Test Charts / Auto Bild
2017 All Season Tire Test
Compare each discipline in the tested size. See the measured result, position and gap to the best tire, then read the verdict for the trade-offs behind the finishing order.
- Tested size
- 205/55 R16
- Tires tested
- 10
- Disciplines
- 11
Read the measurements, not just the rank
Lower is better for braking distances and lap times; higher is better for subjective scores and aquaplaning speed. Bars start at zero. Read the gap alongside the position: adjacent tires can be separated by very different margins.
Positions and gaps always refer to the full test field within each group. Selecting tires does not recalculate rankings or change the best-in-test benchmark.
Focus on your tires
Select tires to highlight them throughout the charts.
Positions and gaps always refer to the full test field within each group. Selecting tires does not recalculate rankings or change the best-in-test benchmark.
Dry
2Dry Braking
Dry braking in feet
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
RefReference Summer |
122 ft | -6 ft |
| 128 ft | Best | |
| 134 ft | +6 ft | |
| 134 ft | +6 ft | |
| 137 ft | +9 ft | |
| 137 ft | +9 ft | |
| 138 ft | +10 ft | |
| 138 ft | +10 ft | |
| 138 ft | +10 ft | |
| 139 ft | +11 ft | |
| 139 ft | +11 ft | |
RefReference Winter |
145 ft | +17 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 18.9% (23 ft ≈ 1.6 Car Lengths).
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
RefReference Summer |
71.6 mph | +0.8 mph |
| 70.8 mph | Best | |
| 70.8 mph | 0.0 mph | |
| 70.5 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 70.5 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 70.3 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 70.3 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 70.3 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 70.3 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 69.9 mph | -0.9 mph | |
| 69.7 mph | -1.1 mph | |
RefReference Winter |
69.7 mph | -1.1 mph |
All the tires in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.
Wet
3Wet Braking
Wet braking in feet
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
RefReference Summer |
134 ft | -2 ft |
| 136 ft | Best | |
| 141 ft | +5 ft | |
| 143 ft | +7 ft | |
| 144 ft | +8 ft | |
| 147 ft | +11 ft | |
| 149 ft | +13 ft | |
| 152 ft | +16 ft | |
| 153 ft | +17 ft | |
| 153 ft | +17 ft | |
| 154 ft | +18 ft | |
RefReference Winter |
161 ft | +25 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 20.9% (27 ft ≈ 1.9 Car Lengths).
Wet Handling
Wet Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 47.0 mph | Best | |
RefReference Summer |
46.8 mph | -0.2 mph |
| 46.7 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 46.0 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 45.8 mph | -1.2 mph | |
| 45.7 mph | -1.3 mph | |
| 45.7 mph | -1.3 mph | |
| 45.2 mph | -1.8 mph | |
| 45.0 mph | -2.0 mph | |
RefReference Winter |
44.8 mph | -2.2 mph |
| 44.5 mph | -2.5 mph | |
| 44.1 mph | -2.9 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 6.2% (2.9 mph).
Straight Aqua
Float Speed in mph
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 45.6 mph | Best | |
| 45.5 mph | -0.1 mph | |
RefReference Summer |
44.4 mph | -1.2 mph |
| 44.2 mph | -1.4 mph | |
| 43.8 mph | -1.8 mph | |
| 43.7 mph | -1.9 mph | |
| 43.7 mph | -1.9 mph | |
| 43.6 mph | -2.0 mph | |
| 43.6 mph | -2.0 mph | |
| 43.2 mph | -2.4 mph | |
RefReference Winter |
43.1 mph | -2.5 mph |
| 42.8 mph | -2.8 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 6.3% (2.8 mph).
Snow
2Snow Braking
Snow braking in feet
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 56 ft | Best | |
| 57 ft | +1 ft | |
| 57 ft | +1 ft | |
RefReference Winter |
57 ft | +1 ft |
| 57 ft | +1 ft | |
| 58 ft | +2 ft | |
| 59 ft | +3 ft | |
| 60 ft | +4 ft | |
| 60 ft | +4 ft | |
| 61 ft | +5 ft | |
| 65 ft | +9 ft | |
RefReference Summer |
89 ft | +33 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 58.5% (33 ft ≈ 2.2 Car Lengths).
