2021 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tire Test

Test Size: 215/65 R17
Tires Tested: 12 tires
Test Categories:
5 categories (12 tests)
Similar Tests

Test Category Best Performer Worst Performer Difference
Dry (2 tests)
Dry Braking Michelin CrossClimate 2: 38.2 M Continental AllSeasonContact: 43.6 M5.4 M (12.4%)
Dry Handling Michelin CrossClimate 2: 105.5 Km/H Imperial All Season Driver: 103.7 Km/H1.8 Km/H (1.7%)
Wet (4 tests)
Wet Braking Continental AllSeasonContact: 48.3 M Imperial All Season Driver: 60.8 M12.5 M (20.6%)
Wet Handling Vredestein Quatrac Pro: 66.2 Km/H Imperial All Season Driver: 61.3 Km/H4.9 Km/H (8.0%)
Straight Aqua Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 SUV: 86.8 Km/H Vredestein Quatrac Pro: 75 Km/H11.8 Km/H (15.7%)
Curved Aquaplaning Cooper Discoverer All Season: 4.81 m/sec2 Imperial All Season Driver: 3.53 m/sec21.3 m/sec2 (36.3%)
Snow (3 tests)
Snow Braking Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 X: 23.8 M Imperial All Season Driver: 25.3 M1.5 M (5.9%)
Snow Traction Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 X: 3518 N Imperial All Season Driver: 3163 N355.0 N (11.2%)
Snow Handling Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 X: 43.6 Km/H Imperial All Season Driver: 41.3 Km/H2.3 Km/H (5.6%)
Comfort (1 tests)
Noise Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2: 70.8 dB Vredestein Quatrac Pro: 73.8 dB3.0 dB (4.1%)
Value (2 tests)
Price Imperial All Season Driver: 295 Michelin CrossClimate 2: 580 285.0 (49.1%)
Rolling Resistance Michelin CrossClimate 2: 7.11 kg / t Cooper Discoverer All Season: 9.32 kg / t2.2 kg / t (23.7%)
The German SUV specialist publication Auto Bild Allrad have become the second magazine in 2021 to publish their all season tire test, and the first to include the new Michelin CrossClimate 2 (much to our disappointment, we wanted to be first!)

While the Allrad tests aren't quite as in depth as the industry leading Auto Bild tests, they're still an excellent reference point for the market, and especially useful if you drive an SUV, or are interested in how an all season tire compares to a summer and winter tire, as both are included as references.

The tested size is 215/65 R17, which fits many popular SUVs such as the VW Tiguan test vehicle, the Audi Q5, Mercedes GLA, Nissan Qashqai and many others. It's worth remembering that sometimes SUV tire sizes have different constructions to their regular cousins, meaning that surprising results can be a feature in this sort of test!

Read on to find out exactly what all season tire was good at each category of test!

Dry

Dry braking was unsurprisingly led by the summer tire, with the Michelin CrossClimate 2 taking its usual spot of the best of the all season tires.

The new Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2 performed well in dry braking to place second of the all season tires, and Maxxis rounded out the top three.

The Continental AllSeasonContact performed poorly, as did the Bridgestone WeatherControl A005 EVO, something we're not used to seeing, but another reminder that SUV sizes sometimes throw up unique results!

The summer tire and Michelin CrossClimate 2 again led the group in dry handling, but this time the Vredestein Quatrac Pro and new Hankook Kinergy 4S2 X rounded out the top three.

Wet

Wet braking was again led by the summer tire, which indicates the testing was done at warm temperatures. Continental, which was the worst tire in dry braking, was the best in wet braking, with the Vredestein a close second.

Vredestein continued its strong performance in the wet, having the fastest wet handling lap.

Goodyear had the highest levels of safety in the straight aquaplaning test.

Snow

The winter tire led the way in snow braking, with the Hankook and Continental again performing well. The new Michelin CrossClimate has obviously improved snow performance, placing third.

Hankook, Michelin and Continental were again the best in the snow traction test, but this time with Michelin beating its German rival.

And finally for the grip tests, snow handling was won by Hankook, Continental and Michelin, with all three tires showing an impressive performance in the snow, and close to the full winter tire.

