Premium Touring Tire Tests

Every year there's a tire test that makes me stop and wonder how they got to their conclusion, and this year that award goes to the UTAC / Aftonbladet summer tire test.

As a bit of scene setting, Aftonbladet is a Scandinavian newspaper, so UTAC, who performed the testing, focused on the cold weather ability of the tires, which is something I love. However, they did make some interesting statements, and ended up with some interesting findings. In total they tested 14 tires, 10 summer and 4 European spec all season tires, all in 225/45 R17.

German publication AutoBild has tested eight summer tires in the 215/55 R18 size specifically aimed at electric vehicles. The test aimed to find tires that could achieve the difficult balance between energy efficiency (for maximum EV range) and safety performance.

AutoBild evaluated models from premium manufacturers like Continental, Goodyear and Michelin alongside offerings from mid-range brands including Falken, Firestone and Yokohama, plus budget option Goodride. Interestingly, only two tires in the test - the Hankook iON evo and Falken e.Ziex - were specifically designed as EV tires, while others were standard tires that manufacturers claim are also suitable for electric vehicles.

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.

Auto Motor Und Sport always pushes traditional tire testing in new directions, and this years summer tire test has a new twist - sustainability. The test focused on the 215/55 R17 size, suitable for midsize sedans, station wagons, and compact SUVs, with particular attention paid to tires achieving at least a "B" rating for rolling resistance on the EU tire label.

Vi Bilägare magazines summer tire test features eight tires in size 235/55 R19, focusing on performance for EV SUVs. Testing took place in unusually cold conditions near Madrid, Spain, where temperatures hovered around 10°C - similar to Scandinavian spring or autumn weather.

The test featured six standard aftermarket tires from premium and budget manufacturers, alongside two OE (Original Equipment) tires specifically designed for Volkswagen and Volvo vehicles. The testing vehicle was a Kia EV6, a battery-electric SUV weighing 2,031kg, with some measurements also taken using a Tesla Model Y.

Finnish magazine Moottori tested eight mid-range summer tires in size 205/55 R16. They ran the tires through wet and dry braking tests, handling circuits, aquaplaning resistance, and measured noise levels and rolling resistance. The test showed clear differences in grip levels, with Nokian's Hakka Blue 3 taking the top spot over BF Goodrich Advantage DT1 and Hankook Ventus Prime 4.

There's a new comfort bias summer tire to market, the Pirelli Cinturato C3! To see how good the new tire really is, I've tested it against some of its key rivals from Michelin and Continental. I've also added some new tires I've not tested before. 

As usual, all the tires in this test will be tested in the dry and wet, and I'll be assessing the comfort, noise, and rolling resistance (energy use) of the tires to give you a complete overview of which tire is best.

The all weather category of tires is quickly growing in popularity, as a tire that can be used in all weathers is a big advantage for people living in snowy climates, it saves changing tires twice a year between an all season and a winter product.

To find out which of these new all weather category tires is best, I have tested them in the dry, wet, snow and ice to give you a really good overview of their abilities, and also looked into the the rolling resistance, comfort, noise levels and value, to find out which tire is best in all conditions.

THIS DATA IS BASED ON INTERNAL MICHELIN TESTING.

Now that's clearly out of the way, I think it's quite an interesting datapoint. I'm confident the data will be good as when companies put competitor data in the public eye, they risk being sued over it, so they triple check everything is fair.

Vi Bilägare has completed their latest winter tire test, evaluating seven dedicated Nordic friction tires and one all-season tire in size 225/45 R17. The reigning champion, Continental VikingContact 7, has been replaced by the VikingContact 8, which is tested against competitors from Goodyear, Michelin, Nokian, and Hankook. The test also included two budget tires, Radar and Greenmax.

The excellent magazine Vi Bilagare tested seven studded tires and one friction (non-studded) winter tire - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5. Testing was conducted in various locations across Finland and Sweden, using a Volkswagen Golf for most tests.

Below is the data from the Sport Auto all season tire test. Their test vehicle was a sporty Hyundai i20N, and they included named reference summer and winter tires, which is always nice (even if the summer tire was the Asymmetric 3, a tire originally launched over 10 years ago!)

