The Norwegian AutoMobile Federation (NAF) has tested seven summer tire patterns in 205/55 R16, and included a premium winter tire for comparison.

The winter tire performed surprisingly well during the wet braking testing, which was tested between 18 and 25c, beating the Dunlop and Bridgestone summer tires. Wet handling showed a little more weakness, with the winter tire finishing last, but it was still within a few percent of the summer tires.

As with all siped tires, the penalty came in the dry. Testing at 21-23c, the winter tire was at a huge disadvantage, stopping the car nearly 30% further on than the best summer tire on test, which is the difference between stopping safely, and having a huge accident! While the tire was closer during dry handling, it was still significantly slower than all the summer tires.

Let this test be a good reminder as to why we shouldn't run winter tires, or winter-bias all season tires across the dry summer months.

Full data below.

Dry

Wet

Environment

Results

1st: Continental Premium Contact 6
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 34.6 M 100% Dry Handling 1st 108.52 s 100% Wet Braking 2nd 50.5 M 49.1 M +1.4 M 97.23% Wet Handling 1st 69.46 s 100% Straight Aqua 7th 79.8 Km/H 84 Km/H -4.2 Km/H 95% Noise 1st 72.2 dB 100% Rolling Resistance 3rd 5.48 kg / t 5.34 kg / t +0.14 kg / t 97.45% Excellent lateral stability on dry and wet surfaces, impressive braking performance, especially on dry surfaces, low noise. The weakest resistance to aquaplaning. Read Reviews    Buy from £79.99
2nd: Nokian Hakka Blue 2
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 36.1 M 34.6 M +1.5 M 95.84% Dry Handling 6th 109.38 s 108.52 s +0.86 s 99.21% Wet Braking 3rd 50.9 M 49.1 M +1.8 M 96.46% Wet Handling 4th 70.18 s 69.46 s +0.72 s 98.97% Straight Aqua 1st 84 Km/H 100% Noise 5th 72.8 dB 72.2 dB +0.6 dB 99.18% Rolling Resistance 7th 5.62 kg / t 5.34 kg / t +0.28 kg / t 95.02% Short braking distance, high lateral stability and good handling on wet surfaces. Relatively long braking distance and insufficient dry handling, highest fuel consumption. Read Reviews
3rd: Dunlop Sport BluResponse
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 35.6 M 34.6 M +1 M 97.19% Dry Handling 3rd 109 s 108.52 s +0.48 s 99.56% Wet Braking 6th 52.5 M 49.1 M +3.4 M 93.52% Wet Handling 5th 70.38 s 69.46 s +0.92 s 98.69% Straight Aqua 3rd 82.8 Km/H 84 Km/H -1.2 Km/H 98.57% Noise 3rd 72.4 dB 72.2 dB +0.2 dB 99.72% Rolling Resistance 4th 5.51 kg / t 5.34 kg / t +0.17 kg / t 96.91% Accurate and fast reactions to steering, low noise. Relatively long braking distance on wet roads. Read Reviews    Buy from £70.03
3rd: Firestone RoadHawk
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 35.6 M 34.6 M +1 M 97.19% Dry Handling 2nd 108.94 s 108.52 s +0.42 s 99.61% Wet Braking 4th 51.3 M 49.1 M +2.2 M 95.71% Wet Handling 2nd 69.82 s 69.46 s +0.36 s 99.48% Straight Aqua 4th 81.9 Km/H 84 Km/H -2.1 Km/H 97.5% Noise 3rd 72.4 dB 72.2 dB +0.2 dB 99.72% Rolling Resistance 6th 5.58 kg / t 5.34 kg / t +0.24 kg / t 95.7% High lateral stability, quick steering, neutral balance. High noise levels. Read Reviews    Buy from £70.70
5th: Michelin Primacy 4
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 35.9 M 34.6 M +1.3 M 96.38% Dry Handling 7th 109.4 s 108.52 s +0.88 s 99.2% Wet Braking 1st 49.1 M 100% Wet Handling 7th 71.14 s 69.46 s +1.68 s 97.64% Straight Aqua 2nd 83.8 Km/H 84 Km/H -0.2 Km/H 99.76% Noise 7th 73.4 dB 72.2 dB +1.2 dB 98.37% Rolling Resistance 5th 5.57 kg / t 5.34 kg / t +0.23 kg / t 95.87% Excellent braking performance. Weak lateral stability. Read Reviews    Buy from £86.67
6th: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 36.3 M 34.6 M +1.7 M 95.32% Dry Handling 5th 109.31 s 108.52 s +0.79 s 99.28% Wet Braking 5th 51.7 M 49.1 M +2.6 M 94.97% Wet Handling 6th 71.09 s 69.46 s +1.63 s 97.71% Straight Aqua 5th 81.8 Km/H 84 Km/H -2.2 Km/H 97.38% Noise 6th 73 dB 72.2 dB +0.8 dB 98.9% Rolling Resistance 2nd 5.39 kg / t 5.34 kg / t +0.05 kg / t 99.07% Low fuel consumption, high aquaplaning resistance. Weak lateral stability, understeer and long braking in the dry, elevated noise. Read Reviews    Buy from £71.19
7th: Bridgestone Turanza T005
205/55 R16 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 35.5 M 34.6 M +0.9 M 97.46% Dry Handling 4th 109.01 s 108.52 s +0.49 s 99.55% Wet Braking 7th 53.1 M 49.1 M +4 M 92.47% Wet Handling 3rd 70.08 s 69.46 s +0.62 s 99.12% Straight Aqua 6th 81.3 Km/H 84 Km/H -2.7 Km/H 96.79% Noise 1st 72.2 dB 100% Rolling Resistance 1st 5.34 kg / t 100% Good handling and grip in the dry and wet, short dry braking distances. Longest wet braking, low aquaplaning resistance, noise. Read Reviews    Buy from £67.94