Test Charts / Moottori

2019 Mid Range 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: 8
Disciplines: 8

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

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Semperit SpeedLife 2	82 ft	Best
2Maxxis Premitra HP5	82 ft	0 ft
3Debica Presto HP	82 ft	0 ft
4Kleber Dynaxer HP 3	83 ft	+1 ft
5Nokian Nordman SX2	83 ft	+1 ft
6Cooper Zeon CS8	83 ft	+1 ft
7Sumitomo BC100	85 ft	+3 ft
8Dayton Touring 2	85 ft	+3 ft

The difference between best and worst was 4.5% (3 ft).

Subj. Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Kleber Dynaxer HP 3	9 Points	Best
1Nokian Nordman SX2	9 Points	Best
3Semperit SpeedLife 2	8.8 Points	-0.20 Points
4Maxxis Premitra HP5	8.4 Points	-0.60 Points
5Sumitomo BC100	8.2 Points	-0.80 Points
6Dayton Touring 2	8.1 Points	-0.90 Points
7Debica Presto HP	8 Points	-1.00 Points
8Cooper Zeon CS8	7 Points	-2.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 22.2% (2 Points).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Semperit SpeedLife 2	91 ft	Best
2Maxxis Premitra HP5	92 ft	+1 ft
3Nokian Nordman SX2	94 ft	+3 ft
4Cooper Zeon CS8	97 ft	+6 ft
5Debica Presto HP	97 ft	+6 ft
6Kleber Dynaxer HP 3	99 ft	+8 ft
6Sumitomo BC100	99 ft	+8 ft
8Dayton Touring 2	101 ft	+10 ft

The difference between best and worst was 10.4% (10 ft ≈ 0.6 Car Lengths).

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Maxxis Premitra HP5	57.7 s	Best
1Semperit SpeedLife 2	57.7 s	Best
3Nokian Nordman SX2	58 s	+0.30 s
4Debica Presto HP	58.1 s	+0.40 s
5Cooper Zeon CS8	58.4 s	+0.70 s
6Sumitomo BC100	59.9 s	+2.20 s
7Kleber Dynaxer HP 3	60.2 s	+2.50 s
7Dayton Touring 2	60.2 s	+2.50 s

The difference between best and worst was 4.3% (2.5 s).

Subj. Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Debica Presto HP	8.9 Points	Best
2Kleber Dynaxer HP 3	8.6 Points	-0.30 Points
3Maxxis Premitra HP5	8.5 Points	-0.40 Points
3Semperit SpeedLife 2	8.5 Points	-0.40 Points
3Nokian Nordman SX2	8.5 Points	-0.40 Points
6Cooper Zeon CS8	8.4 Points	-0.50 Points
7Dayton Touring 2	7.9 Points	-1.00 Points
7Sumitomo BC100	7.9 Points	-1.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 11.2% (1 Points).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Semperit SpeedLife 2	53.7 mph	Best
2Nokian Nordman SX2	50.0 mph	-3.7 mph
3Debica Presto HP	49.8 mph	-3.9 mph
4Dayton Touring 2	49.8 mph	-3.9 mph
4Sumitomo BC100	49.8 mph	-3.9 mph
6Kleber Dynaxer HP 3	49.7 mph	-4.0 mph
6Maxxis Premitra HP5	49.7 mph	-4.0 mph
8Cooper Zeon CS8	49.2 mph	-4.5 mph

The difference between best and worst was 8.4% (4.5 mph).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Cooper Zeon CS8	66.4 dB	Best
2Kleber Dynaxer HP 3	66.5 dB	+0.10 dB
2Semperit SpeedLife 2	66.5 dB	+0.10 dB
4Debica Presto HP	66.6 dB	+0.20 dB
5Dayton Touring 2	66.9 dB	+0.50 dB
6Maxxis Premitra HP5	67.1 dB	+0.70 dB
6Sumitomo BC100	67.1 dB	+0.70 dB
8Nokian Nordman SX2	67.3 dB	+0.90 dB

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

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Maxxis Premitra HP5	7.87 kg/t	Best	$0
2Kleber Dynaxer HP 3	7.93 kg/t	+0.06 kg/t	$2
3Semperit SpeedLife 2	8.29 kg/t	+0.42 kg/t	$16
4Dayton Touring 2	8.4 kg/t	+0.53 kg/t	$20
5Nokian Nordman SX2	8.51 kg/t	+0.64 kg/t	$24
6Sumitomo BC100	8.65 kg/t	+0.78 kg/t	$29
7Debica Presto HP	8.96 kg/t	+1.09 kg/t	$41
8Cooper Zeon CS8	9.36 kg/t	+1.49 kg/t	$56

The difference between best and worst was 18.9% (1.49 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Cooper Zeon CS8 uses about 15 gal ($56) more fuel than the Maxxis Premitra HP5.

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.

Gas/Diesel Electric

Annual Mileage

12,000 mi

km (L)

miles (US gal)

Fuel Price

$3.60/gal

GBP (£)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Set my vehicle consumption

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.

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