For their 2024 summer tyre test, the magazine "Auto Motor und Sport" tested eight summer tyres in the popular 235/55 R18 SUV size.
The test includes new tyres like Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV, Bridgestone Turanza 6, and Continental PremiumContact 7, evaluating them on wet and dry braking, handling, aquaplaning resistance, comfort, and environmental impact.
The report emphasises the importance of short braking distances and reliable performance under various conditions. Continental's PremiumContact 7 stood out for its excellent grip and safety, while others like Michelin and Bridgestone were noted for their fuel efficiency and environmental considerations.
Test Publication:
Auto Motor Und Sport
235/55 R18
8 tyres
4 categories
Test Size:
235/55 R18
Tyres Tested:
8 tyres
Auto Motor Und Sport is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, Tyre Reviews. This is independent editorial coverage of their published test.
Dry
As we've seen many times before, the Continental PremiumContact 7 had a good lead in dry braking. While the Goodyear was last in dry braking, it also has the highest starting tread depth which affects this test.
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
- Vredestein Ultrac
- Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
- Bridgestone Turanza 6
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
The Continental was also the fastest around the dry handling lap.
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV
- Bridgestone Turanza 6
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Vredestein Ultrac
- Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
Wet
Shockingly the Continental was back at the front for wet braking.
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Vredestein Ultrac
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
- Bridgestone Turanza 6
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
- Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV
The Continental also led wet handling and the wet circle.
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Vredestein Ultrac
- Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Bridgestone Turanza 6
- Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
Wet Circle
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
- Vredestein Ultrac
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
- Bridgestone Turanza 6
The Falken, Vredestein and Goodyear all did well in the deeper water of aquaplaning.
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Vredestein Ultrac
- Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV
- Bridgestone Turanza 6
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Vredestein Ultrac
- Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV
- Bridgestone Turanza 6
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
- Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
Comfort
The new Goodyear had the lowest noise, an impressive feat considering its high starting tread depth.
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Vredestein Ultrac
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
- Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
- Bridgestone Turanza 6
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV
- Continental PremiumContact 7
Value
The Michelin Primacy 4+ and Bridgestone Turanza 6 had the lowest rolling resistance on test.
- Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
- Bridgestone Turanza 6
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Vredestein Ultrac
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV
Results
Outstanding grip on wet surfaces, safe in aquaplaning. Also strong adhesion in dry curves, precise and reliable. Good rolling comfort.
Slightly louder rolling noise outside, increased rolling resistance/low fuel efficiency.
By far the highest grip and safest tyre in the test.
| Test |
# |
% |
| Dry Braking |
1st |
100% |
| Dry Handling |
1st |
100% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Wet Braking |
1st |
100% |
| Wet Handling |
1st |
100% |
| Wet Circle |
1st |
100% |
| Straight Aqua |
7th |
94.35% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
6th |
93.75% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Noise |
8th |
94.67% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
7th |
85.71% |
Very good, dynamic wet handling with high grip level and easy controllability. Direct steering response, very dynamic on dry roads, good comfort features.
Weaknesses in corner aquaplaning and in driving stability during fast lane changes.
Balanced and comfortable with only marginal weaknesses.
| Test |
# |
% |
| Dry Braking |
5th |
94.46% |
| Dry Handling |
2nd |
99.89% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Wet Braking |
3rd |
96.54% |
| Wet Handling |
3rd |
98.28% |
| Wet Circle |
3rd |
98.96% |
| Straight Aqua |
6th |
94.99% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
7th |
75.11% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Noise |
3rd |
98.58% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
3rd |
95.65% |
Very good grip and easy controllability in wet conditions, safe in aquaplaning. Benign handling characteristics on dry asphalt.
Sensitive to load changes and cause for a slightly unstable rear during fast lane changes. Limitations in rolling comfort due to slight bumpiness.
