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Test source Auto Express

2026 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test

Overall test winnerFalken ZIEX ZE320

Auto Express has returned to 205/55 R16 for its 2026 summer tyre test, three years after it last ran the size that remains the UK's biggest seller.

Tyres tested
8
Tested size
205/55 R16
Test vehicle
Audi A3
Disciplines
9

At a glance

Tyre shortlist

8 Tyres tested

Published finishing positions, with the strengths and considerations from this test. Owner reviews cover other sizes and driving conditions.

1st

Falken ZIEX ZE320

+The Falken Ziex ZE320 was the most complete tyre in this test, and it won on breadth rather than on any single standout result. It set the fastest lap on both the wet and the dry handling circuits and recorded the shortest dry braking distance, so it led the two areas Auto Express weights most heavily. It was also on the podium around the wet circle, in both aquaplaning tests and for cabin noise. The testers found it stable and easy to place from the first wet lap, with the traction and lateral grip to be driven hard without the balance moving around.

−The Falken Ziex ZE320 has one clear weakness, and it is in the test that matters most: straight-line wet braking, where it sat in the bottom half of the field and gave away a useful margin to the Continental. Rolling resistance was mid-pack rather than competitive, so it is not the tyre to pick if fuel economy is the priority.

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2nd

Continental PremiumContact 7

+The Continental PremiumContact 7 remains the reference for straight-line wet braking, stopping clearly shorter than anything else here and rebuilding a real safety margin over the rest of the field. It backed that up with the second shortest dry braking distance, a podium place in dry handling, second place around the wet circle and the second quietest cabin. Drivers described crisp turn-in into both fast and slow corners and a neutral balance that made it quick without ever asking for correction.

−The Continental PremiumContact 7 was well off the pace in deep water, finishing in the bottom half of the field in both the straight-line and the curved aquaplaning tests. It also gave away ground in rolling resistance, sitting towards the back of the group, which counts against it over a set's lifetime given it is one of the more expensive tyres here.

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3rd

Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN

+The Firestone Roadhawk 2 was the standout in deep water, winning both the straight-line and the curved aquaplaning tests and finishing clear of the second-placed tyre in each. It was also the quietest tyre in the cabin over the mixed surfaces and took third place in wet handling and in rolling resistance. On the wet circuit it combined tidy turn-in with useful agility and strong traction, which is a good foundation for a tyre being asked to do everything.

−The Firestone Roadhawk 2 is the weakest of the leading tyres under dry braking, finishing near the back of the field, and it was only mid-pack in straight-line wet braking. Testers noted it was neither the quietest tyre when working for grip nor the sharpest in steering response, so it lacks the precision of the tyres either side of it in the order.

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4th

Maxxis Premitra HP6

+The Maxxis Premitra HP6 is a substantial improvement on the Premitra HP5 it replaces, which finished last in this size three years ago. It won the wet circle outright, took second place in dry handling and second in rolling resistance, and finished in the top half of the field in straight-line wet braking. Drivers found it responsive and progressive in a way that made the grip easy to use, and it did that while remaining one of the cheaper tyres in the group.

−The Maxxis Premitra HP6 struggles in standing water, finishing seventh of eight in both the straight-line and the curved aquaplaning tests. Dry braking was in the bottom half of the field as well, and cabin noise was only mid-pack, so there is still a gap to the premium tyres in a couple of important areas.

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5th

Pirelli Cinturato C3

+The Pirelli Cinturato C3 was quick and confidence-inspiring where it counts, taking second place in both straight-line wet braking and wet handling and third in dry braking. Auto Express rated it the best tyre in the test for feel and feedback, with strength under braking and mid-corner and an agility that never turned into a handful. It was also solid in both aquaplaning tests and close to the best for cabin noise.

−The Pirelli Cinturato C3 was last in the wet circle test, a long way adrift of the leaders and out of step with the rest of its wet performance. Rolling resistance was the second highest in the field, and on the dry handling circuit it needed restraint to find a clean line, pushing wide easily when hurried. It is also comfortably the most expensive tyre here.

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6th

Michelin Primacy 5

+The Michelin Primacy 5 delivered the lowest rolling resistance in this test by a clear margin, making it the most economical tyre in the group and comfortably the best choice for fuel or range. It also took third place in straight-line wet braking, which is a strong result in a field this close, and it was solid in both aquaplaning tests. Testers found it stable and predictable, with the front axle doing most of the work.

