From top to flop – Auto Bild Sportscars’ summer tyre test

With summer approaching, Auto Bild Sportscars has delivered a timely test of 15 tyre combinations. The publication examined 11 brands in the all-round size 225/45 R18 and four as a mixed 225/45 (front) and 255/40 R18 (rear) fitment, taking each set “to the limit and a bit beyond” with a series of tests in wet and dry conditions. The goal was to identify the “tops and flops” on the market this season.

Auto Bild testers Henning Klipp and Dierk Möller well and truly achieved this goal and noted remarkable contrasts between the best and poorest performances they encountered. “Rarely have there been such large differences with such serious safety deficiencies as in this comparison,” they told Auto Bild Sportscars readers.

The contrasts were most pronounced during testing on wet surfaces, as witnessed when measuring 100 to 0 km/h stopping distances in the wet: The best performing tyre came to a complete stop in 45.7 metres, the worst in 65.6 metres. “Extended braking distances of up to 20 metres are an absolute no-go in terms of general driving safety,” declared the testers.

Auto Bild Sportscars most strongly recommends four brands of summer tyre in 2022, with Michelin, Vredestein, Falken and Toyo receiving the motoring magazine’s ‘exemplary’ seal of approval. For mixed tyre sizes, Auto Bild Sportscars says the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 “remains the benchmark.”

Rated exemplary

Joint test winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
+ Top dynamic driving characteristics on dry roads, direct turn-in behaviour with good feedback, safe wet handling, short wet & dry braking distances, low rolling resistance.
– High purchase price.

Joint winner: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti +
+ Sporty tyre with a balanced, high level of performance, good wet grip, very good aquaplaning safety reserves, dynamic wet & dry handling, sporty precise turn-in behaviour, short wet & dry braking distances.
– High rolling resistance.

Falken Azenis FK 510
+ Good performance potential, very good aquaplaning safety reserves, stable wet handling, sporty dynamic dry handling, short wet & dry braking distances, good ride comfort.
– Higher purchase price.

Toyo Proxes Sport A
+ New sporty product with exemplary driving characteristics, very good aquaplaning safety reserves, sporty handling on wet & dry roads, short wet & dry braking distances, affordably priced.
– Firm ride comfort, elevated rolling resistance.

Rated good

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
+ Convincing wet performance characteristics, sporty & dynamic wet handling, direct steering response, stable dry handling, short wet & dry braking distances, good ride comfort.
– High rolling resistance, elevated ride noise.

Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
+ Well-balanced sporty tyre with good driving characteristics, safe wet & dry handling, short wet & dry braking distances, quiet drive-by noise, low rolling resistance, affordably priced.
– Limited aquaplaning safety reserves when cornering.

Rated satisfactory

Continental PremiumContact 6
+ Comfort-oriented tyre with stable handling characteristics on dry roads, short dry braking distances, low rolling resistance, good comfort.
– Low aquaplaning safety reserves, delayed steering response, extended wet braking distances.

Fulda SportControl 2
+ Safe handling characteristics on wet & dry roads, good aquaplaning qualities, short dry braking distances, low rolling resistance, good comfort.
– Extended wet braking distances, moderate lateral control on dry roads, indirect steering response.

Nexen N’Fera Sport
+ Good aquaplaning properties, short dry braking distances, affordably priced.
– Limited dynamic handling qualities on wet & dry roads, weak lateral guidance, delayed turn-in behaviour, increased rolling resistance.

Rated not recommendable

GT Radial SportActive 2
+ Good aquaplaning qualities, short dry braking distances, low rolling resistance.
– Low grip on wet roads, wet handling with moderate lateral control & understeer, significantly lengthened wet braking distances, delayed steering response, moderate ride comfort.

Tomket Sport 3
+ Short dry braking distances, low rolling resistance.
– Poor wet grip, heavy understeer on wet & dry roads, spongy steering response, dangerously long wet braking distances, low aquaplaning safety reserves.

Mixed: 225/45 – 255/40 R18

Rated exemplary

Test winner: Michelin Pilot 4
+ Mixed tyres with with top performance on dry roads, precise turn-in behaviour, secure handling with stable lateral guidance on wet roads, short wet & dry braking distances, low rolling resistance.
– High purchase price.

Rated good

Vredestein Ultrac Vorti +
+ Mixed tyre fitment with improved driving dynamics on dry roads, very good aquaplaning safety reserves, sporty dynamic dry handling, precise turn-in behaviour, short wet & dry braking distances.
– High rolling resistance.

Rated satisfactory

Falken Azenis FK510
+ Very good aquaplaning safety reserves, short wet & dry braking distances, good ride comfort.
– Strong oversteer on wet roads, rear axle lateral control just satisfactory on dry roads.

Nexen N’Fera Sport
+ Good aquaplaning qualities, short wet & dry braking distances, affordably priced.
– Moderate handling qualities on wet & dry roads, low cornering stability with a tendency to oversteer, delayed steering response, increased rolling resistance.