It seems like every year there's a tyre test that doesn't follow the norm, and this year it's the ACE / ARBÖ / GTÜ summer tyre test.
The test starts out as a regular summer tyre test, there's nine tyre patterns in the popular 225/45 R17 size, and they tested using a VW Golf which is the standard test car. However, once you get into the results, things get a little confusing.
Firstly, no data is provided by the testers, just a points system which makes an accurate analysis of the results difficult. Secondly, the test gives weighting to the price of the tyres, but doesn't test wear, which means a tyre which is cheap to purchase scores well, even if it has a lower overall value due to high wear.
But strangest of all are the overall results.
First to third place was the Nexen N'Fera Sport SU2, Nokian WetProof, and the Falken Azenis FK510 and Maxxis Premitra HP5 tied for third. These brands performing well is not unusual, they've been quickly improving for years, however these brands all finishing ahead of Michelin, Continental and Goodyear is very unusual, and Goodyear finishing dead last with the new EfficientGrip Performance 2, which won the Tyre Reviews summer tyre test, is so far unheard of!
Is this a sign of things to come, or a unique set of variables and score weightings working in favour of the second tier brands? The only thing we can be sure of is that the gap between the best premium tyres and best mid range tyres is getting closer every year, and brands such as Nexen, Nokian, Falken and Maxxis really do make excellent products at their price point.
One final point, both ADAC and Auto Bild have tested a number of these tyres in wear in 2021, and in the ADAC test the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 had nearly twice the tread life of the Maxxis and over double the tread life of the Nokian.
Update:
ACE published a little data on their website, which further adds to the confusion. To quote (translated) "It starts with braking: this is where the test Golf presses itself most decisively into the asphalt when Michelin tires are fitted. It comes to a stop, fully decelerated from 100 km / h, after just 48 meters. With this he collects the 30 maximum points in the results table, but even the second best from Continental needs two meters longer. This is followed by a large midfield with braking distances between 52.1 and 53.9 meters. And a clear loser: with the Maxxis, the Golf only stops after 56.9 meters. Or to put it another way: if the Golf with the Michelin tires is already stationary, it is still almost 40 km / h with the Maxxis."
In most tests, wet braking is usually one of the highest weighted scores in the overall results.
Update 2:
Having now seen a further breakdown of the points system, it seems the testers put a lot of weight on the aquaplaning performance of the tyres. For example, in wet braking the Michelin Primacy 4 received 30 points while the Maxxis, which stopped the car nearly 10 meters behind the Michelin, still received 23 points, a 7 point difference.
While the aquaplaning data isn't published, we can see in this test the Maxxis received 38 points and the Michelin 16, a 22 point difference, which plays a HUGE part in the overall order of the tyres.
If nothing else, this is a good lesson in why you should use data from multiple sources, not just a single test to help you make your tyre purchase decision. As always, you can find all the other tyre tests from 2021 here at Tyre Reviews!
Results
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 54 |
| Wet | 66 |
| Overall | 157 |
Total: 277
Nokian WetProof
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 50 |
| Wet | 66 |
| Overall | 153 |
Total: 269
Falken Azenis FK510
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 50 |
| Wet | 68 |
| Overall | 152 |
Total: 270
Maxxis Premitra HP5
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 49 |
| Wet | 67 |
| Overall | 152 |
Total: 268
Michelin Primacy 4
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 53 |
| Wet | 63 |
| Overall | 151 |
Total: 267
Continental Premium Contact 6
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 51 |
| Wet | 66 |
| Overall | 146 |
Total: 263
Laufenn S Fit EQ+
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 55 |
| Wet | 52 |
| Overall | 146 |
Total: 253
BFGoodrich Advantage
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 50 |
| Wet | 58 |
| Overall | 144 |
Total: 252
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 60 |
| Wet | 58 |
| Overall | 143 |
Total: 261
When in a test Goodyear loses to Laufenn, the test is "Lauffennaghable". (pun intended)
Smooth 😁
What some odd odd test results! Among many items, I noticed that in previous same size tests the Falken and the Nokian always had great scores (if not the best ones) in what noise is concerned, but not in this one, apparently! And that's a very easy item to assess... I wonder how would have they overall rated the Michelin Pilot Sport 4, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asym 5, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 or even the brand new Bridgestone Potenza Sport!
Even in this - weird - test the Falken FK510 performs well; very consistent tyre in all conditions/sizes/reviews.
Shame they didn't test the (updated) Kumho HS51 or PS71...
I've always said cross reference everything. Tests and reviews, then you find the consistent tyres. Each facility has its own surface, climate, and local airborne matter (which settles on the surface) which combined can change results.
Users tend to be a useful counter also, and provide some whole-life info.
Fully agreed, however on the point that "each facility has it's own surface" etc, this was tested at the Contidrome in Germany which has probably done more tests than any other facility!
Indeed, was just meaning in general 👍
I can only say: Don´t use the GTÜ-tyre-reviews as reference. Since years it´s unusable
Every test has it's uses, and it seems this is a great test if you want a tyre that excels in aquaplaning performance at the expense of everything else!
Nokian Wetproof in all test so far wasn't a tyre with good aquaplaning results , this time is excelent.
I always take a look at the results in the single disciplines, if possible. So I can choose my favorite tyre.
And nah, GTÜ show since years very strange results, maybe it´s useful for fans of weak, cheap tyres if the tyre looks good in GTÜ. But for others it´s jeust confusing