Test Charts / Auto Navigator
2018 New and Worn Summer 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
- 14
- Disciplines
- 5
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 46 ft | Best | |
| 46 ft | 0 ft | |
| 46 ft | 0 ft | |
| 48 ft | +2 ft | |
| 49 ft | +3 ft | |
| 50 ft | +4 ft | |
| 50 ft | +4 ft | |
| 50 ft | +4 ft | |
RefReference Winter |
50 ft | +4 ft |
| 50 ft | +4 ft | |
| 51 ft | +5 ft | |
| 52 ft | +6 ft | |
| 57 ft | +11 ft | |
| 59 ft | +13 ft | |
RefReference Summer Worn |
65 ft | +19 ft |
| 70 ft | +24 ft | |
RefReference Winter Worn |
99 ft | +53 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 115% (53 ft ≈ 3.6 Car Lengths).
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 34.8 mph | Best | |
| 34.5 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 34.4 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 33.8 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 33.2 mph | -1.6 mph | |
RefReference Winter |
31.9 mph | -2.9 mph |
| 31.7 mph | -3.1 mph | |
| 31.4 mph | -3.4 mph | |
| 30.8 mph | -4.0 mph | |
| 30.8 mph | -4.0 mph | |
| 30.6 mph | -4.2 mph | |
| 30.4 mph | -4.4 mph | |
| 29.7 mph | -5.1 mph | |
RefReference Winter Worn |
29.4 mph | -5.4 mph |
| 28.5 mph | -6.3 mph | |
| 27.6 mph | -7.2 mph | |
RefReference Summer Worn |
27.0 mph | -7.8 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 22.3% (7.8 mph).
Wet
2Wet Braking
Wet braking in feet
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 44 ft | Best | |
| 46 ft | +2 ft | |
| 47 ft | +3 ft | |
| 47 ft | +3 ft | |
| 48 ft | +4 ft | |
| 49 ft | +5 ft | |
| 50 ft | +6 ft | |
| 50 ft | +6 ft | |
| 51 ft | +7 ft | |
RefReference Winter |
51 ft | +7 ft |
| 52 ft | +8 ft | |
| 53 ft | +9 ft | |
RefReference Winter Worn |
55 ft | +11 ft |
| 56 ft | +12 ft | |
| 67 ft | +23 ft | |
RefReference Summer Worn |
67 ft | +23 ft |
| 81 ft | +37 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 83% (37 ft ≈ 2.5 Car Lengths).
Wet Handling
Wet Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 30.9 mph | Best | |
| 30.8 mph | -0.1 mph | |
| 29.8 mph | -1.1 mph | |
| 29.7 mph | -1.2 mph | |
| 29.3 mph | -1.6 mph | |
| 29.2 mph | -1.7 mph | |
RefReference Winter |
29.2 mph | -1.7 mph |
| 29.1 mph | -1.8 mph | |
| 29.0 mph | -1.9 mph | |
| 29.0 mph | -1.9 mph | |
| 28.8 mph | -2.1 mph | |
| 28.5 mph | -2.4 mph | |
| 28.1 mph | -2.8 mph | |
| 27.8 mph | -3.1 mph | |
| 27.5 mph | -3.4 mph | |
RefReference Summer Worn |
26.2 mph | -4.7 mph |
RefReference Winter Worn |
26.1 mph | -4.8 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 15.7% (4.8 mph).
Comfort
1Noise
External noise in dB
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 57.8 dB | Best | |
RefReference Winter |
59 dB | +1.20 dB |
| 59.4 dB | +1.60 dB | |
| 59.5 dB | +1.70 dB | |
| 59.7 dB | +1.90 dB | |
| 59.7 dB | +1.90 dB | |
| 60.1 dB | +2.30 dB | |
| 60.5 dB | +2.70 dB | |
| 60.5 dB | +2.70 dB | |
| 60.9 dB | +3.10 dB | |
| 60.9 dB | +3.10 dB | |
| 61 dB | +3.20 dB | |
| 61.2 dB | +3.40 dB | |
RefReference Winter Worn |
61.5 dB | +3.70 dB |
| 61.6 dB | +3.80 dB | |
RefReference Summer Worn |
62.6 dB | +4.80 dB |
| 63 dB | +5.20 dB |
The difference between best and worst was 9% (5.2 dB).
More tire tests
Cross-check this test
Where these tires were tested again, and how the verdict held up.
2018 AutoBild Summer Tire Overview
195/65 R1547 tires tested
7 of these 14 tires tested again
2019 Summer 53 Tire Braking Shootout
225/45 R1745 tires tested
6 of these 14 tires tested again
2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tire Test
195/65 R1520 tires tested
6 of these 14 tires tested again