2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test

Test Size: 235/45 R18
Tyres Tested: 10 tyres
Test Categories:
4 categories (8 tests)
Similar Tests

Test Category Best Performer Worst Performer Difference
Dry (2 tests)
Dry Braking Continental Premium Contact 6: 36 M Kumho Ecsta HS51: 39.2 M3.2 M (8.2%)
Dry Handling Continental Premium Contact 6: 59.3 s Nankang AS1: 60.9 s1.6 s (2.6%)
Wet (3 tests)
Wet Braking Michelin CrossClimate Plus: 54.6 M Nankang AS1: 77.3 M22.7 M (29.4%)
Wet Handling Continental Premium Contact 6: 90 s Nankang AS1: 99.9 s9.9 s (9.9%)
Straight Aqua Kumho Ecsta HS51: 75.1 Km/H Nankang AS1: 68.2 Km/H6.9 Km/H (10.1%)
Comfort (1 tests)
Noise Maxxis Premitra HP5: 68 dB Michelin CrossClimate Plus: 72 dB4.0 dB (5.6%)
Value (2 tests)
Price Nankang AS1: 265 Michelin CrossClimate Plus: 645 380.0 (58.9%)
Rolling Resistance Michelin Primacy 4: 7.2 kg / t Nankang AS1: 8.92 kg / t1.7 kg / t (19.3%)
For the 2019 summer season Auto Zeitung have tested nine 235/45 R18 summer tyres, and included the summer-bias all season Michelin CrossClimate.

The stand out performances go to the new Continental Premium Contact 6 and Michelin Primacy 4, both showing extremely well balanced test results, and also the new Maxxis Premitra HP5. The quality of Maxxis tyres has quietly improving quickly over the past 12 months, and it's great to see the Premitra HP5 prove it's excellent price / performance ratio.

It's also worth noting, which the Michelin CrossClimate only finished seventh place overall, this is the only tyre on test which has any sort of ability in the snow. The trade for snow performance is often dry grip, but the CrossClimate held its own in a full summer tyre test, which makes it unique amongst all season tyres.

Dry

The dry testing was led by the top three tyres overall, with the Continental, Michelin Primacy 4 and Maxxis trading places in the dry braking and dry handling testing. The Nankang AS1 was last in both tests.

Wet

The Michelin CrossClimate had a surprise advantage during wet braking, but couldn't match the performance during the wet handling lap. The Continental Premium Contact 6 was the best of the summer tyres, with the Maxxis, Yokohama and Bridgestone all having excellent results. The Nankang AS1 was again last.

The Kumho was the best tyre for straight aquaplaning resistance.

Environment

The Michelin Primacy 4 had an extremely low rolling resistance, while the Continental's only weakness was highlighted.

The Maxxis was the quietest tyre on test, with a 1dB margin over the next best.

The cheapest set of tyres on test, the Nankang AS1, were almost a third of the price of the most expensive.

Results

As always, you can see the full results on the Auto Zeitung website.

1st: Continental Premium Contact 6

Continental Premium Contact 6
  • 235/45 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking1st36 M100%
Dry Handling1st59.3 s100%
Wet Braking2nd57.7 M54.6 M+3.1 M94.63%
Wet Handling1st90 s100%
Straight Aqua5th74 Km/H75.1 Km/H-1.1 Km/H98.54%
Noise7th71 dB68 dB+3 dB95.77%
Price8th555 265 +290 47.75%
Rolling Resistance8th8.34 kg / t7.2 kg / t+1.14 kg / t86.33%
The best tyre in the wet by a margin, shortest dry braking and excellent dry handling, good level of comfort.
None mentioned.

Read Reviews    Buy from £144.39

2nd: Michelin Primacy 4

Michelin Primacy 4
  • 235/45 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd36.6 M36 M+0.6 M98.36%
Dry Handling2nd59.7 s59.3 s+0.4 s99.33%
Wet Braking6th60.6 M54.6 M+6 M90.1%
Wet Handling6th94.2 s90 s+4.2 s95.54%
Straight Aqua7th72.3 Km/H75.1 Km/H-2.8 Km/H96.27%
Noise7th71 dB68 dB+3 dB95.77%
Price9th590 265 +325 44.92%
Rolling Resistance1st7.2 kg / t100%
Good results in the dry and wet, very low rolling resistance.
None mentioned.

Read Reviews    Buy from £150.61

3rd: Maxxis Premitra HP5

Maxxis Premitra HP5
  • 235/45 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking2nd36.4 M36 M+0.4 M98.9%
Dry Handling3rd60.2 s59.3 s+0.9 s98.5%
Wet Braking5th59.2 M54.6 M+4.6 M92.23%
Wet Handling2nd91.2 s90 s+1.2 s98.68%
Straight Aqua6th73.2 Km/H75.1 Km/H-1.9 Km/H97.47%
Noise1st68 dB100%
Price3rd345 265 +80 76.81%
Rolling Resistance7th8.31 kg / t7.2 kg / t+1.11 kg / t86.64%
Up there with premium rivals at a lower price, good in the wet, short dry braking.
Average rolling resistance, average comfort, average dry handling.

