One again Auto Bild prove that they're one of the best in the game, this year testing 55 different summer tyres in a wet and dry braking test to find the best twenty summer tyres to take through to their full test!

This year they've tested the most popular size on the market, 205/55 R16 which comes fitted to a huge amount of vehicles, including the ever popular VW Golf.

It's no surprise that the new Continental PremiumContact 7 was the best in both wet and dry braking, perhaps more of a surprise is that the Kumho Ecsta HS52 matched the Continental in the wet for second place overall!

Test Publication:

205/55 R16 55 tyres 2 categories

Similar Tests

Images courtesy of Auto Bild

Test Publication:

https://www.autobild.de/ratgeber/reifen/

Images courtesy of Auto Bild

Test Size: 205/55 R16

Tyres Tested: 55 tyres

Test Categories:
2 categories (2 tests)

Similar Tests

Vredestein once again prove the Ultrac is a very good breaker, and the new Hankook Ventus Prime 4 will be happy with fourth overall, ahead of Michelin in fifth.

Other interesting things to note are Toyo and Falken finishing ahead of the new Bridgestone Turanza 6, and Nexen again placing well.

The full test will be published in a few weeks, which will put the top twenty tyres through handling, aquaplaning, fuel use, noise and comfort and wear testing to tell you what tyre can be crowned the best of the best.

Wet

Wet Braking

Continental PremiumContact 7
35.40 M
Kumho Ecsta HS52
35.40 M
Hankook Ventus Prime 4
35.90 M
Vredestein Ultrac
36.10 M
Maxxis Premitra HP5
36.20 M
Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
36.30 M
Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2
36.30 M
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
36.40 M
Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
36.50 M
Giti GitiSynergyH2
36.60 M
Firestone RoadHawk
36.60 M
Toyo Proxes Comfort
36.70 M
Fulda EcoControl HP2
36.80 M
Bridgestone Turanza 6
36.90 M
Dunlop Sport BluResponse
36.90 M
Double Coin DC99
36.90 M
Nexen N Fera Primus
37.20 M
Sava Intensa HP2
37.20 M
Kleber Dynaxer HP4
37.40 M
GT Radial FE2
37.40 M
Debica Presto HP 2
37.40 M
BFGoodrich Advantage
37.40 M
Apollo Aspire 4G Plus
37.60 M
Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco
37.60 M
Uniroyal RainSport 5
37.90 M
Leao Nova Force HP
38.00 M
Tigar High Performance
38.30 M
Firemax FM601
38.40 M
Kenda Kenetica Pro KR210
38.60 M
Linglong Comfort Master
38.60 M
Westlake Z 107
38.60 M
Tomket Sport Series 1
38.60 M
Nordexx NS9000
38.80 M
Cooper Zeon CS8
38.90 M
Semperit Speed Life 3
39.00 M
Petlas Imperium PT515
39.00 M
Fortuna Ecoplus HP
39.10 M
Milestone Green Sport
39.20 M
Tracmax X Privilo TX1
39.20 M
Sumitomo BC100
39.20 M
Atlas Green HP
39.30 M
Minerva Radial 209
39.30 M
Tristar Ecopower4
39.50 M
Lassa DriveWays
39.50 M
Tourador X Wonder TH1
39.50 M
Ovation Ecovision VI 682
39.60 M
Zeta Alventi
39.60 M
Superia Ecoblue HP
39.70 M
Arivo Premio Arzero
40.10 M
Matador Hectorra 5
40.10 M
Imperial Ecodriver 5
40.10 M
Radar RPX800
40.20 M
Ceat SecuraDrive
40.60 M
Berlin Tires Summer HB 1
41.10 M
Triangle AdvanteX TC101
42.10 M

