Tyre Reviews 2020: Summer Tire Test R16
The British web portal tested 16-inch summer tires produced for the mass market.
List of models tested:
- BFGoodrich Advantage
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Continental PremiumContact 6
- Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
- Goodride RP28
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
- Hankook Ventus Prime3 K125
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Michelin Primacy 4
- Nokian Wetproof
- Pirelli Cinturato P7 (P7C2)
- Uniroyal RainSport 5
In its next test, the British web portal Tyre Reviews, which has recently become fairly popular in the tire industry, compared 12 summer tires in a widespread size of 205/55 R16, performing wet and dry tests, as well as evaluating the noise emission and the environmental performance of the tires.
The test involved several new models 2020 at once, such as Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 and Pirelli Cinturato P7C2, as well as BFGoodrich Advantage, which made its debut in independent tests. In addition, the test included tires from other well-known brands, such as Nokian, Bridgestone, and Hankook, while the economy segment was represented by a Goodride model from China’s ZC Rubber. The test was conducted at a Goodyear test facility in the south of France.
Dry surface
The Continental model was the quickest to bring the car to a standstill on dry pavement, while Pirelli, Falken, and Nokian surprisingly showed identical results, sharing second place. The Hankook model, and particularly the Goodride model, both had issues with braking performance. In the dry handling test, the Continental model again became the leader, yet the Goodyear model was still able to surpass it in terms of lap time. At the same time the Continental tires, along with Maxxis, scored the highest subjective points for the handling response. In terms of dry braking, three tires — Falken, Continental and Uniroyal — clearly work better than the rest, while the cheap Goodride model showed an unsatisfactory result.
Wet surface
The Maxxis tire showed the best lap time on wet pavement, and, just as the Pirelli model, scored the best subjective ratings. In the hydroplaning resistance test, the Uniroyal again proved that the tires of this brand are designed to ensure maximum safety on wet pavement; the Maxxis model was also extremely efficient in this respect. Surprisingly, the Continental and the Goodyear models demonstrated poor results, surpassing only the cheap Goodride tire in this discipline. For the tires, designed not for the sports cars but for the mass market, the ride comfort is important, and the best tires in terms of absorbing the vibrations were the BFGoodrich and the Michelin models. At the same time, Pirelli and Falken could not ensure a sufficiently comfortable ride.
Comfort / Value
The cabin noise was measured at two speeds and on two types of road surfaces, the new BFGoodrich model showing a clear advantage over the competition. Manufactured with the use of cutting-edge technologies, the Goodyear model demonstrated that it not only ensured reliable grip in any weather conditions, but also was a great fuel saver, even though in this respect it fell a little bit short of the Bridgestone model. Ironically, the bottom line of the tournament bracket was scored by the Falken Ecorun model.
Result summary
Expert scores
First place in the final standings was scored by the Continental PremiumContact 6, which wins various tire tests with indecent regularity. This time, as is usually the case with Continental, the tire impressed the testers with its excellent braking performance, directly affecting driving safety; however, there were a few issues as well, such as reduced hydroplaning resistance.
Goodyear won silver thanks to an impressively balanced performance. The Goodyear model demonstrated good results in almost all of the disciplines, but was failed by insufficiently effective dry braking and low hydroplaning resistance.
The Goodyear model is followed by — and this is the first surprise of the test — the Japanese Falken tire, which, in spite of the name of Ecorun, demonstrated average fuel-saving capabilities but redeemed itself by showing good dry and wet traction, which allowed it to surpass the competitors from more established brands.
The recently presented Uniroyal RainSport 5, unlike the Falken model, totally lives up to its name, as much as the brand traditions. Uniroyal tires are renowned for their increased wet grip and in this test they again proved that they can ensure a really high level of safety in such conditions. At the same time, they lacked the balance of the Goodyear tires, and dry pavement the Uniroyal model demonstrated downright poor results. One way or another, the model was still able to score a high fourth place in the tournament bracket.
The top five was completed by the Nokian Wetproof, which also showed a rather balanced performance, which bought them the place in the middle of the tournament bracket, their main pros and cons being a short braking distance and a very high noise emission.
The sixth line was occupied by the Bridgestone Turanza T005, which on the whole performed on a decent level with a few minor gripes in the wet tests, followed by the Michelin Primacy 4, which clearly could have done better. This time around, Michelin could not impress the testers in any of the disciplines, the only conditional plus side of this model being the absence of any prominent issues.
Surprisingly, Maxxis Premitra HP5 scored the highest subjective points for handling response in both dry and wet tests, also showing the best lap time in the latter instance. This model seemed to have all the prerequisites for becoming one of the leaders, but it was failed by poor braking performance and high noise emission.
