In their latest tire test, Motor magazine has taken a unique approach to evaluating summer tires, focusing on models that combine energy efficiency with high performance. The test specifically targeted tires with the lowest rolling resistance ratings, examining whether fuel-saving characteristics would compromise grip and safety features.

The testing team selected seven tires in the popular 205/55 R16 size, a dimension commonly found on vehicles ranging from the Audi A3 to the Volvo V70. Six of the tested models carried the EU label's top "A" rating for both rolling resistance and wet grip, while the seventh tire (Prinx XLAB Comfort EV) featured an "A" rating for rolling resistance but a "B" for wet grip.

Unfortunately the magazine didn't share that only the Continental and Prinx tires are aftermarket tires, the rest in AA EU label scores are OE tuned.  Falken and Bridgestone are Audi, Michelin is a Peugeot tire, Nexen is Renault, and the Goodyear was unmarked, but most likely VW as usually in replacement it is unmarked. We do not know exactly how tuned these tires are, but we can expect they have traded some wet grip for rolling resistance in the process.

The results revealed a tight competition among most contenders, with the Continental UltraContact NXT emerging as the overall winner, demonstrating the best balance of wet and dry performance. The Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 and Michelin e.Primacy secured second and third places respectively, with Michelin particularly impressing with its outstanding rolling resistance results.

Perhaps most surprising was how mid-range tires like the Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun matched premium models in many performance aspects, finishing tied for fourth place with the Bridgestone Turanza T005. Only the Chinese-made Prinx XLAB Comfort EV significantly underperformed, showing particularly concerning results in wet conditions despite its premium-level pricing.

Dry

The Michelin e.Primacy leads the dry braking test with a stopping distance of just 36.1 meters from 100 km/h, closely followed by the Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun at 36.3 meters. Continental's UltraContact NXT places third, showing good all-round capabilities. The Chinese Prinx XLAB Comfort EV struggles significantly, requiring 39.5 meters - over 3 meters more than the best performers.

Continental takes the top spot in the dry handling test with a lap time of 52.5 seconds, demonstrating its balanced performance characteristics. Goodyear's EfficientGrip Performance 2 follows closely at 52.8 seconds, with Falken maintaining its strong dry performance in third. Despite its excellent dry braking, the Michelin e.Primacy falls to sixth place here, suggesting a less sporty handling character.

Test drivers rated the Continental UltraContact NXT highest for subjective handling feel, scoring 7.1 points. Bridgestone's Turanza T005 impresses with second place (6.9 points) despite middling results in objective tests. The Nexen N Blue S rates lowest at 5.7 points, indicating less precise steering response and driver confidence compared to its competitors.

Wet

Continental dominates wet braking with a stopping distance of 50.2 meters, followed by Goodyear (51.1m) and Michelin (51.7m). This continues Continental's strong showing across both dry and wet disciplines. The Prinx tire presents a serious safety concern with a dramatically longer stopping distance of 68.7 meters - nearly 18.5 meters (37%) more than the Continental.

Continental maintains its wet performance lead with the quickest lap time of 84.6 seconds, with Goodyear and Michelin following in the same order as the wet braking test. This consistent performance across wet tests demonstrates these premium brands' well-rounded wet-weather engineering. Again, the Prinx tire lags significantly behind with a time of 94 seconds.

Nexen N Blue S surprisingly excels in straight-line aquaplaning resistance with a float speed of 76.7 km/h, significantly outperforming tires that lead in other wet categories. Bridgestone places second (74.5 km/h), showing good water evacuation capabilities. Despite their strong performance in other wet tests, both Michelin and Prinx struggle with the lowest float speeds of 71.5 and 71.1 km/h respectively.

Bridgestone Turanza T005 dominates curved aquaplaning resistance with 2.98 m/sec² of remaining lateral acceleration, followed closely by Nexen at 2.89 m/sec². These results align with their strong straight aquaplaning performance. Michelin shows its weakest result here at 2.28 m/sec² - significantly behind the competition and reinforcing its weakness in water evacuation tests.

Comfort

Continental, Goodyear, and Michelin tie for first place with 7.0 points each, showing that low rolling resistance doesn't necessarily compromise ride comfort. The remaining tires score reasonably well, with only the Prinx noticeably behind at 6.0 points.

