This year's Auto Express Summer Tyre Test focused on the popular 225/45 R17 size, a common fitment for many UK vehicles.
As usual with Auto Express tests, we've kept the summary to a minimum and encourage you to read the full test on their website autoexpress.co.uk.
To summarise, after their testing across wet and dry conditions, as well as evaluations of noise, refinement, and fuel efficiency, the final results were very close, especially between the top three tyres.
- Vredestein Ultrac - 100%
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 - 99.9%
- Continental PremiumContact 7 - 99.7%
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5 - 99.4%
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 - 99.3%
- Pirelli Cinturato P7 (P7C2) - 99.0%
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport - 99.0%
- Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun - 97.8%
The Vredestein Ultrac emerged as the overall winner, demonstrating consistent performance across all test categories. It was closely followed by the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 and the Continental PremiumContact 7, both of which showed excellent capabilities in wet and dry conditions. The Continental in particular seems to have been downgraded a lot on noise and comfort, we're not sure what the final score weighting was in the test, if there was one.
All the top performers excelled in critical areas such as wet braking and handling, while also maintaining good scores in dry performance and refinement. The lower-ranked tyres, while still scoring well overall, showed some weaknesses in specific areas such as wet performance or rolling resistance.
Results
- EU Label: C/A/69
- 3PMSF: no
Summary
The Vredestein Ultrac tyre won an Auto Express victory due to its consistent performance across various tests. It excelled in wet conditions, ranking highly in wet braking, cornering, and handling. The tyre also demonstrated impressive fuel economy. While its dry performance was less remarkable, it still performed adequately. The Ultrac received top marks for refinement, offering low cabin noise and excellent bump absorption.
Results
The Vredestein Ultrac 5 achieved an overall score of 100%, priced at £98.15. It performed exceptionally well in wet conditions, ranking 2nd in wet braking (99.70%), 3rd in wet handling (98.90%), and tied for 3rd in wet cornering (99.10%). The tyre excelled in refinement, ranking 1st in cabin noise (100%) and 2nd in rolling resistance (99.40%). Its performance in dry conditions was less impressive, ranking 6th in dry braking (95.30%) and 8th in dry handling (98.40%). The tyre also showed good results in aquaplaning tests, particularly in straight aquaplaning (tied for 4th at 97.30%).
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- EU Label: C/A/69
- 3PMSF: no
Here's the summary and results for the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tyre with basic HTML markup:
Summary
The Goodyear Eagle Asymmetric 6 is an outstanding tyre that finished second overall by a slim margin. It excelled in dry conditions, topping the table in dry braking and handling. The tyre also performed well in wet conditions, jointly leading in wet cornering. It demonstrated consistent behavior across all conditions, providing a safe, understeer-led balance and good responsiveness. While it scored mid-pack in some wet tests, it remained competitive. The tyre offered good ride quality, though some road noise was noted. It also achieved an excellent third place in rolling resistance, contributing to its well-rounded performance.
Results
The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 achieved an overall score of 99.9%, priced at £105.08. It dominated dry performance, ranking 1st in both dry braking and dry handling (100% each). In wet conditions, it tied for 1st in wet cornering (100%), but ranked 5th in wet braking (96.70%) and wet handling (98.60%). The tyre performed well in aquaplaning tests, ranking 4th in curved aquaplaning (91.80%) and 7th in straight aquaplaning (96.70%). It excelled in rolling resistance, ranking 3rd (94.00%), but scored lower in cabin noise, ranking 7th (94.00%).
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- EU Label: C/A/71
- 3PMSF: no
Summary
The Continental PremiumContact 7 delivered an excellent performance, placing in the top three tyres tested. It excelled in wet conditions, leading or placing second in all five wet tests. The tyre demonstrated outstanding wet handling characteristics, with a balanced and adjustable feel. It also performed strongly in dry conditions, ranking second in dry braking and fourth in dry handling. However, its refinement was a weak point, particularly in terms of cabin noise and vibration on rough road surfaces. Despite this drawback, the tyre's overall performance in both wet and dry conditions was impressive.
Results
The Continental PremiumContact 7 achieved an overall score of 99.70%, priced at £97.60. It dominated wet performance, ranking 1st in wet braking (100%), tied for 1st in wet cornering (100%), and 2nd in wet handling (99.80%). The tyre also excelled in aquaplaning tests, ranking 2nd in both curved (95.90%) and straight (98.70%) aquaplaning. In dry conditions, it ranked 2nd in dry braking (98.80%) and 4th in dry handling (98.70%). However, it struggled with refinement, ranking last (8th) in cabin noise (83.10%). The tyre placed 5th in rolling resistance (90.30%).
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- EU Label: C/A/72
- 3PMSF: no
Summary
The Michelin Pilot Sport 5, despite high expectations, delivered solid but not podium-placing performance. It excelled in deep water conditions, winning both curved and straight aquaplaning tests. The tyre showed good results in dry conditions, ranking third in both dry braking and handling. However, its wet performance was mixed, with strong results in wet cornering but only fourth-best in wet braking and handling. The tyre's behavior in wet conditions was noted as somewhat inconsistent, with good cornering grip that dropped off abruptly. Refinement was decent, offering quiet performance over most surfaces and good bump absorption. Its fuel economy was mid-range, ranking sixth out of eight.
