2017 Mid Range Tyre Test

Test Summary
Wet BrakingHankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
Dry BrakingBridgestone DriveGuard
Rolling ResistanceUniroyal RainSport 3
NoiseUniroyal RainSport 3
Snow HandlingBridgestone DriveGuard
Snow HandlingNankang Eco 2 Plus
Toyo Proxes CF2
Nexen N Blue HD Plus
BFGoodrich gGrip
Nokian Line
The first test featuring the new Bridgestone DriveGuard runflat tyre has been published!

Testing ten 205/55 R16 touring tyres on a VW Golf, Polish Motor magazine included the new generation Bridgestone DriveGuard runflat tyre against the traditional non-runflat competition. 

In the past runflat tyres have been criticised for low comfort, high noise and poor wet grip. During the launch of the Bridgestone DriveGuard last year, Bridgestone promised the latest generation runflat tyre had made these issues a thing of the past, and this is the first independent test confirming the new tyres abilities.

While Bridgestone were the only premium manufacturer included in the test, the very well regarded second tier brands from Continental (Uniroyal) and Goodyear (Fulda and Debica) were included to ensure Bridgestone didn't have an easy time of it.

Wet Braking

Uniroyal confirm their reputation as the wet masters, acing the wet braking test, and beating second placed Bridgestone by over a metre. Debica had a strong showing in third, with Nankang struggling in last place, a full 8.5 metres behind the winning Uniroyal.

Wet Handling

Bridgestone prove to be the fastest across a lap, with Nokian and Debica close behind in second and third place. Again, Nankang were totally off the pace and the slowest tyre on test

Bridgestone won both the lateral and longitudinal aquaplaning tests.

Dry Braking

Hankook proved its near-premium credentials, winning the dry braking tests, with Nexen and Bridgestone close behind. This time Toyo struggled, finishing last, but just 1.4 metres behind the winning Hankook.

Dry Handling

Hankook also won the closely contested dry handling test, setting the fastest lap. Bridgestone were 1/10th second behind, with Fulda another 3/10ths slower than Bridgestone.

Noise / Comfort

The real challenge for runflat tyres are the comfort and noise tests.

While the Bridgestone came joint last in the comfort assessment scoring 5.5 points, it tied with two well respected tyres and was only 0.5 points away from five other patterns in joint third place with 6 points. Uniroyal had the clear comfort advantage scoring 7 points overall, and Fulda finished second with 6.1 points.

The magazine chose to noise test the tyres twice, once at 50 km/h and once at 80 km/h. At both speeds Nankang won the test with Toyo second, with Bridgestone scoring third place at the slower speed, but tenth place at the quicker speed.

Result

1st: Bridgestone DriveGuard

Bridgestone DriveGuard
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 197.5
  2. Dry: 69.7
  3. Wet: 99.3
  4. Subjective: 15
  5. Comfort: 1.6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4
  7. Noise: 7.9
Very precise steering in wet and dry, good grip
Noisy compared to the best in test (but good for a runflat!)

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2nd: Uniroyal RainSport 3

Uniroyal RainSport 3
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 194.3
  2. Dry: 69.1
  3. Wet: 97.1
  4. Subjective: 13.3
  5. Comfort: 2
  6. Rolling Resistance: 5
  7. Noise: 7.8
Good wet grip, well balanced tyre
Higher noise level compared to the best on test

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3rd: Debica Presto HP

Debica Presto HP
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 191.4
  2. Dry: 69.2
  3. Wet: 94.3
  4. Subjective: 13.9
  5. Comfort: 1.6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4.6
  7. Noise: 7.8
High grip in the wet, good braking in the dry
An "unpleasant noise", slow steering in the wet

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4th: Fulda EcoControl HP

Fulda EcoControl HP
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 191.1
  2. Dry: 69.4
  3. Wet: 92.5
  4. Subjective: 14.9
  5. Comfort: 1.8
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4.7
  7. Noise: 7.8
Good in the wet and dry
None mentioned

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5th: Nokian Line

Nokian Line
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 190.9
  2. Dry: 68.8
  3. Wet: 93.4
  4. Subjective: 14.5
  5. Comfort: 1.7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4.5
  7. Noise: 8
Very good handling in the wet
None mentioned

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6th: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125

Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 188.4
  2. Dry: 70
  3. Wet: 89.7
  4. Subjective: 14.5
  5. Comfort: 1.7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4.6
  7. Noise: 7.9
Good handling in the dry
Difficult balance in the wet with oversteer and understeer

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7th: BFGoodrich gGrip

BFGoodrich gGrip
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 186.4
  2. Dry: 69
  3. Wet: 88.9
  4. Subjective: 14.5
  5. Comfort: 1.6
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4.4
  7. Noise: 8
Good levels of comfort
Slow steering in dry and wet

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7th: Nexen N Blue HD+

Nexen N Blue HD Plus
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 186.4
  2. Dry: 69.5
  3. Wet: 89.1
  4. Subjective: 13.9
  5. Comfort: 1.7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4.2
  7. Noise: 8
Good balance in the dry
Understeer in the wet, relatively weak dry grip

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9th: Toyo Proxes CF2

Toyo Proxes CF2
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 185.1
  2. Dry: 68.2
  3. Wet: 89.1
  4. Subjective: 13.9
  5. Comfort: 1.7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 4.2
  7. Noise: 8
Good handling in the wet
Relatively weak in the dry

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10th: Nankang Eco 2+

Nankang Eco 2 Plus
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 181.1
  2. Dry: 68.7
  3. Wet: 86
  4. Subjective: 12.8
  5. Comfort: 1.7
  6. Rolling Resistance: 3.9
  7. Noise: 8
Quiet
Oversteer and understeer in the wet, relatively weak dry grip

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