Test World this year again tested a range of 205/55 R16 tires, including a mix of premium, mid-range and budget brands.

Manufacturing tires involves an engineering trade-off between abilities in different disciplines and to an appropriate price range. The test revealed that there were no real "bad" tires, but those ranked towards the bottom were far enough behind the leaders to not recommend unless price was the main consideration.

The EU tire label provides just a small insight into a tire's capabilities, and even then not in enough detail. For instance, the test winning Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 was criticised as having a high rolling resistance and the joint second placed Nokian Hakka Blue praised for a low rolling resistance, yet both tires are graded "C" on the EU label for fuel economy - actual testing revealed there was a difference of 2.6% in terms of fuel consumption. In comparison the most economical tires were the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance and Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue, yet while they are graded one category higher with a "B" rating, their margin over the C-graded Hakka Blue was just 0.6%.

Perhaps most interestingly was the Chinese budget manufacturer beating Michelin to 8th. The new Landsaid LS588 UHP was praised for its strong braking performance in both the wet and dry, and while it still had questionable handling, it was strong enough overall to beat the well regarded Michelin Primacy 3, which was marked down due to average wet and dry braking distances.

A summary of the results follow below. Note that the placings are per Test World's weightings, which differ slightly in some cases from the unweighted "total" score.

The Results

The Continental Premium Contact 5 provides good grip in all conditions. In the wet handling is very stable with no surprises. High resistance to aquaplaning and short braking distance. In the dry they behave confidently, quickly reacting to input and maintaining traction in emergency maneuvers. Very quiet, but have too high a rolling resistance.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	20
Wet	38
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	8
Noise	9
Overall	9.5

Total: 93.5

The Nokian Hakka Blue has excellent feel on wet surfaces where they have a high grip and stable control even in an emergency. In the dry the tires also adequately react to the actions of the driver during abrupt maneuvers. Low noise, smooth running and low rolling resistance.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	18
Wet	38
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	10
Noise	9
Overall	9.3

Total: 93.3

Grip on a wet surface with the Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue is slightly lower than that of the best tires, but in an emergency they help with precise reaction to steering and predictability. Showed excellent results in the dry. Easily and reliably cope with any maneuvers. Very low rolling resistance. In terms of noise and comfort they lack a bit to the other tires, but not enough to consider it a significant disadvantage.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	20
Wet	36
Comfort	8
Rolling Resistance	10
Noise	9
Overall	9.3

Total: 92.3

The Goodyear Efficientgrip Performance handled wet tests without difficulty, but in the dry their response was somewhat slower, especially in the case of an emergency maneuver. However, the tires were quite predictable. Rolling resistance was the lowest in the test and they are also very quiet tires.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	17
Wet	37
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	10
Noise	10
Overall	9.1

Total: 92.1

The Kumho Solus HS51 demonstrated good grip on wet surfaces and good aquaplaning resistance. Behaved very confidently, despite a slight drawback in the aquaplaning tests. In the dry reacted to the actions of the driver more slowly, but without any sudden loss of traction during hard maneuvers. Noise level and comfort are acceptable, but rolling resistance is too high.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	17
Wet	37
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	7
Noise	9
Overall	8.9

Total: 87.9

The Hankook Ventus Prime2 brakes effectively and maintains good grip when cornering on wet surfaces. Predictable behavior during emergency maneuvers in the dry. With noise and comfort there are no problems, but they have a high rolling resistance.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	17
Wet	35
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	7
Noise	9
Overall	8.8

Total: 85.8

The Dunlop Sport BluResponse has good braking performance on wet surfaces, but relatively weak lateral grip. The tire resists aquaplaning, but in an emergency situation are a little nervous. In the dry they demonstrated rapid response to the steering and were well controlled during emergency maneuvers. Very quiet and low rolling resistance.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	18
Wet	33
Comfort	8
Rolling Resistance	9
Noise	10
Overall	8.6

