Test Charts / Auto Bild
2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch 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
- 20
- Disciplines
- 9
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 (62 - 0 mph)
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Residual speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112 ft | Best | 0 mph | |
| 113 ft | +1 ft | 9 mph | |
| 114 ft | +2 ft | 11 mph | |
| 115 ft | +3 ft | 13 mph | |
| 115 ft | +3 ft | 14 mph | |
| 115 ft | +3 ft | 14 mph | |
| 116 ft | +4 ft | 15 mph | |
| 116 ft | +4 ft | 15 mph | |
| 117 ft | +5 ft | 17 mph | |
| 117 ft | +5 ft | 17 mph | |
| 117 ft | +5 ft | 17 mph | |
| 117 ft | +5 ft | 17 mph | |
| 118 ft | +6 ft | 18 mph | |
| 118 ft | +6 ft | 19 mph | |
| 119 ft | +7 ft | 19 mph | |
| 119 ft | +7 ft | 20 mph | |
| 120 ft | +8 ft | 21 mph | |
| 120 ft | +8 ft | 21 mph | |
| 123 ft | +11 ft | 24 mph | |
| 124 ft | +12 ft | 25 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 10.6% (12 ft ≈ 0.8 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Semperit Speed Life 3 would still be travelling at 25 mph when the Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 had stopped.
Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 60.0 mph | Best | |
| 59.8 mph | -0.2 mph | |
| 59.7 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 59.7 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 59.7 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 59.6 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 59.6 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 59.5 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 59.5 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 59.5 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 59.4 mph | -0.6 mph | |
| 59.3 mph | -0.7 mph | |
| 59.3 mph | -0.7 mph | |
| 59.2 mph | -0.8 mph | |
| 59.1 mph | -0.9 mph | |
| 59.0 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 58.9 mph | -1.1 mph | |
| 58.7 mph | -1.3 mph | |
| 58.7 mph | -1.3 mph | |
| 58.6 mph | -1.4 mph |
All the tires in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.
Wet
3Wet Braking
Wet braking in feet (62 - 0 mph)
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Residual speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 152 ft | Best | 0 mph | |
| 152 ft | 0 ft | 4 mph | |
| 152 ft | 0 ft | 5 mph | |
| 154 ft | +2 ft | 9 mph | |
| 156 ft | +4 ft | 13 mph | |
| 156 ft | +4 ft | 13 mph | |
| 161 ft | +9 ft | 19 mph | |
| 162 ft | +10 ft | 20 mph | |
| 162 ft | +10 ft | 20 mph | |
| 162 ft | +10 ft | 20 mph | |
| 162 ft | +10 ft | 21 mph | |
| 162 ft | +10 ft | 21 mph | |
| 164 ft | +12 ft | 22 mph | |
| 164 ft | +12 ft | 22 mph | |
| 164 ft | +12 ft | 22 mph | |
| 165 ft | +13 ft | 23 mph | |
| 165 ft | +13 ft | 23 mph | |
| 165 ft | +13 ft | 23 mph | |
| 170 ft | +18 ft | 27 mph | |
| 173 ft | +21 ft | 28 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 14.3% (21 ft ≈ 1.5 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Fulda EcoControl HP2 would still be travelling at 28 mph when the Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 had stopped.
Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.
Wet Handling
Wet Handling Average Speed
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 49.0 mph | Best | |
| 49.0 mph | Best | |
| 48.7 mph | -0.3 mph | |
| 48.6 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 48.5 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 48.5 mph | -0.5 mph | |
| 48.4 mph | -0.6 mph | |
| 48.3 mph | -0.7 mph | |
| 48.2 mph | -0.8 mph | |
| 48.2 mph | -0.8 mph | |
| 48.0 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 48.0 mph | -1.0 mph | |
| 47.7 mph | -1.3 mph | |
| 47.7 mph | -1.3 mph | |
| 47.6 mph | -1.4 mph | |
| 47.5 mph | -1.5 mph | |
| 47.5 mph | -1.5 mph | |
| 47.3 mph | -1.7 mph | |
| 47.2 mph | -1.8 mph | |
| 46.9 mph | -2.1 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 4.3% (2.1 mph).
Straight Aqua
Float Speed in mph
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 53.5 mph | Best | |
| 53.1 mph | -0.4 mph | |
| 52.4 mph | -1.1 mph | |
| 52.1 mph | -1.4 mph | |
| 51.7 mph | -1.8 mph | |
| 51.7 mph | -1.8 mph | |
| 51.6 mph | -1.9 mph | |
| 51.5 mph | -2.0 mph | |
| 51.1 mph | -2.4 mph | |
| 50.8 mph | -2.7 mph | |
| 50.7 mph | -2.8 mph | |
| 50.7 mph | -2.8 mph | |
| 50.5 mph | -3.0 mph | |
| 50.5 mph | -3.0 mph | |
| 50.3 mph | -3.2 mph | |
| 50.3 mph | -3.2 mph | |
| 49.8 mph | -3.7 mph | |
| 49.8 mph | -3.7 mph | |
| 49.5 mph | -4.0 mph | |
| 49.3 mph | -4.2 mph |
The difference between best and worst was 7.9% (4.2 mph).
