2016 Market Overview - Braking Test

One VW Golf wearing 205/55 R16 tires, 50 different tire patterns, and a lot of wet and dry braking tests gives us a good overview of the market in 2016. The dry test was braking from 62 mph, and the wet from 50 mph.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson

March 9, 2016 19 min read Updated January 8, 2025

Pirelli win the test with what must be an updated Cinturato P7 Blue, beating the next best tire with a huge margin under wet braking. Hankook take second, narrowly beating the Pirelli in the dry and Semerit score a strong third, with Uniroyal once again proving it is an excellent tire in the wet to take fourth place.

Other notable results are Bridgestone tying with Continental in eighth, Nexen having a solid price VS performance ratio and finishing twelfth, Debica managing to place sixteenth, ahead of some stiff competition, and Toyo finishing dead last, but with a tire which has since been replaced by the Proxes CF2.

The bottom ten tires were deemed unsafe by AutoBild, and not recommended for use. The top fifteen scoring tires go through to the full Auto Bild summer tire test, which we will have the results of shortly.

Update: The full test of the top 15 tires can be found here.

Results

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	34.8
Wet	27

Total: 61.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	34.6
Wet	27.9

Total: 62.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	35.7
Wet	28.4

Total: 64.1

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	35.9
Wet	28.7

Total: 64.6

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.1
Wet	28.8

Total: 64.9

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	35.7
Wet	29.5

Total: 65.2

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.4
Wet	28.8

Total: 65.2

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.6
Wet	28.7

Total: 65.3

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	34.7
Wet	30.6

Total: 65.3

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.8
Wet	29.3

Total: 66.1

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.1
Wet	29.6

Total: 66.7

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	35.7
Wet	31.1

Total: 66.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.4
Wet	30.5

Total: 66.9

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.9
Wet	29.1

Total: 67

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.4
Wet	29.8

Total: 67.2

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.1
Wet	29.6

Total: 67.7

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.6
Wet	29.4

Total: 68

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.8
Wet	30.3

Total: 68.1

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.7
Wet	31.2

Total: 68.9

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39
Wet	30

Total: 69

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.3
Wet	30.7

Total: 69

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.1
Wet	30.9

Total: 69

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.1
Wet	30.9

Total: 69

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.2
Wet	31.8

Total: 69

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.3
Wet	30.2

Total: 69.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.6
Wet	32.9

Total: 69.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	35.1
Wet	34.5

Total: 69.6

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.6
Wet	32.2

Total: 70.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.8
Wet	32

Total: 70.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.9
Wet	33

Total: 70.9

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.7
Wet	33.4

Total: 71.1

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.6
Wet	32.6

Total: 71.2

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.6
Wet	32.7

Total: 71.3

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39
Wet	32.4

Total: 71.4

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.8
Wet	33.6

Total: 71.4

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.2
Wet	32.3

Total: 71.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.8
Wet	33.9

Total: 71.7

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.9
Wet	33

Total: 71.9

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.9
Wet	33.3

Total: 72.2

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.7
Wet	33.7

Total: 73.4

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.3
Wet	34.6

Total: 73.9

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.6
Wet	37.3

Total: 73.9

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.4
Wet	35.2

Total: 74.6

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.4
Wet	35.2

Total: 74.6

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.8
Wet	36.4

Total: 75.2

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38
Wet	37.4

Total: 75.4

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.2
Wet	38.7

Total: 76.9

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.5
Wet	38.3

Total: 77.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.6
Wet	39.7

Total: 78.3

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.7
Wet	41

Total: 79.7

Discussion

26 comments

Duncan Donut Sep 20, 2017 archived

On UK lanes we often have loose gravel on the tarmac. I'm interested to know which type of tread is better for stopping in those situations. Particularly with the unique tread of the Rainsport 3 - I think it might be worse for gravel but better for snow than others with the standard linear tread pattern?

#2865
Dr Towers Oct 26, 2016 archived

what's the difference between P7 Blue and P7 ecoimpact?

#2228
1. TireReviews Dr Towers Oct 26, 2016 archived
  
  Nothing, it's our mistake. We'll merge the reviews!
  
  #2229
4cvg Mar 27, 2016 archived

'...full Auto Bild summer tire test, which we will have the results of shortly.'
or not so shortly

#1962
1. TireReviews 4cvg Mar 27, 2016 archived
  
  Touche!
  We've been waiting for Auto Bild to publish the test online, the full test should be up on Tuesday, and you can see the overview of the results below from the comment by Igor :)
  
  #1963
2. TireReviews 4cvg Mar 30, 2016 archived
  
  Here are the full results: http://www.tirereviews.co.u...
  
  #1967
joe Mar 24, 2016 archived

very intresting this new hankook k125,and is very cheap, worth to try this tire?

#1956
1. TireReviews joe Mar 24, 2016 archived
  
  The latest generation of Hankook tires are excellent, well worth a try!
  
  #1957
Igor Mar 24, 2016 archived

Don't know when tirereviews will cover the final test, but I just saw the Autobild magazine online. Hankook wins the test in front of all the premiums. Pirelli 2nd, Continental 3rd, Goodyear 4th, Dunlop 5th, Fulda 6th, Michelin 7th, Vredestein 8th, Bridgestone 9th....

#1954
1. TireReviews Igor Mar 24, 2016 archived
  
  Hi Igor,
  Thanks for the update, interesting results!
  We'll have the final article up on Tuesday :)
  
  #1955
2. TireReviews Igor Mar 30, 2016 archived
  
  The full results can be found here: http://www.tirereviews.co.u...
  
