2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test

Test Publication:

235/45 R18 10 tyres 4 categories

Similar Tests

Images courtesy of Auto Zeitung

Test Publication:

https://www.autozeitung.de/reifen-test

Images courtesy of Auto Zeitung

Test Size: 235/45 R18

Tyres Tested: 10 tyres

Test Categories:
4 categories (8 tests)

Similar Tests

The stand out performances go to the new Continental Premium Contact 6 and Michelin Primacy 4, both showing extremely well balanced test results, and also the new Maxxis Premitra HP5. The quality of Maxxis tyres has quietly improving quickly over the past 12 months, and it's great to see the Premitra HP5 prove it's excellent price / performance ratio.

It's also worth noting, which the Michelin CrossClimate only finished seventh place overall, this is the only tyre on test which has any sort of ability in the snow. The trade for snow performance is often dry grip, but the CrossClimate held its own in a full summer tyre test, which makes it unique amongst all season tyres.

Dry

The dry testing was led by the top three tyres overall, with the Continental, Michelin Primacy 4 and Maxxis trading places in the dry braking and dry handling testing. The Nankang AS1 was last in both tests.

Wet

The Michelin CrossClimate had a surprise advantage during wet braking, but couldn't match the performance during the wet handling lap. The Continental Premium Contact 6 was the best of the summer tyres, with the Maxxis, Yokohama and Bridgestone all having excellent results. The Nankang AS1 was again last.

The Kumho was the best tyre for straight aquaplaning resistance.

Environment

The Michelin Primacy 4 had an extremely low rolling resistance, while the Continental's only weakness was highlighted.

The Maxxis was the quietest tyre on test, with a 1dB margin over the next best.

The cheapest set of tyres on test, the Nankang AS1, were almost a third of the price of the most expensive.

Results

As always, you can see the full results on the Auto Zeitung website.

1^st

Continental Premium Contact 6

235/45 R18

• 3PMSF: no

The best tyre in the wet by a margin, shortest dry braking and excellent dry handling, good level of comfort.

None mentioned.

Dry

100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	1st	36 M			100%
Dry Handling	1st	59.3 s			100%

Wet

97.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	2nd	57.7 M	54.6 M	+3.1 M	94.63%
Wet Handling	1st	90 s			100%
Straight Aqua	5th	74 Km/H	75.1 Km/H	-1.1 Km/H	98.54%

Comfort

95.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	7th	71 dB	68 dB	+3 dB	95.77%

Value

67%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	8th	555	265	+290	47.75%
Rolling Resistance	8th	8.34 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+1.14 kg / t	86.33%

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2^nd

Michelin Primacy 4

235/45 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Good results in the dry and wet, very low rolling resistance.

None mentioned.

Dry

98.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	3rd	36.6 M	36 M	+0.6 M	98.36%
Dry Handling	2nd	59.7 s	59.3 s	+0.4 s	99.33%

Wet

94%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	6th	60.6 M	54.6 M	+6 M	90.1%
Wet Handling	6th	94.2 s	90 s	+4.2 s	95.54%
Straight Aqua	7th	72.3 Km/H	75.1 Km/H	-2.8 Km/H	96.27%

Comfort

95.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	7th	71 dB	68 dB	+3 dB	95.77%

Value

72.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	9th	590	265	+325	44.92%
Rolling Resistance	1st	7.2 kg / t			100%

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3^rd

Maxxis Premitra HP5

235/45 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Up there with premium rivals at a lower price, good in the wet, short dry braking.

Average rolling resistance, average comfort, average dry handling.

Dry

98.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	2nd	36.4 M	36 M	+0.4 M	98.9%
Dry Handling	3rd	60.2 s	59.3 s	+0.9 s	98.5%

Wet

96.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5th	59.2 M	54.6 M	+4.6 M	92.23%
Wet Handling	2nd	91.2 s	90 s	+1.2 s	98.68%
Straight Aqua	6th	73.2 Km/H	75.1 Km/H	-1.9 Km/H	97.47%

Comfort

100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	1st	68 dB			100%

Value

81.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	3rd	345	265	+80	76.81%
Rolling Resistance	7th	8.31 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+1.11 kg / t	86.64%

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4^th

Pirelli CINTURATO P7

235/45 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Good results in the dry and wet, short wet braking.

None mentioned.

Dry

97.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	6th	37.5 M	36 M	+1.5 M	96%
Dry Handling	3rd	60.2 s	59.3 s	+0.9 s	98.5%

Wet

94.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	3rd	58.8 M	54.6 M	+4.2 M	92.86%
Wet Handling	8th	96.6 s	90 s	+6.6 s	93.17%
Straight Aqua	3rd	74.2 Km/H	75.1 Km/H	-0.9 Km/H	98.8%

Comfort

97.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	3rd	70 dB	68 dB	+2 dB	97.14%

Value

72.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	5th	465	265	+200	56.99%
Rolling Resistance	6th	8.19 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+0.99 kg / t	87.91%

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5^th

Bridgestone Turanza T005

235/45 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Short dry braking and good ride quality, low rolling resistance, very good aquaplaning resistance.

