2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test

The 2022 AutoBild summer tyre is here! As usual, the test started out as a wet and dry braking test of fifty sets of tyres in the popular 215/55 R17 size using a VW Passat, with the best twenty one moving through to this full test. Not only have AutoBild managed to test the new Hankook Ventus Prime 4 and Kumho Ecsta HS52, they've also put all twenty one sets of tyres through a wear test, and included an (unnamed) all season tyre as a reference in the grip tests!

The Best in Test

The Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 won the test by combining good grip in the dry and wet, very low rolling resistance and the best wear on test. Even though it wasn't the cheapest tyre, when AutoBild divided the purchase price by the projected mileage it also proved to be the best value tyre on test, a very impressive showing from Goodyear.

Hankook will be pleased with a second place overall for the new Prime 4. The Prime 3 often had high wear, but the Prime 4 was excellent in the wear test, one of the best tyres in the dry and very good in the wet.

It seems impossible to keep the Michelin Primacy 4 away from the podium of a test, with the French tyre finishing third overall with low wear and a very low rolling resistance as its standout qualities, but thanks to its high purchase price, its calculated value was 20% lower than the Goodyears.

The other notiable inclusion in this test was the ultra low rolling resistance Continental EcoContact 6. Due to the way tyre tests work, this tyre was never going to do well overall thanks to lower levels of wet grip, but the Continental eco tyre did prove to have a significant advantage in rolling resistance, reasonable grip in the dry and wet (remember it beat thirty other tyres in dry and wet braking to get to this test) and surprisingly good levels of wear. If you're looking for a tyre to save petrol, this might be the one for you, but it's definitely not great for sporty handling.

As for the all season tyre, it was the worst in dry braking which was no surprise, but also the worst in both aquaplaning tests, mid pack in dry and wet handling, and mid-pack for rolling resistance. Given this is the only tyre which would offer any sort of grip in snow, it's a fairly impressive result.

Below is the exhaustive data, and be sure to check out the full test on the AutoBild website!

Dry

The new Kumho and Nokian led the way in dry braking, with Bridgestone and Hankook tied behind them.

Hankook led the dry handling lap with the fastest average speed, and Michelin was the best of the rest.

Wet

The Bridgestone Turanza T005 consistently leads wet braking testing, and once again it was the best tyre in the test. The new Hankook again placed well, with Falken and Vredestein close behind.

Bridgestone again led the wet in wet handling, with Hankook and this time Nokian rounding out the top three.

Wet circle roughly mirrored wet handling.

There were varying results for the two aquaplaning tests.

Wear

The test winning Goodyear had a huge lead in wear, with Michelina and Continental rounding out the top three.

Value is calculated by dividing the purchase price of the tyres by the projected mileage then giving a Euros per 1000km figure.

Environment

The eco bias Continental had a good lead in the rolling resistance test, with Michelin, Bridgestone and Goodyear the best of the "regular" tyres.

Autobild conducted external noise testing at 50 km/h and 80 km/h, these are the results from 50 km/h.

