Bridgestone Rated Favourably in German Summer Tyre Tests

The Germans take their tyre testing seriously, and Bridgestone reports that its tyres have come out on top in the 2009 summer-tyre tests conducted by two of the country’s motoring publications. Two of Europe’s largest motoring publications, AutoBild and ADAC Motorwelt, have awarded the Turanza ER300 the top rating “very recommendable”, and a similar favourable result was also doled out by Auto Motor und Sport. Other Bridgestone products scoring the highest “very recommendable” rating include the Potenza RE050A (Gute Fahrt) and the Firestone TZ300α (ADAC Motorwelt).

Turanza ER300

The Turanza ER300 is “very recommendable” says AutoBild, who made the tyre its overall test winner. The publication added that the tyre offers “all-round balanced capability with excellent handling on wet and dry and very high safety-reserve in hydroplaning.” AutoBild tested the Turanza ER300 in size 205/55 R16V on a VW Golf VI in wet and dry for handling, braking, skid pad, straight and corner hydroplaning, pass-by noise, rolling resistance and subjective comfort. The Bridgestone tyre scored consistently in all areas and beats all 11 competitive brands in overall performance.

ADAC Motorwelt reported the Turanza ER200 to be “very recommendable”, calling it “a very well-balanced tyre, best grade in dry, good on wet, best in noise.” The publication tested two sizes (185/60 R14H on a VW Polo and 205/55 R16W on an Opel Astra) across all performance criteria on wet and dry, including fuel consumption and wear. Turanza ER300 recorded the highest 3-star “very recommendable” rating on both sizes.

The Turanza ER300 was also test winner in the Auto Motor und Sport test, and was given a “very recommendable” rating. The magazine reported “very good handling performance in all conditions, high cornering precision, short braking distance in wet and dry” As part of the test the tyre underwent wet and dry performance evaluation. The size used was 205/55 R16V fitted to a VW Golf. Auto Motor und Sport magazine awarded Bridgestone’s Turanza ER300 more points than any of its 11 main-brand rivals in the test.

Potenza RE050A

This tyre was judged by Gute Fahrt to be “very recommendable”, and was the magazine’s test winner. The publication added that the Potenza RE050A is “easy to control, free of lane-change reactions and top in braking.” Gute Fahrt is a magazine specifically aimed at VW and Audi owners, and the tests were performed using a 225/45 R17 W/Y size tyre on a VW Golf GTI.

Firestone TZ300α

According to ADAC Motorwelt, the Firestone tyre is “very recommendable”, and the publication noted that it is a “very well balanced tyre, good on wet”. ADAC’s test of the 205/55 R16W size showed the high-level all-round performance of the new Firestone TZ300α touring zone tyre. Designed to provide superior safety and comfort for family motorists in the mid-price segment, the Firehawk TZ300α held its own with the highest rated premium-priced tyres.