Test Charts / Auto Bild

2024 Classic Car Tyre Test

Compare each discipline in the tested size. See the measured result, position and gap to the best tyre, then read the verdict for the trade-offs behind the finishing order.

Tested size: 205/70 R15
Tyres tested: 7
Disciplines: 9

Read the measurements, not just the rank

Lower is better for braking distances and lap times; higher is better for subjective scores and aquaplaning speed. Bars start at zero. Read the gap alongside the position: adjacent tyres can be separated by very different margins.

Positions and gaps always refer to the full test field within each group. Selecting tyres does not recalculate rankings or change the best-in-test benchmark.

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	37.2 m	Best	0 km/h
2Pirelli Cinturato P5	38 m	+0.80 m	19 km/h
3Dunlop Sport Classic	38.7 m	+1.50 m	26 km/h
4Radar Dimax Classic	39.1 m	+1.90 m	29 km/h
5Michelin XWX	39.3 m	+2.10 m	30 km/h
6Vredestein Sprint Classic	39.5 m	+2.30 m	31 km/h
7Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	41.4 m	+4.20 m	41 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 11.3% (4.2 m ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet would still be travelling at 41 km/h when the Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Dry Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato P5	87.6 km/h	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	87.5 km/h	-0.10 km/h
3Dunlop Sport Classic	86.8 km/h	-0.80 km/h
3Radar Dimax Classic	86.8 km/h	-0.80 km/h
5Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	86.3 km/h	-1.30 km/h
6Vredestein Sprint Classic	86.2 km/h	-1.40 km/h
7Michelin XWX	85.5 km/h	-2.10 km/h

All the tyres in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Pirelli Cinturato P5	49.5 m	Best	0 km/h
2Dunlop Sport Classic	50.3 m	+0.80 m	16 km/h
3Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	50.5 m	+1.00 m	18 km/h
4Vredestein Sprint Classic	53.5 m	+4.00 m	36 km/h
5Michelin XWX	58.5 m	+9.00 m	51 km/h
6Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	64.5 m	+15.00 m	63 km/h
7Radar Dimax Classic	71.9 m	+22.40 m	73 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 45.3% (22.4 m ≈ 5 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Radar Dimax Classic would still be travelling at 73 km/h when the Pirelli Cinturato P5 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Wet Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	78.8 km/h	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato P5	78.4 km/h	-0.40 km/h
3Dunlop Sport Classic	76.1 km/h	-2.70 km/h
4Vredestein Sprint Classic	75.2 km/h	-3.60 km/h
5Michelin XWX	72.9 km/h	-5.90 km/h
6Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	71.2 km/h	-7.60 km/h
7Radar Dimax Classic	66.2 km/h	-12.60 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 16% (12.6 Km/H).

Wet Circle
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	11.4 s	Best
1Pirelli Cinturato P5	11.4 s	Best
3Dunlop Sport Classic	11.8 s	+0.40 s
4Vredestein Sprint Classic	11.9 s	+0.50 s
5Michelin XWX	12.6 s	+1.20 s
6Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	12.9 s	+1.50 s
7Radar Dimax Classic	13.2 s	+1.80 s

The difference between best and worst was 15.8% (1.8 s).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato P5	93.3 km/h	Best
2Vredestein Sprint Classic	91.5 km/h	-1.80 km/h
3Dunlop Sport Classic	87.1 km/h	-6.20 km/h
4Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	86.1 km/h	-7.20 km/h
5Radar Dimax Classic	80 km/h	-13.30 km/h
6Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	73.8 km/h	-19.50 km/h
7Michelin XWX	73.6 km/h	-19.70 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 21.1% (19.7 Km/H).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Dunlop Sport Classic	3.92 m/sec2	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato P5	3.53 m/sec2	-0.39 m/sec2
3Vredestein Sprint Classic	3.37 m/sec2	-0.55 m/sec2
4Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	3.21 m/sec2	-0.71 m/sec2
5Radar Dimax Classic	2.73 m/sec2	-1.19 m/sec2
6Michelin XWX	2.35 m/sec2	-1.57 m/sec2
7Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	2.13 m/sec2	-1.79 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 45.7% (1.79 m/sec2).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	71.6 dB	Best
2Radar Dimax Classic	71.9 dB	+0.30 dB
3Michelin XWX	72.5 dB	+0.90 dB
4Vredestein Sprint Classic	72.6 dB	+1.00 dB
5Dunlop Sport Classic	74 dB	+2.40 dB
6Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	75.4 dB	+3.80 dB
7Pirelli Cinturato P5	78 dB	+6.40 dB

The difference between best and worst was 8.9% (6.4 dB).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Dunlop Sport Classic	9.01 kg/t	Best	£0
2Radar Dimax Classic	9.53 kg/t	+0.52 kg/t	£25
3Michelin XWX	9.99 kg/t	+0.98 kg/t	£48
4Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	10.9 kg/t	+1.89 kg/t	£92
5Vredestein Sprint Classic	10.91 kg/t	+1.90 kg/t	£93
6Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	11.54 kg/t	+2.53 kg/t	£124
7Pirelli Cinturato P5	11.88 kg/t	+2.87 kg/t	£140

The difference between best and worst was 31.9% (2.87 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Pirelli Cinturato P5 uses about 97 L (£140) more fuel than the Dunlop Sport Classic.

Adjust the assumptions

Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions. These calculators use the full test field, independently of your tyre selection above.

Petrol/Diesel Electric

Annual Mileage

19,000 km

km (L)

miles (US gal)

Fuel Price

£1.45/L

GBP (£)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Set my vehicle consumption

Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tyre age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.