Another key point is that the wet tests were done at cold conditions, "significantly below ten degrees", and around 7c for wet braking. Many of the all season tires out performed the summer tire, however as the summer tire is not current it's hard to say whether a modern summer tire would have performed better.

These are the result from 2024 Auto Express All Season Tire Test.

These are the result from 2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

Auto Bild AllRads's 2024 SUV All Season Tire Test tested 12 all-season tires in size 245/45 R18, alongside summer and winter reference tires. The test revealed significant performance gaps between the best and worst all-season tires across various conditions, while also highlighting the compromises these tires make compared to specialized seasonal options.

In dry conditions, the top-performing all-season tires approached the capabilities of the summer reference tire, but couldn't quite match its grip or balance. The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 demonstrated the shortest dry braking distance among all-season tires at 37.7 meters, though still 2.4 meters behind the summer reference. In contrast, the poorest performing Minerva All Season Master required an additional 5.7 meters to stop. Dry handling tests showed similar trends, with the best all-season tire, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2, achieving an average speed just 1.1 km/h slower than the summer reference, while the slowest Nexen N Blue 4Season 2 lagged by 5.3 km/h.

Below is all the glorious data from the Auto Bild full winter test, in 205/55 R16. These are the top 20 tires that made it through the 53 tire shootout, so they're all essentially good tires, they're just different shades of good.

German auto magazine AUTO Straßenverkehr has conducted an SUV winter tire test, evaluating ten models in the 235/55 R18 size. The test, carried out under various weather conditions including snow, wet, and dry surfaces, aims to provide consumers with valuable insights into tire performance for the upcoming winter season.

The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV emerged as the top performer, achieving the highest score of 8.9 and a "very good" rating. It excelled particularly in snow performance and dry handling. Close behind was the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, securing second place with a "very good" 8.6, showing balanced performance across all conditions.

Motor magazine has recently conducted an SUV all-season tire test, focusing on the popular 235/60 R18 size commonly found on SUVs and family vans.

The Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV won the test. It had a great balance between snow, wet, and dry performance, while maintaining low rolling resistance and noise levels. The Continental AllSeasonContact 2 secured the second position, excelling in wet conditions and achieving the lowest rolling resistance. Bridgestone's Turanza All Season 6 completed the top three, displaying consistent high-level performance across all tests. In the mid-range segment, the Falken EuroAll Season AS220 Pro showed strong dry handling characteristics but underperformed in snow conditions. The budget-oriented Dębica Navigator 3 demonstrated impressive snow performance and competitive pricing, although its wet performance was subpar. The Imperial All Season Driver, while offering the lowest price point, consistently ranked at the bottom of most performance metrics, with notable weaknesses in wet and snow conditions. These results indicate a clear correlation between tire price and performance, with higher-priced options generally offering superior all-round capabilities. However, some mid-range and budget options showed strengths in specific areas, suggesting potential value for users with particular performance priorities.

Auto Zeitung, a German automotive publication, has conducted a tire test comparing the performance of all-season and winter tires. The test features 10 premium touring tires in size 215/55 R17, including three all-season and seven winter options, across various driving conditions.

The test results highlight the difference differences between all-season and winter tires. In dry conditions, all-season tires consistently outperformed their winter counterparts, demonstrating shorter braking distances and faster handling times. This showcases their versatility in warmer weather.

The gap between all-season and winter tires narrowed in wet conditions. While some all-season tires still excelled, certain winter tires, notably the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005, showed impressive wet performance, sometimes surpassing their all-season rivals.

As expected, winter tires generally dominated in snowy conditions. However, the test revealed that some high-quality all-season tires could compete effectively with winter tires in light to moderate snow, particularly in traction and lateral grip tests.

As usual, no one does it better than AutoBild. Since revealing the best 15 all season tires in wet and dry braking, they put the victors through to their full barrage of tests, which includes wear testing!

It's a really fascinating in depth look at the best of the all season tires in the popular 225/50 R17 size, check out all the data below. The Bridgestone was the best in the pre-test, best in both dry and wet braking, but can it continue its dominance now that there's 15 more categories to grade?