Environment

The new Pirelli was the quietest tire on test with an impressively low noise.

The CrossClimate 2 led the group again during the rolling resistance test, with Continental and Pirelli close behind.

Finally, the Michelin were the most expensive to buy, however as there's no wear testing in this test, it doesn't tell us anything about the value of the tires.

Results

1st: Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 X

Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 X
  • 215/65 R17 103V
  • EU Label: C/B/72
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th42 M38.2 M+3.8 M90.95%
Dry Handling3rd104.9 Km/H105.5 Km/H-0.6 Km/H99.43%
Wet Braking4th50.4 M48.3 M+2.1 M95.83%
Wet Handling4th65.1 Km/H66.2 Km/H-1.1 Km/H98.34%
Straight Aqua8th81 Km/H86.8 Km/H-5.8 Km/H93.32%
Curved Aquaplaning3rd4.45 m/sec24.81 m/sec2-0.36 m/sec292.52%
Snow Braking1st23.8 M100%
Snow Traction1st3518 N100%
Snow Handling1st43.6 Km/H100%
Noise2nd71.7 dB70.8 dB+0.9 dB98.74%
Price4th415 295 +120 71.08%
Rolling Resistance6th7.9 kg / t7.11 kg / t+0.79 kg / t90%
The new Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 X is the test winner with excellent driving characteristics in all weather conditions, stable, safe wet and dry handling, precise steering, high aquaplaning safety, low noise, well priced.
None mentioned.

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2nd: Michelin CrossClimate 2

Michelin CrossClimate 2
  • 215/65 R17 103V
  • EU Label: B/B/71
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking1st38.2 M100%
Dry Handling1st105.5 Km/H100%
Wet Braking7th52 M48.3 M+3.7 M92.88%
Wet Handling8th63.2 Km/H66.2 Km/H-3 Km/H95.47%
Straight Aqua6th82 Km/H86.8 Km/H-4.8 Km/H94.47%
Curved Aquaplaning4th4.43 m/sec24.81 m/sec2-0.38 m/sec292.1%
Snow Braking3rd24.4 M23.8 M+0.6 M97.54%
Snow Traction2nd3493 N3518 N-25 N99.29%
Snow Handling2nd43.4 Km/H43.6 Km/H-0.2 Km/H99.54%
Noise5th72.5 dB70.8 dB+1.7 dB97.66%
Price10th580 295 +285 50.86%
Rolling Resistance1st7.11 kg / t100%
The new Michelin CrossClimate 2 is an excellent all round tire with exemplary driving properties on snow and dry roads, short dry braking distances, petro saving rolling resistance.
Average wet handling.

Read Reviews    Buy from £139.84

3rd: Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 SUV

Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 SUV
  • 215/65 R17 99V
  • EU Label: C/B/72
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking7th42.9 M38.2 M+4.7 M89.04%
Dry Handling6th104.5 Km/H105.5 Km/H-1 Km/H99.05%
Wet Braking3rd49.9 M48.3 M+1.6 M96.79%
Wet Handling5th64.7 Km/H66.2 Km/H-1.5 Km/H97.73%
Straight Aqua1st86.8 Km/H100%
Curved Aquaplaning5th4.39 m/sec24.81 m/sec2-0.42 m/sec291.27%
Snow Braking8th24.9 M23.8 M+1.1 M95.58%
Snow Traction7th3339 N3518 N-179 N94.91%
Snow Handling5th42.6 Km/H43.6 Km/H-1 Km/H97.71%
Noise3rd72.2 dB70.8 dB+1.4 dB98.06%
Price7th515 295 +220 57.28%
Rolling Resistance7th7.93 kg / t7.11 kg / t+0.82 kg / t89.66%
All-round talent with balanced performance potential, stable wet and dry handling, high aquaplaning safety, short wet braking distances, good comfort.
Long dry braking.