Comfort
1Noise
External noise in dB
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 66.6 dB | Best | |
| 67.3 dB | +0.70 dB | |
| 67.3 dB | +0.70 dB | |
| 67.3 dB | +0.70 dB | |
| 67.4 dB | +0.80 dB | |
| 67.5 dB | +0.90 dB | |
| 68.3 dB | +1.70 dB | |
| 68.4 dB | +1.80 dB | |
| 68.4 dB | +1.80 dB | |
| 68.6 dB | +2.00 dB | |
| 68.6 dB | +2.00 dB | |
| 68.6 dB | +2.00 dB | |
| 68.6 dB | +2.00 dB | |
| 68.7 dB | +2.10 dB | |
| 68.7 dB | +2.10 dB | |
| 68.7 dB | +2.10 dB | |
| 68.7 dB | +2.10 dB | |
| 69.1 dB | +2.50 dB | |
| 69.2 dB | +2.60 dB | |
| 69.9 dB | +3.30 dB |
The difference between best and worst was 5% (3.3 dB).
Value
3Wear
Predicted tread life in KM
Higher is better ↑| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best |
|---|---|---|
| 29,789 miles | Best | |
| 27,465 miles | -2,324 miles | |
| 26,197 miles | -3,592 miles | |
| 25,774 miles | -4,015 miles | |
| 23,239 miles | -6,550 miles | |
| 23,028 miles | -6,761 miles | |
| 23,028 miles | -6,761 miles | |
| 21,760 miles | -8,029 miles | |
| 20,704 miles | -9,085 miles | |
| 20,070 miles | -9,719 miles | |
| 19,859 miles | -9,930 miles | |
| 19,859 miles | -9,930 miles | |
| 19,014 miles | -10,775 miles | |
| 19,014 miles | -10,775 miles | |
| 18,803 miles | -10,986 miles | |
| 17,324 miles | -12,465 miles | |
| 17,324 miles | -12,465 miles | |
| 17,324 miles | -12,465 miles | |
| 17,113 miles | -12,676 miles | |
| 16,267 miles | -13,522 miles |
The difference between best and worst was 45.4% (13,522 miles).
Value
Euros/1000km based on cost/wear
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | cost per 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.74 Price/1000 | Best | €12.98 | |
| 5.75 Price/1000 | +0.01 Price/1000 | €21.90 | |
| 5.81 Price/1000 | +0.07 Price/1000 | €25.96 | |
| 7.02 Price/1000 | +1.28 Price/1000 | €22.09 | |
| 7.02 Price/1000 | +1.28 Price/1000 | €28.49 | |
| 7.14 Price/1000 | +1.40 Price/1000 | €26.58 | |
| 7.24 Price/1000 | +1.50 Price/1000 | €18.81 | |
| 7.47 Price/1000 | +1.73 Price/1000 | €26.32 | |
| 7.6 Price/1000 | +1.86 Price/1000 | €28.86 | |
| 8.05 Price/1000 | +2.31 Price/1000 | €29.96 | |
| 8.1 Price/1000 | +2.36 Price/1000 | €24.30 | |
| 8.17 Price/1000 | +2.43 Price/1000 | €23.92 | |
| 8.29 Price/1000 | +2.55 Price/1000 | €29.72 | |
| 8.97 Price/1000 | +3.23 Price/1000 | €32.05 | |
| 9.07 Price/1000 | +3.33 Price/1000 | €18.13 | |
| 9.15 Price/1000 | +3.41 Price/1000 | €27.85 | |
| 9.15 Price/1000 | +3.41 Price/1000 | €31.98 | |
| 9.26 Price/1000 | +3.52 Price/1000 | €27.30 | |
| 9.68 Price/1000 | +3.94 Price/1000 | €21.26 | |
| 9.93 Price/1000 | +4.19 Price/1000 | €26.71 |
The difference between best and worst was 73% (4.19 Price/1000). Over 25,000 miles the cheapest tire to own (Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2) works out €477 cheaper than the most expensive (Maxxis Premitra HP5).
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 2021 test; financing costs are excluded.
Rolling Resistance
Rolling resistance in kg t
Lower is better ↓| Position / Tire | Result | Gap to best | Extra fuel / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.01 kg/t | Best | $0 | |
| 7.24 kg/t | +0.23 kg/t | $10 | |
| 7.28 kg/t | +0.27 kg/t | $11 | |
| 7.77 kg/t | +0.76 kg/t | $32 | |
| 8.07 kg/t | +1.06 kg/t | $44 | |
| 8.18 kg/t | +1.17 kg/t | $49 | |
| 8.29 kg/t | +1.28 kg/t | $54 | |
| 8.31 kg/t | +1.30 kg/t | $54 | |
| 8.38 kg/t | +1.37 kg/t | $57 | |
| 8.51 kg/t | +1.50 kg/t | $63 | |
| 8.6 kg/t | +1.59 kg/t | $67 | |
| 8.63 kg/t | +1.62 kg/t | $68 | |
| 8.92 kg/t | +1.91 kg/t | $80 | |
| 8.97 kg/t | +1.96 kg/t | $82 | |
| 9.13 kg/t | +2.12 kg/t | $89 | |
| 9.14 kg/t | +2.13 kg/t | $89 | |
| 9.24 kg/t | +2.23 kg/t | $93 | |
| 9.25 kg/t | +2.24 kg/t | $94 | |
| 9.25 kg/t | +2.24 kg/t | $94 | |
| 9.31 kg/t | +2.30 kg/t | $96 |
The difference between best and worst was 32.8% (2.3 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Kumho Ecsta HS51 uses about 27 gal ($96) more fuel than the Bridgestone Turanza T005.
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.
Test setup & methodology
The test setting, the conditions recorded and how the results contribute to the score.
Recorded test conditions
Recorded test conditions
- Dry Braking
- 62.1 → 0.0 mph
- Wet Braking
- 62.1 → 0.0 mph
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