The 2024 summer tire test conducted by Sport Auto magazine compared five premium-category summer tires against an all-season tire on a Hyundai i20 N. The test aimed to determine if the all-season tire could compete with the best summer tires had to offer during warm (approximately 25c / 77f air temperature) conditions.

Including an all-season tire in a summer tire test, which is something we will be doing towards the end of 2024, provides an interesting insight into the performance differences between dedicated summer tires and all-season options. It highlights the performance gap between summer and all-season tires under conditions where summer tires are expected to excel. This can help consumers understand the trade-offs involved in opting for an all-season tire, particularly in terms of grip, braking, and handling on both wet and dry surfaces.

The all season tire chosen was the Goodyear Vector 4-Season Gen-3, which has won many all season tires tests, including the 2023 Tire Reviews all season tire test. However, when compared to the summer tires in the Sport Auto test, showed that it could not match the performance of summer-specific tires, particularly in wet conditions and handling aspects.

Wet Performance: The all-season tire had significantly longer braking distances in the wet compared to the best-performing summer tires. This indicates a clear disadvantage in wet grip, which is a critical safety aspect in rainy conditions.

Dry Performance: While the all-season tire may have offered adequate performance on dry roads, it still fell short of the summer tires' capabilities, particularly in terms of handling and braking distances. Summer tires exhibited better grip, shorter braking distances, and more dynamic handling on dry asphalt.

Aquaplaning Resistance: The all-season tire showed weaker performance in aquaplaning resistance. The summer tires, with their specialized tread patterns, were more effective at water displacement, reducing the risk of aquaplaning on wet roads.

Handling and Stability: In dynamic handling tests, the all-season tire was found to be less responsive and offered less stability compared to summer tires. The summer tires demonstrated superior lateral support and more precise steering on both wet and dry tracks.

While the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 all-season tire provided a versatile option suitable for varied conditions, it did not perform on par with summer tires in the test, especially in critical areas like wet grip and handling. This performance gap underscores the trade-offs of using all-season tires in conditions where summer tires are optimized to excel.

Finally, it's worth noting that the Bridgestone Turanza T005 was the AO marked (Audi original) tire, which will have been optimised for the Audi A1. We're not quite sure why this was in a test on a Hyundai, as a rule we do not test OE tires.

Data

Michelin and Continental led the group, stopping the vehicle in 35.5 meters from 100km/h. The worst summer tire, the Dunlop, took 37.1 meters and the all season tire took 43.2 meters. The Goodyear has never been the best all season tire in dry braking, but that's a significant gap.

It was a similar story in dry handling with the Continental and Michelin leading the group, and the all season tire slowest.

Wet

Continental again led wet braking, this time with Bridgestone being the next best tire.

Continental was again best during the wet handling and wet circle tests.

The all season tire continued to struggle in the deeper water of aquaplaning.

Comfort

The all season tire did have the lowest pass by noise, it's only test win.

Value

The Bridgestone Turanza T005 had the lowest rolling resistance, something the OE would tune the tire towards.

