2019 Mid Range Tyre Test

While midrange tyres are cheaper than their premium rivals, they're not the cheapest tyres available on market, so in theory should still provide a reasonable level of performance, just offering better value.

The full test data is below, and it's a shame Moottori didn't include a premium tyre as a reference to see exactly what performances change as the price gets cheaper.

It's also worth noting, Semperit is owned by Continental, Kleber by Michelin and Goodyear owns Debica.

Dry

During dry testing, the Semperit SpeedLife 2 offered the most grip during the dry braking testing, and the Nokian and Kleber proved to have the best subjective handling. Interestingly Moottori didn't offer the dry handling laptimes.

Wet

Semperit continued its strong performance in the wet, offering the highest grip in wet braking and handling, which isn't a huge surprise given Semperit is own by wet weather kings, Continental. As in the dry testing, Maxxis was again extremely close to Semperit.

Environment

Maxxis proved to have an excellent blend of wet performance and low rolling resistance.

While Cooper had the lowest noise.

Results

1^st

Semperit SpeedLife 2

205/55 R16

High aquaplaning resistance, short braking distance on dry and wet surfaces.

Tendency for liftoff oversteer.

Dry

98.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	1st	24.85 M			100%
Subj. Dry Handling	3rd	8.8 Points	9 Points	-0.2 Points	97.78%

Wet

98.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	1st	27.8 M			100%
Wet Handling	1st	57.7 s			100%
Subj. Wet Handling	3rd	8.5 Points	8.9 Points	-0.4 Points	95.51%
Straight Aqua	1st	86.5 Km/H			100%

Comfort

99.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	2nd	66.5 dB	66.4 dB	+0.1 dB	99.85%

Value

94.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	3rd	8.29 kg / t	7.87 kg / t	+0.42 kg / t	94.93%

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2^nd

Maxxis Premitra HP5

205/55 R16

Good handling on dry surfaces, short braking distance on dry and wet surfaces, low rolling resistance.

Unstable during high speed cornering, increased noise.

Dry

96.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	2nd	24.86 M	24.85 M	+0.01 M	99.96%
Subj. Dry Handling	4th	8.4 Points	9 Points	-0.6 Points	93.33%

Wet

96.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	2nd	27.9 M	27.8 M	+0.1 M	99.64%
Wet Handling	1st	57.7 s			100%
Subj. Wet Handling	3rd	8.5 Points	8.9 Points	-0.4 Points	95.51%
Straight Aqua	6th	80 Km/H	86.5 Km/H	-6.5 Km/H	92.49%

Comfort

99%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	6th	67.1 dB	66.4 dB	+0.7 dB	98.96%

Value

100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	1st	7.87 kg / t			100%

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2^nd

Nokian Nordman SX2

205/55 R16

Good handling on dry and wet surfaces, including during emergency maneuvers, high aquaplaning resistance.

Increased noise.

Dry

99%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	5th	25.37 M	24.85 M	+0.52 M	97.95%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st	9 Points			100%

Wet

96.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	3rd	28.8 M	27.8 M	+1 M	96.53%
Wet Handling	3rd	58 s	57.7 s	+0.3 s	99.48%
Subj. Wet Handling	3rd	8.5 Points	8.9 Points	-0.4 Points	95.51%
Straight Aqua	2nd	80.5 Km/H	86.5 Km/H	-6 Km/H	93.06%

Comfort

98.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	8th	67.3 dB	66.4 dB	+0.9 dB	98.66%

Value

92.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	5th	8.51 kg / t	7.87 kg / t	+0.64 kg / t	92.48%

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4^th

Debica Presto HP

205/55 R16

Good handling on dry and wet surfaces, short braking distance on a dry surface.

High rolling resistance, low resistance to aquaplaning, long braking distance on wet surfaces.