Dry

Dry Braking

Continental PremiumContact 7
25.80 M
Kumho Ecsta HS52
26.10 M
Vredestein Ultrac
26.60 M
Toyo Proxes Comfort
27.50 M
Uniroyal RainSport 5
27.70 M
Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
27.70 M
Nexen N Fera Primus
27.70 M
Hankook Ventus Prime 4
27.70 M
Bridgestone Turanza 6
27.90 M
Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
28.00 M
Maxxis Premitra HP5
28.40 M
Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2
28.40 M
Firestone RoadHawk
28.70 M
Semperit Speed Life 3
28.80 M
Kleber Dynaxer HP4
28.80 M
BFGoodrich Advantage
29.10 M
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
29.20 M
GT Radial FE2
29.30 M
Fulda EcoControl HP2
29.50 M
Giti GitiSynergyH2
29.80 M
Dunlop Sport BluResponse
30.00 M
Sava Intensa HP2
30.00 M
Debica Presto HP 2
30.20 M
Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco
30.50 M
Apollo Aspire 4G Plus
30.70 M
Kenda Kenetica Pro KR210
31.20 M
Petlas Imperium PT515
31.40 M
Westlake Z 107
31.50 M
Minerva Radial 209
31.60 M
Tristar Ecopower4
32.10 M
Tracmax X Privilo TX1
32.50 M
Ovation Ecovision VI 682
32.50 M
Imperial Ecodriver 5
32.60 M
Matador Hectorra 5
32.90 M
Cooper Zeon CS8
33.00 M
Leao Nova Force HP
33.10 M
Zeta Alventi
33.10 M
Sumitomo BC100
33.20 M
Tourador X Wonder TH1
33.20 M
Radar RPX800
33.30 M
Ceat SecuraDrive
33.30 M
Tomket Sport Series 1
33.30 M
Linglong Comfort Master
33.50 M
Milestone Green Sport
33.70 M
Tigar High Performance
34.50 M
Superia Ecoblue HP
34.70 M
Lassa DriveWays
34.70 M
Firemax FM601
34.90 M
Fortuna Ecoplus HP
34.90 M
Atlas Green HP
35.10 M
Berlin Tires Summer HB 1
35.60 M
Nordexx NS9000
36.10 M
Arivo Premio Arzero
38.00 M
Triangle AdvanteX TC101
39.70 M
Double Coin DC99
42.40 M