Results

View Results as a single table and adjust the score weighting

1st: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 17th +1.1 M 97.01% Dry Handling 7th -1 Km/H 98.96% Wet Braking 13th +3.4 M 92.67% Wet Handling 4th -0.6 Km/H 99.2% Wet Circle 2nd -0.1 m/s 98.52% Straight Aqua 17th -5.6 Km/H 93.65% Curved Aquaplaning 4th -0.31 m/sec2 93.61% Noise 9th +1.7 dB 97.53% Wear 1st 100% Value 1st 100% Price 19th +235 56.07% Rolling Resistance 4th +1.41 kg / t 80.14% Premium performance with excellent handling, short braking, lowest wear on test, best value on test, low rolling resistance. Expensive. Read Reviews    Buy from £103.69
2nd: Hankook Ventus Prime 4
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 3rd +0.1 M 99.72% Dry Handling 1st 100% Wet Braking 2nd +0.5 M 98.85% Wet Handling 2nd -0.4 Km/H 99.47% Wet Circle 4th -0.15 m/s 97.77% Straight Aqua 13th -3.9 Km/H 95.58% Curved Aquaplaning 17th -0.87 m/sec2 82.06% Noise 7th +1.5 dB 97.81% Wear 4th -10540 Km 79.47% Value 4th +1.22 Price/1000 89.52% Price 14th +175 63.16% Rolling Resistance 5th +1.66 kg / t 77.41% Excellent handling in the dry and wet, short braking distances, good mileage, good value for money. Average comfort. Read Reviews
3rd: Michelin Primacy 4
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 8th +0.5 M 98.62% Dry Handling 2nd -0.4 Km/H 99.58% Wet Braking 10th +2.8 M 93.89% Wet Handling 13th -1.9 Km/H 97.46% Wet Circle 13th -0.54 m/s 91.99% Straight Aqua 5th -1.8 Km/H 97.96% Curved Aquaplaning 14th -0.7 m/sec2 85.57% Noise 4th +1.2 dB 98.24% Wear 2nd -6460 Km 87.42% Value 8th +2.17 Price/1000 82.76% Price 20th +265 53.1% Rolling Resistance 2nd +1.14 kg / t 83.31% Very good handling, crisp steering, good aquaplaning reserves, short braking distances, very low wear, low rolling resistance. Expensive. Read Reviews    Buy from £114.39
4th: Bridgestone Turanza T005
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 3rd +0.1 M 99.72% Dry Handling 4th -0.8 Km/H 99.17% Wet Braking 1st 100% Wet Handling 1st 100% Wet Circle 1st 100% Straight Aqua 12th -3.8 Km/H 95.69% Curved Aquaplaning 7th -0.38 m/sec2 92.16% Noise 11th +1.8 dB 97.39% Wear 11th -19380 Km 62.25% Value 19th +5.54 Price/1000 65.29% Price 17th +210 58.82% Rolling Resistance 3rd +1.25 kg / t 81.99% Good grip and excellent wet and dry handling, good aquaplaning properties, precise steering behaviour, short wet and dry braking distances. Average wear. Read Reviews    Buy from £98.79
5th: Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 13th +0.8 M 97.81% Dry Handling 4th -0.8 Km/H 99.17% Wet Braking 3rd +0.6 M 98.62% Wet Handling 8th -1.4 Km/H 98.13% Wet Circle 3rd -0.13 m/s 98.07% Straight Aqua 1st 100% Curved Aquaplaning 5th -0.32 m/sec2 93.4% Noise 5th +1.3 dB 98.1% Wear 7th -15980 Km 68.87% Value 5th +1.6 Price/1000 86.69% Price 10th +125 70.59% Rolling Resistance 21st +3.69 kg / t 60.66% High aquaplaning resistance, stable wet handling, short braking distances, dynamic dry handling, low noise. Very high rolling resistance. Read Reviews    Buy from £98.69
6th: Kumho Ecsta HS52