Long wet braking distances.

Dry

97.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	4th	36.8 M	36 M	+0.8 M	97.83%
Dry Handling	8th	60.7 s	59.3 s	+1.4 s	97.69%

Wet

92.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	8th	66.6 M	54.6 M	+12 M	81.98%
Wet Handling	3rd	92.8 s	90 s	+2.8 s	96.98%
Straight Aqua	2nd	74.3 Km/H	75.1 Km/H	-0.8 Km/H	98.93%

Comfort

95.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	7th	71 dB	68 dB	+3 dB	95.77%

Value

72.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	7th	540	265	+275	49.07%
Rolling Resistance	2nd	7.46 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+0.26 kg / t	96.51%

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6^th

Yokohama BluEarth AE50

235/45 R18

• 3PMSF: no

A well balanced tyre, low rolling resistance.

Reduced aquaplaning resistance.

Dry

96.7%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	7th	37.8 M	36 M	+1.8 M	95.24%
Dry Handling	6th	60.4 s	59.3 s	+1.1 s	98.18%

Wet

94.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	4th	59 M	54.6 M	+4.4 M	92.54%
Wet Handling	4th	93.4 s	90 s	+3.4 s	96.36%
Straight Aqua	8th	70.8 Km/H	75.1 Km/H	-4.3 Km/H	94.27%

Comfort

97.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	3rd	70 dB	68 dB	+2 dB	97.14%

Value

75.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	6th	470	265	+205	56.38%
Rolling Resistance	3rd	7.68 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+0.48 kg / t	93.75%

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7^th

Michelin CrossClimate+

235/45 R18

• 3PMSF: no

The shortest wet braking distances. The only tyre with snow capability.

Relatively weak wet lateral stability, increased noise levels, long dry braking.

Dry

95%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	8th	39.2 M	36 M	+3.2 M	91.84%
Dry Handling	6th	60.4 s	59.3 s	+1.1 s	98.18%

Wet

95.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	1st	54.6 M			100%
Wet Handling	7th	96 s	90 s	+6 s	93.75%
Straight Aqua	9th	70.4 Km/H	75.1 Km/H	-4.7 Km/H	93.74%

Comfort

94.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	10th	72 dB	68 dB	+4 dB	94.44%

Value

66.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	10th	645	265	+380	41.09%
Rolling Resistance	4th	7.78 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+0.58 kg / t	92.54%

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8^th

Apollo Aspire XP

235/45 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Good aquaplaning resistance.

Long wet braking, soft sidewalls so poor lateral stability.

Dry

97.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	5th	37.4 M	36 M	+1.4 M	96.26%
Dry Handling	5th	60.3 s	59.3 s	+1 s	98.34%

Wet

92.5%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	7th	65.8 M	54.6 M	+11.2 M	82.98%
Wet Handling	5th	94 s	90 s	+4 s	95.74%
Straight Aqua	4th	74.1 Km/H	75.1 Km/H	-1 Km/H	98.67%

Comfort

97.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	3rd	70 dB	68 dB	+2 dB	97.14%

Value

77.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	4th	400	265	+135	66.25%
Rolling Resistance	5th	8.16 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+0.96 kg / t	88.24%

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9^th

Kumho Ecsta HS51

235/45 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Good aquaplaning resistance.

Long braking distances in the dry and wet, high rolling resistance, low comfort.

Dry

94.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	8th	39.2 M	36 M	+3.2 M	91.84%
Dry Handling	8th	60.7 s	59.3 s	+1.4 s	97.69%

Wet

88.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	9th	73.1 M	54.6 M	+18.5 M	74.69%
Wet Handling	9th	98 s	90 s	+8 s	91.84%
Straight Aqua	1st	75.1 Km/H			100%

Comfort

97.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	3rd	70 dB	68 dB	+2 dB	97.14%

Value

83.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	2nd	325	265	+60	81.54%
Rolling Resistance	9th	8.49 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+1.29 kg / t	84.81%

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10^th

Nankang AS1

235/45 R18

• 3PMSF: no

None mentioned.

Unstable at the limit during wet handling and long stopping distances during wet braking, highest rolling resistance.

Dry

94.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	8th	39.2 M	36 M	+3.2 M	91.84%
Dry Handling	10th	60.9 s	59.3 s	+1.6 s	97.37%

Wet

83.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	10th	77.3 M	54.6 M	+22.7 M	70.63%
Wet Handling	10th	99.9 s	90 s	+9.9 s	90.09%
Straight Aqua	10th	68.2 Km/H	75.1 Km/H	-6.9 Km/H	90.81%

Comfort

98.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	2nd	69 dB	68 dB	+1 dB	98.55%

Value

90.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	1st	265			100%
Rolling Resistance	10th	8.92 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+1.72 kg / t	80.72%

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