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4th: Pirelli CINTURATO P7

Pirelli CINTURATO P7
  • 235/45 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th37.5 M36 M+1.5 M96%
Dry Handling3rd60.2 s59.3 s+0.9 s98.5%
Wet Braking3rd58.8 M54.6 M+4.2 M92.86%
Wet Handling8th96.6 s90 s+6.6 s93.17%
Straight Aqua3rd74.2 Km/H75.1 Km/H-0.9 Km/H98.8%
Noise3rd70 dB68 dB+2 dB97.14%
Price5th465 265 +200 56.99%
Rolling Resistance6th8.19 kg / t7.2 kg / t+0.99 kg / t87.91%
Good results in the dry and wet, short wet braking.
None mentioned.

Read Reviews    Buy from £126.38

5th: Bridgestone Turanza T005

Bridgestone Turanza T005
  • 235/45 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking4th36.8 M36 M+0.8 M97.83%
Dry Handling8th60.7 s59.3 s+1.4 s97.69%
Wet Braking8th66.6 M54.6 M+12 M81.98%
Wet Handling3rd92.8 s90 s+2.8 s96.98%
Straight Aqua2nd74.3 Km/H75.1 Km/H-0.8 Km/H98.93%
Noise7th71 dB68 dB+3 dB95.77%
Price7th540 265 +275 49.07%
Rolling Resistance2nd7.46 kg / t7.2 kg / t+0.26 kg / t96.51%
Short dry braking and good ride quality, low rolling resistance, very good aquaplaning resistance.
Long wet braking distances.

Read Reviews    Buy from £128.53

6th: Yokohama BluEarth AE50

Yokohama BluEarth AE50
  • 235/45 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking7th37.8 M36 M+1.8 M95.24%
Dry Handling6th60.4 s59.3 s+1.1 s98.18%
Wet Braking4th59 M54.6 M+4.4 M92.54%
Wet Handling4th93.4 s90 s+3.4 s96.36%
Straight Aqua8th70.8 Km/H75.1 Km/H-4.3 Km/H94.27%
Noise3rd70 dB68 dB+2 dB97.14%
Price6th470 265 +205 56.38%
Rolling Resistance3rd7.68 kg / t7.2 kg / t+0.48 kg / t93.75%
A well balanced tyre, low rolling resistance.
Reduced aquaplaning resistance.

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7th: Michelin CrossClimate+

Michelin CrossClimate Plus
  • 235/45 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking8th39.2 M36 M+3.2 M91.84%
Dry Handling6th60.4 s59.3 s+1.1 s98.18%
Wet Braking1st54.6 M100%
Wet Handling7th96 s90 s+6 s93.75%
Straight Aqua9th70.4 Km/H75.1 Km/H-4.7 Km/H93.74%
Noise10th72 dB68 dB+4 dB94.44%
Price10th645 265 +380 41.09%
Rolling Resistance4th7.78 kg / t7.2 kg / t+0.58 kg / t92.54%
The shortest wet braking distances. The only tyre with snow capability.
Relatively weak wet lateral stability, increased noise levels, long dry braking.

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8th: Apollo Aspire XP

Apollo Aspire XP
  • 235/45 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking5th37.4 M36 M+1.4 M96.26%
Dry Handling5th60.3 s59.3 s+1 s98.34%
Wet Braking7th65.8 M54.6 M+11.2 M82.98%
Wet Handling5th94 s90 s+4 s95.74%
Straight Aqua4th74.1 Km/H75.1 Km/H-1 Km/H98.67%
Noise3rd70 dB68 dB+2 dB97.14%
Price4th400 265 +135 66.25%
Rolling Resistance5th8.16 kg / t7.2 kg / t+0.96 kg / t88.24%
Good aquaplaning resistance.
Long wet braking, soft sidewalls so poor lateral stability.

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9th: Kumho Ecsta HS51

Kumho Ecsta HS51
  • 235/45 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking8th39.2 M36 M+3.2 M91.84%
Dry Handling8th60.7 s59.3 s+1.4 s97.69%
Wet Braking9th73.1 M54.6 M+18.5 M74.69%
Wet Handling9th98 s90 s+8 s91.84%
Straight Aqua1st75.1 Km/H100%
Noise3rd70 dB68 dB+2 dB97.14%
Price2nd325 265 +60 81.54%
Rolling Resistance9th8.49 kg / t7.2 kg / t+1.29 kg / t84.81%
Good aquaplaning resistance.
Long braking distances in the dry and wet, high rolling resistance, low comfort.

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10th: Nankang AS1

Nankang AS1
  • 235/45 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking8th39.2 M36 M+3.2 M91.84%
Dry Handling10th60.9 s59.3 s+1.6 s97.37%
Wet Braking10th77.3 M54.6 M+22.7 M70.63%
Wet Handling10th99.9 s90 s+9.9 s90.09%
Straight Aqua10th68.2 Km/H75.1 Km/H-6.9 Km/H90.81%
Noise2nd69 dB68 dB+1 dB98.55%
Price1st265 100%
Rolling Resistance10th8.92 kg / t7.2 kg / t+1.72 kg / t80.72%
None mentioned.
Unstable at the limit during wet handling and long stopping distances during wet braking, highest rolling resistance.

Read Reviews    Buy from £107.54

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