Auto Bild AllRads's 2024 SUV All Season Tyre Test tested 12 all-season tyres in size 245/45 R18, alongside summer and winter reference tyres. The test revealed significant performance gaps between the best and worst all-season tyres across various conditions, while also highlighting the compromises these tyres make compared to specialized seasonal options.
In dry conditions, the top-performing all-season tyres approached the capabilities of the summer reference tyre, but couldn't quite match its grip or balance. The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 demonstrated the shortest dry braking distance among all-season tyres at 37.7 meters, though still 2.4 meters behind the summer reference. The poorest performing Minerva All Season Master required an additional 5.7 meters to stop. Dry handling tests showed similar trends, with the best all-season tyre, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2, achieving an average speed just 1.1 km/h slower than the summer reference, while the slowest Nexen N Blue 4Season 2 lagged by 5.3 km/h.
Wet performance highlighted even greater differences. The Vredestein Quatrac Pro+ stopped in 48.1 meters on wet surfaces, 2.3 meters behind the summer reference but a full 17 meters shorter than the Davanti Alltoura 4 Seasons. In wet handling, the Continental AllSeasonContact 2 nearly matched the summer tyre's performance, while the Davanti again trailed significantly, with a 9.8 km/h slower average speed.
Snow testing demonstrated the true versatility of all-season tyres. The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 achieved a snow braking distance just 0.8 meters longer than the winter reference tyre, while the summer reference tyre required more than double the distance to stop. Snow traction and handling tests told a similar story, with the best all-season tyres closely matching or even slightly outperforming the winter reference, while the summer tyre proved utterly inadequate.
These results underscore the wide performance abilities within the all-season tyre category. While the best performers offer an interesting balance for year-round use, the poorer options struggle to deliver consistent performance across varying conditions. The test also reinforces that while high-quality all-season tyres can approach the performance of specialized tyres in many situations, they still involve some compromise compared to using dedicated summer and winter tyres for their respective seasons.
Dry
In dry braking, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 performed best among the all-season tyres, stopping in 37.7 meters. The worst performer was the Minerva All Season Master, requiring 43.4 meters - a significant 5.7 meter difference. The reference summer tyre outperformed all all-season tyres with a 35.3 meter stopping distance, while the reference winter tyre was near the bottom at 42 meters. This shows that even the best all-season tyres compromise dry performance compared to dedicated summer tyres.
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 achieved the highest average speed of 114.2 km/h in dry handling, while the Nexen N Blue 4Season 2 was slowest at 110 km/h - a 4.2 km/h difference. The reference summer tyre again topped the chart at 115.3 km/h, with the reference winter tyre in the lower half at 112.9 km/h. Interestingly, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2, which excelled in dry handling, was only mid-pack in dry braking, showing that performance can vary across different dry tests.
Wet
The Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus stopped in just 48.1 meters in wet conditions, while the Davanti Alltoura 4 Seasons needed 65.1 meters - a substantial 17 meter difference. The reference summer tyre performed best overall at 45.8 meters, with the reference winter tyre near the bottom at 57.3 meters. This highlights the superior wet performance of summer tyres and the challenges all-season tyres face in balancing wet and dry performance.
Continental AllSeasonContact 2 achieved the highest average speed of 84.2 km/h in wet handling, while the Davanti Alltoura 4 Seasons was slowest at 74.4 km/h - a significant 9.8 km/h difference. The reference summer tyre again outperformed all others at 85.9 km/h, with the reference winter tyre in the lower half at 80.2 km/h. The Davanti Alltoura 4 Seasons struggled in both wet braking and handling, indicating consistent poor wet performance.
Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 achieved the highest float speed of 75.5 km/h, while the Minerva All Season Master was lowest at 64.3 km/h - an 11.2 km/h difference. The reference summer tyre performed best at 76.1 km/h, with the reference winter tyre in the middle at 72.2 km/h. The Minerva All Season Master struggled in both straight and curved aquaplaning tests, indicating poor overall water evacuation.
Snow
The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 stopped in 22.1 meters on snow, while the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 needed 23.7 meters - a 1.6 meter difference. The reference winter tyre outperformed all all-season tyres at 21.3 meters, while the reference summer tyre was extremely poor at 56.1 meters. This highlights the crucial importance of winter or all-season tyres for snow driving.
