There's a lot of tyres in the 2018 Auto Bild 195/65 R15 test, so we'll keep the intro as short as possible and let the data do the talking.
It's worth keeping in mind, the twenty tyres chosen for this test have been through a 51 tyre wet and dry braking pretest. This means the tyres included in this test are some of the best tyres available on the market, had Auto Bild included some of the worst tyres in the pretest, the gap between the best and the worst tyres overall would have been much larger.
Dry
In the dry the Hankook dominated, winning both dry braking and dry handling tests. Firestone, which is a midrange brand developed by Bridgestone, beat its parent company to finish second in both dry tests, and the Maxxis Premitra HP5 was third best overall.
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Firestone RoadHawk
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Dunlop Sport BluResponse
- Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
- Continental Premium Contact 5
- Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
- Fulda EcoControl HP
- Vredestein Sportrac 5
- Nokian Line
- Michelin Energy Saver
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Giti GitiSynergy E1
- Infinity Ecosis
- BFGoodrich gGrip
- Avon ZV7
- Uniroyal RainExpert 3
- Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Firestone RoadHawk
- Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Fulda EcoControl HP
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Michelin Energy Saver
- Continental Premium Contact 5
- Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
- Infinity Ecosis
- Dunlop Sport BluResponse
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Nokian Line
- Vredestein Sportrac 5
- BFGoodrich gGrip
- Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
- Uniroyal RainExpert 3
- Avon ZV7
- Giti GitiSynergy E1
- Cooper Zeon CS8
Wet
While Bridgestone couldn't match its subrange Firestone in the dry, it dominates in the wet. The first showing of the new Turanza T005 proves Bridgestone have finally got on top of their wet weather issues, and win both wet braking and wet handling tests.
Uniroyal, a brand well known for their wet weather performance manages second during wet braking but struggles during the wet handling test, probably due to it's extremely soft sidewalls affecting the handling, while Hankook proves you can make a tyre which works in both the wet and dry with the Prime 3 finishing third place in both wet braking and wet handling.
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Uniroyal RainExpert 3
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
- Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
- Continental Premium Contact 5
- Firestone RoadHawk
- Vredestein Sportrac 5
- Infinity Ecosis
- Dunlop Sport BluResponse
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
- Nokian Line
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Avon ZV7
- Michelin Energy Saver
- BFGoodrich gGrip
- Giti GitiSynergy E1
- Fulda EcoControl HP
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Firestone RoadHawk
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Vredestein Sportrac 5
- Continental Premium Contact 5
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Dunlop Sport BluResponse
- Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
- Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
- Avon ZV7
- Nokian Line
- Infinity Ecosis
- Fulda EcoControl HP
- Michelin Energy Saver
- Uniroyal RainExpert 3
- Giti GitiSynergy E1
- BFGoodrich gGrip
- Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
What the Uniroyal lacked in wet handling, it makes up for during aquaplaning testing, finishing a long way ahead of the second and third placed Avon and Goodyear.
- Uniroyal RainExpert 3
- Avon ZV7
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
- Dunlop Sport BluResponse
- Fulda EcoControl HP
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Michelin Energy Saver
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Nokian Line
- Firestone RoadHawk
- Continental Premium Contact 5
- BFGoodrich gGrip
- Vredestein Sportrac 5
- Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Infinity Ecosis
- Giti GitiSynergy E1
Environment
The new brand, Giti prove to have the lowest fuel use on test by a significant margin, where Bridgestone blends low fuel use and wet performance better than any other tyre.
- Giti GitiSynergy E1
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Michelin Energy Saver
- Vredestein Sportrac 5
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Nokian Line
- Dunlop Sport BluResponse
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Infinity Ecosis
- BFGoodrich gGrip
- Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Uniroyal RainExpert 3
- Continental Premium Contact 5
- Firestone RoadHawk
- Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
- Fulda EcoControl HP
- Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
- Avon ZV7
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Infinity Ecosis
- Vredestein Sportrac 5
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Giti GitiSynergy E1
- Dunlop Sport BluResponse
- Michelin Energy Saver
- Continental Premium Contact 5
- Fulda EcoControl HP
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Avon ZV7
- Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
- Nokian Line
- BFGoodrich gGrip
- Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
- Uniroyal RainExpert 3
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Firestone RoadHawk
Cost
While the Infinity and Maxxis are some of the cheapest tyres on test (see third chart below), the Maxxis in particular proves to be very poor value due to having the highest wear.
The Fulda has the second lowest purchase price and the best projected wear, meaning the cost per 1000km is by far the best.