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 1st 100% Dry Handling 11th -1.3 Km/H 98.65% Wet Braking 5th +1.7 M 96.2% Wet Handling 14th -2.3 Km/H 96.93% Wet Circle 15th -0.58 m/s 91.39% Straight Aqua 16th -4.6 Km/H 94.78% Curved Aquaplaning 18th -0.88 m/sec2 81.86% Noise 7th +1.5 dB 97.81% Wear 5th -11900 Km 76.82% Value 2nd +0.23 Price/1000 97.84% Price 9th +120 71.43% Rolling Resistance 14th +2.82 kg / t 66.86% Balanced performance, short wet and dry braking, good comfort, good price to performance ratio. Slow steering. Read Reviews    Buy from £89.00
7th: Sava Intensa UHP 2
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 10th +0.6 M 98.35% Dry Handling 6th -0.9 Km/H 99.06% Wet Braking 15th +3.5 M 92.47% Wet Handling 11th -1.7 Km/H 97.73% Wet Circle 9th -0.45 m/s 93.32% Straight Aqua 9th -2.6 Km/H 97.05% Curved Aquaplaning 6th -0.34 m/sec2 92.99% Noise 16th +2.1 dB 96.97% Wear 13th -19720 Km 61.59% Value 5th +1.6 Price/1000 86.69% Price 4th +80 78.95% Rolling Resistance 8th +2.5 kg / t 69.47% Very good aquaplaning resistance, good braking, good comfort, well priced. Average wear. Read Reviews    Buy from £72.49
8th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 6th +0.4 M 98.89% Dry Handling 17th -1.9 Km/H 98.02% Wet Braking 7th +2 M 95.56% Wet Handling 6th -0.9 Km/H 98.8% Wet Circle 5th -0.25 m/s 96.29% Straight Aqua 2nd -0.1 Km/H 99.89% Curved Aquaplaning 9th -0.48 m/sec2 90.1% Noise 18th +2.6 dB 96.27% Wear 6th -14960 Km 70.86% Value 14th +2.91 Price/1000 78.17% Price 16th +185 61.86% Rolling Resistance 19th +3.27 kg / t 63.5% Good aquaplaning resistance, precise wet handling, short wet and dry braking, good comfort, well priced. Slow steering in the dry. Read Reviews    Buy from £103.29
9th: BFGoodrich Advantage
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 10th +0.6 M 98.35% Dry Handling 7th -1 Km/H 98.96% Wet Braking 18th +5.5 M 88.66% Wet Handling 17th -2.8 Km/H 96.26% Wet Circle 18th -0.77 m/s 88.58% Straight Aqua 14th -4.4 Km/H 95.01% Curved Aquaplaning 19th -0.98 m/sec2 79.79% Noise 3rd +1 dB 98.53% Wear 8th -16320 Km 68.21% Value 18th +4.14 Price/1000 71.57% Price 17th +210 58.82% Rolling Resistance 8th +2.5 kg / t 69.47% Stable handling and short braking in the dry, low noise, good comfort. Longer braking and understeer handling in the wet. Read Reviews    Buy from £111.00
10th: Fulda SportControl 2
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 13th +0.8 M 97.81% Dry Handling 17th -1.9 Km/H 98.02% Wet Braking 11th +2.9 M 93.68% Wet Handling 15th -2.5 Km/H 96.66% Wet Circle 7th -0.36 m/s 94.66% Straight Aqua 9th -2.6 Km/H 97.05% Curved Aquaplaning 12th -0.58 m/sec2 88.04% Noise 18th +2.6 dB 96.27% Wear 10th -18360 Km 64.24% Value 10th +2.77 Price/1000 79% Price 11th +135 68.97% Rolling Resistance 11th +2.68 kg / t 67.98% Good aquaplaning resistance, short braking distances in the dry and wet, good price to performance ratio. Very slow steering, average wear. Read Reviews    Buy from £104.39
11th: Toyo Proxes Comfort