  #1968
Dr Towers Mar 21, 2016 archived

Pirelli Customer Services are not aware of any recent reformulation . . .

#1953
Dr Towers Mar 19, 2016 archived

One wonders how these braking tests are performed - are the tires given just one shot each, best of 3? - or average of a number of runs? If more than one run is performed, do we know how consistent the results are for each tire?...

#1951
1. Andy Holmes Dr Towers Mar 19, 2016 archived
  
  Usually the tests involve around 5 stops then the distances are averaged to produce a mean figure in the middle of the range, this is the distance given for the results.
  
  #1952
Dr Towers Mar 18, 2016 archived

Good news for Cint P7 blue....how do we know if we have the new formulation?...

#1949
1. TireReviews Dr Towers Mar 19, 2016 archived
  
  You would have to speak to Pirelli to get the latest DOT code or ean / ipc code, then request these from your tire retailer
  
  #1950
Igor Mar 12, 2016 archived

I don't understand some things here. How can Semperit, with C on EU label for wet braking, be better than all the premium tires (exept Pirelli). Even than many times spoken wet experts Conti PC5 and GY EGP. And Pirelli's dominance is also strange. Hankook almost on par with Pirelli and much better than all other tires?

#1928
1. Kolemjdouci Igor Mar 13, 2016 archived
  
  Yes, indeed, surprising first results in this summer test. Nevertheless with conclusions wait for remaining disciplines being published on 24 March or other tests to come. Not necessary to buy always a winner but good to stay with let's say top 5-top 10 overall.
  
  #1929
  1. TireReviews Kolemjdouci Mar 13, 2016 archived
    
    It's an interesting question.
    The most likely answer is that Semperit have recently updated the Speedlife 2 for improved label scores, which is still currently filtering to market.
    It's not unusual for tires to go the "mid lifecycle updates" to improve label scores, it's a shame this information isn't properly communicated to the customers.
    
    #1930
2. Mark Igor Mar 13, 2016 archived
  
  Well, does that perhaps tell you something about the EU Labelling? And, the PC5 and the EGP are far from the best tires from those manufacturers (where 'best' temporarily means 'highest performance').
  The P7 blue has had good reviews before, when people have been bothered to test it, as opposed to one of the other variants of the P7 theme. This is the first time I've seen the K125 tested, so let's wait to see how it does in the other disciplines, but that is really a promising result. The RS3 has the predicted good wet result, but, again, wear might be its downfall.
  The real surprise for me is to see that Toyo NanoEnergy 2 way down there - it probably was never going to threaten for a podium, but it is below some real stinkers, AFAICT. Probably a case of the 'design for fuel saving and let everything else go hang' approach to tire design?
  
  #1931
  1. TireReviews Mark Mar 13, 2016 archived
    
    The NanoEnergy is been replaced by the CF2, so at least it's not a current tire from Toyo.
    
    #1932
    1. Kolemjdouci TireReviews Mar 13, 2016 archived
      
      So far I know, Toyo NanoEnergy 2 was replaced by Nanoenergy 3 which is currently being sold in many shops in Europe...
      
      #1933
      1. TireReviews Kolemjdouci Mar 13, 2016 archived
        
        That's what we would have assumed, but the statement from Toyo said CF2?!
        
        #1934
        
        Andy Holmes TireReviews Mar 14, 2016 archived
        
        All odd as the cf2 has been around a few years now and replaced the cf1, as said above the nanoenergy is a different 'model' of tire...
        
        #1936
  2. Igor Mark Mar 13, 2016 archived
    
    "And, the PC5 and the EGP are far from the best tires from those manufacturers"
    What other tire GY makes in that dimension? And Continental, I know ecocontact5 but it should be worse than PC5, specially on wet.
    
    #1935
  3. Andy Holmes Mark Mar 14, 2016 archived
    
    Indeed, i take the labelling with a pinch of salt for this very reason, its still nowhere near an exact science and relatively open for interpretation by manufacturers especially the budget ones...
    
    #1937

Tire	Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue	Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125	Semperit SpeedLife 2	Uniroyal RainSport 3	Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance	Dunlop Sport BluResponse	Fulda EcoControl HP	Bridgestone Turanza T001	Continental Premium Contact 5	Michelin Primacy 3	Vredestein Sportrac 5	Nexen N Blue HD Plus	Yokohama BluEarth AE50	Nokian Line	Falken ZIEX ZE914 EcoRun	Debica Presto	Kumho Ecsta HS51	BFGoodrich gGrip	Kleber Dynaxer HP 3	Barum Bravuris 3HM	Gislaved Ultra Speed	Matador MP 44 Elite 3	Roadstone CP661 Classe Premiere	Viking ProTech HP	Firestone TZ300A	Nankang Green Sport Eco 2+	Riken Maystorm 2 B 2	Apollo Alnac 4g	Wanli S1063	Dayton D320 Evo	Hifly HF201	Aeolus PRECISIONACE AH01	Formula Formula Energy	General Altimax Sport	Zenises Ztire Three	Fortuna F2000	Zeetex ZT1000	Sunny SN3630	Sailun Atrezzo SH402	Evergreen EH23	Kormoran Gamma B2	Tristar Ecopower 2	Constancy LY688	Minerva minerva F109	Taurus 401 HighPerformance	Goodride R VH680	Infinity INF 040	Goform G745	Multirac Mul Comfort	Toyo NanoEnergy 2
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