2015 Off Road SUV 4x4 Tire Test

9 Premium Touring Summer tires tested in 255/55 R18 |   Published April 13th, 2015 by Jonathan Benson

Test Summary
ArrayContinental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
ArrayNokian zLine SUV
ArrayNokian zLine SUV
Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
ArrayGoodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric SUV
Maxxis M36
The 2015 Off Road Magazine SUV and 4x4 tire test covered 9 tires in 225/55 R18 on a Mercedes ML250.

As the tires on test are "soft road" tires, not designed to travel offroad, Off Road Magazine only saw fit to test them in the dry and wet, ignoring any potential off road qualities these tires could have.

The top 5 tires were all given the "highly recommended" rating, places six to eight being just "recommend", and the Maxxis in ninth being the only tire to be graded as "Adequate".

The Results

1st: Nokian zLine SUV

Nokian zLine SUV
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 30
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 9
  4. Rolling Resistance: 9
  5. Noise: 4
Good handling and braking on dry and wet roads
Expensive
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2nd: Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV

Continental ContiSportContact 5 SUV
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 19
  2. Dry: 9
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 3
  5. Noise: 1
Good results on dry and wet surfaces
High noise level
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3rd: Dunlop SP QuattroMaxx

Dunlop SP QuattroMaxx
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 18
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 2
  5. Noise: 4
Very balanced characteristics, short braking distances on wet roads
Relatively high noise levels, relatively high rolling resistance
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4th: Pirelli Scorpion Verde

Pirelli Scorpion Verde
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 15
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 5
  4. Rolling Resistance: 3
  5. Noise: 1
Good results on dry and wet surfaces
The highest level of noise
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5th: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric SUV

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric SUV
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 22
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 3
  5. Noise: 8
Highest resistance to aquaplaning, good comfort
Average handling on dry surfaces
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6th: Kumho Crugen HP91

Kumho Crugen HP91
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 18
  2. Dry: 2
  3. Wet: 3
  4. Rolling Resistance: 7
  5. Noise: 6
High resistance to aquaplaning, low rolling resistance
Average handling and long braking distances on wet surfaces
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7th: Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV

Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 18
  2. Dry: 3
  3. Wet: 3
  4. Rolling Resistance: 9
  5. Noise: 3
Low rolling resistance
Average handling on dry and wet surfaces
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8th: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti

Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 11
  2. Dry: 2
  3. Wet: 1
  4. Rolling Resistance: 1
  5. Noise: 7
Acceptable results in the dry
Weak results in the wet
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9th: Maxxis M36

Maxxis M36
  • 255/55 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 13
  2. Dry: 1
  3. Wet: 1
  4. Rolling Resistance: 3
  5. Noise: 8
Low rolling resistance, low noise
Weak results in the wet
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