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 achieved the highest traction force of 4234 N, while the Minerva All Season Master managed only 3779 N - a 455 N difference. The reference winter tyre was close to the top performers at 4114 N, while the reference summer tyre was extremely poor at 1127 N. The Michelin CrossClimate 2 consistently performed well across all snow tests.
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 achieved the highest average speed of 55.6 km/h, while the Minerva All Season Master was slowest at 51.2 km/h - a 4.4 km/h difference. The reference winter tyre was close to the top at 55.1 km/h, while the reference summer tyre's performance was too poor to be listed. The Minerva All Season Master consistently struggled across all snow tests.
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 achieved the highest lateral acceleration of 4.0 m/s², while the Vredestein Quatrac Pro Plus managed only 3.4 m/s² - a 0.6 m/s² difference. The reference winter tyre was close to the top at 3.98 m/s², while the reference summer tyre was extremely poor at 1.71 m/s². The Michelin CrossClimate 2 demonstrated excellent snow performance across all tests.
Comfort
The Minerva All Season Master was quietest at 71 dB, while the Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 was loudest at 74 dB - a 3 dB difference. The reference summer tyre was in the lower half at 73.7 dB, with the reference winter tyre the loudest overall at 74.6 dB. Interestingly, the Minerva All Season Master, which struggled in many performance tests, excelled in noise reduction.
Value
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 had the lowest rolling resistance at 6.72 kg/t, while the Minerva All Season Master had the highest at 8.57 kg/t - a significant 1.85 kg/t difference. The reference summer tyre was in the middle at 7.52 kg/t, with the reference winter tyre slightly higher at 7.68 kg/t. The Michelin CrossClimate 2 demonstrated that it's possible to achieve low rolling resistance without compromising performance in other areas.
There was over twice the price difference between the most expensive and cheapest. The Michelin CrossClimate 2 topped the chart at 840€ per set, while the Minerva All Season Master was the most budget-friendly at just 405€ - a difference of 435€. Interestingly, the top-performing tyres weren't necessarily the most expensive, with the test-winning Continental AllSeasonContact 2 priced at 735€. The budget options from Davanti and Minerva, priced at 420€ and 405€ respectively, performed poorly in safety tests, suggesting that extreme cost-cutting may compromise crucial performance aspects.
Results
1st: Continental AllSeasonContact 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Well-balanced, safe all-rounder with good driving dynamics in all weather conditions. Good aquaplaning resistance and low rolling resistance. Slightly extended braking distance on dry surfaces. Exemplary. Read Reviews Buy from £154.84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Convincing all-rounder with top handling scores in all weather conditions. Excellent aquaplaning resistance and good rolling comfort. Slightly increased rolling resistance. Exemplary. Read Reviews Buy from £144.61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Well-balanced all-weather profile with good driving dynamics, even on dry roads. Ample reserves against aquaplaning and low rolling resistance. Extended braking distance on snow. Exemplary. Read Reviews Buy from £166.36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th: Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Exemplary all-rounder with dynamic handling in all weather conditions. Very good resistance to aquaplaning and good driving comfort. Slightly elevated rolling noise. Exemplary. Read Reviews Buy from £189.54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th: Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Strong performance with short braking distances on snow. Dynamic handling behavior and ample reserves against aquaplaning. Extended braking distances on dry roads. Good. Read Reviews Buy from £158.12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6th: Michelin CrossClimate 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Exemplary qualities with best handling behavior on snow. Good aquaplaning resistance. Extended braking distances on wet roads. Good. Read Reviews Buy from £162.66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th: Vredestein Quatrac Pro+ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Convincing safety reserves with sporty driving dynamics and best grip in wet conditions. Quiet rolling noise. Only satisfactory lateral guidance on snowy roads. Good. Read Reviews Buy from £148.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8th: Nexen N Blue 4Season 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Strong performance with good driving dynamics on snowy roads. Convincing driving comfort. Low grip and limited safety reserves when at risk of aquaplaning. Ok. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9th: Davanti Alltoura 4 Seasons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Satisfactory performance with good traction on snow. Poor grip and dangerously long braking distances on wet roads. Little safety in aquaplaning situations. Not recommended. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10th: Minerva All Season Master | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Acceptable performance with short braking distances on snow. Insufficient grip and long braking distances in wet conditions. Limited safety reserves in aquaplaning situations. Not recommended. Read Reviews |