Total: 86.6

The Landsail LS588 UHP were surprisingly unbalanced. Braking in the wet was excellent, but handling very unstable. In addition, the tire copes worse than the others with emergency maneuvers and is quite susceptible to aquaplaning. On dry pavement they again quickly stopped the car, but had very slow response to steering. Lateral grip and stability are too weak for the optimal performance of a sharp maneuver at high speed. Because of their softness they demonstrated a high level of comfort, effectively absorbing road irregularities.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	16
Wet	32
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	8
Noise	8
Overall	8.3

Total: 81.3

The Michelin Primacy 3 allow easy enough control of the car on a wet surface and control is not lost in the case of an emergency. On dry roads they behave confidently, but in braking they are only average. Noise and comfort were average. Overall nothing special, but without any major weaknesses.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	17
Wet	33
Comfort	8
Rolling Resistance	8
Noise	9
Overall	8.2

Total: 83.2

The Vredestein Sportrac 5 has good enough braking in the wet, but aquaplanes too easily. Manageability good in principle, but difficult to maintain traction in the rear during sudden maneuvers. In the dry they generally behave confidently and predictably, but again, the rear wheels can too easily go into a skid in an emergency. Average comfort and while the noise level is high it's not enough to be a distraction.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	16
Wet	33
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	8
Noise	9
Overall	8.2

Total: 83.2

The Barum Bravuris 3 HM has short braking distance on wet roads, and generally cope well with emergency situations, despite the relatively low grip. However, the tires are too easy to aquaplane. On dry surfaces they react slowly to steering and are vague, but at least they not prone to sudden loss of adhesion. Braking performance is only average. Comfort is low, and noise level is relatively high.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	14
Wet	32
Comfort	8
Rolling Resistance	9
Noise	8
Overall	7.9

Total: 78.9

In the wet the Firestone TZ300 alpha is too slow stopping the car but in general behave confidently and logically - until they reach the limit of adhesion, when they immediately lose grip. Good resistance to aquaplaning. In the dry they are too slow to react to the steering, and braking distance proved to be the longest in the test. Fairly quiet, but fuel economy is only average.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	12
Wet	32
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	8
Noise	9
Overall	7.9

Total: 77.9

The Goodride SA37 is very unstable and are difficult to drive on a wet surface. In an emergency, the rear tires lose grip too easily. In the dry the tires are too slow in response to steering and the rear wheels again can easily go into a skid. Noise level is low, but the tires are relatively rigid. Also a high rolling resistance.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	14
Wet	28
Comfort	8
Rolling Resistance	6
Noise	9
Overall	7.3

Total: 72.3

The Nankang Econex NA-1 have long braking distances and a very weak lateral grip on wet surfaces. Sharp maneuvers are unlikely to succeed because the tires can dramatically lose contact with the road. However, they have good resistance to aquaplaning. In the dry the situation is somewhat better, but they don't cope well enough with emergency situations. Not very effective at absorbing road irregularities, and noise is clearly audible in the cabin. Only average fuel economy.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	15
Wet	28
Comfort	7
Rolling Resistance	8
Noise	8
Overall	7.3

Total: 73.3

The Apollo Alnac 4G lacks effective braking on wet surfaces and has relatively weak lateral grip. In addition, the tires easily start to slide, and during an emergency maneuver the rear wheels may suddenly go into a skid. Poor resistance to aquaplaning. In the dry the tires behave predictably, but lack overall grip. Noise and comfort are good but fuel economy average.

All discipline results (6)

Test	Result
Dry	15
Wet	27
Comfort	9
Rolling Resistance	9
Noise	9
Overall	7.2

Total: 76.2

Tire	Continental Premium Contact 5	Nokian Hakka Blue	Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue	Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance	Kumho Solus HS51 Harmony Sports	Hankook Ventus Prime2	Dunlop Sport BluResponse	Landsail LS588 UHP	Michelin Primacy 3	Vredestein Sportrac 5	Barum Bravuris 3HM	Firestone TZ300A	Goodride SA37	Nankang Econex NA1	Apollo Alnac 4g
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