Premium Touring Passenger Car 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.

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.

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.

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? 

The 2024 winter tire test conducted by Teknikens Värld, a Swedish automotive magazine, evaluated 18 different tires across various categories, including studded, Nordic non-studded, and Central European winter tires. The test also included two used tires to demonstrate how performance changes over time. 

The magazine crowned an overall winner, which we feel is a bit of an odd choice given the differing target requirements. The overall winner of the test was the Continental ContiVikingContact 8, a Nordic non-studded tire that demonstrated excellent all-round performance. It maintained the strong winter capabilities of its predecessor while significantly improving wet performance and rolling resistance. This proved manufacturers are working to address the traditional weaknesses of Nordic non-studded tires, particularly in wet conditions.

The 2024 Autobild All Season tire test tested 37 premium touring all-season tires in the 225/50 R17 size, focusing on dry and wet braking performance. The test reveals a significant performance gap between the top and bottom performers, especially in wet conditions. The Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 emerged as the standout performer, excelling in both dry and wet braking tests. It was closely followed by the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 and Continental AllSeasonContact 2. The test highlighted that while many tires performed adequately in dry conditions, wet performance varied dramatically, with some budget options showing alarming results. This overview serves as a preliminary assessment, with top performers likely to advance to more comprehensive testing.

For 2024 ADAC have tested two sizes of winter tires. The below test covers the 16" version. There's nothing particularly shocking in the overall results, so enjoy the data, which includes wear, below!

Autobild are back at it again, this year testing a massive 55 winter tires in wet braking, then taking the top 33 to a snow braking test, all to find out the safest 20 winter tires in the wet and snow to put through to their full test!

Auto Bild Klassik magazine recently conducted a test of seven classic-style summer tires in the 205/70 VR 15 size, aiming to improve safety and performance for vintage sports cars. The testers used a Jaguar E-Type Lightweight replica, an iconic 1960s sports car renowned for its powerful 270 PS engine and impressive 240 km/h top speed. I'm very sad this isn't a Tire Reviews test!

As usual with Auto Bild tests, they've done a proper job. On wet surfaces, the tires were evaluated for their resistance to aquaplaning, cornering stability, overall handling, and braking efficiency. Dry condition tests focused on handling, braking performance, rolling comfort, and noise levels. Additionally, the tires' rolling resistance was measured to gauge their efficiency.