2024 AZ Summer Tire Test

The 2024 AZ Summer Tire Test evaluated nine premium touring summer tires, providing a detailed analysis of their performance in various conditions, including dry and wet braking, handling, noise level, and rolling resistance. The Continental PremiumContact 7 stood out with top marks in most categories, followed closely by other brands like Pirelli and Hankook.

Dry BrakingContinental PremiumContact 7: 32.9 MBridgestone Turanza 6: 34.8 M
Dry HandlingContinental PremiumContact 7: 75.3 sBridgestone Turanza 6: 76.8 s
Wet BrakingContinental PremiumContact 7: 39.5 MMichelin Primacy 4 Plus: 44.6 M
Wet HandlingContinental PremiumContact 7: 77.7 sMichelin Primacy 4 Plus: 80.8 s
Wet CircleContinental PremiumContact 7: 11.7 sMichelin Primacy 4 Plus: 12.4 s
Straight AquaFirestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN: 84.2 Km/HBridgestone Turanza 6: 78.6 Km/H
NoiseHankook Ventus S1 evo 3: 70 dBMaxxis Premitra HP5: 73 dB
Rolling ResistanceMichelin Primacy 4 Plus: 7.6 kg / tFalken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun: 8.9 kg / t

Dry

The Continental PremiumContact 7 led the way in dry braking, with the Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 in close second.

The Continental and Pirelli combination also led dry handling, proving their the best in the dry.

Wet

Continental was back at the front in wet braking, with a significant advantage over the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 in second place.

In a surprising turn of events, the PremiumContact 7 was also the fastest in wet handling, and the wet circle test.

Wet Circle

The Continental had to settle for third place in the deeper water of straight aquaplaning, with the Firestone Roadhawk 2 and Maxxis Premitra HP5 beating the German tire.

Comfort

The Hankook was also the quietest in the noise test, tying the top spot with Michelin.

Value

The Michelin Primacy 4+ also joint won the rolling resistance test, tying top spot with the Bridgestone Turanza 6.

Results

1st: Continental PremiumContact 7

Continental PremiumContact 7
  • 225/45 R17 94Y
  • EU Label: C/A/72
  • Weight: 9.38kgs
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking1st32.9 M100%
Dry Handling1st75.3 s100%
Wet Braking1st39.5 M100%
Wet Handling1st77.7 s100%
Wet Circle1st11.7 s100%
Straight Aqua3rd82.3 Km/H84.2 Km/H-1.9 Km/H97.74%
Noise7th72 dB70 dB+2 dB97.22%
Rolling Resistance6th8.6 kg / t7.6 kg / t+1 kg / t88.37%
The Continental PremiumContact 7 is a true all-rounder, delivering exceptional performance on both wet and dry surfaces. It reacts quickly to driver input and provides a thrilling driving experience, though it might not be the top choice for drivers who prioritize maximizing fuel savings.

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2nd: Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2

Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2
  • 225/45 R17 94Y
  • EU Label: B/A/70
  • Weight: 8.94kgs
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking2nd33 M32.9 M+0.1 M99.7%
Dry Handling2nd75.6 s75.3 s+0.3 s99.6%
Wet Braking3rd41.9 M39.5 M+2.4 M94.27%
Wet Handling3rd78.2 s77.7 s+0.5 s99.36%
Wet Circle3rd11.9 s11.7 s+0.2 s98.32%
Straight Aqua5th81.4 Km/H84.2 Km/H-2.8 Km/H96.67%
Noise3rd71 dB70 dB+1 dB98.59%
Rolling Resistance5th8.2 kg / t7.6 kg / t+0.6 kg / t92.68%
The Pirelli P7 Cinturato is designed for those who enjoy a more spirited driving experience. It offers precise steering, excellent grip, and a sporty feel, though its focus on performance means slightly reduced comfort and average fuel efficiency.

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3rd: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3

Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
  • 225/45 R17 94Y
  • EU Label: C/A/72
  • Weight: 9.84kgs
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd33.3 M32.9 M+0.4 M98.8%
Dry Handling7th76.5 s75.3 s+1.2 s98.43%
Wet Braking2nd40.9 M39.5 M+1.4 M96.58%
Wet Handling2nd78 s77.7 s+0.3 s99.62%
Wet Circle3rd11.9 s11.7 s+0.2 s98.32%
Straight Aqua6th79.4 Km/H84.2 Km/H-4.8 Km/H94.3%
Noise1st70 dB100%
Rolling Resistance7th8.7 kg / t7.6 kg / t+1.1 kg / t87.36%
The Hankook Ventus S1 evo³ offers a comfortable and quiet ride with good handling characteristics, making it a balanced choice with a slightly sportier feel. While it performs well overall, it's not the best choice if fuel economy is your main concern.