Results

1st: Continental PremiumContact 7
215/40 R18 89Y EU Label: C/A/71 Weight: 8.26kgs Tread: 6.7mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 35.5 M 100% Dry Handling 1st 105.3 Km/H 100% Wet Braking 1st 29.8 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 80.2 Km/H 100% Wet Circle 1st 8.72 m/s 100% Straight Aqua 4th 76.4 Km/H 77.2 Km/H -0.8 Km/H 98.96% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 8.45 m/sec2 100% Noise 5th 71.9 dB 71 dB +0.9 dB 98.75% Rolling Resistance 3rd 8.2 kg / t 7.8 kg / t +0.4 kg / t 95.12% Extremely controllable in wet conditions, great steering precision, high protection against aquaplaning. Agile on dry surfaces, stable in tracking, very safe. Minor comfort compromises with the rear axle. Very grippy on wet and dry roads, very balanced and safe to drive. Read Reviews    Buy from £139.44
2nd: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
215/40 R18 89Y EU Label: C/A/72 Weight: 8.8kgs Tread: 6.6mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 35.5 M 100% Dry Handling 2nd 105.1 Km/H 105.3 Km/H -0.2 Km/H 99.81% Wet Braking 3rd 30.8 M 29.8 M +1 M 96.75% Wet Handling 2nd 79.6 Km/H 80.2 Km/H -0.6 Km/H 99.25% Wet Circle 2nd 8.71 m/s 8.72 m/s -0.01 m/s 99.89% Straight Aqua 3rd 76.7 Km/H 77.2 Km/H -0.5 Km/H 99.35% Curved Aquaplaning 5th 7.76 m/sec2 8.45 m/sec2 -0.69 m/sec2 91.83% Noise 6th 72.2 dB 71 dB +1.2 dB 98.34% Rolling Resistance 3rd 8.2 kg / t 7.8 kg / t +0.4 kg / t 95.12% Excellent controllability thanks to very high grip level on wet and dry tracks, shortest dry braking distances. Rolling resistance and pass-by noise are low. Moderate aquaplaning protection in curves, partially somewhat bouncy ride. Balanced and very safe to drive on both wet and dry roads. Read Reviews    Buy from £148.08
3rd: Bridgestone Turanza T005
215/40 R18 89Y EU Label: C/A/71 Weight: 8.72kgs Tread: 7.3mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 36.4 M 35.5 M +0.9 M 97.53% Dry Handling 5th 103.5 Km/H 105.3 Km/H -1.8 Km/H 98.29% Wet Braking 2nd 30.6 M 29.8 M +0.8 M 97.39% Wet Handling 3rd 79.1 Km/H 80.2 Km/H -1.1 Km/H 98.63% Wet Circle 4th 8.68 m/s 8.72 m/s -0.04 m/s 99.54% Straight Aqua 1st 77.2 Km/H 100% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd 7.96 m/sec2 8.45 m/sec2 -0.49 m/sec2 94.2% Noise 4th 71.8 dB 71 dB +0.8 dB 98.89% Rolling Resistance 1st 7.8 kg / t 100% The Turanza T005 AO, optimised for the Audi A1, is grippy on dry roads and when it rains. It has low rolling resistance, good rolling comfort, and high protection against longitudinal aquaplaning. The rear axle is more susceptible to load changes at the limit. Generally grippy and easy-rolling. Could be more balanced. Read Reviews    Buy from £124.57
4th: Maxxis Victra Sport 5
215/40 R18 89Y EU Label: D/A/72 Weight: 9.3kgs Tread: 7.5mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 35.9 M 35.5 M +0.4 M 98.89% Dry Handling 3rd 103.8 Km/H 105.3 Km/H -1.5 Km/H 98.58% Wet Braking 4th 31.5 M 29.8 M +1.7 M 94.6% Wet Handling 3rd 79.1 Km/H 80.2 Km/H -1.1 Km/H 98.63% Wet Circle 2nd 8.71 m/s 8.72 m/s -0.01 m/s 99.89% Straight Aqua 5th 76.3 Km/H 77.2 Km/H -0.9 Km/H 98.83% Curved Aquaplaning 4th 7.95 m/sec2 8.45 m/sec2 -0.5 m/sec2 94.08% Noise 3rd 71.5 dB 71 dB +0.5 dB 99.3% Rolling Resistance 6th 9.2 kg / t 7.8 kg / t +1.4 kg / t 84.78% High lateral support in wet conditions, spontaneous steering response, precise in switchback curves. Dynamic dry handling with high lane change safety. Fairly long braking distances in the wet, somewhat delayed steering response in dry conditions, high rolling resistance. Dynamic handling, but long braking distances in the wet. Read Reviews
5th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
215/40 R18 89W EU Label: C/A/72 Weight: 9.11kgs Tread: 7.7mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 37.1 M 35.5 M +1.6 M 95.69% Dry Handling 4th 103.7 Km/H 105.3 Km/H -1.6 Km/H 98.48% Wet Braking 5th 32 M 29.8 M +2.2 M 93.13% Wet Handling 5th 78.1 Km/H 80.2 Km/H -2.1 Km/H 97.38% Wet Circle 5th 8.54 m/s 8.72 m/s -0.18 m/s 97.94% Straight Aqua 2nd 76.8 Km/H 77.2 Km/H -0.4 Km/H 99.48% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd 8.15 m/sec2 8.45 m/sec2 -0.3 m/sec2 96.45% Noise 2nd 71.4 dB 71 dB +0.4 dB 99.44% Rolling Resistance 2nd 7.9 kg / t 7.8 kg / t +0.1 kg / t 98.73% Helps save fuel due to low rolling resistance, good water displacement during longitudinal driving through puddles. Braking in wet conditions not at top level, sluggish in wet handling, partially unharmonious in dry conditions. Low rolling resistance, but minor grip deficits – both wet and dry. Read Reviews    Buy from £119.99
6th: Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
215/40 R18 89W EU Label: C/B/72 Weight: 8.52kgs Tread: 8.9mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 43.2 M 35.5 M +7.7 M 82.18% Dry Handling 6th 101.4 Km/H 105.3 Km/H -3.9 Km/H 96.3% Wet Braking 6th 35.6 M 29.8 M +5.8 M 83.71% Wet Handling 6th 76.6 Km/H 80.2 Km/H -3.6 Km/H 95.51% Wet Circle 6th 8.07 m/s 8.72 m/s -0.65 m/s 92.55% Straight Aqua 6th 71.2 Km/H 77.2 Km/H -6 Km/H 92.23% Curved Aquaplaning 6th 5.32 m/sec2 8.45 m/sec2 -3.13 m/sec2 62.96% Noise 1st 71 dB 100% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.8 kg / t 7.8 kg / t +1 kg / t 88.64% Quiet pass-by noise, high lane change safety on dry asphalt, good rolling comfort. Almost six meters longer braking distance in wet conditions compared to the best summer tire, poor aquaplaning resistance, low dry grip. On dry surfaces: quiet, stable during lane changes, comfortable. Insufficient grip in wet conditions. Read Reviews    Buy from £145.46