Results
The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 achieved an overall score of 99.4%, priced at £120.03. It dominated aquaplaning tests, ranking 1st in both curved and straight aquaplaning (100% each). In wet conditions, it tied for 3rd in wet cornering (99.10%), but ranked 4th in both wet braking (97.00%) and wet handling (98.80%). Dry performance was strong, with 3rd place rankings in both dry braking (97.90%) and dry handling (98.80%). The tyre tied for 3rd in cabin noise (95.4%) and ranked 6th in rolling resistance (90.20%).
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- EU Label: C/A/72
- 3PMSF: no
Summary
The Hankook Ventus S1 evo3, previously a winner, performed well but couldn't match the top performers in this test. Its strongest results were in wet conditions, ranking third in wet braking and straight-line aquaplaning. However, it struggled in wet cornering and handling. In dry conditions, the tyre showed decent performance, with good braking and mid-table handling results. While lacking the outright grip of the best tyres, it demonstrated good feel, balance, and predictability in both wet and dry conditions. The tyre also showed strong refinement with low cabin noise and good bump absorption. Its fuel economy was decent, contributing to a solid overall performance.
Results
The Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 achieved an overall score of 99.3%, priced at £99.16. In wet conditions, it ranked 3rd in wet braking (99.10%) and straight aquaplaning (98.20%), but struggled in wet cornering (8th, 97.40%) and handling (6th, 98.30%). It performed better in curved aquaplaning, ranking 6th (86.80%). Dry performance was mid-range, with 4th in dry braking (97.60%) and 5th in dry handling (98.60%). The tyre ranked 6th in cabin noise (94.0%) and 4th in rolling resistance (92.50%).
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- EU Label: C/A/70
- 3PMSF: no
Summary
The Pirelli Cinturato P7 (P7C2) delivered a mixed performance across various tests. Its standout features were excellent fuel efficiency, topping the rolling resistance test, and strong refinement, ranking second in cabin noise reduction. However, it struggled in both wet and dry performance tests. In wet conditions, it ranked lower in handling, braking, and aquaplaning tests. Dry performance was also below average, with the tyre ranking sixth in handling and seventh in braking. Despite these challenges, the tyre demonstrated good grip and was described as willing and exploitable at its limit. Its low rolling resistance made it the most economical tyre in the test, nearly achieving a higher EU label rating for efficiency.
Results
The Pirelli Cinturato P7 achieved an overall score of 99.00%, priced at £120.20. It excelled in rolling resistance, ranking 1st (100.00%), and performed well in cabin noise, ranking 2nd (96.00%). However, it struggled in wet conditions, ranking 6th in wet braking (95.8%), 7th in wet handling (98.10%), 5th in wet cornering (98.6%), 7th in curved aquaplaning (85.90%), and 8th in straight aquaplaning (95.20%). Dry performance was also below average, with 7th in dry braking (94.80%) and tied for 6th in dry handling (98.50%).
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- EU Label: D/A/72
- 3PMSF: no
Summary
The Bridgestone Potenza Sport demonstrated a contradictory performance across various tests. It excelled in handling, ranking first in wet handling and second in dry handling, showcasing good feel, feedback, and balance. However, it struggled in other key areas. In wet conditions, it ranked last in braking and curved aquaplaning, despite its top performance in handling. Dry performance was similarly mixed, with excellent handling but middling braking results. The tyre showed good noise and ride refinement. However, its most significant drawback was its rolling resistance, ranking last and significantly behind the top performer in this category. Additionally, it was the only tyre that showed visible wear after testing.
Results
The Bridgestone Potenza Sport achieved an overall score of 99%, priced at £113.02. It ranked 1st in wet handling (100.00%) and 2nd in dry handling (99.80%). However, it struggled in wet braking (8th, 91.90%), curved aquaplaning (8th, 85.00%), and wet cornering (tied for 6th, 98.50%). Dry performance was mixed, with 5th in dry braking (95.60%). The tyre ranked 5th in cabin noise (94.80%) but performed poorly in rolling resistance, ranking 8th (79.00%).
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- EU Label: D/A/69
- 3PMSF: no
Summary
The Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun, despite being seven years old, showed mixed performance across various tests. Its strengths were in aquaplaning resistance and refinement, performing well in both curved and straight aquaplaning tests and offering good cabin noise reduction and bump absorption. However, the tyre struggled significantly in wet and dry performance tests. It ranked near the bottom in wet braking, cornering, and handling, demonstrating less grip than its competitors. Dry performance was also subpar, with the tyre finishing last in dry braking and sixth in dry handling. Despite its age suggesting it might have good fuel efficiency, the Ecorun surprisingly showed poor rolling resistance. The overall results indicate that while the tyre has some strong points, there is considerable room for improvement in key performance areas.
Results
The Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun achieved an overall score of 97.80%, priced at £98.65. It performed well in aquaplaning tests, ranking 3rd in curved aquaplaning (92.70%) and tied for 4th in straight aquaplaning (97.30%). The tyre also tied for 3rd in cabin noise (95.40%). However, it struggled in wet conditions, ranking 7th in wet braking (93.00%), 8th in wet handling (96.20%), and tied for 6th in wet cornering (98.5%). Dry performance was also weak, with 8th in dry braking (94.30%) and tied for 6th in dry handling (98.50%). The tyre ranked 7th in rolling resistance (87.20%), indicating poor fuel efficiency.
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