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4th: Vredestein Ultrac

Vredestein Ultrac
  • 225/45 R17 94Y
  • EU Label: C/A/69
  • Weight: 8.96kgs
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking5th33.7 M32.9 M+0.8 M97.63%
Dry Handling3rd75.7 s75.3 s+0.4 s99.47%
Wet Braking8th44.1 M39.5 M+4.6 M89.57%
Wet Handling4th78.4 s77.7 s+0.7 s99.11%
Wet Circle3rd11.9 s11.7 s+0.2 s98.32%
Straight Aqua7th79.3 Km/H84.2 Km/H-4.9 Km/H94.18%
Noise3rd71 dB70 dB+1 dB98.59%
Rolling Resistance4th7.9 kg / t7.6 kg / t+0.3 kg / t96.2%
The Vredestein Ultrac focuses on providing a balanced driving experience with a strong emphasis on safety. It offers good grip levels in both dry and wet conditions, along with a comfortable ride and good fuel economy. Its one drawback is a slightly longer braking distance in the wet compared to some rivals.

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5th: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN

Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
  • 225/45 R17 94Y
  • EU Label: B/A/71
  • Weight: 9.14kgs
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th34.2 M32.9 M+1.3 M96.2%
Dry Handling8th76.6 s75.3 s+1.3 s98.3%
Wet Braking4th43.1 M39.5 M+3.6 M91.65%
Wet Handling5th78.8 s77.7 s+1.1 s98.6%
Wet Circle2nd11.8 s11.7 s+0.1 s99.15%
Straight Aqua1st84.2 Km/H100%
Noise7th72 dB70 dB+2 dB97.22%
Rolling Resistance3rd7.8 kg / t7.6 kg / t+0.2 kg / t97.44%
The Firestone Roadhawk 2 is a value-oriented tire with a focus on balanced performance. It delivers a good all-around driving experience and stands out for its excellent fuel efficiency, but doesn't have any specific areas where it truly excels.

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6th: Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun

Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
  • 225/45 R17 94W
  • EU Label: D/A/69
  • Weight: 9.78kgs
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking8th34.3 M32.9 M+1.4 M95.92%
Dry Handling5th76.4 s75.3 s+1.1 s98.56%
Wet Braking5th43.2 M39.5 M+3.7 M91.44%
Wet Handling6th79.2 s77.7 s+1.5 s98.11%
Wet Circle3rd11.9 s11.7 s+0.2 s98.32%
Straight Aqua8th79.2 Km/H84.2 Km/H-5 Km/H94.06%
Noise3rd71 dB70 dB+1 dB98.59%
Rolling Resistance9th8.9 kg / t7.6 kg / t+1.3 kg / t85.39%
The Falken ZIEX ZE310 Ecorun is a decent tire for everyday driving, offering a comfortable ride and reasonable performance in both wet and dry conditions. However, this older model suffers from high rolling resistance, meaning it will use more fuel than its competitors.

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7th: Michelin Primacy 4+

Michelin Primacy 4 Plus
  • 225/45 R17 94W
  • EU Label: C/A/70
  • Weight: 9.02kgs
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking4th33.6 M32.9 M+0.7 M97.92%
Dry Handling5th76.4 s75.3 s+1.1 s98.56%
Wet Braking9th44.6 M39.5 M+5.1 M88.57%
Wet Handling9th80.8 s77.7 s+3.1 s96.16%
Wet Circle9th12.4 s11.7 s+0.7 s94.35%
Straight Aqua4th81.9 Km/H84.2 Km/H-2.3 Km/H97.27%
Noise1st70 dB100%
Rolling Resistance1st7.6 kg / t100%
The Michelin Primacy 4+ prioritises comfort and fuel efficiency above all else. It provides an exceptionally quiet and smooth ride while helping you save on fuel, but its wet braking performance isn't the best and it lacks the sporty handling of some competitors.

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8th: Maxxis Premitra HP5

Maxxis Premitra HP5
  • 225/45 R17 94W
  • EU Label: C/A/70
  • Weight: 8.96kgs
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th34.2 M32.9 M+1.3 M96.2%
Dry Handling4th76 s75.3 s+0.7 s99.08%
Wet Braking7th43.3 M39.5 M+3.8 M91.22%
Wet Handling7th80.6 s77.7 s+2.9 s96.4%
Wet Circle7th12.1 s11.7 s+0.4 s96.69%
Straight Aqua2nd83.2 Km/H84.2 Km/H-1 Km/H98.81%
Noise9th73 dB70 dB+3 dB95.89%
Rolling Resistance8th8.8 kg / t7.6 kg / t+1.2 kg / t86.36%
The Maxxis Premitra 5 is a budget-friendly option that delivers acceptable grip and overall performance. However, its high rolling resistance negatively impacts fuel economy, and it tends to be noisy on the road.

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9th: Bridgestone Turanza 6

Bridgestone Turanza 6
  • 225/45 R17 94Y
  • EU Label: B/A/70
  • Weight: 9.26kgs
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking9th34.8 M32.9 M+1.9 M94.54%
Dry Handling9th76.8 s75.3 s+1.5 s98.05%
Wet Braking5th43.2 M39.5 M+3.7 M91.44%
Wet Handling7th80.6 s77.7 s+2.9 s96.4%
Wet Circle8th12.2 s11.7 s+0.5 s95.9%
Straight Aqua9th78.6 Km/H84.2 Km/H-5.6 Km/H93.35%
Noise3rd71 dB70 dB+1 dB98.59%
Rolling Resistance1st7.6 kg / t100%
The Bridgestone Turanza 6 prioritizes fuel efficiency and a comfortable ride. It offers a quiet driving experience, however, its grip in wet conditions is only average.

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