Conti wins in “jubilee” tyre test

The latest edition of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport contains its annual summer tyre test, and 2014 is something of a jubilee year – the magazine published its first tyre test exactly 50 years ago, a test that pitted modern radials against conventional cross-ply tyres. This year’s winner in the size 205/55R16V comparison – a size unimaginable half a century ago – is the ContiPremiumContact 5. Tyres that were “recommended” include (in order) the Uniroyal Rainsport 3, Pirelli Cinturato P7, Dunlop Sport BluResponse, Toyo Proxes CF2, Hankook Ventus Prime 2 and Michelin Energy Saver+. The Premiorri Solazo and – surprisingly and disappointingly – the Bridgestone Turanza T001 were only “conditionally recommended”. The Westlake Radial RP 18 and GT Champiro VP1 E/C were labeled “not recommended”. The tyres were tested fitted to a VW Golf.