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 5th +0.2 M 99.44% Dry Handling 3rd -0.6 Km/H 99.38% Wet Braking 12th +3.3 M 92.87% Wet Handling 9th -1.5 Km/H 98% Wet Circle 11th -0.51 m/s 92.43% Straight Aqua 19th -6.6 Km/H 92.52% Curved Aquaplaning 21st -1.17 m/sec2 75.88% Noise 13th +1.9 dB 97.25% Wear 11th -19380 Km 62.25% Value 15th +3.5 Price/1000 74.86% Price 12th +145 67.42% Rolling Resistance 16th +2.87 kg / t 66.47% Balanced handling in the dry and wet, short dry braking, good comfort. Low aquaplaning resistance, average wear. Read Reviews    Buy from £90.00
12th: Debica Presto UHP2
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 13th +0.8 M 97.81% Dry Handling 15th -1.8 Km/H 98.13% Wet Braking 15th +3.5 M 92.47% Wet Handling 9th -1.5 Km/H 98% Wet Circle 10th -0.47 m/s 93.03% Straight Aqua 15th -4.5 Km/H 94.9% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd -0.02 m/sec2 99.59% Noise 15th +2 dB 97.11% Wear 15th -20740 Km 59.6% Value 11th +2.82 Price/1000 78.7% Price 5th +105 74.07% Rolling Resistance 7th +2.27 kg / t 71.48% Good aquaplaning resistance, short wet and dry braking, low price. Slow steering, average wear. Read Reviews
13th: Kleber Dynaxer HP4
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 8th +0.5 M 98.62% Dry Handling 15th -1.8 Km/H 98.13% Wet Braking 17th +3.7 M 92.08% Wet Handling 19th -3.3 Km/H 95.59% Wet Circle 19th -0.8 m/s 88.13% Straight Aqua 7th -2.2 Km/H 97.51% Curved Aquaplaning 13th -0.68 m/sec2 85.98% Noise 2nd +0.7 dB 98.97% Wear 9th -17000 Km 66.89% Value 7th +1.67 Price/1000 86.19% Price 6th +115 72.29% Rolling Resistance 13th +2.74 kg / t 67.5% Good aquaplaning resistance, short wet and dry braking, good comfort, low noise. Average grip in the wet, slow steering, understeer in the dry. Read Reviews
14th: Vredestein Ultrac
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 6th +0.4 M 98.89% Dry Handling 7th -1 Km/H 98.96% Wet Braking 4th +1 M 97.73% Wet Handling 4th -0.6 Km/H 99.2% Wet Circle 6th -0.31 m/s 95.4% Straight Aqua 5th -1.8 Km/H 97.96% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd -0.26 m/sec2 94.64% Noise 21st +3 dB 95.72% Wear 19th -24140 Km 52.98% Value 20th +6.31 Price/1000 62.28% Price 13th +155 65.93% Rolling Resistance 12th +2.73 kg / t 67.58% Good aquaplaning resistance, dynamic driving behaviour, short wet braking. Very high wear. Read Reviews
15th: Laufenn S Fit EQ+
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 13th +0.8 M 97.81% Dry Handling 7th -1 Km/H 98.96% Wet Braking 20th +8 M 84.31% Wet Handling 20th -4 Km/H 94.66% Wet Circle 20th -0.86 m/s 87.24% Straight Aqua 11th -3.4 Km/H 96.15% Curved Aquaplaning 15th -0.71 m/sec2 85.36% Noise 11th +1.8 dB 97.39% Wear 14th -20060 Km 60.93% Value 12th +2.85 Price/1000 78.52% Price 6th +115 72.29% Rolling Resistance 6th +2.11 kg / t 72.95% High aquaplaning resistance, good comfort, low rolling resistance. Limited wet and dry grip. Read Reviews
15th: Maxxis Premitra HP5
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 20th +1.6 M 95.71% Dry Handling 19th -2 Km/H 97.92% Wet Braking 8th +2.2 M 95.13% Wet Handling 12th -1.8 Km/H 97.6% Wet Circle 11th -0.51 m/s 92.43% Straight Aqua 3rd -0.3 Km/H 99.66% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 100% Noise 13th +1.9 dB 97.25% Wear 17th -23460 Km 54.3% Value 12th +2.85 Price/1000 78.52% Price 3rd +70 81.08% Rolling Resistance 17th +3.15 kg / t 64.37% Excellent aquaplaning resistance, short wet braking, well priced. Understeer in the dry, high wear, high rolling resistance. Read Reviews    Buy from £86.49