−The Michelin Primacy 5 was last around the dry handling circuit and well down the order in wet handling, out of touch with the group of tyres immediately ahead of it. Drivers reported soft steering response and a lack of positivity, and grip that never quite keyed into the surface on the wet circuit. Cabin noise was towards the back of the field as well, and it is one of the more expensive tyres here.

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7th

Nokian Powerproof 2

+The Nokian Powerproof 2 marks the company's return after a three-year absence and it arrived with a clear specialism, finishing second in both the straight-line and the curved aquaplaning tests. It was also fourth in dry braking and mid-field on the wet handling circuit, where drivers found strong mid-corner grip and precision they could trust once the tyre had settled into a corner.

−The Nokian Powerproof 2 was towards the back of the field in straight-line wet braking and in wet cornering, which is an awkward combination for a tyre promoted on wet-weather ability. It was also among the noisiest tyres in the cabin, and rolling resistance was only mid-pack, so there is no efficiency benefit to offset it.

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8th

Dynamo STREET H MH01

+The Dynamo Street-H MH01 is among the cheapest tyres available in this size and the price is the whole of its case. It finished mid-field around the dry handling circuit and for cabin noise, which shows the pattern is not without merit on a dry road, and it was ahead of two better-known rivals in the wet circle test.

−The Dynamo Street-H MH01 was last in the great majority of this test, including straight-line wet braking, wet handling, both aquaplaning tests, dry braking and rolling resistance. The wet braking deficit is the serious one: at the point the best tyre in that test had come to a stop, a car on the Dynamo was still travelling at a speed that would do real damage. Testers reported very little traction or bite, with the front or rear letting go unpredictably once it was asked for anything.

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2026 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test · 205/55 R16

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The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

Auto Express has returned to 205/55 R16 for its 2026 summer tyre test, three years after it last ran the size that remains the UK's biggest seller. Eight tyres were bought on the open market through an independent German wholesaler and tested at the Continental Contidrom near Hannover, using an Audi A3 across nine separate wet, dry, comfort and efficiency tests. Hankook, Vredestein, Kumho and Goodyear all turned down an invitation this year, citing new designs still to come.

The winner is the Falken Ziex ZE320, and it is the first time this pattern has taken an Auto Express title. It set the fastest lap on both the wet and the dry handling circuits and recorded the shortest dry braking distance, which covers the areas the magazine weights most heavily. The reigning champion, the Continental PremiumContact 7, finished second and kept hold of the single most important test in the programme, straight-line wet braking, where it stopped a clear margin shorter than anything else. Third went to the Firestone Roadhawk 2, a first-time entrant that won both aquaplaning tests and the cabin noise measurement.

Test setup & methodology

The test setting, the conditions recorded and how the results contribute to the score.

Recorded test conditions

Recorded test conditions

Dry Braking
100 → 0 km/h
Wet Braking
80 → 0 km/h

There are some notable results further down the order. The Michelin Primacy 5 recorded by far the lowest rolling resistance in the test and was third in wet braking, yet finished last around the dry handling circuit and seventh in wet handling. The Pirelli Cinturato C3 was second in both wet braking and wet handling but last of all in wet cornering, an anomaly against an otherwise strong wet showing. The Maxxis Premitra HP6 is the biggest improver, going from last of eleven in the 2023 test of this size to fourth of eight here. And the budget Dynamo Street-H MH01 finished last in six of the nine tests, including every one that matters in the wet.

A note on the numbers below. Auto Express do not publish raw measurements, only each tyre's result as a percentage of the best in that test, so the figures in these charts are built from estimated 'bests'. The percentage difference between the tyres is exact in every case; what is estimated is the absolute number the scale starts from. This test is better anchored than most: Auto Express state the winning wet braking distance of 25.1 metres outright, and the individual tyre reports quote enough absolute gaps to fix dry braking and both lap times to within a few tenths. Wet cornering, both aquaplaning tests, cabin noise and rolling resistance are genuine estimates. Because our scoring works on percentages this does not affect the score weighting calculator on the results tab, but it seemed important to share.

The full test, including Auto Express's own driver commentary on every tyre, is on the Auto Express website.

Dry

Dry braking was measured from 62mph to a standstill. The Falken stopped shortest, with the Continental and Pirelli both within a metre of it, and the budget Dynamo more than five metres adrift.