Goodyear produces the lowest external noise at 63.4 dB, with Continental and Michelin following closely. Bridgestone measures noticeably louder at 66.8 dB, a full 3.4 dB above the quietest tire. Interestingly, the budget Prinx tire performs relatively well in this test, placing fourth with 64.1 dB, one of its few stronger showings.

Value

Michelin e.Primacy demonstrates its efficiency focus with the lowest rolling resistance coefficient of 5.48 kg/t, followed closely by Goodyear at 5.61 kg/t. Despite winning multiple performance categories, Continental places sixth at 6.58 kg/t, suggesting its optimisation focused more on grip than efficiency. The Prinx tire shows the worst efficiency at 6.81 kg/t, contradicting its "Comfort EV" naming which implies energy efficiency.

Results

1st: Continental UltraContact NXT
205/55 R16 EU Label: A/A/ Origin: Portugal 3PMSF: no Price: 479.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 36.6 M 36.1 M +0.5 M 98.63% Dry Handling 1st 52.5 s 100% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 7.1 Points 100% Wet Braking 1st 50.2 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 84.6 s 100% Wet Circle 1st 0.841 m/s 100% Straight Aqua 4th 74.1 Km/H 76.7 Km/H -2.6 Km/H 96.61% Curved Aquaplaning 4th 2.75 m/sec2 2.98 m/sec2 -0.23 m/sec2 92.28% Subj. Comfort 1st 7 Points 100% Noise 2nd 63.8 dB 63.4 dB +0.4 dB 99.37% Rolling Resistance 6th 6.58 kg / t 5.48 kg / t +1.1 kg / t 83.28% The Continental UltraContact NXT emerges as the overall winner, demonstrating exceptional balance across nearly all testing criteria. It dominates wet performance categories with best-in-class wet braking, handling, and circle grip while maintaining strong dry performance credentials. The Continental excels in subjective handling assessments, earning top marks from test drivers for both precision and comfort. Its only notable weakness appears in rolling resistance, where it ranks sixth, suggesting Continental prioritized grip and handling characteristics over maximum efficiency. Despite this trade-off and its premium price point (€479), the UltraContact NXT justifies its position as the test winner through consistently high performance across safety-critical categories. Read Reviews
2nd: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
205/55 R16 EU Label: A/A/ Origin: Poland 3PMSF: no Price: 436.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 37.1 M 36.1 M +1 M 97.3% Dry Handling 2nd 52.8 s 52.5 s +0.3 s 99.43% Subj. Dry Handling 4th 6.5 Points 7.1 Points -0.6 Points 91.55% Wet Braking 2nd 51.1 M 50.2 M +0.9 M 98.24% Wet Handling 2nd 85 s 84.6 s +0.4 s 99.53% Wet Circle 2nd 0.84 m/s 0.841 m/s -0 m/s 99.88% Straight Aqua 5th 73.7 Km/H 76.7 Km/H -3 Km/H 96.09% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd 2.77 m/sec2 2.98 m/sec2 -0.21 m/sec2 92.95% Subj. Comfort 1st 7 Points 100% Noise 1st 63.4 dB 100% Rolling Resistance 2nd 5.61 kg / t 5.48 kg / t +0.13 kg / t 97.68% The Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 secures a strong second-place finish with well-balanced performance across all test categories. It follows closely behind Continental in wet performance while delivering excellent efficiency with the second-lowest rolling resistance rating. The Goodyear shines particularly in comfort metrics, achieving the lowest external noise levels (63.4 dB) and tied for top comfort scores. It demonstrates solid dry handling capabilities with a second-place finish in the dry handling test (52.8 seconds). While not leading in any individual performance category except noise, the Goodyear impresses with its consistent high-level performance and well-rounded character, offering an excellent balance between safety, comfort, and efficiency at a slightly lower price point (€436) than the Continental. Read Reviews
3rd: Michelin e.Primacy
