Auto Bild test: All-season tyres a good option for campervans

Campervans based upon vehicles such as the VW Transporter are a popular choice for those wishing to see more of the countryside, and Auto Bild gave them some deserved attention in a recent tyre test. In its ‘Auto Bild Camper’ supplement, the publication looked at 12 all-season tyres in size 235/55 R17. It fitted these to a VW T6 and then found out how the tyres performed in dry, wet and snowy conditions. It gave three products its top ‘exemplary’ rating and opined that they, along with the four tyres it rated ‘good’, are well-suited to the task at hand.

“All-season tyres are ideal travel companions, especially for small and medium-sized camping vehicles. In direct comparison with summer and winter tyres, the models awarded ‘exemplary’ and ‘good’ show no weaknesses. Therefore, nothing stands in the way of travelling across all climate zones with just one set of tyres,” wrote Auto Bild tyre testers Dierk Möller and Henning Klipp.

Rated exemplary

Test winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2
+ Winter specialist with safe driving characteristics in all weather conditions, impressive on ice & snow, very good aquaplaning safety reserves, precise steering with good response, short stopping distances in the dry, low rolling resistance.
– High purchase price.

Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 2
+ All-rounder with good performance potential and safe driving characteristics on wintry roads, exemplary delay on wet & dry roads, harmonious dry handling, good ride comfort, low rolling resistance.
– Slight tendency towards understeer in the wet, high purchase price.

Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3
+ Exemplary all-season tyre with convincing driving performance in every weather condition, unblemished winter qualities, sporty-dynamic wet & dry handling, precise steering, low rolling resistance, very good price/performance ratio.
– Average aquaplaning characteristics.

Rated good

Continental AllSeasonContact
+ Proven all-season tyre with high performance potential, safe driving behaviour on snowy & wet roads, good aquaplaning qualities, short wet braking distances, low rolling resistance.
– Average levels of grip on dry roads, slightly lengthened dry braking distances.

Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3 SUV
+ Affordable all-season tyre with balanced qualities on wet roads, stable lateral control & short braking distances on snow, very good aquaplaning safety reserves, short dry braking distances, low ride noise.
– Slight understeer on dry roads, limited ride comfort.

Vredestein Quatrac Pro
+ Balanced qualities on wet & dry roads, good traction on snow, harmonious wet & dry handling, good aquaplaning characteristics, low external noise.
– Slight tendency towards understeer on wet & snowy roads, lengthened braking distances in dry conditions.

Cooper Discoverer All Season
+ All-rounder with balanced safe driving characteristics on ice & snow, ample aquaplaning safety reserves, short braking distances on snowy & dry roads, low external noise, affordable purchase price.
– Understeer & turn-in delay on dry roads, elevated rolling resistance.

Rated satisfactory

Hankook Kinergy 4S2
+ Convincing safe handling qualities in every weather condition, unblemished winter characteristics, dynamic wet & dry handling, short wet & dry braking distances, low ride noise, affordably priced.
– Limited aquaplaning reserves, satisfactory ride comfort, elevated rolling resistance.

Falken EuroAll Season AS210
+ Proven tyre with safe handling qualities on wet & dry roads, direct steering, short stopping distances on snowy roads, affordably priced.
– Weak lateral control on snowy roads, limited aquaplaning safety reserves, long stopping distances on dry roads.

Bridgestone Weather Control A005-Evo
+ Direct steering and agile driving behaviour on wet & dry roads, short dry stopping distances, good ride comfort, low rolling resistance.
– Weak driving performance & deficient lateral control on snow & ice, satisfactory aquaplaning qualities, high price.

Nokian Seasonproof
+ Winter talent with good lateral control and short braking distances on ice & snow, low rolling resistance, low external noise.
– Restricted aquaplaning safety reserves, extended braking distances on wet roads, understeer in the dry, mediocre ride comfort.

Rated conditionally recommendable

Minerva AllSeason Master XL
+ Good traction and short braking distances on snow & ice, short dry braking, low external noise, affordably priced.
– Strong understeer, low aquaplaning safety reserves, spongey steering, extended wet braking distances.