Test Charts / Auto Express

2026 Auto Express Summer 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: 205/55 R16
Tyres tested: 8
Disciplines: 9
Test vehicle: Audi A3

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
1Falken ZIEX ZE320	36 m	Best	0 km/h
2Continental PremiumContact 7	36.4 m	+0.40 m	14 km/h
3Pirelli Cinturato C3	36.6 m	+0.60 m	17 km/h
4Nokian Powerproof 2	37.4 m	+1.40 m	25 km/h
5Michelin Primacy 5	37.9 m	+1.90 m	29 km/h
6Maxxis Premitra HP6	38.3 m	+2.30 m	32 km/h
7Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	38.5 m	+2.50 m	33 km/h
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	41.2 m	+5.20 m	46 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 14.4% (5.2 m ≈ 1.2 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Dynamo STREET H MH01 would still be travelling at 46 km/h when the Falken ZIEX ZE320 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
1Falken ZIEX ZE320	53.5 s	Best
2Maxxis Premitra HP6	53.71 s	+0.21 s
3Continental PremiumContact 7	53.99 s	+0.49 s
4Dynamo STREET H MH01	54.2 s	+0.70 s
4Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	54.2 s	+0.70 s
6Pirelli Cinturato C3	54.26 s	+0.76 s
6Nokian Powerproof 2	54.26 s	+0.76 s
8Michelin Primacy 5	54.87 s	+1.37 s

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

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Continental PremiumContact 7	25.1 m	Best	0 km/h
2Pirelli Cinturato C3	26.3 m	+1.20 m	28 km/h
3Michelin Primacy 5	26.9 m	+1.80 m	34 km/h
4Maxxis Premitra HP6	27.1 m	+2.00 m	35 km/h
5Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	27.2 m	+2.10 m	36 km/h
6Falken ZIEX ZE320	27.3 m	+2.20 m	37 km/h
7Nokian Powerproof 2	27.8 m	+2.70 m	41 km/h
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	32.2 m	+7.10 m	61 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 28.3% (7.1 m ≈ 1.6 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Dynamo STREET H MH01 would still be travelling at 61 km/h when the Continental PremiumContact 7 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
1Falken ZIEX ZE320	88 s	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato C3	88.62 s	+0.62 s
3Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	88.71 s	+0.71 s
4Continental PremiumContact 7	88.89 s	+0.89 s
5Maxxis Premitra HP6	89.34 s	+1.34 s
6Nokian Powerproof 2	89.61 s	+1.61 s
7Michelin Primacy 5	90.72 s	+2.72 s
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	97.02 s	+9.02 s

The difference between best and worst was 10.3% (9.02 s).

Wet Circle
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Maxxis Premitra HP6	11.5 s	Best
2Continental PremiumContact 7	11.52 s	+0.02 s
3Falken ZIEX ZE320	11.66 s	+0.16 s
4Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	11.68 s	+0.18 s
5Michelin Primacy 5	11.93 s	+0.43 s
6Dynamo STREET H MH01	12.07 s	+0.57 s
7Nokian Powerproof 2	13.61 s	+2.11 s
8Pirelli Cinturato C3	13.76 s	+2.26 s

The difference between best and worst was 19.7% (2.26 s).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	85 km/h	Best
2Nokian Powerproof 2	83.1 km/h	-1.90 km/h
3Falken ZIEX ZE320	78.3 km/h	-6.70 km/h
4Pirelli Cinturato C3	77.9 km/h	-7.10 km/h
4Michelin Primacy 5	77.9 km/h	-7.10 km/h
6Continental PremiumContact 7	76.9 km/h	-8.10 km/h
7Maxxis Premitra HP6	76 km/h	-9.00 km/h
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	73 km/h	-12.00 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 14.1% (12 Km/H).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	3.8 m/sec2	Best
2Nokian Powerproof 2	3.75 m/sec2	-0.05 m/sec2
3Falken ZIEX ZE320	3.61 m/sec2	-0.19 m/sec2
4Pirelli Cinturato C3	3.44 m/sec2	-0.36 m/sec2
5Michelin Primacy 5	3.4 m/sec2	-0.40 m/sec2
6Continental PremiumContact 7	3.31 m/sec2	-0.49 m/sec2
7Maxxis Premitra HP6	3.06 m/sec2	-0.74 m/sec2
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	2.9 m/sec2	-0.90 m/sec2

The difference between best and worst was 23.7% (0.9 m/sec2).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	68 dB	Best
2Continental PremiumContact 7	68.4 dB	+0.40 dB
3Falken ZIEX ZE320	68.9 dB	+0.90 dB
4Dynamo STREET H MH01	69.1 dB	+1.10 dB
5Pirelli Cinturato C3	69.3 dB	+1.30 dB
6Maxxis Premitra HP6	69.7 dB	+1.70 dB
7Michelin Primacy 5	69.8 dB	+1.80 dB
7Nokian Powerproof 2	69.8 dB	+1.80 dB

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

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Michelin Primacy 5	7 kg/t	Best	£0
2Maxxis Premitra HP6	7.53 kg/t	+0.53 kg/t	£33
3Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	7.87 kg/t	+0.87 kg/t	£55
4Falken ZIEX ZE320	8.05 kg/t	+1.05 kg/t	£66
5Nokian Powerproof 2	8.06 kg/t	+1.06 kg/t	£67
6Continental PremiumContact 7	8.43 kg/t	+1.43 kg/t	£90
7Pirelli Cinturato C3	8.61 kg/t	+1.61 kg/t	£101
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	9.37 kg/t	+2.37 kg/t	£149

The difference between best and worst was 33.9% (2.37 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Dynamo STREET H MH01 uses about 103 L (£149) more fuel than the Michelin Primacy 5.

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.