Test Charts / Auto Bild
2020 Auto Bild 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
- 14
- 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 |
128 ft | -2 ft |
| 130 ft | Best | |
| 131 ft | +1 ft | |
| 133 ft | +3 ft | |
| 134 ft | +4 ft | |
| 134 ft | +4 ft | |
| 135 ft | +5 ft | |
| 135 ft | +5 ft | |
| 136 ft | +6 ft | |
| 137 ft | +7 ft | |
| 140 ft | +10 ft | |
| 141 ft | +11 ft | |
| 141 ft | +11 ft | |
| 142 ft | +12 ft | |
RefReference Winter |
145 ft | +15 ft |
| 145 ft | +15 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 13.6% (17 ft ≈ 1.2 Car Lengths).
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
RefReference Summer |
56.5 mph | +0.2 mph |
| 56.3 mph | Best | |
| 56.2 mph | -0.1 mph | |
| 56.0 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 56.0 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 55.9 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 55.9 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 55.9 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 55.8 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 55.7 mph | -0.6 mph | |
| 55.7 mph | -0.6 mph | |
| 55.3 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 55.2 mph | -1.1 mph | |
| 55.1 mph | -1.2 mph | |
| 55.1 mph | -1.2 mph | |
RefReference Winter |
55.0 mph | -1.3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 148 ft | Best | |
| 152 ft | +4 ft | |
| 154 ft | +6 ft | |
RefReference Summer |
155 ft | +7 ft |
| 155 ft | +7 ft | |
| 159 ft | +11 ft | |
| 162 ft | +14 ft | |
| 162 ft | +14 ft | |
| 163 ft | +15 ft | |
| 165 ft | +17 ft | |
| 167 ft | +19 ft | |
| 168 ft | +20 ft | |
| 168 ft | +20 ft | |
| 168 ft | +20 ft | |
| 175 ft | +27 ft | |
RefReference Winter |
183 ft | +35 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 24% (35 ft ≈ 2.4 Car Lengths).
Wet Handling
Wet Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 49.4 mph | Best | |
| 49.2 mph | -0.2 mph | |
| 49.0 mph | -0.4 mph | |
RefReference Summer |
48.8 mph | -0.6 mph |
| 48.8 mph | -0.6 mph | |
| 48.7 mph | -0.7 mph | |
| 48.4 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 48.4 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 47.9 mph | -1.5 mph | |
| 47.8 mph | -1.6 mph | |
| 47.5 mph | -1.9 mph | |
| 47.5 mph | -1.9 mph | |
| 47.5 mph | -1.9 mph | |
| 47.3 mph | -2.1 mph | |
RefReference Winter |
47.0 mph | -2.4 mph |
| 46.9 mph | -2.5 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 5% (2.5 mph).
Straight Aqua
Float Speed in mph
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
RefReference Summer |
50.9 mph | +0.3 mph |
| 50.6 mph | Best | |
| 50.6 mph | Best | |
| 50.1 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 49.8 mph | -0.8 mph | |
| 48.7 mph | -1.9 mph | |
| 48.6 mph | -2.0 mph | |
| 48.5 mph | -2.1 mph | |
| 48.4 mph | -2.2 mph | |
RefReference Winter |
47.7 mph | -2.9 mph |
| 47.3 mph | -3.3 mph | |
| 47.1 mph | -3.5 mph | |
| 46.8 mph | -3.8 mph | |
| 46.8 mph | -3.8 mph | |
| 46.7 mph | -3.9 mph | |
| 46.4 mph | -4.2 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 8.9% (4.5 mph).
Snow
2Snow Braking
Snow braking in feet
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 87 ft | Best | |
RefReference Winter |
89 ft | +2 ft |
| 89 ft | +2 ft | |
| 91 ft | +4 ft | |
| 91 ft | +4 ft | |
| 92 ft | +5 ft | |
| 92 ft | +5 ft | |
| 94 ft | +7 ft | |
| 94 ft | +7 ft | |
| 95 ft | +8 ft | |
| 97 ft | +10 ft | |
| 98 ft | +11 ft | |
| 99 ft | +12 ft | |
| 101 ft | +14 ft | |
| 105 ft | +18 ft | |
RefReference Summer |
226 ft | +139 ft |
The difference between best and worst was 158.6% (139 ft ≈ 9.4 Car Lengths).
Snow Handling
Snow handling average speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 26.4 mph | Best | |
| 26.3 mph | -0.1 mph | |
RefReference Winter |
26.2 mph | -0.2 mph |
| 26.1 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 26.0 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 25.5 mph | -0.9 mph | |
| 25.4 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 25.4 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 25.4 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 25.3 mph | -1.1 mph | |
| 25.2 mph | -1.2 mph | |
| 25.0 mph | -1.4 mph | |
| 25.0 mph | -1.4 mph | |
| 24.9 mph | -1.5 mph | |
| 24.7 mph | -1.7 mph | |
RefReference Summer |
16.6 mph | -9.8 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 37.2% (9.8 mph).