Read Reviews    Buy from £127.55

4th: Continental AllSeasonContact

Continental AllSeasonContact
  • 215/65 R17 99V
  • EU Label: B/B/72
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking10th43.6 M38.2 M+5.4 M87.61%
Dry Handling7th104.2 Km/H105.5 Km/H-1.3 Km/H98.77%
Wet Braking1st48.3 M100%
Wet Handling3rd65.5 Km/H66.2 Km/H-0.7 Km/H98.94%
Straight Aqua2nd86 Km/H86.8 Km/H-0.8 Km/H99.08%
Curved Aquaplaning2nd4.8 m/sec24.81 m/sec2-0.01 m/sec299.79%
Snow Braking2nd23.9 M23.8 M+0.1 M99.58%
Snow Traction3rd3486 N3518 N-32 N99.09%
Snow Handling2nd43.4 Km/H43.6 Km/H-0.2 Km/H99.54%
Noise7th72.7 dB70.8 dB+1.9 dB97.39%
Price9th545 295 +250 54.13%
Rolling Resistance2nd7.2 kg / t7.11 kg / t+0.09 kg / t98.75%
Top performance on snow covered and wet roads, high steering precision, dynamic snow and wet handling, short wet braking distances, low rolling resistance.
Long dry braking.

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5th: Bridgestone Weather Control A005 EVO

Bridgestone Weather Control A005 EVO
  • 215/65 R17 103V
  • EU Label: C/A/71
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking8th43.3 M38.2 M+5.1 M88.22%
Dry Handling4th104.8 Km/H105.5 Km/H-0.7 Km/H99.34%
Wet Braking5th50.7 M48.3 M+2.4 M95.27%
Wet Handling2nd65.7 Km/H66.2 Km/H-0.5 Km/H99.24%
Straight Aqua4th83.6 Km/H86.8 Km/H-3.2 Km/H96.31%
Curved Aquaplaning6th3.99 m/sec24.81 m/sec2-0.82 m/sec282.95%
Snow Braking5th24.6 M23.8 M+0.8 M96.75%
Snow Traction5th3444 N3518 N-74 N97.9%
Snow Handling7th42.4 Km/H43.6 Km/H-1.2 Km/H97.25%
Noise6th72.6 dB70.8 dB+1.8 dB97.52%
Price8th520 295 +225 56.73%
Rolling Resistance4th7.86 kg / t7.11 kg / t+0.75 kg / t90.46%
High traction and short braking distances in the snow, precise steering behavior and dynamic driving qualities in the wet, good safety reserves for longitudinal aquaplaning.
Long dry braking.

Read Reviews    Buy from £122.86

6th: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2

Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2
  • 215/65 R17 103V
  • EU Label: B/B/69
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking2nd40.3 M38.2 M+2.1 M94.79%
Dry Handling9th103.7 Km/H105.5 Km/H-1.8 Km/H98.29%
Wet Braking8th53 M48.3 M+4.7 M91.13%
Wet Handling6th64.1 Km/H66.2 Km/H-2.1 Km/H96.83%
Straight Aqua5th83.5 Km/H86.8 Km/H-3.3 Km/H96.2%
Curved Aquaplaning8th3.83 m/sec24.81 m/sec2-0.98 m/sec279.63%
Snow Braking4th24.5 M23.8 M+0.7 M97.14%
Snow Traction4th3478 N3518 N-40 N98.86%
Snow Handling4th42.9 Km/H43.6 Km/H-0.7 Km/H98.39%
Noise1st70.8 dB100%
Price5th440 295 +145 67.05%
Rolling Resistance3rd7.32 kg / t7.11 kg / t+0.21 kg / t97.13%
High traction and short braking distances on snow, quiet rolling noise, very low rolling resistance.
Understeer driving behavior on wet and dry tracks, extended wet braking distances.

Read Reviews    Buy from £146.16

6th: Vredestein Quatrac Pro

Vredestein Quatrac Pro
  • 215/65 R17 99V
  • EU Label: C/B/71
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking5th41.9 M38.2 M+3.7 M91.17%
Dry Handling2nd105.2 Km/H105.5 Km/H-0.3 Km/H99.72%
Wet Braking2nd48.6 M48.3 M+0.3 M99.38%
Wet Handling1st66.2 Km/H100%
Straight Aqua10th75 Km/H86.8 Km/H-11.8 Km/H86.41%
Curved Aquaplaning7th3.97 m/sec24.81 m/sec2-0.84 m/sec282.54%
Snow Braking9th25 M23.8 M+1.2 M95.2%
Snow Traction9th3177 N3518 N-341 N90.31%
Snow Handling8th42.3 Km/H43.6 Km/H-1.3 Km/H97.02%
Noise10th73.8 dB70.8 dB+3 dB95.93%
Price6th510 295 +215 57.84%
Rolling Resistance5th7.88 kg / t7.11 kg / t+0.77 kg / t90.23%
Convincing driving characteristics on wet and dry surfaces, precise steering behavior, short wet braking distances, low price.
Poor grip in all snow tests, low aquaplaning safety.