15th: Nexen N Fera Primus
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 19th +1.5 M 95.97% Dry Handling 20th -2.1 Km/H 97.81% Wet Braking 5th +1.7 M 96.2% Wet Handling 7th -1.3 Km/H 98.26% Wet Circle 14th -0.55 m/s 91.84% Straight Aqua 4th -0.9 Km/H 98.98% Curved Aquaplaning 10th -0.51 m/sec2 89.48% Noise 17th +2.3 dB 96.69% Wear 18th -23800 Km 53.64% Value 9th +2.47 Price/1000 80.84% Price 2nd +55 84.51% Rolling Resistance 18th +3.24 kg / t 63.72% Very good aquapaning resistance, safe wet handling, short wet braking, low price. Understeer in the dry, very high wear, high rolling resistance. Read Reviews
18th: Goodride SA57
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 20th +1.6 M 95.71% Dry Handling 11th -1.3 Km/H 98.65% Wet Braking 19th +5.9 M 87.93% Wet Handling 17th -2.8 Km/H 96.26% Wet Circle 17th -0.73 m/s 89.17% Straight Aqua 21st -7.8 Km/H 91.16% Curved Aquaplaning 11th -0.57 m/sec2 88.25% Noise 9th +1.7 dB 97.53% Wear 20th -24480 Km 52.32% Value 3rd +0.75 Price/1000 93.29% Price 1st 100% Rolling Resistance 20th +3.29 kg / t 63.36% Good aquaplaning resistance, low noise, low price. Understeer in the dry, and long wet braking, very high rolling resistance. Read Reviews
19th: Continental EcoContact 6
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 12th +0.7 M 98.08% Dry Handling 21st -2.2 Km/H 97.71% Wet Braking 21st +8.1 M 84.15% Wet Handling 21st -7.2 Km/H 90.39% Wet Circle 21st -1.06 m/s 84.27% Straight Aqua 20th -6.7 Km/H 92.4% Curved Aquaplaning 20th -1.1 m/sec2 77.32% Noise 1st 100% Wear 3rd -9860 Km 80.79% Value 16th +3.56 Price/1000 74.54% Price 21st +280 51.72% Rolling Resistance 1st 100% Short dry braking, very low rolling resistance, low wear. Limited aquaplaning resistance, long wet and dry braking, slow steering with high levels of understeer. Read Reviews    Buy from £105.59
20th: GT Radial FE2
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 18th +1.3 M 96.49% Dry Handling 13th -1.5 Km/H 98.44% Wet Braking 13th +3.4 M 92.67% Wet Handling 16th -2.6 Km/H 96.53% Wet Circle 16th -0.63 m/s 90.65% Straight Aqua 18th -6 Km/H 93.2% Curved Aquaplaning 8th -0.4 m/sec2 91.75% Noise 6th +1.4 dB 97.96% Wear 16th -22100 Km 56.95% Value 17th +3.77 Price/1000 73.43% Price 6th +115 72.29% Rolling Resistance 10th +2.55 kg / t 69.05% Good aquaplaning resistance, well priced, low noise. Slow steering, average wear. Read Reviews    Buy from £112.68
21st: Nokian PowerProof
215/55 R17	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 1st 100% Dry Handling 14th -1.6 Km/H 98.33% Wet Braking 8th +2.2 M 95.13% Wet Handling 3rd -0.5 Km/H 99.33% Wet Circle 8th -0.4 m/s 94.07% Straight Aqua 7th -2.2 Km/H 97.51% Curved Aquaplaning 16th -0.73 m/sec2 84.95% Noise 20th +2.7 dB 96.13% Wear 21st -25500 Km 50.33% Value 21st +8.16 Price/1000 56.08% Price 15th +180 62.5% Rolling Resistance 15th +2.86 kg / t 66.55% Very good dry braking, good aquaplaning resistance, dynamic wet handling. Slow steering and low stability in the dry, very high wear, very low value. Read Reviews    Buy from £120.69