Dry Braking

Dry braking in meters (100 - 0 km/h)

Lower is better ↓
Dry Braking
Position / TyreResultGap to bestResidual speed
36 m Best 0 km/h
36.4 m +0.40 m 14 km/h
36.6 m +0.60 m 17 km/h
37.4 m +1.40 m 25 km/h
37.9 m +1.90 m 29 km/h
38.3 m +2.30 m 32 km/h
38.5 m +2.50 m 33 km/h
41.2 m +5.20 m 46 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 14.4% (5.2 m ≈ 1.2 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Dynamo STREET H MH01 would still be travelling at 46 km/h when the Falken ZIEX ZE320 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Derived data. Auto Express publish percentages, not measurements. The gaps between these tyres are exact; the scale they sit on is calculated from the absolute braking distances quoted in the Auto Express text.

The dry handling circuit is a one-mile course mixing slow traction corners with faster sweeps. The Falken led here too, with the Maxxis second, while the Michelin was last of all, six tenths of a second behind the pair tied for sixth.

Dry Handling

Dry handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Dry Handling
Position / TyreResultGap to best
53.5 s Best
53.71 s +0.21 s
53.99 s +0.49 s
54.2 s +0.70 s
54.2 s +0.70 s
54.26 s +0.76 s
54.26 s +0.76 s
54.87 s +1.37 s

All the tyres in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.

Derived data. Auto Express publish percentages, not measurements. The gaps between these tyres are exact; the scale they sit on is calculated from the lap-time gaps quoted in the Auto Express text.

Wet

Straight-line wet braking from 50mph is the single most heavily weighted test in the programme, and the Continental won it clearly, stopping over a metre shorter than the second-placed Pirelli. The Falken's sixth place here is the one real blemish on its scorecard. The Dynamo needed around seven metres more than the Continental to stop.

Wet Braking

Wet braking in meters (80 - 0 km/h)

Lower is better ↓
Wet Braking
Position / TyreResultGap to bestResidual speed
25.1 m Best 0 km/h
26.3 m +1.20 m 28 km/h
26.9 m +1.80 m 34 km/h
27.1 m +2.00 m 35 km/h
27.2 m +2.10 m 36 km/h
27.3 m +2.20 m 37 km/h
27.8 m +2.70 m 41 km/h
32.2 m +7.10 m 61 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 28.3% (7.1 m ≈ 1.6 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Dynamo STREET H MH01 would still be travelling at 61 km/h when the Continental PremiumContact 7 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Derived data. Auto Express publish percentages, not measurements. This is the one test where they also state an absolute figure, so the scale is anchored on the 25.1 metres they quote for the winning Continental, and the gaps between the tyres are exact.

On the wet handling circuit the Falken was over half a second clear of the next tyre, with five mid-field tyres then covered by a single second. The Michelin was adrift of that group, and the Dynamo was some nine seconds off the pace.

Wet Handling

Wet handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Wet Handling
Position / TyreResultGap to best
88 s Best
88.62 s +0.62 s
88.71 s +0.71 s
88.89 s +0.89 s
89.34 s +1.34 s
89.61 s +1.61 s
90.72 s +2.72 s
97.02 s +9.02 s

The difference between best and worst was 10.3% (9.02 s).

Derived data. Auto Express publish percentages, not measurements. The gaps between these tyres are exact; the scale they sit on is calculated from the lap-time gaps quoted in the Auto Express text.

Wet cornering was timed on a 50-metre wetted circle. The Maxxis was quickest with the Continental alongside it, while the Nokian and Pirelli were a long way back.

Wet Circle

Wet Circle Lap Time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Wet Circle
Position / TyreResultGap to best
11.5 s Best
11.52 s +0.02 s
11.66 s +0.16 s
11.68 s +0.18 s
11.93 s +0.43 s
12.07 s +0.57 s
13.61 s +2.11 s
13.76 s +2.26 s

The difference between best and worst was 19.7% (2.26 s).

Derived data. Auto Express publish percentages, not measurements. The gaps between these tyres are exact, but the scale they sit on is our own estimate, so treat the absolute lap times as indicative only.

Straight-line aquaplaning measured the speed at which each tyre reached 15 per cent slip through 9mm of standing water. The Firestone and the Nokian were clear of the rest of the field.