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8th: Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3 SUV

Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3 SUV
  • 215/65 R17 103V
  • EU Label: B/B/72
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd40.6 M38.2 M+2.4 M94.09%
Dry Handling5th104.6 Km/H105.5 Km/H-0.9 Km/H99.15%
Wet Braking9th53.9 M48.3 M+5.6 M89.61%
Wet Handling7th63.6 Km/H66.2 Km/H-2.6 Km/H96.07%
Straight Aqua7th81.5 Km/H86.8 Km/H-5.3 Km/H93.89%
Curved Aquaplaning9th3.76 m/sec24.81 m/sec2-1.05 m/sec278.17%
Snow Braking5th24.6 M23.8 M+0.8 M96.75%
Snow Traction6th3376 N3518 N-142 N95.96%
Snow Handling6th42.5 Km/H43.6 Km/H-1.1 Km/H97.48%
Noise7th72.7 dB70.8 dB+1.9 dB97.39%
Price3rd395 295 +100 74.68%
Rolling Resistance9th8.39 kg / t7.11 kg / t+1.28 kg / t84.74%
Good winter qualities, stable dry handling, good safety reserves for longitudinal aquaplaning, low price.
Slightly understeering driving behavior, longer braking distances on wet roads, high rolling resistance.

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9th: Cooper Discoverer All Season

Cooper Discoverer All Season
  • 215/65 R17 99V
  • EU Label: D/B/70
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking4th40.7 M38.2 M+2.5 M93.86%
Dry Handling8th104.1 Km/H105.5 Km/H-1.4 Km/H98.67%
Wet Braking6th51 M48.3 M+2.7 M94.71%
Wet Handling9th62.8 Km/H66.2 Km/H-3.4 Km/H94.86%
Straight Aqua3rd85.5 Km/H86.8 Km/H-1.3 Km/H98.5%
Curved Aquaplaning1st4.81 m/sec2100%
Snow Braking5th24.6 M23.8 M+0.8 M96.75%
Snow Traction8th3230 N3518 N-288 N91.81%
Snow Handling9th42 Km/H43.6 Km/H-1.6 Km/H96.33%
Noise4th72.4 dB70.8 dB+1.6 dB97.79%
Price2nd365 295 +70 80.82%
Rolling Resistance10th9.32 kg / t7.11 kg / t+2.21 kg / t76.29%
Short snow braking distances, very good aquaplaning properties, low price.
Understeer balance on snow and wet roads, slow steering response, moderate comfort, increased rolling resistance.

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10th: Imperial All Season Driver

Imperial All Season Driver
  • 215/65 R17 99V
  • EU Label: C/B/71
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking9th43.4 M38.2 M+5.2 M88.02%
Dry Handling9th103.7 Km/H105.5 Km/H-1.8 Km/H98.29%
Wet Braking10th60.8 M48.3 M+12.5 M79.44%
Wet Handling10th61.3 Km/H66.2 Km/H-4.9 Km/H92.6%
Straight Aqua9th76.7 Km/H86.8 Km/H-10.1 Km/H88.36%
Curved Aquaplaning10th3.53 m/sec24.81 m/sec2-1.28 m/sec273.39%
Snow Braking10th25.3 M23.8 M+1.5 M94.07%
Snow Traction10th3163 N3518 N-355 N89.91%
Snow Handling10th41.3 Km/H43.6 Km/H-2.3 Km/H94.72%
Noise9th73.5 dB70.8 dB+2.7 dB96.33%
Price1st295 100%
Rolling Resistance8th8.01 kg / t7.11 kg / t+0.9 kg / t88.76%
Short snow braking distances, low price level.
Very low grip in the dry, wet and snow.

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