Thanks to the explosion in SUV type vehicles, tyre companies are feverishly updating their SUV and 4x4 product lines. To see which manufacturer is currently doing the best job, Auto Bild Allrad have tested eight of the latest patterns in the large 265/60 R18 size.
It's actually surprisingly difficult to test the off-road capabilities of tyres, but Auto Bild do a great job of testing the grass, sand, gravel and mud capabilities of each tyre on test - not that the average British SUV sees these sorts of conditions in the suburbs of East London.
As this is a very data heavy test we'll keep the words to a minimum and let the results do the talking. Details below, be sure to check out the Auto Bild website for the full test (in German)
Dry
In both the dry tests, the Continental proved to be the strongest, with both the low cost tyres being significantly behind in the dry braking test.
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Apollo Apterra HT2
Wet
In the wet the gap widened even further, with the cheapest tyre on test stopping 20 meters behind the best. 20 meters is the difference between stopping safely and a high speed accident.
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Goodride SU318 HT
Off Road
Tyres which worked well on the road coped with the gravel tests, but generally did worst on mud and grass.
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
Environment
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Goodride SU318 HT
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport SUV
- Kumho Crugen HP91
- Apollo Apterra HT2
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Hankook Ventus ST
- Continental ContiSportContact 5 SU
- Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV
Results
Excellent balanced performance, accurate steering, short braking in the dry and wet.
Average traction in mud.
Test winner.
Total: 35
Dry
8
Wet
7
Offroad
6
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
6
Good off-road, high resistance to aquaplaning, short braking distances in the wet, well priced.
High rolling resistance.
Test winner.
Total: 30
Dry
6
Wet
7
Offroad
8
Rolling Resistance
4
Noise
5
Good handling in the dry and wet, good lateral stability and steering response, good comfort levels.
Average traction in mud.
Recommended.
Total: 28
Dry
6
Wet
6
Offroad
6
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
5
High grip and good handling in the dry, low rolling resistance.
Average stability and understeer in the wet.
Satisfactory.
Total: 35
Dry
8
Wet
6
Offroad
6
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
7
High grip on sand and mud, balance in the wet, well priced.
Slow steering and understeer in the dry.
Satisfactory.
Total: 30
Dry
6
Wet
6
Offroad
6
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
7
Good handling in the dry, good comfort levels, low rolling resistance.
Understeer and long braking distances in the wet. High noise level.
Satisfactory.
Total: 29
Dry
8
Wet
4
Offroad
5
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
4
Highest resistance to aquaplaning, high level of comfort.
Average off-road performance, slow steering, understeer in the dry and wet, long braking distances in the wet.
Conditionally Recommended.
Total: 21
Dry
3
Wet
4
Offroad
5
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
4
Good off-road performance, low price.
Very poor grip, poor balance and very long braking distances in the wet.
Not Recommended.
Total: 24
Dry
4
Wet
1
Offroad
6
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
7