Especially in the rain: a tyre you can rely on.
| Test |
# |
% |
| Dry Braking |
4th |
95.52% |
| Dry Handling |
7th |
98.72% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Wet Braking |
2nd |
97.21% |
| Wet Handling |
2nd |
99.47% |
| Wet Circle |
4th |
97.68% |
| Straight Aqua |
2nd |
99.49% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
2nd |
97.5% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Noise |
2nd |
98.86% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
5th |
92.96% |
Good aquaplaning prevention and decent wet braking properties. On dry roads, sporty-dynamic yet still easily controllable tyre.
Limitations in traction and cornering grip on wet surfaces. Somewhat jolty over transverse joints.
Dry-strong summer tyre with very low fuel/electricity consumption.
| Test |
# |
% |
| Dry Braking |
7th |
93.68% |
| Dry Handling |
4th |
99.68% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Wet Braking |
4th |
93.31% |
| Wet Handling |
7th |
97.09% |
| Wet Circle |
8th |
95.94% |
| Straight Aqua |
4th |
96.53% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
4th |
95.68% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
1st |
100% |
High aquaplaning safety in curves. Dry good lane change safety, precise, easily controllable handling, very quiet rolling noise, good comfort.
Weak braking, moderate cornering grip and pronounced understeering on wet surfaces. Quite sluggish steering response.
The new Goodyear. Supposed to last longer, but lacking in grip.
| Test |
# |
% |
| Dry Braking |
8th |
93.17% |
| Dry Handling |
6th |
99.15% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Wet Braking |
6th |
92.08% |
| Wet Handling |
6th |
97.62% |
| Wet Circle |
6th |
96.98% |
| Straight Aqua |
5th |
96.41% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
1st |
100% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
3rd |
95.65% |
With the exception of the comparatively long braking distances, good, balanced wet performance with safe aquaplaning behavior. Quite responsive steering, safe in evasive maneuvers, reliable in handling.
Long braking distances on both wet and dry roads, highest rolling resistance in the test.
The Maxxis stumbles over its long wet-braking distances.
| Test |
# |
% |
| Dry Braking |
5th |
94.46% |
| Dry Handling |
4th |
99.68% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Wet Braking |
8th |
89.71% |
| Wet Handling |
3rd |
98.28% |
| Wet Circle |
2nd |
99.07% |
| Straight Aqua |
3rd |
99.1% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
3rd |
96.7% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Noise |
7th |
97.06% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
8th |
72.53% |
Very good aquaplaning prevention, easily controllable but not very dynamic driving behavior on dry roads.
Limitations in braking and traction on wet surfaces. Also, unbalanced driving dynamics with oversteering and understeering in wet conditions.
In wet grip and driving stability, Falken could still improve a bit.
| Test |
# |
% |
| Dry Braking |
2nd |
96.88% |
| Dry Handling |
2nd |
99.89% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Wet Braking |
5th |
92.69% |
| Wet Handling |
5th |
97.75% |
| Wet Circle |
4th |
97.68% |
| Straight Aqua |
1st |
100% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
5th |
94.55% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Noise |
6th |
97.74% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
6th |
88% |
Short braking distances and spontaneous steering behavior on dry asphalt.
Long braking distances, weak cornering grip, and poor traction on wet surfaces. Deficiencies in aquaplaning protection. On dry asphalt, increased risk of oversteering during fast lane changes and in load change situations.
With low rolling resistance, great in the fuel-saving chapter. Unfortunately, at the expense of safety.
| Test |
# |
% |
| Dry Braking |
3rd |
96.06% |
| Dry Handling |
7th |
98.72% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Wet Braking |
7th |
90% |
| Wet Handling |
8th |
96.82% |
| Wet Circle |
7th |
96.06% |
| Straight Aqua |
8th |
88.06% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
8th |
72.95% |
| Test |
# |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
1st |
100% |
So the Falken is better across the board than the Goodyear yet it got 7th instead of 5th? How did they manage that?
It's a good question. It seems from the comments they degraded it based on subjective wet handling.