Menu

Test Charts / Auto Zeitung

2019 Auto Zeitung 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
235/45 R18
Tires tested
10
Disciplines
7

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.

Dry

2

Dry Braking

Dry braking in feet

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Continental Premium Contact 6
 118 ft Best
2Maxxis Premitra HP5
 119 ft +1 ft
3Michelin Primacy 4
 120 ft +2 ft
4Bridgestone Turanza T005
 121 ft +3 ft
5Apollo Aspire XP
 123 ft +5 ft
6Pirelli CINTURATO P7
 123 ft +5 ft
7Yokohama BluEarth AE50
 124 ft +6 ft
8Nankang AS1
 129 ft +11 ft
8Kumho Ecsta HS51
 129 ft +11 ft
8Michelin CrossClimate+
 129 ft +11 ft

The difference between best and worst was 8.9% (11 ft ≈ 0.7 Car Lengths).

Dry Handling

Dry handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Continental Premium Contact 6
 59.3 s Best
2Michelin Primacy 4
 59.7 s +0.40 s
3Pirelli CINTURATO P7
 60.2 s +0.90 s
3Maxxis Premitra HP5
 60.2 s +0.90 s
5Apollo Aspire XP
 60.3 s +1.00 s
6Yokohama BluEarth AE50
 60.4 s +1.10 s
6Michelin CrossClimate+
 60.4 s +1.10 s
8Kumho Ecsta HS51
 60.7 s +1.40 s
8Bridgestone Turanza T005
 60.7 s +1.40 s
10Nankang AS1
 60.9 s +1.60 s

All the tires in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.

Wet

3

Wet Braking

Wet braking in feet

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Michelin CrossClimate+
 179 ft Best
2Continental Premium Contact 6
 189 ft +10 ft
3Pirelli CINTURATO P7
 193 ft +14 ft
4Yokohama BluEarth AE50
 194 ft +15 ft
5Maxxis Premitra HP5
 194 ft +15 ft
6Michelin Primacy 4
 199 ft +20 ft
7Apollo Aspire XP
 216 ft +37 ft
8Bridgestone Turanza T005
 219 ft +40 ft
9Kumho Ecsta HS51
 240 ft +61 ft
10Nankang AS1
 254 ft +75 ft

The difference between best and worst was 41.6% (75 ft ≈ 5 Car Lengths).

Wet Handling

Wet handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Continental Premium Contact 6
 90 s Best
2Maxxis Premitra HP5
 91.2 s +1.20 s
3Bridgestone Turanza T005
 92.8 s +2.80 s
4Yokohama BluEarth AE50
 93.4 s +3.40 s
5Apollo Aspire XP
 94 s +4.00 s
6Michelin Primacy 4
 94.2 s +4.20 s
7Michelin CrossClimate+
 96 s +6.00 s
8Pirelli CINTURATO P7
 96.6 s +6.60 s
9Kumho Ecsta HS51
 98 s +8.00 s
10Nankang AS1
 99.9 s +9.90 s

The difference between best and worst was 11% (9.9 s).

Straight Aqua

Float Speed in mph

Higher is better ↑
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Kumho Ecsta HS51
 46.7 mph Best
2Bridgestone Turanza T005
 46.2 mph -0.5 mph
3Pirelli CINTURATO P7
 46.1 mph -0.6 mph
4Apollo Aspire XP
 46.0 mph -0.7 mph
5Continental Premium Contact 6
 46.0 mph -0.7 mph
6Maxxis Premitra HP5
 45.5 mph -1.2 mph
7Michelin Primacy 4
 44.9 mph -1.8 mph
8Yokohama BluEarth AE50
 44.0 mph -2.7 mph
9Michelin CrossClimate+
 43.7 mph -3.0 mph
10Nankang AS1
 42.4 mph -4.3 mph

The difference between best and worst was 9.2% (4.3 mph).

Comfort

1

Noise

External noise in dB

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Maxxis Premitra HP5
 68 dB Best
2Nankang AS1
 69 dB +1.00 dB
3Pirelli CINTURATO P7
 70 dB +2.00 dB
3Yokohama BluEarth AE50
 70 dB +2.00 dB
3Kumho Ecsta HS51
 70 dB +2.00 dB
3Apollo Aspire XP
 70 dB +2.00 dB
7Continental Premium Contact 6
 71 dB +3.00 dB
7Bridgestone Turanza T005
 71 dB +3.00 dB
7Michelin Primacy 4
 71 dB +3.00 dB
10Michelin CrossClimate+
 72 dB +4.00 dB

The difference between best and worst was 5.9% (4 dB).

Value

1

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestExtra fuel / year
1Michelin Primacy 4
 7.2 kg/t Best $0
2Bridgestone Turanza T005
 7.46 kg/t +0.26 kg/t $11
3Yokohama BluEarth AE50
 7.68 kg/t +0.48 kg/t $20
4Michelin CrossClimate+
 7.78 kg/t +0.58 kg/t $24
5Apollo Aspire XP
 8.16 kg/t +0.96 kg/t $39
6Pirelli CINTURATO P7
 8.19 kg/t +0.99 kg/t $40
7Maxxis Premitra HP5
 8.31 kg/t +1.11 kg/t $45
8Continental Premium Contact 6
 8.34 kg/t +1.14 kg/t $47
9Kumho Ecsta HS51
 8.49 kg/t +1.29 kg/t $53
10Nankang AS1
 8.92 kg/t +1.72 kg/t $70

The difference between best and worst was 23.9% (1.72 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Nankang AS1 uses about 19 gal ($70) more fuel than the Michelin Primacy 4.

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.

12,000 mi
$3.60/gal
Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tire age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.
Tire shortlist →Read the test →

More tire tests

Cross-check this test

All tire tests

Where these tires were tested again, and how the verdict held up.

More tire tests2026 AutoView Sport Tire Test2026 Tire Rack Streetable Track Tire Test2026 Auto Express Summer Tire TestMichelin Range Test - CrossClimate 3, 3 Sport, Primacy 5, Pilot Sport 5 and Cup 2All tests: Summer Tires
Best tiresBest UUHP TiresBest Performance Summer TiresBest Summer Tires
Rate your tires

My tires

Saved in this browser on this site. No account needed. Clearing browser data removes your choices.

Vehicle and size

Check the size, load and speed ratings on your vehicle. Saving a size does not confirm fitment.

Saved tires

Save tires from a tire page, test or comparison to keep them here.

Select 2–8 saved tires. Ranked comparisons require at least two shared tests.