Dry

94.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	3rd	24.97 M	24.85 M	+0.12 M	99.52%
Subj. Dry Handling	7th	8 Points	9 Points	-1 Points	88.89%

Wet

96.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5th	29.7 M	27.8 M	+1.9 M	93.6%
Wet Handling	4th	58.1 s	57.7 s	+0.4 s	99.31%
Subj. Wet Handling	1st	8.9 Points			100%
Straight Aqua	3rd	80.2 Km/H	86.5 Km/H	-6.3 Km/H	92.72%

Comfort

99.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	4th	66.6 dB	66.4 dB	+0.2 dB	99.7%

Value

87.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	7th	8.96 kg / t	7.87 kg / t	+1.09 kg / t	87.83%

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5^th

Kleber Dynaxer HP 3

205/55 R16

Good handling on dry surfaces, low rolling resistance.

Average wet handling and long wet braking.

Dry

99.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	4th	25.26 M	24.85 M	+0.41 M	98.38%
Subj. Dry Handling	1st	9 Points			100%

Wet

94.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	6th	30.1 M	27.8 M	+2.3 M	92.36%
Wet Handling	7th	60.2 s	57.7 s	+2.5 s	95.85%
Subj. Wet Handling	2nd	8.6 Points	8.9 Points	-0.3 Points	96.63%
Straight Aqua	6th	80 Km/H	86.5 Km/H	-6.5 Km/H	92.49%

Comfort

99.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	2nd	66.5 dB	66.4 dB	+0.1 dB	99.85%

Value

99.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	2nd	7.93 kg / t	7.87 kg / t	+0.06 kg / t	99.24%

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6^th

Cooper Zeon CS8

205/55 R16

Low noise, acceptable in the dry.

Low wet grip, high rolling resistance.

Dry

87.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	6th	25.44 M	24.85 M	+0.59 M	97.68%
Subj. Dry Handling	8th	7 Points	9 Points	-2 Points	77.78%

Wet

94.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	4th	29.6 M	27.8 M	+1.8 M	93.92%
Wet Handling	5th	58.4 s	57.7 s	+0.7 s	98.8%
Subj. Wet Handling	6th	8.4 Points	8.9 Points	-0.5 Points	94.38%
Straight Aqua	8th	79.2 Km/H	86.5 Km/H	-7.3 Km/H	91.56%

Comfort

100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	1st	66.4 dB			100%

Value

84.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	8th	9.36 kg / t	7.87 kg / t	+1.49 kg / t	84.08%

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7^th

Sumitomo BC100

205/55 R16

None mentioned.

Long braking in the dry and wet, low wet grip and oversteer balance.

Dry

93.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	7th	25.92 M	24.85 M	+1.07 M	95.87%
Subj. Dry Handling	5th	8.2 Points	9 Points	-0.8 Points	91.11%

Wet

92.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	6th	30.1 M	27.8 M	+2.3 M	92.36%
Wet Handling	6th	59.9 s	57.7 s	+2.2 s	96.33%
Subj. Wet Handling	7th	7.9 Points	8.9 Points	-1 Points	88.76%
Straight Aqua	4th	80.1 Km/H	86.5 Km/H	-6.4 Km/H	92.6%

Comfort

99%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	6th	67.1 dB	66.4 dB	+0.7 dB	98.96%

Value

91%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	6th	8.65 kg / t	7.87 kg / t	+0.78 kg / t	90.98%

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8^th

Dayton Touring 2

205/55 R16

Acceptable aquaplaning resistance.

Long braking distances and poor wet handling.

Dry

92.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	8th	25.98 M	24.85 M	+1.13 M	95.65%
Subj. Dry Handling	6th	8.1 Points	9 Points	-0.9 Points	90%

Wet

91.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	8th	30.7 M	27.8 M	+2.9 M	90.55%
Wet Handling	7th	60.2 s	57.7 s	+2.5 s	95.85%
Subj. Wet Handling	7th	7.9 Points	8.9 Points	-1 Points	88.76%
Straight Aqua	4th	80.1 Km/H	86.5 Km/H	-6.4 Km/H	92.6%

Comfort

99.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	5th	66.9 dB	66.4 dB	+0.5 dB	99.25%

Value

93.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Rolling Resistance	4th	8.4 kg / t	7.87 kg / t	+0.53 kg / t	93.69%

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