / t 7.87 kg / t +0.78 kg / t 90.98% None mentioned. Long braking in the dry and wet, low wet grip and oversteer balance. Read Reviews    Buy from £64.55
8th: Dayton Touring 2
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 25.98 M 24.85 M +1.13 M 95.65% Subj. Dry Handling 6th 8.1 Points 9 Points -0.9 Points 90% Wet Braking 8th 30.7 M 27.8 M +2.9 M 90.55% Wet Handling 7th 60.2 s 57.7 s +2.5 s 95.85% Subj. Wet Handling 7th 7.9 Points 8.9 Points -1 Points 88.76% Straight Aqua 4th 80.1 Km/H 86.5 Km/H -6.4 Km/H 92.6% Noise 5th 66.9 dB 66.4 dB +0.5 dB 99.25% Rolling Resistance 4th 8.4 kg / t 7.87 kg / t +0.53 kg / t 93.69% Acceptable aquaplaning resistance. Long braking distances and poor wet handling. Read Reviews