Auto Bild summer test: 5 exemplary tyres

Anyone who’s ever suggested that motoring magazines favour the same two or three brands in their tyre tests will be quietened by the results of the Auto Bild 2021 summer tyre test. The biggest names in the business needed to clear space on the top step of the winners’ podium for an ambitious competitor, while the runner-up Continental tyre was given a run for its money by its lower-priced sibling Semperit.

Auto Bild’s second round of testing included the 20 best-braking size 205/55 R16 tyres out of the original field of 53 candidates. The test team evaluated the finalists’ performance in wet and dry conditions, with each area contributing one third towards the overall score. Mileage, the price/mileage ratio and rolling resistance accounted for the remaining third, meaning that a combination of purchase price and whole-life mileage economy accounted for more than one quarter of the final result.

Testers Dierk Möller and Henning Klipp report that “at the end we could only unconditionally recommended only five of the 53 candidates.” Significantly, this cream of the crop includes the cheapest tyre in the finalists’ round, the Debica Presto HP2. This fourth-placed tyre outperformed its premium (and 28 per cent pricier) Goodyear stablemate.

5 tyres rated ‘exemplary’

Kumho Ecsta HS51 – test winner

Strengths: High performance potential, precise steering response, dynamic handling, short stopping distances, affordably priced.

Weaknesses: Elevated rolling resistance.

Continental PremiumContact 6

Strengths: Balanced driving characteristics, short stopping distances in the wet, stable handling qualities, very good mileage.

Weaknesses: Aquaplaning characteristics only acceptable.

Semperit Speed-Life 3

Strengths: Wet conditions specialist with sporty-dynamic handling and short stopping distances in the wet, good aquaplaning safety, low drive-by noise, good value for money.

Weaknesses: Mediocre ride comfort.

Debica Presto HP2

Strengths: Affordable tyre with a high level of balanced driving characteristics, good aquaplaning qualities, dynamic handling in dry conditions, high mileage.

Bridgestone Turanza T005

Strengths: High levels of grip and excellent handling on dry surfaces, harmonious steering behaviour, short stopping distances in the dry, low rolling resistance.

Weaknesses: Mediocre ride comfort.

5 ‘good’ tyres

Hankook Ventus Prime3

Strengths: Convincing driving characteristics on wet and dry roads, precise turn-in behaviour, shortest stopping distances in the wet and dry, affordably prices.

Weaknesses: Limited mileage potential.

Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2

Strengths: Best aquaplaning safety reserves, harmonious and well-balanced handling, short stopping distances on wet and dry surfaces.

Weaknesses: Mediocre mileage potential and economy.

Michelin Primacy 4

Strengths: Short stopping distances on wet and dry surfaces, very good economy, high mileage potential, good comfort.

Weaknesses: Sluggish handling on dry surfaces.

Firestone Roadhawk

Strengths: Precise driving characteristics on wet and dry surfaces, safe aquaplaning characteristics, short stopping distances on dry roads.

Weaknesses: Mediocre mileage potential and economy.

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 – Auto Bild’s ‘eco champion’

Strengths: New product with good economy, exemplary mileage potential, low rolling resistance, good ride comfort.

Weaknesses: Slightly delayed steering response.

10 ‘satisfactory’ tyres

BFGoodrich Advantage

Strengths: Dynamic handling and precise turn-in behaviour on dry roads, short stopping distances in the wet and dry.

Weaknesses: Understeering wet handling with delayed steering response.

Maxxis Premitra 5 HP5

Strengths: Good aquaplaning characteristics, dynamic wet and dry handling, short stopping distances on dry roads.

Weaknesses: Mediocre mileage potential, elevated rolling resistance.

Toyo Proxes Comfort

Strengths: Convincing driving qualities on dry surfaces, harmonious steering behaviour, short dry stopping distances.

Weaknesses: Slightly lengthy stopping distance on wet surfaces, elevated rolling resistance.

Uniroyal RainSport 5

Strengths: Best aquaplaning safety reserves, stable lateral control, harmonious driving behaviour in the wet.

Weaknesses: Understeer on dry surfaces, elevated rolling resistance.

Falken Ziex ZE310

Strengths: Balanced handling and short stopping distances on dry surfaces, good mileage potential and economy.

Weaknesses: Mediocre steering precision and limited levels of grip in the wet.

Fulda EcoControl HP2

Strengths: Good aquaplaning safety reserves, harmonious handling and precise steering behaviour in the wet.

Weaknesses: Lengthy stopping distances on wet surfaces, delayed steering response on dry roads.

Nokian Wetproof

Strengths: Convincing driving behaviour on wet and dry road surfaces, short stopping distances on dry roads.

Weaknesses: Substantially limited mileage potential, price-performance ratio only satisfactory.

Kleber Dynaxer HP4

Strengths: Safe aquaplaning qualities, short stopping distances, low drive-by noise.

Weaknesses: Understeering handling on wet and dry surfaces, sluggish turn-in behaviour, limited mileage potential.

Dunlop Sport BluResponse

Strengths: Good aquaplaning characteristics, short dry stopping distances, low rolling resistance.

Weaknesses: Understeering handling on wet and dry roads, sluggish turn-in behaviour, limited mileage potential.

Nexen N’blue HD Plus

Strengths: Safe, stable handling and short stopping distances in dry conditions, affordably priced.

Weaknesses: Delayed steering response and understeer in the wet, mediocre mileage potential.