Straight Aqua

Float Speed in Km/H

Higher is better ↑
Straight Aqua
Position / TyreResultGap to best
85 km/h Best
83.1 km/h -1.90 km/h
78.3 km/h -6.70 km/h
77.9 km/h -7.10 km/h
77.9 km/h -7.10 km/h
76.9 km/h -8.10 km/h
76 km/h -9.00 km/h
73 km/h -12.00 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 14.1% (12 Km/H).

Derived data. Auto Express publish percentages, not measurements. The gaps between these tyres are exact, but the scale they sit on is our own estimate, so treat the absolute speeds as indicative only.

Curved aquaplaning is the average residual lateral acceleration through a bend flooded with 5mm of water, driven between 40 and 60mph. The Firestone and Nokian led here as well, with the Maxxis and Dynamo well down the order.

Curved Aquaplaning

Remaining lateral acceleration

Higher is better ↑
Curved Aquaplaning
Position / TyreResultGap to best
3.8 m/sec2 Best
3.75 m/sec2 -0.05 m/sec2
3.61 m/sec2 -0.19 m/sec2
3.44 m/sec2 -0.36 m/sec2
3.4 m/sec2 -0.40 m/sec2
3.31 m/sec2 -0.49 m/sec2
3.06 m/sec2 -0.74 m/sec2
2.9 m/sec2 -0.90 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 23.7% (0.9 m/sec2).

Derived data. Auto Express publish percentages, not measurements. The gaps between these tyres are exact, but the scale they sit on is our own estimate, so treat the absolute figures as indicative only.

Comfort

Rather than use the drive-by figure printed on the EU label, Auto Express measure the noise heard inside the car across a mix of smooth and coarse surfaces at a set speed. The Firestone was quietest, the Continental next, and the Michelin and Nokian were tied at the back.

Noise

Internal noise in dB

Lower is better ↓
Noise
Position / TyreResultGap to best
68 dB Best
68.4 dB +0.40 dB
68.9 dB +0.90 dB
69.1 dB +1.10 dB
69.3 dB +1.30 dB
69.7 dB +1.70 dB
69.8 dB +1.80 dB
69.8 dB +1.80 dB

All the tyres in the Noise test finished less than 3% apart.

Derived data. Auto Express publish percentages, not measurements. The gaps between these tyres are exact, but the scale they sit on is our own estimate, so treat the absolute decibel readings as indicative only.

Value

Rolling resistance was measured to the industry standard rather than read off the label, and the results do not always agree with it. The Michelin was some way clear of the field, while the Continental and Pirelli, both premium tyres, were beaten by the cheaper Maxxis and Firestone.

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

Lower is better ↓
Rolling Resistance
Position / TyreResultGap to bestExtra fuel / year
7 kg/t Best £0
7.53 kg/t +0.53 kg/t £33
7.87 kg/t +0.87 kg/t £55
8.05 kg/t +1.05 kg/t £66
8.06 kg/t +1.06 kg/t £67
8.43 kg/t +1.43 kg/t £90
8.61 kg/t +1.61 kg/t £101
9.37 kg/t +2.37 kg/t £149

The difference between best and worst was 33.9% (2.37 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Dynamo STREET H MH01 uses about 103 L (£149) more fuel than the Michelin Primacy 5.

Adjust the assumptions

Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions.

19,000 km
£1.45/L
Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tyre age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.

Derived data. Auto Express publish percentages, not measurements. The gaps between these tyres are exact, but the scale they sit on is our own estimate, so treat the absolute figures, and the fuel costs calculated from them, as indicative only.

Results

Three percentage points separate first from seventh, so this is a close, high-quality field in which the order is decided by small margins and no single tyre wins everything. The eighth tyre is the exception and the warning: the Dynamo saves a modest amount at the till and gives up a great deal of wet braking performance to do it.