205/55 R16 EU Label: A/A/ Origin: Germany 3PMSF: no Price: 415.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 36.1 M 100% Dry Handling 6th 53.4 s 52.5 s +0.9 s 98.31% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 6.3 Points 7.1 Points -0.8 Points 88.73% Wet Braking 3rd 51.7 M 50.2 M +1.5 M 97.1% Wet Handling 3rd 85.5 s 84.6 s +0.9 s 98.95% Wet Circle 5th 0.802 m/s 0.841 m/s -0.04 m/s 95.36% Straight Aqua 6th 71.5 Km/H 76.7 Km/H -5.2 Km/H 93.22% Curved Aquaplaning 7th 2.28 m/sec2 2.98 m/sec2 -0.7 m/sec2 76.51% Subj. Comfort 1st 7 Points 100% Noise 3rd 63.9 dB 63.4 dB +0.5 dB 99.22% Rolling Resistance 1st 5.48 kg / t 100% The Michelin e.Primacy showcases its efficiency-focused design by delivering the best rolling resistance coefficient (5.48 kg/t) while still maintaining strong overall performance. It excels in dry braking with a class-leading 36.1 meters stopping distance and delivers good wet braking performance. The e.Primacy's comfort credentials are equally impressive, tying for first in subjective comfort assessment. However, Michelin shows some weakness in water evacuation tests, placing last in curved aquaplaning and near-last in straight aquaplaning resistance. This suggests a trade-off where rolling resistance improvements may have compromised water dispersion capabilities. Despite these limitations, the Michelin's balance of efficiency, comfort, and core safety performance at a competitive price point (€415) earns it third place overall. Read Reviews
4th: Bridgestone Turanza T005
205/55 R16 EU Label: A/A/ Origin: Hungary 3PMSF: no Price: 437.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 37.9 M 36.1 M +1.8 M 95.25% Dry Handling 4th 53 s 52.5 s +0.5 s 99.06% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 6.9 Points 7.1 Points -0.2 Points 97.18% Wet Braking 6th 54.2 M 50.2 M +4 M 92.62% Wet Handling 6th 86.9 s 84.6 s +2.3 s 97.35% Wet Circle 3rd 0.817 m/s 0.841 m/s -0.02 m/s 97.15% Straight Aqua 2nd 74.5 Km/H 76.7 Km/H -2.2 Km/H 97.13% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 2.98 m/sec2 100% Subj. Comfort 4th 6.5 Points 7 Points -0.5 Points 92.86% Noise 7th 66.8 dB 63.4 dB +3.4 dB 94.91% Rolling Resistance 4th 6.08 kg / t 5.48 kg / t +0.6 kg / t 90.13% The Bridgestone Turanza T005, despite being a model being phased out of the market, delivers solid performance across most test categories. It particularly excels in aquaplaning resistance, winning the curved aquaplaning test with 2.98 m/sec² and placing second in straight aquaplaning. The Bridgestone also scores well in subjective dry handling assessment (second place with 6.9 points), showing good driver feedback and precision. Its main weaknesses appear in wet braking (sixth place at 54.2 meters) and external noise (last place at 66.8 dB). With respectable rolling resistance and good dry handling characteristics, the Turanza T005 demonstrates why it was a successful premium tire, though its balanced but not class-leading performance in most categories explains its tied fourth-place finish despite its premium pricing (€437). Read Reviews
5th: Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
205/55 R16 EU Label: A/A/ Origin: Turkey 3PMSF: no Price: 336.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 36.3 M 36.1 M +0.2 M 99.45% Dry Handling 3rd 52.9 s 52.5 s +0.4 s 99.24% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 6.7 Points 7.1 Points -0.4 Points 94.37% Wet Braking 4th 53.8 M 50.2 M +3.6 M 93.31% Wet Handling 4th 86.1 s 84.6 s +1.5 s 98.26% Wet Circle 4th 0.814 m/s 0.841 m/s -0.03 m/s 96.79% Straight Aqua 3rd 74.3 Km/H 76.7 Km/H -2.4 Km/H 96.87% Curved Aquaplaning 6th 2.56 m/sec2 2.98 m/sec2 -0.42 m/sec2 85.91% Subj. Comfort 4th 6.5 Points 7 Points -0.5 Points 92.86% Noise 5th 65 dB 63.4 dB +1.6 dB 97.54% Rolling Resistance 5th 6.35 kg / t 5.48 kg / t +0.87 kg / t 86.3% The Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun demonstrates the narrowing gap between mid-range and premium tires, matching Bridgestone's overall score to tie for fourth