Results

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	1^st	35.4 M			100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	1^st	25.8 M			100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	1^st	35.4 M			100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	2^nd	26.1 M	25.8 M	+0.3 M	98.85%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	4^th	36.1 M	35.4 M	+0.7 M	98.06%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	3^rd	26.6 M	25.8 M	+0.8 M	96.99%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	3^rd	35.9 M	35.4 M	+0.5 M	98.61%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5^th	27.7 M	25.8 M	+1.9 M	93.14%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	6^th	36.3 M	35.4 M	+0.9 M	97.52%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5^th	27.7 M	25.8 M	+1.9 M	93.14%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	12^th	36.7 M	35.4 M	+1.3 M	96.46%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	4^th	27.5 M	25.8 M	+1.7 M	93.82%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	9^th	36.5 M	35.4 M	+1.1 M	96.99%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	10^th	28 M	25.8 M	+2.2 M	92.14%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	5^th	36.2 M	35.4 M	+0.8 M	97.79%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	11^th	28.4 M	25.8 M	+2.6 M	90.85%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	6^th	36.3 M	35.4 M	+0.9 M	97.52%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	11^th	28.4 M	25.8 M	+2.6 M	90.85%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	14^th	36.9 M	35.4 M	+1.5 M	95.93%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	9^th	27.9 M	25.8 M	+2.1 M	92.47%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	17^th	37.2 M	35.4 M	+1.8 M	95.16%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5^th	27.7 M	25.8 M	+1.9 M	93.14%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	10^th	36.6 M	35.4 M	+1.2 M	96.72%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	13^th	28.7 M	25.8 M	+2.9 M	89.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	8^th	36.4 M	35.4 M	+1 M	97.25%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	17^th	29.2 M	25.8 M	+3.4 M	88.36%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	25^th	37.9 M	35.4 M	+2.5 M	93.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5^th	27.7 M	25.8 M	+1.9 M	93.14%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	19^th	37.4 M	35.4 M	+2 M	94.65%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	14^th	28.8 M	25.8 M	+3 M	89.58%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	13^th	36.8 M	35.4 M	+1.4 M	96.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	19^th	29.5 M	25.8 M	+3.7 M	87.46%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	10^th	36.6 M	35.4 M	+1.2 M	96.72%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	20^th	29.8 M	25.8 M	+4 M	86.58%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	19^th	37.4 M	35.4 M	+2 M	94.65%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	16^th	29.1 M	25.8 M	+3.3 M	88.66%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	19^th	37.4 M	35.4 M	+2 M	94.65%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	18^th	29.3 M	25.8 M	+3.5 M	88.05%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	14^th	36.9 M	35.4 M	+1.5 M	95.93%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	21^st	30 M	25.8 M	+4.2 M	86%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	17^th	37.2 M	35.4 M	+1.8 M	95.16%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	21^st	30 M	25.8 M	+4.2 M	86%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	19^th	37.4 M	35.4 M	+2 M	94.65%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	23^rd	30.2 M	25.8 M	+4.4 M	85.43%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	35^th	39 M	35.4 M	+3.6 M	90.77%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	14^th	28.8 M	25.8 M	+3 M	89.58%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	23^rd	37.6 M	35.4 M	+2.2 M	94.15%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	24^th	30.5 M	25.8 M	+4.7 M	84.59%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	23^rd	37.6 M	35.4 M	+2.2 M	94.15%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	25^th	30.7 M	25.8 M	+4.9 M	84.04%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	29^th	38.6 M	35.4 M	+3.2 M	91.71%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	26^th	31.2 M	25.8 M	+5.4 M	82.69%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	29^th	38.6 M	35.4 M	+3.2 M	91.71%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	28^th	31.5 M	25.8 M	+5.7 M	81.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	35^th	39 M	35.4 M	+3.6 M	90.77%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	27^th	31.4 M	25.8 M	+5.6 M	82.17%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	41^st	39.3 M	35.4 M	+3.9 M	90.08%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	29^th	31.6 M	25.8 M	+5.8 M	81.65%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	26^th	38 M	35.4 M	+2.6 M	93.16%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	36^th	33.1 M	25.8 M	+7.3 M	77.95%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	43^rd	39.5 M	35.4 M	+4.1 M	89.62%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	30^th	32.1 M	25.8 M	+6.3 M	80.37%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	38^th	39.2 M	35.4 M	+3.8 M	90.31%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	31^st	32.5 M	25.8 M	+6.7 M	79.38%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	34^th	38.9 M	35.4 M	+3.5 M	91%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	35^th	33 M	25.8 M	+7.2 M	78.18%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	29^th	38.6 M	35.4 M	+3.2 M	91.71%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	40^th	33.3 M	25.8 M	+7.5 M	77.48%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	29^th	38.6 M	35.4 M	+3.2 M	91.71%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	43^rd	33.5 M	25.8 M	+7.7 M	77.01%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	46^th	39.6 M	35.4 M	+4.2 M	89.39%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	31^st	32.5 M	25.8 M	+6.7 M	79.38%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	38^th	39.2 M	35.4 M	+3.8 M	90.31%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	38^th	33.2 M	25.8 M	+7.4 M	77.71%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	49^th	40.1 M	35.4 M	+4.7 M	88.28%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	33^rd	32.6 M	25.8 M	+6.8 M	79.14%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	43^rd	39.5 M	35.4 M	+4.1 M	89.62%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	38^th	33.2 M	25.8 M	+7.4 M	77.71%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	46^th	39.6 M	35.4 M	+4.2 M	89.39%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	36^th	33.1 M	25.8 M	+7.3 M	77.95%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	27^th	38.3 M	35.4 M	+2.9 M	92.43%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	45^th	34.5 M	25.8 M	+8.7 M	74.78%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	38^th	39.2 M	35.4 M	+3.8 M	90.31%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	44^th	33.7 M	25.8 M	+7.9 M	76.56%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	49^th	40.1 M	35.4 M	+4.7 M	88.28%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	34^th	32.9 M	25.8 M	+7.1 M	78.42%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	28^th	38.4 M	35.4 M	+3 M	92.19%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	48^th	34.9 M	25.8 M	+9.1 M	73.93%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	52^nd	40.2 M	35.4 M	+4.8 M	88.06%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	40^th	33.3 M	25.8 M	+7.5 M	77.48%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	53^rd	40.6 M	35.4 M	+5.2 M	87.19%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	40^th	33.3 M	25.8 M	+7.5 M	77.48%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	37^th	39.1 M	35.4 M	+3.7 M	90.54%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	48^th	34.9 M	25.8 M	+9.1 M	73.93%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	43^rd	39.5 M	35.4 M	+4.1 M	89.62%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	46^th	34.7 M	25.8 M	+8.9 M	74.35%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	41^st	39.3 M	35.4 M	+3.9 M	90.08%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	50^th	35.1 M	25.8 M	+9.3 M	73.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	48^th	39.7 M	35.4 M	+4.3 M	89.17%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	46^th	34.7 M	25.8 M	+8.9 M	74.35%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	33^rd	38.8 M	35.4 M	+3.4 M	91.24%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	52^nd	36.1 M	25.8 M	+10.3 M	71.47%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	54^th	41.1 M	35.4 M	+5.7 M	86.13%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	51^st	35.6 M	25.8 M	+9.8 M	72.47%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	49^th	40.1 M	35.4 M	+4.7 M	88.28%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	53^rd	38 M	25.8 M	+12.2 M	67.89%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	14^th	36.9 M	35.4 M	+1.5 M	95.93%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	55^th	42.4 M	25.8 M	+16.6 M	60.85%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	55^th	42.1 M	35.4 M	+6.7 M	84.09%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	54^th	39.7 M	25.8 M	+13.9 M	64.99%

Discussion

3 comments

Georgi Dimitrov Apr 10, 2024 archived

Hello there,
would you give me an advice based on your experience, which summer tyre 205/55/16 would be best fit for my 98' BMW e46 2.0i. Its not awd, only rear wheel drive. I was looking into the likes of VREDESTEIN ULTRAC / DEBICA PRESTO HP2 which is available on the market in Bulgaria, but Debica seems to be really low-performing compared to other marks. Would you suggest something from the budget brands.

#9478
1. TyreReviews Georgi Dimitrov Apr 22, 2024 archived
  
  I think the ultrac is a really solid tyre and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it
  
  #9500
2. Luther Crow Georgi Dimitrov Feb 26, 2025 archived
  
  Hi, what did you choose at the end?
  
  #9979

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