Snow Handling
Snow handling average speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 37.7 mph | Best | |
RefReference Winter |
37.5 mph | -0.2 mph |
| 37.0 mph | -0.7 mph | |
| 36.7 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 36.6 mph | -1.1 mph | |
| 36.5 mph | -1.2 mph | |
| 36.3 mph | -1.4 mph | |
| 36.2 mph | -1.5 mph | |
| 35.9 mph | -1.8 mph | |
| 35.7 mph | -2.0 mph | |
| 35.0 mph | -2.7 mph | |
RefReference Summer |
22.5 mph | -15.2 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 40.3% (15.2 mph).
Comfort
1Noise
External noise in dB
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 67.4 dB | Best | |
RefReference Winter |
68.5 dB | +1.10 dB |
| 68.6 dB | +1.20 dB | |
| 68.6 dB | +1.20 dB | |
| 68.7 dB | +1.30 dB | |
| 68.7 dB | +1.30 dB | |
| 68.8 dB | +1.40 dB | |
| 69.1 dB | +1.70 dB | |
| 69.2 dB | +1.80 dB | |
| 69.5 dB | +2.10 dB | |
RefReference Summer |
69.6 dB | +2.20 dB |
| 69.9 dB | +2.50 dB |
The difference between best and worst was 3.7% (2.5 dB).
Value
3Wear
Predicted tread life in KM
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 30,137 miles | Best | |
| 30,120 miles | -17 miles | |
| 27,657 miles | -2,480 miles | |
| 27,556 miles | -2,581 miles | |
| 24,857 miles | -5,280 miles | |
| 20,214 miles | -9,923 miles | |
| 19,829 miles | -10,308 miles | |
| 19,762 miles | -10,375 miles | |
| 19,259 miles | -10,878 miles | |
| 18,086 miles | -12,051 miles | |
RefReference Summer |
17,398 miles | -12,739 miles |
RefReference Winter |
17,398 miles | -12,739 miles |
The difference between best and worst was 42.3% (12,739 miles).
Value
Euros/1000km based on cost/wear
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | cost per 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.98 Price/1000 | Best | €16.04 | |
| 6.29 Price/1000 | +0.31 Price/1000 | €17.22 | |
| 7.08 Price/1000 | +1.10 Price/1000 | €20.55 | |
| 8.15 Price/1000 | +2.17 Price/1000 | €24.06 | |
| 8.62 Price/1000 | +2.64 Price/1000 | €22.04 | |
| 9.1 Price/1000 | +3.12 Price/1000 | €31.41 | |
| 9.24 Price/1000 | +3.26 Price/1000 | €29.28 | |
| 9.25 Price/1000 | +3.27 Price/1000 | €21.74 | |
| 9.68 Price/1000 | +3.70 Price/1000 | €27.39 | |
| 11.63 Price/1000 | +5.65 Price/1000 | €22.26 | |
RefReference Summer |
12 Price/1000 | +6.02 Price/1000 | €34.16 |
RefReference Winter |
12 Price/1000 | +6.02 Price/1000 | €37.21 |
The difference between best and worst was 100.7% (6.02 Price/1000). Over 25,000 miles the cheapest tire to own (Kleber Quadraxer 2) works out €529 cheaper than the most expensive (Reference Winter).
How this is calculated
Assumes a typical car doing 29 mpg (rolling resistance causing 20% of fuel use), fuel at €6.25 per gallon and €70 fitting per set of four. Purchase prices are from the time of the 2017 test; financing costs are excluded.
Rolling Resistance
Rolling resistance in kg t
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Extra fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.38 kg/t | Best | $0 | |
| 8.09 kg/t | +0.71 kg/t | $28 | |
| 8.13 kg/t | +0.75 kg/t | $30 | |
| 8.21 kg/t | +0.83 kg/t | $33 | |
| 8.31 kg/t | +0.93 kg/t | $37 | |
| 8.53 kg/t | +1.15 kg/t | $46 | |
| 8.68 kg/t | +1.30 kg/t | $52 | |
| 8.8 kg/t | +1.42 kg/t | $57 | |
RefReference Summer |
9.26 kg/t | +1.88 kg/t | $75 |
| 9.27 kg/t | +1.89 kg/t | $75 | |
| 9.62 kg/t | +2.24 kg/t | $89 | |
RefReference Winter |
9.79 kg/t | +2.41 kg/t | $96 |
The difference between best and worst was 32.7% (2.41 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Nexen N Blue 4 Season uses about 25 gal ($89) more fuel than the Continental AllSeasonContact.
Adjust the assumptions
Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions. These calculators use the full test field, independently of your tire selection above.
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