2014 Auto Bild Top 15 Summer Tire Test

Test Summary
Array	Continental Sport Contact 5 Dunlop SportMaxx RT
Array	Michelin Primacy 3 Pirelli Cinturato P 7 Ecoimpact Continental Sport Contact 5 Bridgestone Turanza T001 Dunlop SportMaxx RT Hankook Ventus Prime2
Array	Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Array	Michelin Primacy 3 Apollo Aspire 4G Fulda SportControl
Array	Michelin Primacy 3
Array	Nexen N Fera SU1 Atlas Sport Green

Following on from yesterdays 50 tire shootout, Auto Bild have tested the top 15 tires more thoroughly, putting them through the usual mix of wet, dry, wear and NVH tests in 225/50 R17 on a BMW 320i Touring.

The Premiums

This test had a slightly strange mix of tires on show from the premium manufacturers. Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear and Dunlop provided their premium touring tires, whereas Continental and Dunlop provided their ultra high performance summer tires.

With the test weighted towards wet performance and price per mile, Michelin got the balance spot on with the Michelin Primacy 3 thanks to its excellent all round performance combined with exceptionally low wear. Pirelli scored a strong second with their updated P7 Cinturato, the Eco Impact, and Continental rounded out the top three with the Sport Contact 5 having another strong all round performance.

Surprisingly, Goodyear were beaten to fourth position by Fulda, who are owned by Goodyear and considered a sub brand, thanks to the SportControls excellent value for money, while the sister tire from Dunlop had to settle for 13th place thanks to very high wear - it scored strongly in all other tests.

Bridgestone finished the test second to last, again thanks to high wear, which is unusual for a Bridgestone tire.

The Rest

As mentioned Fulda had a very strong showing to finish fourth - while it only scored joint highest in the comfort test, an all round strong performance coupled with a low price earned its excellent finish. Sava, another Goodyear Dunlop brand finished in sixth, showing there are some very promising mid range brands out there if you're not overly interested in dynamic qualities, which this test largely ignored.

A couple of new brands took seventh and ninth place, sandwiching the established Kumho in eighth. Nexen and Hankook finished the tenth and twelfth, leaving this round of the Korean battle won by Kumho.

The Results

Click here to view Results as a single table and adjust the score weighting based on your own driving needs!

1st: Michelin Primacy 3
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 46 Dry: 8 Wet: 7 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 7 Wear: 10 The Michelins performed flawlessly, with sharp dynamic handling, low fuel consumption and the best wear, meaning the price per mile was class leading. An all round briliant tire None Read Reviews Buy from £258.99
2nd: Pirelli Cinturato P 7 Ecoimpact
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 41 Dry: 7 Wet: 7 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 6 Wear: 9 The Pirelli is a very balanced summer tire with excellent braking on wet and dry roads, precise steering response, and low wear Aquaplaning Read Reviews
3rd: Continental Sport Contact 5
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 40 Dry: 9 Wet: 7 Comfort: 5 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 5 Wear: 7 Excellent driving performance in wet and dry conditions, short wet and dry braking, good wear, low rolling resistance Expensive Read Reviews Buy from £159.97
4th: Fulda SportControl
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 40 Dry: 7 Wet: 6 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 4 Noise: 7 Wear: 9 Good safety reserves with aquaplaning, well-balanced handling in wet and dry conditions, good value for money Increased fuel consumption Read Reviews
5th: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 42 Dry: 8 Wet: 6 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 10 Noise: 5 Wear: 7 Safe handling qualities and short braking distances on dry roads, good wear, lowest fuel consumption Slightly noisy Read Reviews Buy from £105.71
6th: Sava intensa uhp
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 34 Dry: 6 Wet: 6 Comfort: 5 Rolling Resistance: 3 Noise: 6 Wear: 8 Stable driving on a wet track, good aquaplaning properties, short dry braking distances Slow steering response, increased rolling resistance Read Reviews
7th: Atlas Sport Green
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 36 Dry: 6 Wet: 5 Comfort: 3 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 9 Wear: 6 Good safety reserves with aquaplaning, short dry braking distances, low pass-by noise, best price-performance ratio Average handling / steering feel, only moderate comfort Read Reviews
8th: Kumho Ecsta KU39
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 32 Dry: 6 Wet: 5 Comfort: 4 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 7 Wear: 4 Good aquaplaning results, short braking distances on dry roads, quiet pass-by noise, good value for money Poor mileage, slow steering response Read Reviews
9th: Point S Summerstar Sport 2
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 33 Dry: 6 Wet: 5 Comfort: 5 Rolling Resistance: 5 Noise: 7 Wear: 5 Short braking distances on wet and dry roads, quiet pass-by noise Average handling in the wet Read Reviews
10th: Nexen N Fera SU1
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 35 Dry: 5 Wet: 5 Comfort: 5 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 9 Wear: 4 Quiet pass-by noise, good price-performance ratio, good economy Average handling and grip on dry and wet roads Read Reviews
11th: General Altimax UHP
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 31 Dry: 3 Wet: 5 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 7 Wear: 4 Short braking distances on both wet and dry conditions, low pass-by noise, low price Poor dry handling and braking Read Reviews
12th: Hankook Ventus Prime2
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 37 Dry: 8 Wet: 7 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 8 Wear: 2 Convincing handling qualities on wet and dry roads, pleasant ride comfort Very high wear, high cost considering performance Read Reviews
13th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 37 Dry: 9 Wet: 7 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 6 Wear: 2 Sporty handling qualities, good safety margins when aquaplaning, short braking distances Very high wear, high price, cost-effectiveness is restricted Read Reviews
14th: Bridgestone Turanza T001
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 35 Dry: 7 Wet: 7 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 7 Wear: 2 Good performance on a wet track, good safety reserves to aquaplaning Very high wear, high price, restricted economy Read Reviews
15th: Apollo Aspire 4G
225/50 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 34 Dry: 7 Wet: 6 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 2 Noise: 5 Wear: 7 Balanced safe driving characteristics, short braking distances, good comfort Significantly increased rolling resistance Read Reviews