place. The Falken particularly impresses in dry conditions, achieving second-best dry braking performance (36.3 meters) and third-place dry handling times. It delivers solid subjective handling feedback (third place) and maintains reasonable wet performance with mid-pack results across most wet categories. Its aquaplaning resistance is mixed, with good straight-line performance but below-average results in curved aquaplaning tests. With middle-of-the-pack rolling resistance and reasonable comfort scores, the Falken represents excellent value at €336 - significantly less expensive than the premium competitors while delivering comparable performance in many key categories. Read Reviews
6th: Nexen N Blue S
205/55 R16 EU Label: A/A/ Origin: South Korea 3PMSF: no Price: 253.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 37.6 M 36.1 M +1.5 M 96.01% Dry Handling 5th 53.2 s 52.5 s +0.7 s 98.68% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 5.7 Points 7.1 Points -1.4 Points 80.28% Wet Braking 5th 53.9 M 50.2 M +3.7 M 93.14% Wet Handling 5th 86.5 s 84.6 s +1.9 s 97.8% Wet Circle 6th 0.801 m/s 0.841 m/s -0.04 m/s 95.24% Straight Aqua 1st 76.7 Km/H 100% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd 2.89 m/sec2 2.98 m/sec2 -0.09 m/sec2 96.98% Subj. Comfort 4th 6.5 Points 7 Points -0.5 Points 92.86% Noise 6th 65.2 dB 63.4 dB +1.8 dB 97.24% Rolling Resistance 3rd 6.04 kg / t 5.48 kg / t +0.56 kg / t 90.73% The Nexen N'Blue S proves to be a cost-effective option with some standout performance characteristics. Most notably, it dominates the straight aquaplaning test with a significantly higher float speed (76.7 km/h) than its competitors and places second in curved aquaplaning resistance. The tire also features good efficiency with the third-best rolling resistance result (6.04 kg/t). However, the Nexen shows clear compromises in subjective assessments, ranking last in subjective dry handling feel (5.7 points). Its wet and dry braking performances are adequate but unexceptional, placing mid-pack. At €253, the N'Blue S represents the best value option in the test for price-conscious buyers, particularly those in rainy climates where its excellent aquaplaning resistance would be beneficial, though its handling feel limitations are evident compared to premium offerings. Read Reviews
7th: BMW X3m40i
205/55 R16 EU Label: A/B/ Origin: China 3PMSF: no Price: 321.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 39.5 M 36.1 M +3.4 M 91.39% Dry Handling 7th 53.6 s 52.5 s +1.1 s 97.95% Subj. Dry Handling 6th 6 Points 7.1 Points -1.1 Points 84.51% Wet Braking 7th 68.7 M 50.2 M +18.5 M 73.07% Wet Handling 7th 94 s 84.6 s +9.4 s 90% Wet Circle 7th 0.755 m/s 0.841 m/s -0.09 m/s 89.77% Straight Aqua 7th 71.1 Km/H 76.7 Km/H -5.6 Km/H 92.7% Curved Aquaplaning 5th 2.72 m/sec2 2.98 m/sec2 -0.26 m/sec2 91.28% Subj. Comfort 7th 6 Points 7 Points -1 Points 85.71% Noise 4th 64.1 dB 63.4 dB +0.7 dB 98.91% Rolling Resistance 7th 6.81 kg / t 5.48 kg / t +1.33 kg / t 80.47% The Prinx XLAB Comfort EV significantly underperforms across most test categories, raising serious safety concerns particularly in wet conditions. Its wet braking distance (68.7 meters) is nearly 37% longer than the test-winning Continental, representing a potentially dangerous performance deficit. The Chinese tire also records the slowest wet handling time (94 seconds) and poorest wet circle grip. Despite its "Comfort EV" naming suggesting energy efficiency, it ironically delivers the worst rolling resistance result (6.81 kg/t). The Prinx also falls short in dry performance with the longest dry braking distance and slowest handling time. Its only decent result comes in noise testing, where it places mid-pack. Given its price point (€321) exceeding both the Falken and Nexen while delivering substantially worse performance, the Prinx XLAB Comfort EV cannot be recommended despite its "B" EU wet grip rating. Read Reviews