Auto Bild 2023 summer tyre test – the finalists

Business as usual at Auto Bild – as in other years, the motoring magazineis divvying up its 2023 summer tyre test into two parts, a preliminary round of stopping distances on wet and dry surfaces and, for those making the grade, a more thorough evaluation of performance, comfort and environmental characteristics. This year Auto Bild is looking at size 225/45 R18 95Y and began proceedings with 50 tyres. Just 20 roll into the second round.

A relationship between good performance and higher purchase price is observable, but this isn’t always the case. For example, a product which Auto Bild calls a “cheap Chinese tyre” achieved one of the best results in the wet and dry stopping distance tests. This is the Linglong Sport Master, produced by the 12th largest tyre maker in the world as ranked by Tyrepress.com. Newcomers to the market are not always showered with respect, something Hankook (which finished this preliminary round in the top spot) and Yokohama (joint third) may recall from their earliest days in Europe. We look forward to seeing how the Sport Master fares in the second round.

Finalists in the Auto Bild 2023 summer tyre test:

Hankook Ventus S1 Evo³, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, Pirelli P Zero PZ4, Yokohama Advan Sport V107, Continental PremiumContact 7, Michelin Pilot Sport 5, Linglong Sport Master, Falken Azenis FK520, Maxxis Victra Sport 5, Toyo Proxes Sport 2, Sava Intensa UHP 2, Kumho Ecsta PS71, Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2, Nexen N’Fera Sport, GT Radial SportActive 2, Bridgestone Turanza 6, Uniroyal RainSport 5, Fulda SportControl 2, Giti SportS2 and Kleber Dynaxer UHP.

20 tyres eliminated in the preliminary round:

Ceat SportDrive, Federal Evoluzion ST-1, Avon ZV7, Cooper Zeon CS8, Lassa Driveways Sport, Laufenn S Fit EQ+, Sumitomo HTR Z5, Gripmax SuperGrip Pro Sport, Vredestein Ultrac Vorti +, Apollo Aspire 4G, Firestone Roadhawk, Infinity Ecomax, Sportiva Super Z+, Barum Bravuris 5HM, Matador MP47 Hectorra 3, Radar Tyres Dimax R8+, Viking ProTech NewGen, Riken Ultra High Performance, Platinum RP420 Summer and Orium Ultra High Performance.

The final 10:

So far, we’ve listed the 20 finalists and 20 of the tyres that didn’t progress to the second round of tests. Now we reach tyre #41, and Auto Bild has some very clear advice for its readers: “We expressly advise against the ten tyres at the bottom of the table – their braking distances were significantly longer than the best tyres in the test.” These tyres are:

Semperit Speed-Life 3, Tomason Sportrace, Imperial EcoSport 2, Zeetex HP6000 eco, Rotalla Setula S-Race RU01, Minerva F205, Tracmax X Privilo TX3, Tristar SportPower 2, Triangle Sportex TH201 and Zeta Alventi.