For 2017 AutoBild have chosen to test the large 235/50 R18 tire size, fitted to vehicles such as the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and as tested, the VW Tiguan.
Auto Bild put the ten tire patterns through the usual wet, dry, comfort and economy tests, and also tested the tires on grass, gravel, sand and mud, should you wish to take your crossover SUV for some light offroading.
The Top Three
Even though the new Continental PremiumContact 6 featured in the test, it didn't make the top three due to a weak aquaplaning performance. Instead, Goodyear took the top spot with the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3. The latest tire in the Asymmetric range by Goodyear boasted an excellent balanced performance, with the only negative points slightly weak traction on grass, and an expensive purchase price.
Hankook took second place with the Ventus S1 Evo2 SUV K117A, which also has the most number of words in its name of any tire on test. The Hankook had the best result in the aquaplaning tests, an excellent dry and wet performance, and was only marked down for average comfort and a high rolling resistance.
The top three was rounded out by Goodyear's sister company, Dunlop. Like the winning Goodyear, the the Dunlop SP QuattroMaxx showed a very balanced performance, with good traction in mud. Sadly, like the Goodyear it was an expensive tire on test, and had the highest rolling resistance.
The Rest
Michelin took fourth place with the Primacy 3. As we've learnt from other sizes of the Primacy 3, it performs very well in the dry with good grip and fast steering, but struggles in aquaplaning tests (a design choice by michelin, see the launch report). Like the Goodyear and Dunlop, it was a very expensive tire.
Wet Braking
Wet braking in feet
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 153 ft | Best | |
| 156 ft | +3 ft | |
| 159 ft | +6 ft | |
| 160 ft | +7 ft | |
| 161 ft | +8 ft | |
| 166 ft | +13 ft | |
| 169 ft | +16 ft | |
| 174 ft | +21 ft | |
| 177 ft | +24 ft | |
| 192 ft | +39 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 25.8% (39 ft ≈ 2.7 Car Lengths).
The biggest surprise of test must come from the Continental PremiumContact 6 only managing fifth place in its first test. The tire had very high grip in the dry and wet, a low rolling resistance and was good in the mud tests, but like the Michelin was poor in the aquaplaning tests, had the highest price, and was noisier than some of the best tires on test.
Maxxis must be very proud with the HP5 scoring sixth place overall, and beating brands such as Bridgestone and Kumho. While the HP5 wasn't great on grass, gravel, and had a poor steering feel, it scored well in the wet and dry tests, had excellent rolling resistance and was extremely well priced.
Dry Braking
Dry braking in feet
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 114 ft | Best | |
| 114 ft | Best | |
| 115 ft | +1 ft | |
| 115 ft | +1 ft | |
| 116 ft | +2 ft | |
| 116 ft | +2 ft | |
| 119 ft | +5 ft | |
| 122 ft | +8 ft | |
| 124 ft | +10 ft | |
| 126 ft | +12 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 10.3% (12 ft ≈ 0.8 Car Lengths).
The seventh placed Bridgestone Dueler HP Sport had Bridgestones usual wet grip issues but scored well in the aquaplaning tests, the Kumho Crugen HP91 in eighth place was average in the wet and dry but quiet and comfortable, and the ninth placed Vredestein Ultrac Satin scored well in rolling resistance and aquaplaning, but had poor wet and dry grip and low traction offroad.
Last place was awarded to the Star Performer SUV-1. This tire was by far the cheapest on test, and had good traction on gravel, but unsurprisingly for a budget tire is struggled in the wet and dry, and had a poor steering response.
Wet Handling
Wet Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 47.0 mph | Best | |
| 47.0 mph | 0.0 mph | |
| 46.7 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 46.3 mph | -0.7 mph | |
| 46.1 mph | -0.9 mph | |
| 45.7 mph | -1.3 mph | |
| 45.7 mph | -1.3 mph | |
| 45.5 mph | -1.5 mph | |
| 45.4 mph | -1.6 mph | |
| 44.0 mph | -3.0 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 6.5% (3 mph).
To put some figures to the budget VS premium debate, the Hankook was the best tire in the wet, stopping the VW in 153 feet from 62 mph, where the Star Performer took another 39 feet at 192 feet. In the dry the results were closer, with the best on test stopping the car in 114 feet and the Star Performer 12 feet further on at 126 feet. While 12 feet doesn't seem overly far, the best six tires in dry braking were grouped by under 3 feet difference, and 12 feet is still the difference between no accident, and a fairly big crash!
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 70.9 mph | Best | |
| 70.5 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 70.1 mph | -0.8 mph | |
| 70.0 mph | -0.9 mph | |
| 70.0 mph | -0.9 mph | |
| 69.7 mph | -1.2 mph | |
| 69.4 mph | -1.5 mph | |
| 69.0 mph | -1.9 mph | |
| 68.9 mph | -2.0 mph | |
| 68.8 mph | -2.1 mph |
All the tires in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.
The Full Results
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
235/50 R18
All discipline results (6)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 8 |
| Offroad | 6 |
| Comfort | 8 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 6 |
Total: 41
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 SUV
235/50 R18
All discipline results (6)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 6 |
| Wet | 8 |
| Offroad | 7 |
| Comfort | 4 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 6 |
Total: 37
Dunlop SP QuattroMaxx
235/50 R18
All discipline results (6)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 7 |
| Offroad | 6 |
| Comfort | 8 |
| Rolling Resistance | 3 |
| Noise | 6 |
Total: 37
Michelin Primacy 3
235/50 R18
All discipline results (6)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Offroad | 6 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 7 |
| Noise | 7 |
Total: 39
Continental Premium Contact 6
235/50 R18
All discipline results (6)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 8 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Offroad | 6 |
| Comfort | 8 |
| Rolling Resistance | 9 |
| Noise | 7 |
Total: 44
Maxxis Premitra HP5
235/50 R18
All discipline results (6)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 6 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Offroad | 6 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 9 |
| Noise | 6 |
Total: 39
Bridgestone Dueler HP Sport
235/50 R18
All discipline results (6)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 7 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Offroad | 6 |
| Comfort | 7 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 6 |
Total: 38
Kumho Crugen HP91
235/50 R18
All discipline results (6)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 5 |
| Wet | 4 |
| Offroad | 6 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 7 |
Total: 34
Vredestein Ultrac Satin
235/50 R18
All discipline results (6)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 5 |
| Wet | 6 |
| Offroad | 6 |
| Comfort | 6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 9 |
| Noise | 6 |
Total: 38
Star Performer SUV 1
235/50 R18
All discipline results (6)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 4 |
| Wet | 1 |
| Offroad | 6 |
| Comfort | 1 |
| Rolling Resistance | 6 |
| Noise | 6 |
Total: 24
Is your rank not defined by the total score?
looks like PC6 is best SUV tire?
Auto Bild place weighting on different scores, for example wet grip has a high importance than dry grip in the overall results.
Strange, The Continentals is awarded quietest tire and awarded a 8. But it's weakpoints lists "noisey"... Which is it?
It should have scored 7, not 8, and the comment should be "a little noisy" not "noisy". Thanks for pointing out the error.
Something is odd here, Continental PC6 have low rolling resistance in positive but only score of 1.
Shouldn't that score be higher if it has low rolling resistance?
You are right, it should be 9! We'll get the site updated
what a weird mix of tires - united only by size.