Tire testing is incredibly complicated to conduct, and one of the most difficult parts of testing is good repeatability.

Take for example wet braking. To get the wet braking distance of a tire, you don't just do the braking run once, you do it 6-8 times, delete the outliers then average out the results. Even on the most expensive test facilities in the world, with the most perfect sprinkler systems and perfect tarmac, you rarely get the same distance twice as there are so many variables, which means when you use a less than state of the art facility, results can be surprising.

This brings us on to this test by the Italian publication "al volante". 

On the surface, this should be a very interesting test, as it includes the new Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 and the new Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2, but after initial inspection, the test seemed of limited use.

Firstly, we've never seen such a big advantage in wet braking by a single tire as this test, and having spoken to Continental they're unsure of why it was so large. Secondly, while the Ultrac Satin has never been the best dry braking tire, 8 meters difference from just 100 KM/H is almost unheard of. Thirdly, the testers indicate in their writing that dry handling was conducted, but no times were given, and lastly with a 25% difference in wet braking, I would have expected much more than a 2% difference in wet handling, especially over a 100 second lap!

Having spoken to a number of tire manufacturers in this test, it seems the test wasn't conducted at a permanent facility, but a temporary one, which could explain the interesting results below.

In short, this is another piece of information to help you select the best tires for your vehicle, but perhaps it's best not to read into this test too much. Make sure to browse all the other tests available on Tire Reviews.

Dry

Wet

Environment

Results

1st: Continental Premium Contact 6
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 35.6 M 100% Wet Braking 1st 26.5 M 100% Wet Handling 5th 101.7 s 101.2 s +0.5 s 99.51% Straight Aqua 1st 75.9 Km/H 100% Noise 4th 70.6 dB 70.3 dB +0.3 dB 99.58% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.7 kg / t 6.9 kg / t +1.8 kg / t 79.31% Quick and responsive in the dry with very short dry braking distances. In the wet the car feels easy to control, with extremely short wet braking. Slight understeer in the wet. Read Reviews    Buy from £89.17
2nd: Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 35.9 M 35.6 M +0.3 M 99.16% Wet Braking 3rd 29 M 26.5 M +2.5 M 91.38% Wet Handling 6th 101.9 s 101.2 s +0.7 s 99.31% Straight Aqua 8th 74.7 Km/H 75.9 Km/H -1.2 Km/H 98.42% Noise 3rd 70.5 dB 70.3 dB +0.2 dB 99.72% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.7 kg / t 6.9 kg / t +1.8 kg / t 79.31% Well balanced with safe reactions in the dry. Excellent resistance to aquaplaning and sporty handling in the wet. None mentioned. Read Reviews    Buy from £100.19
3rd: Bridgestone Turanza T005
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 36.9 M 35.6 M +1.3 M 96.48% Wet Braking 6th 29.6 M 26.5 M +3.1 M 89.53% Wet Handling 1st 101.2 s 100% Straight Aqua 3rd 75.2 Km/H 75.9 Km/H -0.7 Km/H 99.08% Noise 5th 70.7 dB 70.3 dB +0.4 dB 99.43% Rolling Resistance 1st 6.9 kg / t 100% Good grip in the dry and the wet. Slight imbalance in the dry, overheats in the wet and performance drops off. Read Reviews    Buy from £77.99
4th: Michelin Primacy 4
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 36.4 M 35.6 M +0.8 M 97.8% Wet Braking 4th 29.1 M 26.5 M +2.6 M 91.07% Wet Handling 4th 101.6 s 101.2 s +0.4 s 99.61% Straight Aqua 9th 74.6 Km/H 75.9 Km/H -1.3 Km/H 98.29% Noise 10th 71.9 dB 70.3 dB +1.6 dB 97.77% Rolling Resistance 2nd 7.4 kg / t 6.9 kg / t +0.5 kg / t 93.24% Good dry braking, safe dry and wet handling. High Noise. Read Reviews    Buy from £100.93
5th: Nokian WetProof
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 36.4 M 35.6 M +0.8 M 97.8% Wet Braking 2nd 28.3 M 26.5 M +1.8 M 93.64% Wet Handling 6th 101.9 s 101.2 s +0.7 s 99.31% Straight Aqua 6th 75 Km/H 75.9 Km/H -0.9 Km/H 98.81% Noise 1st 70.3 dB 100% Rolling Resistance 9th 9.3 kg / t 6.9 kg / t +2.4 kg / t 74.19% Good dry braking, low noise. Average wet performance with front axle overheating. Read Reviews
6th: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 37 M 35.6 M +1.4 M 96.22% Wet Braking 5th 29.5 M 26.5 M +3 M 89.83% Wet Handling 3rd 101.4 s 101.2 s +0.2 s 99.8% Straight Aqua 6th 75 Km/H 75.9 Km/H -0.9 Km/H 98.81% Noise 5th 70.7 dB 70.3 dB +0.4 dB 99.43% Rolling Resistance 3rd 7.6 kg / t 6.9 kg / t +0.7 kg / t 90.79% Low rolling resistance, excellent wet performance. Average noise, slightly slow steering in the dry. Read Reviews    Buy from £81.30
7th: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 36.7 M 35.6 M +1.1 M 97% Wet Braking 8th 31.9 M 26.5 M +5.4 M 83.07% Wet Handling 1st 101.2 s 100% Straight Aqua 3rd 75.2 Km/H 75.9 Km/H -0.7 Km/H 99.08% Noise 7th 70.9 dB 70.3 dB +0.6 dB 99.15% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.7 kg / t 6.9 kg / t +1.8 kg / t 79.31% Good handling balance in the dry and wet. Average braking. Read Reviews    Buy from £92.99
8th: Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 39 M 35.6 M +3.4 M 91.28% Wet Braking 7th 30.6 M 26.5 M +4.1 M 86.6% Wet Handling 8th 102.1 s 101.2 s +0.9 s 99.12% Straight Aqua 2nd 75.3 Km/H 75.9 Km/H -0.6 Km/H 99.21% Noise 1st 70.3 dB 100% Rolling Resistance 10th 9.4 kg / t 6.9 kg / t +2.5 kg / t 73.4% Low noise and high levels of comfort. Average grip. Read Reviews    Buy from £81.99
9th: Vredestein Ultrac Satin
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 10th 43.6 M 35.6 M +8 M 81.65% Wet Braking 10th 33.2 M 26.5 M +6.7 M 79.82% Wet Handling 10th 104.2 s 101.2 s +3 s 97.12% Straight Aqua 5th 75.1 Km/H 75.9 Km/H -0.8 Km/H 98.95% Noise 7th 70.9 dB 70.3 dB +0.6 dB 99.15% Rolling Resistance 8th 9.2 kg / t 6.9 kg / t +2.3 kg / t 75% Good dry handling. Very long braking in the dry and wet, average wet handling. Read Reviews
10th: Roadhog RGHP01
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 9th 41.4 M 35.6 M +5.8 M 85.99% Wet Braking 9th 32.1 M 26.5 M +5.6 M 82.55% Wet Handling 9th 104.1 s 101.2 s +2.9 s 97.21% Straight Aqua 10th 73.1 Km/H 75.9 Km/H -2.8 Km/H 96.31% Noise 7th 70.9 dB 70.3 dB +0.6 dB 99.15% Rolling Resistance 4th 7.8 kg / t 6.9 kg / t +0.9 kg / t 88.46% None mentioned. Very low grip in the dry and wet. Poor handling leading to no confidence in the wet. Read Reviews