This year the German AutoBild magazine have taken the 15 best tires from their 205/55 R16 50 tire braking shootout through to the full test, and the result is another impressive win for Hankook!
The Tests
Auto Bild tested all 15 tires across twelve tests using a MK7 VW Golf. The tests covered wet performance, dry performance, comfort, noise, wear, rolling resistance and the value of the tire, based on the cost per set and the number of miles achieved.
The Wet
In the wet, the second placed overall Pirelli P7 Cinturato proved to be the best wet performer, with the test winning Hankook marked down for an average aquaplaning performance, third placed Continental good in all areas, but couldn't quite match the Pirelli, and fourth placed Goodyear all extremely close top the Pirelli. Two other Continental owned brands scored extremely well in the wet, with Semperit and Uniroyal matching the Pirellis overall wet result.
The Dry
As these were the best 15 tires from a test of 50, all the tires were extremely close in the dry with the average lap speed separated by just 1.4 mph! Once again the Pirelli was the best across the dry lap, with the Hankook, Dunlop and Continental close behind. The Semperit and Uniroyal tire, which proved to be strong in the wet, highlighted a good wet / dry balance is still reserved for the premium tires, as they finished last in the dry handling test.
Fuel economy
The overall result of the rolling resistance testing was extremely close, with the test winning Dunlop offering just 4% better economy than the Nokian, which was the worst tire on test.
Wear
Wear tests are extremely hard to replicate in the lab, so Auto Bild hired the independent test body DEKRA to carry out real-world wear tests. DEKRA drove each tire for 6,214 miles on the road, then laser measured the wear to extrapolate total mileage at 1.6mm.
Surprisingly, the usual wear king Michelin only took second place at 25,464 miles, with Yokohama a surprise victor with a projected distance of 26,508 miles. Hankook showed an excellent balance of wet grip and wear, finishing third with 22,919 miles, whereas Hankooks wet and dry rival Pirelli only promised 17,528 miles.
The test once again highlighted the trade between wet grip and wear some of the manufacturers have to make to hit a price point, with Semperit and Uniroyal finishing bottom of the test with almost half the tread life the Yokohama offered, at 14,999 miles and 14,290 miles respectively.
Value
With an accurate wear test, Auto Bild were able to compare price vs mileage to give the tires a value score. Unsurprisingly Yokohama win, with Hankook , Nexen and Michelin close behind. Pirelli finished eleventh due to the high price / average wear, and unsurprisingly Uniroyal finished last.
The Full Results
2016 seems to be the year of Hankook, with the new Ventus Prime3 offering premium levels of performance at a slightly lower price than the established premium rivals. The wet grip / wear balance is one of the best on tests, and the only real weakness is an average aquaplaning performance.
Pirelli must have recently updated the Cinturato P7 Blue, as it seems to be testing very well this year, and Continental stay strong with their now aging Premium Contact 5, rounding out the top three.
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 9 |
| Wet | 7 |
| Comfort | 7 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 7 |
| Wear | 8 |
| Cost | 9 |
Total: 53
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 9 |
| Wet | 8 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 6 |
| Wear | 6 |
| Cost | 4 |
Total: 45
Continental Premium Contact 5
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 8 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Comfort | 8 |
| Rolling Resistance | 8 |
| Noise | 6 |
| Wear | 6 |
| Cost | 6 |
Total: 48
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 7 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 9 |
| Noise | 6 |
| Wear | 6 |
| Cost | 4 |
Total: 45
Dunlop Sport BluResponse
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 9 |
| Noise | 6 |
| Wear | 4 |
| Cost | 4 |
Total: 42
Fulda EcoControl HP
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 6 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 7 |
| Noise | 6 |
| Wear | 6 |
| Cost | 7 |
Total: 44
Michelin Primacy 3
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 6 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 7 |
| Wear | 9 |
| Cost | 8 |
Total: 48
Vredestein Sportrac 5
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 5 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 6 |
| Wear | 6 |
| Cost | 7 |
Total: 42
Bridgestone Turanza T001
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 6 |
| Wet | 7 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 6 |
| Wear | 4 |
| Cost | 4 |
Total: 39
Semperit SpeedLife 2
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 5 |
| Wet | 8 |
| Comfort | 8 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 6 |
| Wear | 3 |
| Cost | 4 |
Total: 40
Uniroyal RainSport 3
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 5 |
| Wet | 8 |
| Comfort | 7 |
| Rolling Resistance | 8 |
| Noise | 7 |
| Wear | 3 |
| Cost | 3 |
Total: 41
Yokohama BluEarth AE50
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 6 |
| Wet | 4 |
| Comfort | 7 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 8 |
| Wear | 10 |
| Cost | 10 |
Total: 51
Nexen N Blue HD+
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 5 |
| Wet | 4 |
| Comfort | 8 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 6 |
| Wear | 6 |
| Cost | 8 |
Total: 43
Falken ZE914
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 6 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 7 |
| Noise | 7 |
| Wear | 3 |
| Cost | 4 |
Total: 39
Nokian Line
205/55 R16
All discipline results (7)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 5 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 4 |
| Noise | 6 |
| Wear | 3 |
| Cost | 3 |
Total: 33
wonder where the T005 would come here....
As it didn't exist in 2016, probably not too well :)
i ve just fitted hankooks k 125..great tires..excellent value for money option..
I cannot understand the Hankook winning if its not really good with the non aquaplaning - it rules it out in my book - then, sadly, the Pirrelli doesn't come in my size (185 or 195/55/16) I have had poor service and response from another good brand (name withheld) and the Continental does wear out quickly despite claims. Then both Good year and Dunlop have flimsy thin tire walls which I would be scared of even brushing a kerb with and they flex on corners too
So what is a really good tire these days???
I have been very pleased all round with the Falken ZE 914 yet it doesn't fare all that well here - it kind of seems to me a lot of these tests favor the flavour of the month - last year the P1 Verdi got top braking test marks and now its dissapeared off the charts
I do find the nokians placing and notes very odd... Ive been using nokian line for 2 years now, on a car that eats front tires and wants to understeer, they respond quickly and tenaciously in the wet, opposing my cars desire to understeer, and wear well indeed (unlike some continentals that it chewed the shoulder away in no time).
This is my second set of nokian, the 'H' I had before wore very well too (and also did not get the shoulders chewed off.).
Just fitted 4 Hankooks this same dimension. I cannot say anything more at the moment from only a short drive back home, except that they seem a bit more softer/comfortable than the Continental premium contact (1) that they replaced (which by the way served me great for 8 years and 63000km), and maybe a bit louder-but not sure about that yet. And the tires are very fresh, two are 1116 and two 1216, I just looked at the calendar-the week 14 is just starting.
No any further surprises than the winner is the new Hankkok Ventus Prime3?
And what about the semi-calculated (after real 10 000 km drive) km longevity estimates? Michelin above 40tkm, Hankook ~ 37 tkm, Uniroyal just ~ 23tkm!!!...The mileage test was performed by DEKRA.
Your opinion & experiences?, of course depending on the driving style & road used status...but anyway good value for money seeked also in this discipline.
Looking fwd. to upcoming FR and UK tests...if any.
thanks for the listing