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2015 European Tyre Test 205/55 R16

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
9 min read Updated
Contents
  1. The Results
  2. Michelin Primacy 3
  3. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
  4. Continental Premium Contact 5
  5. Dunlop Sport BluResponse
  6. Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
  7. Bridgestone Turanza T001
  8. Fulda EcoControl HP
  9. Hankook Ventus Prime2
  10. Semperit Speed Life
  11. Vredestein Sportrac 5
  12. Falken ZE914
  13. Nokian Line
  14. Bridgestone Ecopia EP001S
  15. Continental Eco Contact 5
  16. Michelin Energy Saver+
  17. Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco
  18. Kumho Solus HS51 Harmony Sports
  19. Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
  20. Nankang Green Sport Eco 2

Test Summary
Wet Braking Michelin Primacy 3
Continental Premium Contact 5
Dry Braking Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
Kumho Solus HS51 Harmony Sports
Wear Michelin Primacy 3
Rolling Resistance Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco
Bridgestone Ecopia EP001S
Snow Braking Michelin Primacy 3
Michelin Energy Saver Plus
Snow Handling Continental Eco Contact 5
Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco

The 2015 European tyre test by the German organisations ADAC and Stiftung Warentest is here, and this time it's a little more interesting than usual.

This year testing 205/55 R16, ADAC made their annual tyre test a little more in-depth by including a number of "low rolling resistance" ECO tyres. These tyres are designed to use less fuel than normal tyres, with a little trade in dry and wet grip.

Unfortunately for those of us looking to save a few pound on the annual fuel bill, not one of the ECO tyres offered a balance of performance ADAC were happy with, and they finished in the final five places. While all the tyres offered slightly improved rolling resistance scores, the trade off in wet grip wasn't worth the small saving.

While the ECO Michelin Energy Saver+ could only manage 15th place due to a poor wet performance, it's sister tyre, the Michelin Primacy 3, won the test by a large margin thanks to an excellent performance in the dry, wet, the best wear score and low rolling resistance.

The usual suspects filled places two to five, with Bridgestone making a suprise return to the top six with the Turenza T001 - apparently Bridgestone have finally got on top of the wet performance issues their tyres have faced in the past.

 

The Results

1st

Michelin Primacy 3

205/55 R16
Michelin Primacy 3
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 49.2
Dry 9
Wet 7
Rolling Resistance 8
Noise 6
Wear 11
Overall 8.2
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 45.8
Dry 8.6
Wet 7.8
Rolling Resistance 8
Noise 6.2
Wear 7.4
Overall 7.8
Continental Premium Contact 5
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 45.2
Dry 9
Wet 7.4
Rolling Resistance 7.8
Noise 6
Wear 7.4
Overall 7.6
4th

Dunlop Sport BluResponse

205/55 R16
Dunlop Sport BluResponse
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 45.2
Dry 8.6
Wet 7.4
Rolling Resistance 8
Noise 6.6
Wear 7
Overall 7.6
5th

Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue

205/55 R16
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 44.2
Dry 8.4
Wet 7.8
Rolling Resistance 7.6
Noise 4.8
Wear 8
Overall 7.6
6th

Bridgestone Turanza T001

205/55 R16
Bridgestone Turanza T001
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 44.2
Dry 8.8
Wet 7.6
Rolling Resistance 7.4
Noise 6
Wear 7
Overall 7.4
7th

Fulda EcoControl HP

205/55 R16
Fulda EcoControl HP
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 43.2
Dry 7.6
Wet 6.6
Rolling Resistance 7.8
Noise 6.2
Wear 8.4
Overall 6.6
8th

Hankook Ventus Prime2

205/55 R16
Hankook Ventus Prime2
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 42.2
Dry 8.2
Wet 6.6
Rolling Resistance 7
Noise 6.4
Wear 7.4
Overall 6.6
9th

Semperit Speed Life

205/55 R16
Semperit Speed Life
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 41
Dry 6.6
Wet 6.6
Rolling Resistance 8.2
Noise 6
Wear 7
Overall 6.6
10th

Vredestein Sportrac 5

205/55 R16
Vredestein Sportrac 5
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 43.6
Dry 8.6
Wet 6.6
Rolling Resistance 8.2
Noise 6.2
Wear 7.4
Overall 6.6
11th

Falken ZE914

205/55 R16
Falken ZE914
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 42.4
Dry 8.8
Wet 6.8
Rolling Resistance 7.2
Noise 6.8
Wear 6.4
Overall 6.4
12th

Nokian Line

205/55 R16
Nokian Line
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 42
Dry 8.4
Wet 7.2
Rolling Resistance 7.4
Noise 6.2
Wear 6.4
Overall 6.4
13th

Bridgestone Ecopia EP001S

205/55 R16
Bridgestone Ecopia EP001S
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 42.4
Dry 8.2
Wet 6
Rolling Resistance 8.8
Noise 7
Wear 6.4
Overall 6
14th

Continental Eco Contact 5

205/55 R16
Continental Eco Contact 5
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 43.4
Dry 8.4
Wet 5.6
Rolling Resistance 8.2
Noise 7.2
Wear 8.4
Overall 5.6
15th

Michelin Energy Saver+

205/55 R16
Michelin Energy Saver Plus
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 45.4
Dry 8.6
Wet 5.6
Rolling Resistance 8.2
Noise 6.4
Wear 11
Overall 5.6
16th

Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco

205/55 R16
Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 40
Dry 6.8
Wet 5.4
Rolling Resistance 8.8
Noise 7.2
Wear 6.4
Overall 5.4
Kumho Solus HS51 Harmony Sports
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 39.8
Dry 7.4
Wet 7.8
Rolling Resistance 7.4
Noise 6.4
Wear 5.4
Overall 5.4
18th

Kleber Dynaxer HP 3

205/55 R16
Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 39.4
Dry 7
Wet 5
Rolling Resistance 8
Noise 5.4
Wear 9
Overall 5
19th

Nankang Green Sport Eco 2

205/55 R16
Nankang Green Sport Eco 2
  • 3PMSF: no
Total: 29.8
Dry 5.6
Wet 1
Rolling Resistance 7.8
Noise 6.4
Wear 8
Overall 1

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