1st

Falken ZIEX ZE320

205/55 R16 91V
Falken ZIEX ZE320
Auto Express Test Winner
The Falken Ziex ZE320 is the outright winner of this test and a large step on from the Ziex tyres that carried a similar name before it. It leads the field in dry braking and on both handling circuits while staying near the front almost everywhere else, and only wet braking stops it being a clean sweep. For a tyre priced in the middle of this group that is a strong result, and it makes the Falken the pick for drivers who want one tyre that does everything well.
Dry100%
Wet96.1%
Comfort98.7%
Rolling Resistance87%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better1st / 836 mBest in this discipline
Dry HandlingLower is better1st / 853.5 sBest in this discipline
Wet BrakingLower is better6th / 827.3 m+2.20 m
Wet HandlingLower is better1st / 888 sBest in this discipline
Wet CircleLower is better3rd / 811.66 s+0.16 s
Straight AquaHigher is better3rd / 878.3 km/h-6.70 km/h
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better3rd / 83.61 m/sec2-0.19 m/sec2
NoiseLower is better3rd / 868.9 dB+0.90 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better4th / 88.05 kg/t+1.05 kg/t
EU Label
C/A/71
Price
79.99
2nd

Continental PremiumContact 7

205/55 R16 91V
Continental PremiumContact 7
The Continental PremiumContact 7 is beaten but not embarrassed, losing the overall win by the narrowest of margins while still owning the single most important test in the programme. It is the tyre to buy if wet braking is the thing you care about above all else, and its dry performance and refinement are close to the best here too. The aquaplaning results are the caveat, and they are the main reason a newer rival got past it.
Dry99%
Wet97.2%
Comfort99.4%
Rolling Resistance83%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better2nd / 836.4 m+0.40 m
Dry HandlingLower is better3rd / 853.99 s+0.49 s
Wet BrakingLower is better1st / 825.1 mBest in this discipline
Wet HandlingLower is better4th / 888.89 s+0.89 s
Wet CircleLower is better2nd / 811.52 s+0.02 s
Straight AquaHigher is better6th / 876.9 km/h-8.10 km/h
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better6th / 83.31 m/sec2-0.49 m/sec2
NoiseLower is better2nd / 868.4 dB+0.40 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better6th / 88.43 kg/t+1.43 kg/t
EU Label
C/A/71
Price
106.99
3rd

Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN

205/55 R16 91V
Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
The Firestone Roadhawk 2 takes third on debut and does it with a distinctive profile rather than by being merely competent everywhere. It is the tyre for standing water and for refinement, winning both aquaplaning tests and the noise measurement outright, and it holds up well in wet handling and efficiency. The dry braking result is the one that keeps it off the top step, so it suits drivers whose worst weather is heavy rain rather than those chasing outright dry stopping power.
Dry96.1%
Wet97.4%
Comfort100%
Rolling Resistance89%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better7th / 838.5 m+2.50 m
Dry HandlingLower is better4th / 854.2 s+0.70 s
Wet BrakingLower is better5th / 827.2 m+2.10 m
Wet HandlingLower is better3rd / 888.71 s+0.71 s
Wet CircleLower is better4th / 811.68 s+0.18 s
Straight AquaHigher is better1st / 885 km/hBest in this discipline
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better1st / 83.8 m/sec2Best in this discipline
NoiseLower is better1st / 868 dBBest in this discipline
Rolling ResistanceLower is better3rd / 87.87 kg/t+0.87 kg/t
EU Label
C/A/67
Price
87.97
4th

Maxxis Premitra HP6

205/55 R16 94W XL
Maxxis Premitra HP6
The Maxxis Premitra HP6 is one of the bigger stories of this test, moving from the back of the field to the edge of the podium in a single generation. Wet cornering, dry handling and efficiency are genuine strengths rather than respectable results, and the price makes the package harder still to argue with. Aquaplaning is the area that still needs work, and until it improves the Maxxis is best suited to drivers who do not routinely meet standing water at speed.
Dry96.8%
Wet94.4%
Comfort97.6%
Rolling Resistance93%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better6th / 838.3 m+2.30 m
Dry HandlingLower is better2nd / 853.71 s+0.21 s
Wet BrakingLower is better4th / 827.1 m+2.00 m
Wet HandlingLower is better5th / 889.34 s+1.34 s
Wet CircleLower is better1st / 811.5 sBest in this discipline
Straight AquaHigher is better7th / 876 km/h-9.00 km/h
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better7th / 83.06 m/sec2-0.74 m/sec2
NoiseLower is better6th / 869.7 dB+1.70 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better2nd / 87.53 kg/t+0.53 kg/t
EU Label
C/A/70
Price
63.50
5th