- Fulda EcoControl HP
- Vredestein Sportrac 5
- Infinity Ecosis
- BFGoodrich gGrip
- Firestone RoadHawk
- Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
- Giti GitiSynergy E1
- Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
- Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
- Uniroyal RainExpert 3
- Michelin Energy Saver
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Continental Premium Contact 5
- Nokian Line
- Dunlop Sport BluResponse
- Avon ZV7
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Fulda EcoControl HP
- Michelin Energy Saver
- BFGoodrich gGrip
- Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
- Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
- Vredestein Sportrac 5
- Giti GitiSynergy E1
- Uniroyal RainExpert 3
- Firestone RoadHawk
- Continental Premium Contact 5
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Infinity Ecosis
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Avon ZV7
- Dunlop Sport BluResponse
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Nokian Line
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Infinity Ecosis
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Fulda EcoControl HP
- Vredestein Sportrac 5
- Firestone RoadHawk
- Giti GitiSynergy E1
- Uniroyal RainExpert 3
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Nokian Line
- Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
- Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
- BFGoodrich gGrip
- Dunlop Sport BluResponse
- Avon ZV7
- Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Continental Premium Contact 5
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Michelin Energy Saver
Results
The magazine scoring and testers notes below. As always, you can check out the Auto Bild website for the full details (in German)
Test winner with excellent all round driving qualities. Strong in the wet and wet with precise steering and short wet and dry braking. Good comfort, good value for money.
Average aquaplaning result.
Total: 40
Dry
9
Wet
7
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
7
Wear
5
Excellent premium tyre without fault. Good steering and balance in the wet, short wet and dry braking. Quiet.
Expensive.
Total: 37
Dry
7
Wet
7
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
7
Wear
5
Excellent aquaplaning safety, good steering precision and stable handling in the dry. Short wet and dry braking. Low wear.
Relatively high rolling resistance.
Total: 39
Dry
7
Wet
6
Comfort
7
Rolling Resistance
4
Noise
7
Wear
8
A well priced summer tyre with excellent handling, good steering precision and short braking in both the dry and wet. Good comfort.
Noisy.
Total: 36
Dry
8
Wet
7
Comfort
7
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
4
Wear
5
Lowest wear and excellent rolling resistance. Short braking distances and precise handling in the dry.
Poor curved aquaplaning, high purchase price.
Total: 42
Dry
7
Wet
5
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
7
Wear
10
A well balanced premium tyre with safe handling in all conditions. Short wet and dry braking distances, good mileage.
Poor curved aquaplaning.
Total: 36
Dry
7
Wet
6
Comfort
5
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
6
Wear
7
Top wet result, short wet and dry braking distance, stable dry handling, low wear and ow fuel use.
Average aquaplaning result, high price.
Total: 43
Dry
7
Wet
8
Comfort
8
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
5
Wear
7
Very good aquaplaning, good handling and excellent steering in the dry, lowest wear on test and lowest price.
Average wet braking.
Total: 42
Dry
7
Wet
5
Comfort
8
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
7
Wear
10
Balance performance in the dry and wet, short dry braking distances, low noise, low wear.
Average aquaplaning result.
Total: 42
Dry
6
Wet
6
Comfort
8
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
8
Wear
7
Best curved aquaplaning result, stable handling in the wet and dry.
Average fuel use, average mileage.
Total: 38
Dry
7
Wet
7
Comfort
7
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
6
Wear
4
Good aquaplaning result, stable handling in the wet and dry.
Average fuel use, average mileage.
Total: 36
Dry
7
Wet
6
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
7
Wear
4
Best straight aquaplaning result, short wet braking distances.
High levels of understeer in the wet and dry.
Total: 34
Dry
4
Wet
7
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
6
Wear
6
Stable dry handling, low noise, low price.
Average aquaplaning result, average mileage.
Total: 33
Dry
6
Wet
5
Comfort
4
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
8
Wear
4
Good aquaplaning result, good comfort.
Understeer in the dry, average price.
Total: 31
Dry
4
Wet
6
Comfort
8
Rolling Resistance
3
Noise
6
Wear
4
VEry low wear, low rolling resistance, low fuel use.
Poor wet grip.
Total: 36
Dry
5
Wet
4
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
6
Wear
9
Balance performance in the wet, good comfort.
Understeer in the dry, average wear, high rolling resistance.
Total: 29
Dry
4
Wet
6
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
2
Noise
7
Wear
4
Good comfort, good wear, lowest fuel use in test.
High understeer in the dry.
Total: 38
Dry
5
Wet
4
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
10
Noise
7
Wear
6
Low wear, good comfort, good value for money.
Limited wet grip, long dry braking.
Total: 34
Dry
4
Wet
4
Comfort
7
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
6
Wear
7
Short braking in the dry, low rolling resistance, good comfort levels.
Poor curved aquaplaning result, high wear.
Total: 30
Dry
5
Wet
5
Comfort
6
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
6
Wear
2
Short dry braking, balance wet performance.
Very high wear making the tyre the worst value on test. Average comfort.
Total: 32
Dry
8
Wet
6
Comfort
4
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
7
Wear
1
