2014 Auto Bild Top 15 Summer Tyre Test

Test Summary
Wet Braking	Continental Sport Contact 5 Dunlop SportMaxx RT
Dry Braking	Michelin Primacy 3 Pirelli Cinturato P 7 Ecoimpact Continental Sport Contact 5 Bridgestone Turanza T001 Dunlop SportMaxx RT Hankook Ventus Prime2
Rolling Resistance	Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Noise	Michelin Primacy 3 Apollo Aspire 4G Fulda SportControl
Snow Braking	Michelin Primacy 3
Snow Handling	Nexen N Fera SU1 Atlas Sport Green

Following on from yesterdays 50 tyre shootout, Auto Bild have tested the top 15 tyres more thoroughly, putting them through the usual mix of wet, dry, wear and NVH tests in 225/50 R17 on a BMW 320i Touring.

The Premiums

This test had a slightly strange mix of tyres on show from the premium manufacturers. Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear and Dunlop provided their premium touring tyres, whereas Continental and Dunlop provided their ultra high performance summer tyres.

With the test weighted towards wet performance and price per mile, Michelin got the balance spot on with the Michelin Primacy 3 thanks to its excellent all round performance combined with exceptionally low wear. Pirelli scored a strong second with their updated P7 Cinturato, the Eco Impact, and Continental rounded out the top three with the Sport Contact 5 having another strong all round performance.

Surprisingly, Goodyear were beaten to fourth position by Fulda, who are owned by Goodyear and considered a sub brand, thanks to the SportControls excellent value for money, while the sister tyre from Dunlop had to settle for 13th place thanks to very high wear - it scored strongly in all other tests.

Bridgestone finished the test second to last, again thanks to high wear, which is unusual for a Bridgestone tyre.

The Rest

As mentioned Fulda had a very strong showing to finish fourth - while it only scored joint highest in the comfort test, an all round strong performance coupled with a low price earned its excellent finish. Sava, another Goodyear Dunlop brand finished in sixth, showing there are some very promising mid range brands out there if you're not overly interested in dynamic qualities, which this test largely ignored.

A couple of new brands took seventh and ninth place, sandwiching the established Kumho in eighth. Nexen and Hankook finished the tenth and twelfth, leaving this round of the Korean battle won by Kumho.

The Results

The Michelins performed flawlessly, with sharp dynamic handling, low fuel consumption and the best wear, meaning the price per mile was class leading. An all round briliant tyre

None

Total: 46

Dry 8

Wet 7

Comfort 7

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 7

Wear 10

The Pirelli is a very balanced summer tyre with excellent braking on wet and dry roads, precise steering response, and low wear

Aquaplaning

Total: 41

Dry 7

Wet 7

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 6

Noise 6

Wear 9

Excellent driving performance in wet and dry conditions, short wet and dry braking, good wear, low rolling resistance

Expensive

Total: 40

Dry 9

Wet 7

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 5

Wear 7

Good safety reserves with aquaplaning, well-balanced handling in wet and dry conditions, good value for money

Increased fuel consumption

Total: 40

Dry 7

Wet 6

Comfort 7

Rolling Resistance 4

Noise 7

Wear 9

Safe handling qualities and short braking distances on dry roads, good wear, lowest fuel consumption

Slightly noisy

Total: 42

Dry 8

Wet 6

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 10

Noise 5

Wear 7

Stable driving on a wet track, good aquaplaning properties, short dry braking distances

Slow steering response, increased rolling resistance

Total: 34

Dry 6

Wet 6

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 3

Noise 6

Wear 8

Good safety reserves with aquaplaning, short dry braking distances, low pass-by noise, best price-performance ratio

Average handling / steering feel, only moderate comfort

Total: 36

Dry 6

Wet 5

Comfort 3

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 9

Wear 6

Good aquaplaning results, short braking distances on dry roads, quiet pass-by noise, good value for money

Poor mileage, slow steering response

Total: 32

Dry 6

Wet 5

Comfort 4

Rolling Resistance 6

Noise 7

Wear 4

Short braking distances on wet and dry roads, quiet pass-by noise

Average handling in the wet

Total: 33

Dry 6

Wet 5

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 5

Noise 7

Wear 5

Quiet pass-by noise, good price-performance ratio, good economy

Average handling and grip on dry and wet roads

Total: 35

Dry 5

Wet 5

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 9

Wear 4

Short braking distances on both wet and dry conditions, low pass-by noise, low price

Poor dry handling and braking

Total: 31

Dry 3

Wet 5

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 6

Noise 7

Wear 4

Convincing handling qualities on wet and dry roads, pleasant ride comfort

Very high wear, high cost considering performance

Total: 37

Dry 8

Wet 7

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 6

Noise 8

Wear 2

Sporty handling qualities, good safety margins when aquaplaning, short braking distances

Very high wear, high price, cost-effectiveness is restricted

Total: 37

Dry 9

Wet 7

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 6

Wear 2

Good performance on a wet track, good safety reserves to aquaplaning

Very high wear, high price, restricted economy

Total: 35

Dry 7

Wet 7

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 6

Noise 7

Wear 2

Balanced safe driving characteristics, short braking distances, good comfort

Significantly increased rolling resistance

Total: 34

Dry 7

Wet 6

Comfort 7

Rolling Resistance 2

Noise 5

Wear 7

Menu

2014 Auto Bild Top 15 Summer Tyre Test

The Premiums

The Rest

The Results

Michelin Primacy 3

Pirelli Cinturato P 7 Ecoimpact

Continental Sport Contact 5

Fulda SportControl

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance

Sava intensa uhp

Atlas Sport Green

Kumho Ecsta KU39

Point S Summerstar Sport 2

Nexen N Fera SU1

General Altimax UHP

Hankook Ventus Prime2

Dunlop SportMaxx RT

Bridgestone Turanza T001

Apollo Aspire 4G

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