Pirelli Cinturato C3

205/55 R16 94W XL
Pirelli Cinturato C3
The Pirelli Cinturato C3 is a good tyre that finished mid-table because the field around it is strong, not because it lacks ability. Its wet braking and wet handling are close to the best available and it is the most communicative tyre in this group, which will matter to keen drivers. The wet cornering result is a real anomaly, and combined with high rolling resistance and the highest price, it is a harder tyre to recommend on value than on ability.
Dry98.5%
Wet92.4%
Comfort98.1%
Rolling Resistance81.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better3rd / 836.6 m+0.60 m
Dry HandlingLower is better6th / 854.26 s+0.76 s
Wet BrakingLower is better2nd / 826.3 m+1.20 m
Wet HandlingLower is better2nd / 888.62 s+0.62 s
Wet CircleLower is better8th / 813.76 s+2.26 s
Straight AquaHigher is better4th / 877.9 km/h-7.10 km/h
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better4th / 83.44 m/sec2-0.36 m/sec2
NoiseLower is better5th / 869.3 dB+1.30 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better7th / 88.61 kg/t+1.61 kg/t
EU Label
C/A/70
Price
124.58
6th

Michelin Primacy 5

205/55 R16 91W
Michelin Primacy 5
The Michelin Primacy 5 is a specialist rather than an all-rounder in this company. Its efficiency advantage is large enough to be worth real money over a set's life, and its wet braking is genuinely competitive, but both handling circuits expose it against a strong field. Buy it for the running costs and the wet stopping distance; look elsewhere if you want a tyre that rewards being driven hard.
Dry96.2%
Wet94.5%
Comfort97.4%
Rolling Resistance100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better5th / 837.9 m+1.90 m
Dry HandlingLower is better8th / 854.87 s+1.37 s
Wet BrakingLower is better3rd / 826.9 m+1.80 m
Wet HandlingLower is better7th / 890.72 s+2.72 s
Wet CircleLower is better5th / 811.93 s+0.43 s
Straight AquaHigher is better4th / 877.9 km/h-7.10 km/h
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better5th / 83.4 m/sec2-0.40 m/sec2
NoiseLower is better7th / 869.8 dB+1.80 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better1st / 87 kg/tBest in this discipline
EU Label
B/A/70
Price
107.99
7th

Nokian Powerproof 2

205/55 R16 94V XL
Nokian Powerproof 2
The Nokian Powerproof 2 is a competent return rather than a triumphant one. Its deep-water performance is a genuine strength and it is respectable in the dry, but wet braking and wet cornering are the two areas Auto Express weights most heavily and it gave away ground in both. There is a good tyre here for drivers in consistently wet climates, but it needs more outright wet grip before it can trouble the front of a field this competitive.
Dry97.4%
Wet92.6%
Comfort97.4%
Rolling Resistance86.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better4th / 837.4 m+1.40 m
Dry HandlingLower is better6th / 854.26 s+0.76 s
Wet BrakingLower is better7th / 827.8 m+2.70 m
Wet HandlingLower is better6th / 889.61 s+1.61 s
Wet CircleLower is better7th / 813.61 s+2.11 s
Straight AquaHigher is better2nd / 883.1 km/h-1.90 km/h
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better2nd / 83.75 m/sec2-0.05 m/sec2
NoiseLower is better7th / 869.8 dB+1.80 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better5th / 88.06 kg/t+1.06 kg/t
EU Label
B/A/70
Price
68.74
8th

Dynamo STREET H MH01

205/55 R16 91V
Dynamo STREET H MH01
The Dynamo Street-H MH01 is included here as a reference point and it makes the case against budget tyres more effectively than any argument could. The saving over the next cheapest tyre in this test is small, and what it buys is a large loss of wet braking performance, wet grip and efficiency. Several tyres in this group cost only a little more and are far better in almost every area, and on a wet road that difference is measured in stopping distance rather than in comfort.
Dry93%
Wet86.5%
Comfort98.4%
Rolling Resistance74.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better8th / 841.2 m+5.20 m
Dry HandlingLower is better4th / 854.2 s+0.70 s
Wet BrakingLower is better8th / 832.2 m+7.10 m
Wet HandlingLower is better8th / 897.02 s+9.02 s
Wet CircleLower is better6th / 812.07 s+0.57 s
Straight AquaHigher is better8th / 873 km/h-12.00 km/h
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better8th / 82.9 m/sec2-0.90 m/sec2
NoiseLower is better4th / 869.1 dB+1.10 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better8th / 89.37 kg/t+2.37 kg/t
EU Label
D/C/71
Price
53.77

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