2015 Auto Bild Top 18 Summer Tyre Test

Test Summary
Wet Braking	Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco Sava intensa hp Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde Dunlop Sport BluResponse
Dry Braking	Continental Premium Contact 5 Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde Dunlop Sport BluResponse Bridgestone Turanza T001
Rolling Resistance	Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Noise	Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco Zeetex ZT1000 Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde Bridgestone Turanza T001
Snow Braking	Continental Premium Contact 5
Snow Handling	Roadstone CP661 Classe Premiere Zeetex ZT1000

Following on from the 53 tyre wet and dry braking shootout, Auto Bild have tested the top 18 tyres more thoroughly, putting them through the usual mix of wet, dry, wear and NVH tests in 185/60 R15 on a VW Polo.

The Premiums

The Continental PremiumContact 5 was both the overall test winner and also the "eco" winner. While the third placed Michelin Energy Saver+ shared many of the test-winning characteristics of the Conti, the surprise was that Michelin's usual strength of a low wear rate was actually bettered by the CPC5. A high wear rate has historically been a weakness for the German brand in user reviews, but in this test it was Goodyear that came last for wear, with stablemate Dunlop also languishing near the bottom for that category. Test-leading low rolling resistance from the EfficientGrip Performance and Sport BluResponse do mean some of that expense is recovered at the pump, but it didn't help the Goodyear's overall poor ranking of 11th - the lowest of the Premium brands. The Bridgestone Turanza T001 meanwhile struggled with both longevity and economy as well as for noise, while the Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde's good handling performance was let down by a high rolling resistance.

The Rest

The rise of the mid-range brands (and likewise poor performance of some premiums) may seem a surprise in isolation, but it is actually becoming a growing trend in group tests. Hankook, Nexen and Vredestein all received the top "exemplary" rating, with the Hankook Kinergy Eco K425 coming a highly creditable second overall. The Nexen N'blue HD Plus and Vredestein Sportrac 5 completed the top five. All three makes showed very well rounded driving performance and safety characteristics.

What was a surprise was the two Chinese "no-name" brands of Zeetex and Roadstone making it into the Top 18 final test. Costing around a hundred Euros less per set than the test-winning Continental, the two budget tyres weren't without their weaknesses - The ZT 1000 with low wet grip and resistance to aquaplaning as well as poor wear, and the CP 661 with poor wet and dry handling, long dry braking and also high wear - but both were there on merit and the Zeetex even earned a "satisfactory" rating. Both also finished ahead of the straggling Uniroyal. The RainExpert's directional tread pattern meant it aced the straight-aquaplaning test but struggled with understeer and braking in the dry. It also suffered from a high wear rate and high rolling resistance. All this meant parent brand Continental had the dubious honour of coming both first and last in the test.

As usual, the overall places are ranked as per Auto Bild's weighting, and this may differ from our own unweighted 'total' score.

The Results

Best premium tyre without faults. Good steering precision, good margin against aquaplaning, short wet and dry braking, best wear.

Price.

Total: 42

Dry 6

Wet 8

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 5

Wear 10

Top performance in both wet and dry conditions. Stable cornering and short braking distances in the wet. Very good ride comfort and low rolling resistance.

Slightly delayed turn-in.

Total: 40

Dry 7

Wet 7

Comfort 7

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 6

Wear 6

Premium energy saving tyre, with balanced wet and dry handling qualities, low wear and low rolling resistance.

Comparatively high cost.

Total: 39

Dry 6

Wet 6

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 8

Noise 5

Wear 9

Well balanced and low-cost eco tires with safe handling qualities in both wet and dry as well as short braking distances. Low noise.

Only average wear.

Total: 35

Dry 6

Wet 6

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 6

Wear 5

Dry specialist with best handling qualities and good steering precision. Stable characteristics in the wet. Short wet and dry braking, good value for money.

Slightly increased rolling resistance.

Total: 32

Dry 6

Wet 6

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 5

Noise 5

Wear 5

Premium tyre with balanced safe handling qualities in all weather conditions. Stable cornering in the wet, good aquaplaning reserves, low wear rate.

Significantly increased rolling resistance.

Total: 37

Dry 7

Wet 8

Comfort 7

Rolling Resistance 3

Noise 6

Wear 6

Dynamic, sporty handling qualities in both wet and dry. Precise steering behaviour with good feedback. Short wet and dry braking.

High wear, high price.

Total: 37

Dry 7

Wet 8

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 8

Noise 5

Wear 3

Wet specialist with best dynamic handling qualities. Best for curved aquaplaning. Good comfort.

Increased rolling resistance, wear rate only satisfactory.

Total: 32

Dry 6

Wet 8

Comfort 7

Rolling Resistance 3

Noise 4

Wear 4

Balanced safe handling characteristics in both wet and dry. Short dry braking distances, good value for money.

Poor in curved aquaplaning, moderate comfort.

Total: 32

Dry 5

Wet 5

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 5

Noise 6

Wear 6

Harmonious safe driving in wet and dry. Quick response and precise steering in the dry.

Moderate value for money with high wear and high rolling resistance.

Total: 29

Dry 6

Wet 6

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 4

Noise 4

Wear 4

Dynamic wet handling behaviour with good precision. Short braking distances in both wet and dry. Lowest rolling resistance.

Significantly limited tread life, high price.

Total: 36

Dry 7

Wet 7

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 9

Noise 6

Wear 2

Balanced handling characteristics in both wet and dry. Low rolling resistance, good value for money.

Slightly longer wet braking distances, worst against curve aquaplaning.

Total: 33

Dry 5

Wet 5

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 6

Wear 5

Good security reserves against aquaplaning, safe driving behaviour and good response in the wet. Best value for money.

Tendency to understeer in the dry, increased rolling resistance.

Total: 34

Dry 7

Wet 7

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 4

Noise 5

Wear 5

Quiet and with a pleasant ride comfort. Low rolling resistance and price.

Poor wet handling, increased wear and limited curved aquaplaning.

Total: 34

Dry 5

Wet 5

Comfort 7

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 7

Wear 3

Good aquaplaning properties, stable cornering in the wet and dry.

Delayed steering response and longer braking distances in the wet. Moderate comfort, high wear.

Total: 26

Dry 4

Wet 4

Comfort 3

Rolling Resistance 6

Noise 6

Wear 3

Safe dry handling, low rolling resistance.

Understeer and long braking in the wet. Moderate comfort.

Total: 30

Dry 3

Wet 3

Comfort 4

Rolling Resistance 8

Noise 6

Wear 6

Good aquaplaning properties, quiet, low price.

Understeer in both wet and dry. Long dry braking distances. Increased wear.

Total: 30

Dry 5

Wet 5

Comfort 4

Rolling Resistance 6

Noise 7

Wear 3

Good security reserves against aquaplaning, balanced wet handling.

Understeer and longer braking distances in the dry. Poor wear, high rolling resistance.

Total: 30

Dry 6

Wet 6

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 4

Noise 6

Wear 3

Menu

2015 Auto Bild Top 18 Summer Tyre Test

The Premiums

The Rest

The Results

Continental Premium Contact 5

Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco

Michelin Energy Saver+

Nexen N Blue HD+

Vredestein Sportrac 5

Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde

Dunlop Sport BluResponse

Bridgestone Turanza T001

Falken ZIEX ZE914 EcoRun

Fulda EcoControl HP

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance

Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27

Sava intensa hp

Zeetex ZT1000

Apollo Alnac 4g

Yokohama BluEarth AE01

Roadstone CP661 Classe Premiere

Uniroyal RainExpert

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