Below is our database of tyre tests split by tyre season and vehicle type. To read the tests just click on the test title
Here are the results from the 2010 Autocar tyre tests for the RWD section of the test. To read commentary, and the results of the FWD tyre test click here
It's always nice to have a tyre test from British Magazine, and this week the Auto Car have provided us with not one, but two excellent tests.
Testing both 205/55 r16 tyres on a FWD VW Golf and 225/45 r17 tyres on a RWD Mercedes C280, Auto Car visited Uvalde test track in Texas, USA to put the chosen tyres through seven different disciplines.
On test were tyres from Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin and Vredestein echoing Auto Cars message from 2008 - budget tyres aren't worth the risk, especially in a wet climate like the UK.
While regular car tyres have to balance wet and dry performance, 4x4 tyres have even more to do as they have to potentially cope with high speeds and massive loads on rough terrain.
With this in mind Auto Zeitung have taken 8 of the latest high performance 4x4 tyres and tested their wet, dry and offroad performance. To ensure of the off road performance tests are through, the BMW X5 test vehicle found itself in a mud pool, on sand, skidding over lose dirt and sliding about on wet grass!
Providing an enjoyable change from the usual Ultra High Performance tyre tests, Auto Zeitung have rated 10 Premium Touring tyres across the usual range of wet and dry tests. As with its other 2010 tyre tests, they have included a rolling resistance test ensuring the fuel economy of the tyre is included in the final score.
This is part 2 of the 2010 European Summer Tyre Test - 185/65 r15. To read the reaction, and see the results of tyres sized 225/45 R17 please read Part 1
Read Full Test >>
In the past few years budget and mid range brands have taken the tyre market by storm. Tyres like the Falken FK452, Toyo T1R and Uniroyal Rainsport 2 have proven to be excellent performing and cost effective compared to some of the premium offerings. This year however, it seems the premium manufacturers have stepped up a notch and all released excellent updates to their ranges. The 2009 Auto Motor und Sport [AMS] tyre tests was dominated by premium brand tyres and AMS believe premium cars, like the Mercedes E-Class used in this tyre test, should be run with premium tyres.
Most tyre innovations come from the big 6 manufacturers and patents are quickly awarded stopping the budget manufacturers replicating their discoveries. Due to this, AMS decided to test tyres from what it considers to be the "top 10" premium manufacturers. The big 6 are Goodyear, Pirelli, Continental, Dunlop, Bridgestone and Michelin and also included in the test is Uniroyal who are part of Continental, Vredestein which have been recently been bought by the Indian giant Apollo Tires, Nokian who are an independent manufacturer from Finland and Hankook, a Korean "mid range" brand who are quickly moving into the premium sector.
Read MoreWe'll keep this brief! In 2010 Auto Zeitung have tested 9 ultra high performance summer tyres on a 200bhp VW Scirocco.
The magazine covers aquaplaning resistance (where sensors determine the speed at which a tyre floats in 7mm of standing water), braking (from 62mph in both the wet and dry), a timed lap in the wet and dry, and how the cars respond on the limit. Added for this year, Auto Zeitung also tested the rolling resistance of each tyre using a dedicated machine.
Key highlights include...
Click to read onIt might still be August, but after an unusually snowy start to 2010 talk has already turned to winter tyres in the UK.
While we're waiting for the magazines to put together their 2010 winter tyre tests, here's one of the more interesting articles from 2009. This test is particularly good as it uses a powerful RWD car (Mercedes SLK350) which wears relatively wide 225/45 r17 performance tyres.
Each of the 8 tyres were tested in the snow, on wet roads and in the dry with the scoring emphasis bias towards wet weather and snow performance (these are winter tyres after all!)