The test debut by the BFGoodrich Advantage was not particularly impressive, but then again, it had to compete with tires from a more expensive price bracket, and, in addition, it was the BFGoodrich tire that demonstrated the lowest cabin noise level and the best riding comfort. Thus, we can safely say that this tire will be the best option for those who care about riding comfort — just keep in mind that its grip on the road is not particularly strong.
The main surprise of the test this time was 10th place scored by the Pirelli Cinturato P7, which ensures great handling response in the dry but is clearly afraid of any amount of water on the road surface. On wet pavement, the new Pirelli model demonstrated rather poor results, and, in addition, judging from the tire’s behavior, the engineers sacrificed riding comfort for the sake of sporty handling response in the dry.
The Hankook Ventus Prime3 K125 also could not show decent results this time, its long braking distance on both wet and dry pavement being particularly alarming. At the same time, TR says that the Ventus Prime3 is soon to be replaced with a new model with a «significantly improved» performance.
The bottom line of the tournament bracket was predictably scored by the cheap Goodride RP28, whose low price, by and large, is its only strong side. The experts say that it is not the worst budget tire they ever tested but it falls considerably short of even the model scoring the last-but-one place, and it has a really weak grip on the road surface.
Test Results
1st place: Continental / PremiumContact 6
Quick TakeContinental PremiumContact 6
- This tire replaced Continental / ContiPremiumContact 5
- Available Sizes in Line: 157
- Original Equipment (OE) tires for:
- • Toyota C-HR Facelift [2019 .. 2021]
- • Mercedes-Benz C-Class Br205 [2015 .. 2021]
- • BMW 3 Series VII (G20/G21) [2018 .. 2021]
- • BMW 5 Series VII (G30/G31) Facelift [2020 .. 2021]
- • Mazda CX-5 KF [2016 .. 2021]
- • Ford Kuga III [2020 .. 2021]
- • Renault Koleos II (CMF-CD) [2016 .. 2021]
- • Subaru Forester SK [2018 .. 2021]
- • Renault Megane IV (9A) [2016 .. 2021]
- • Volvo XC40 [2017 .. 2021]
- • Skoda Superb 3V Restyling [2020 .. 2021]
- • Volvo V60 Cross Country II [2018 .. 2021]
- • Mercedes-Benz X-Class D23 [2017 .. 2021]
- • Audi A6 C8 [2018 .. 2021]
- • Volvo S60 III [2019 .. 2021]
- • Renault Alaskan D23 [2016 .. 2021]
- • Volvo V60 II [2018 .. 2021]
- • Jaguar I-Pace [2018 .. 2021]
- • Ford Fiesta VII [2017 .. 2021]
- Year Released: 2016
- Regions for sale: Northern America, Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Oceania
- Short braking distance and good handling response on dry pavement
- Short braking distance on wet pavement
- Low hydroplaning resistance
- Increased noise
- High price
2nd place: Goodyear / EfficientGrip Performance 2
Quick TakeGoodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
- This tire replaced Goodyear / EfficientGrip Performance
- Available Sizes in Line: 59
- Year Released: 2020
- Regions for sale: Europe
- Well-balanced performance
- Low noise emission
- Smooth ride
- Low rolling resistance
- Fair price
- Relatively long braking distance on dry and wet pavement
- Low hydroplaning resistance
3rd place: Falken / Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
Quick TakeFalken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
- Available Sizes in Line: 122
- Year Released: 2017
- Regions for sale: Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
- Good results on dry pavement
- Short braking distance on dry pavement
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Low noise emission
- Fair price
- Low riding comfort
- High rolling resistance
4th place: Uniroyal / RainSport 5
Quick TakeUniroyal RainSport 5
- This tire replaced Uniroyal / RainSport 3
- Available Sizes in Line: 186
- Year Released: 2019
- Regions for sale: Europe
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Short braking distance on wet pavement
- Smooth ride
- Fair price
- Insufficient handling response and long braking distance on dry pavement
- Increased rolling resistance
5th place: Nokian / Wetproof
Quick TakeNokian Wetproof
- Available Sizes in Line: 75
- Year Released: 2019
- Regions for sale: Europe
- Short braking distance on dry pavement
- Great handling response in the wet
- Great riding comfort
- Fair price
- Relatively long braking distance on wet pavement
- Increased noise
- Increased rolling resistance
6th place: Bridgestone / Turanza T005
Quick TakeBridgestone Turanza T005
- This tire has run-flat model:
- Available Sizes in Line: 226
- Original Equipment (OE) tires for:
- • Audi A7 4G9 [2018 .. 2020]
- • Volkswagen Tiguan
- • Volkswagen Caddy IV [2020 .. 2021]
- • Skoda Superb
- • Volkswagen Transporter
- • Jeep Renegade
- • Renault Captur
- • Nissan Juke
- • Ford Kuga
- • Nissan Micra
- • Volkswagen T-Roc [2017 .. 2021]
- • BMW 1 Series
- • BMW 3 Series
- • BMW 8 Series
- • MINI Clubman
- • Audi A6
- • Audi A3
- • Audi SQ2 GA [2019 .. 2021]
- • Audi A1
- • Audi A4
- • Audi A5
- • Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- • Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- • Mercedes-Benz A-Class
- • Mercedes-Benz B-Class
- • Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
- Year Released: 2018
- Regions for sale: Americas, Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Middle East & North Africa, Oceania
- Good handling response and a short stopping distance on dry pavement
- Great handling response in the wet
- Low rolling resistance
- Long braking distance on wet pavement
- Average hydroplaning resistance
7th place: Michelin / Primacy 4
Quick TakeMichelin Primacy 4
- This tire will be replaced by Michelin / e.Primacy
- Available Sizes in Line: 130
- Year Released: 2017
- Regions for sale: Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Oceania
- Good riding comfort
- Low noise emission
- Low rolling resistance
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- High price
- Insufficient handling response on wet and dry pavement
8th place: Maxxis / Premitra 5 HP5
Quick TakeMaxxis Premitra 5 HP5
- This tire replaced Maxxis / Victra PRO R1
- Available Sizes in Line: 73
- Year Released: 2015
- Regions for sale: Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Oceania
- Great handling response in the wet and in the dry
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Fair price
- Long braking distance on wet and dry pavements
- High rolling resistance
- Average riding comfort
9th place: BFGoodrich / Advantage
Quick TakeBFGoodrich Advantage
- This tire replaced BFGoodrich / g-Grip
- Available Sizes in Line: 138
- Year Released: 2020
- Regions for sale: Europe
- Low noise emission
- Smooth ride
- Low rolling resistance
- Weak grip on dry and wet pavement
- Prone to understeer
- Average hydroplaning resistance
10th place: Pirelli / Cinturato P7 (P7C2)
Quick TakePirelli Cinturato P7 (P7C2)
- This tire replaced Pirelli / Cinturato P7
- Available Sizes in Line: 28
- Original Equipment (OE) tires for:
- • BMW 8 Series G14/G15/G16 [2018 .. 2022]
- Year Released: 2020
- Regions of sales: unknown
- Short braking distance on dry pavement
- Low noise emission
- Good subjective ratings for the handling response on dry and wet pavement
- Average ride comfort
- Long braking distance on wet pavement
- High rolling resistance
11th place: Hankook / Ventus Prime 3 K125
Quick TakeHankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- This tire replaced Hankook / Ventus Prime 2 K115
- Available Sizes in Line: 131
- Original Equipment (OE) tires for:
- • Ford Focus Active IV [2018 .. 2020]
- • Citroën C3 Aircross [2017 .. 2020]
- • Audi A8 D4 Restyling [2013 .. 2018]
- • Audi A8 D5 [2018 .. 2022]
- • Hyundai Kona OS [2017 .. 2022]
- • Kia Soul PS Facelift [2017 .. 2020]
- • Kia Soul SK3 [2019 .. 2022]
- • Hyundai Azera IG [2018 .. 2022]
- • Kia Cadenza YG [2017 .. 2020]
- Year Released: 2015
- Regions for sale: Eastern Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Oceania
- Good handling response in the dry
- Smooth ride
- Fair price
- Long braking distance on dry pavement
- Weak grip on wet pavement
- High rolling resistance
12th place: Goodride / RP28
Quick TakeGoodride RP28
- Available Sizes in Line: 68
- Year Released: unknown
- Regions for sale: Eastern Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Oceania
- Low price
- Acceptable riding comfort
- Dangerously long braking distance and poor handling response on dry and wet pavement
- Increased rolling resistance
12 of the BEST car tyres for every day driving, tested and reviewed!
In this test we have twelve of the most popular tyres on the market, including the multiple test winning Continental PremiumContact 6 and Michelin Primacy 4, going up against the new Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2, Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2, Uniroyal RainSport 5 and BFGoodrich Advantage, with the usual tyres from Falken ze310 ecorun, Nokian wetproof, Bridgestone turanza t005, Maxxis hp5, Hankook ventus prime 3 and Goodride RP28.
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