2010 Auto Zeitung 4x4 Tyre Test

2010 Auto Zeitung 4x4 Tyre Test

While regular car tyres have to balance wet and dry performance, 4x4 tyres have even more to do as they have to potentially cope with high speeds and massive loads on rough terrain.

With this in mind Auto Zeitung have taken 8 of the latest high performance 4x4 tyres and tested their wet, dry and offroad performance. To ensure of the off road performance tests are through, the BMW X5 test vehicle found itself in a mud pool, on sand, skidding over lose dirt and sliding about on wet grass!

With safety being a key concern, the results place the scoring emphasis on braking performance, with traction playing an important part of the offroad scores. As high performance tyres are normally used year round on the road, the wet and dry weather performance forms the largest percentage of the overall points.

The results? Apparently Continental can make thier 4x4 tyres just as good as their car tyres and take another convincing win in 2010. Michelin and Bridgestone place 2nd and 3rd respectively with Nokian finishing 4th to beat the premium Dunlop tyre (which is 100 euros more!)

The full results:

1^st

Continental Cross Contact UHP

255/55 r18

The Continental Cross-ContactUHP scores well in all the key tests to win overall

All discipline results (3)

Test	Result
Dry	127
Wet	133
Offroad	64

Total: 324

2^nd

Michelin Latitude Sport

255/55 r18

Fantastic dry grip, surprisingly good offroad performance

All discipline results (3)

Test	Result
Dry	134
Wet	108
Offroad	52

Total: 294

3^rd

Bridgestone Dueler HP Sport

255/55 r18

A well balanced all round tyre

All discipline results (3)

Test	Result
Dry	120
Wet	115
Offroad	47

Total: 282

4^th

Nokian Z SUV

255/55 r18

With no real weaknesses and low rolling resistance the Nokian Z SUV places fourth

All discipline results (3)

Test	Result
Dry	124
Wet	103
Offroad	54

Total: 281

5^th

Dunlop SP QuattroMaxx

255/55 r18

Strong in the dry and offroad, the Dunlop SPO QuattroMaxx is let down by the wet weather performance

All discipline results (3)

Test	Result
Dry	122
Wet	100
Offroad	56

Total: 278

6^th

Hankook Ventus ST

255/55 r18

The Hankook RH06 is let down by it's dry performance and rolling resistance

All discipline results (3)

Test	Result
Dry	107
Wet	109
Offroad	56

Total: 272

7^th

Vredestein Ultrac SUV Sessanta

255/55 r18

Despite the open-profile, the Ultrac SUV Sessenta is let down by wet performance

All discipline results (3)

Test	Result
Dry	115
Wet	94
Offroad	55

Total: 264

8^th

Kumho Ecsta X3 KL17 ASYMMETRIC

255/55 r18

The new Kumho Ecsta X3 Asymmetric is a wet-optimized tyre

All discipline results (3)

Test	Result
Dry	93
Wet	112
Offroad	52

Total: 257