Comfort
1Noise
External noise in dB
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 70.3 dB | Best | |
| 70.4 dB | +0.10 dB | |
| 70.4 dB | +0.10 dB | |
| 70.6 dB | +0.30 dB | |
| 70.6 dB | +0.30 dB | |
| 70.6 dB | +0.30 dB | |
| 70.7 dB | +0.40 dB | |
| 70.7 dB | +0.40 dB | |
| 70.8 dB | +0.50 dB | |
| 71.2 dB | +0.90 dB | |
RefReference Summer |
71.3 dB | +1.00 dB |
| 71.3 dB | +1.00 dB | |
| 71.4 dB | +1.10 dB | |
| 71.6 dB | +1.30 dB | |
| 72.2 dB | +1.90 dB | |
RefReference Winter |
72.4 dB | +2.10 dB |
All the tires in the Noise test finished less than 3% apart.
Value
3Wear
Predicted tread life in KM
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 46,659 miles | Best | |
| 45,161 miles | -1,498 miles | |
| 43,626 miles | -3,033 miles | |
| 42,141 miles | -4,518 miles | |
| 42,138 miles | -4,521 miles | |
| 40,321 miles | -6,338 miles | |
| 38,991 miles | -7,668 miles | |
| 37,391 miles | -9,268 miles | |
| 37,375 miles | -9,284 miles | |
| 35,564 miles | -11,095 miles | |
| 31,087 miles | -15,572 miles | |
| 30,183 miles | -16,476 miles | |
| 27,903 miles | -18,756 miles | |
| 26,719 miles | -19,940 miles |
The difference between best and worst was 42.7% (19,940 miles).
Value
Euros/1000km based on cost/wear
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | cost per 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.99 Price/1000 | Best | €18.95 | |
| 4.05 Price/1000 | +0.06 Price/1000 | €14.95 | |
| 4.06 Price/1000 | +0.07 Price/1000 | €12.42 | |
| 4.27 Price/1000 | +0.28 Price/1000 | €9.51 | |
| 4.3 Price/1000 | +0.31 Price/1000 | €13.23 | |
| 4.73 Price/1000 | +0.74 Price/1000 | €15.43 | |
| 4.9 Price/1000 | +0.91 Price/1000 | €10.87 | |
| 5.1 Price/1000 | +1.11 Price/1000 | €17.21 | |
| 5.24 Price/1000 | +1.25 Price/1000 | €12.48 | |
| 5.34 Price/1000 | +1.35 Price/1000 | €11.74 | |
| 5.79 Price/1000 | +1.80 Price/1000 | €18.97 | |
| 5.85 Price/1000 | +1.86 Price/1000 | €15.89 | |
| 6.28 Price/1000 | +2.29 Price/1000 | €25.15 | |
| 6.59 Price/1000 | +2.60 Price/1000 | €12.92 |
The difference between best and worst was 65.2% (2.6 Price/1000). Over 25,000 miles the cheapest tire to own (Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3) works out €391 cheaper than the most expensive (Kumho Solus 4S HA32).
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 2020 test; financing costs are excluded.
Rolling Resistance
Rolling resistance in kg t
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Extra fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.73 kg/t | Best | $0 | |
| 7.93 kg/t | +0.20 kg/t | $8 | |
| 7.93 kg/t | +0.20 kg/t | $8 | |
| 8.01 kg/t | +0.28 kg/t | $11 | |
| 8.15 kg/t | +0.42 kg/t | $16 | |
| 8.5 kg/t | +0.77 kg/t | $29 | |
| 8.55 kg/t | +0.82 kg/t | $31 | |
| 8.55 kg/t | +0.82 kg/t | $31 | |
RefReference Summer |
8.59 kg/t | +0.86 kg/t | $33 |
RefReference Winter |
8.6 kg/t | +0.87 kg/t | $33 |
| 8.88 kg/t | +1.15 kg/t | $44 | |
| 8.96 kg/t | +1.23 kg/t | $47 | |
| 8.96 kg/t | +1.23 kg/t | $47 | |
| 9.03 kg/t | +1.30 kg/t | $49 | |
| 9.67 kg/t | +1.94 kg/t | $74 | |
| 9.99 kg/t | +2.26 kg/t | $86 |
The difference between best and worst was 29.2% (2.26 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Kumho Solus 4S HA32 uses about 24 gal ($86) more fuel than the Bridgestone Weather Control A005 EVO.
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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