Test source Auto Motor Und Sport

2024 AMS Summer SUV Tire Test

Overall test winnerContinental PremiumContact 7

For their 2024 summer tire test, the magazine "Auto Motor und Sport" tested eight summer tires in the popular 235/55 R18 SUV size.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson

March 22, 2024 5 min read Updated January 8, 2025

Tire shortlist Read the test

Tires tested: 8
Tested size: 235/55 R18

At a glance

Tire shortlist

8 Tires tested

Published finishing positions, with the strengths and considerations from this test. Owner reviews cover other sizes and driving conditions.

1^st

Continental PremiumContact 7

+Outstanding grip on wet surfaces, safe in aquaplaning. Also strong adhesion in dry curves, precise and reliable. Good rolling comfort.

−Slightly louder rolling noise outside, increased rolling resistance/low fuel efficiency.

72 owner reviews Test Results

2^nd

Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV

+Very good, dynamic wet handling with high grip level and easy controllability. Direct steering response, very dynamic on dry roads, good comfort features.

−Weaknesses in corner aquaplaning and in driving stability during fast lane changes.

11 owner reviews Test Results

3^rd

Vredestein Ultrac

+Very good grip and easy controllability in wet conditions, safe in aquaplaning. Benign handling characteristics on dry asphalt.

−Sensitive to load changes and cause for a slightly unstable rear during fast lane changes. Limitations in rolling comfort due to slight bumpiness.

24 owner reviews Test Results

4^th

Bridgestone Turanza 6

+Good aquaplaning prevention and decent wet braking properties. On dry roads, sporty-dynamic yet still easily controllable tire.

−Limitations in traction and cornering grip on wet surfaces. Somewhat jolty over transverse joints.

73 owner reviews Test Results

5^th

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV

+High aquaplaning safety in curves. Dry good lane change safety, precise, easily controllable handling, very quiet rolling noise, good comfort.

−Weak braking, moderate cornering grip and pronounced understeering on wet surfaces. Quite sluggish steering response.

1 owner review Test Results

6^th

+With the exception of the comparatively long braking distances, good, balanced wet performance with safe aquaplaning behavior. Quite responsive steering, safe in evasive maneuvers, reliable in handling.

−Long braking distances on both wet and dry roads, highest rolling resistance in the test.

1 owner review Test Results

7^th

Falken Azenis FK520

+Very good aquaplaning prevention, easily controllable but not very dynamic driving behavior on dry roads.

−Limitations in braking and traction on wet surfaces. Also, unbalanced driving dynamics with oversteering and understeering in wet conditions.

58 owner reviews Test Results

8^th

Michelin Primacy 4+

+Short braking distances and spontaneous steering behavior on dry asphalt.

−Long braking distances, weak cornering grip, and poor traction on wet surfaces. Deficiencies in aquaplaning protection. On dry asphalt, increased risk of oversteering during fast lane changes and in load change situations.

41 owner reviews Test Results

Tire shortlist

Compare selected tires

2024 AMS Summer SUV Tire Test · 235/55 R18

Tire	Continental PremiumContact 7	Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV	Vredestein Ultrac	Bridgestone Turanza 6	Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV	Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV	Falken Azenis FK520	Michelin Primacy 4+
Position	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th	6^th	7^th	8^th
Category scores (% of best)
Dry	100%	97.2%	97.1%	96.7%	96.2%	97.1%	98.4%	97.4%
Wet	98.7%	95.1%	98.2%	95.6%	96.1%	96.2%	96.3%	91.3%
Comfort	94.7%	98.6%	98.9%	98.3%	100%	97.1%	97.7%	98.3%
Rolling Resistance	85.7%	95.7%	93%	100%	95.7%	72.5%	88%	100%
Keep researching	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results

The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

For their 2024 summer tire test, the magazine "Auto Motor und Sport" tested eight summer tires in the popular 235/55 R18 SUV size.

The test includes new tires like Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV, Bridgestone Turanza 6, and Continental PremiumContact 7, evaluating them on wet and dry braking, handling, aquaplaning resistance, comfort, and environmental impact.

The report emphasises the importance of short braking distances and reliable performance under various conditions. Continental's PremiumContact 7 stood out for its excellent grip and safety, while others like Michelin and Bridgestone were noted for their fuel efficiency and environmental considerations.

Dry

As we've seen many times before, the Continental PremiumContact 7 had a good lead in dry braking. While the Goodyear was last in dry braking, it also has the highest starting tread depth which affects this test.

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result
1Continental PremiumContact 7	100 %
2Falken Azenis FK520	97 %
3Michelin Primacy 4+	96 %
4Vredestein Ultrac	96 %
5Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV	94 %
5Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV	94 %
7Bridgestone Turanza 6	94 %
8Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV	93 %

The difference between best and worst was 7%.

The Continental was also the fastest around the dry handling lap.

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result
1Continental PremiumContact 7	100 %
2Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV	100 %
2Falken Azenis FK520	100 %
4Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV	100 %
4Bridgestone Turanza 6	100 %
6Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV	99 %
7Vredestein Ultrac	99 %
7Michelin Primacy 4+	99 %

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

Wet

Shockingly the Continental was back at the front for wet braking.

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result
1Continental PremiumContact 7	100 %
2Vredestein Ultrac	97 %
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV	97 %
4Bridgestone Turanza 6	93 %
5Falken Azenis FK520	93 %
6Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV	92 %
7Michelin Primacy 4+	90 %
8Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV	90 %

The difference between best and worst was 10%.

The Continental also led wet handling and the wet circle.

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result
1Continental PremiumContact 7	100 %
2Vredestein Ultrac	99 %
3Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV	98 %
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV	98 %
5Falken Azenis FK520	98 %
6Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV	98 %
7Bridgestone Turanza 6	97 %
8Michelin Primacy 4+	97 %

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

Wet Circle

Wet Circle
Position / Tire	Result
1Continental PremiumContact 7	100 %
2Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV	99 %
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV	99 %
4Vredestein Ultrac	98 %
4Falken Azenis FK520	98 %
6Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV	97 %
7Michelin Primacy 4+	96 %
8Bridgestone Turanza 6	96 %

The difference between best and worst was 4%.

The Falken, Vredestein and Goodyear all did well in the deeper water of aquaplaning.

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result
1Falken Azenis FK520	100 %
2Vredestein Ultrac	99 %
3Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV	99 %
4Bridgestone Turanza 6	97 %
5Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV	96 %
6Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV	95 %
7Continental PremiumContact 7	94 %
8Michelin Primacy 4+	88 %

The difference between best and worst was 12%.

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tire	Result
1Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV	100 %
2Vredestein Ultrac	98 %
3Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV	97 %
4Bridgestone Turanza 6	96 %
5Falken Azenis FK520	95 %
6Continental PremiumContact 7	94 %
7Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV	75 %
8Michelin Primacy 4+	73 %

The difference between best and worst was 27%.

Comfort

The new Goodyear had the lowest noise, an impressive feat considering its high starting tread depth.

Noise
Position / Tire	Result
1Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV	100 %
2Vredestein Ultrac	99 %
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV	99 %
4Michelin Primacy 4+	98 %
4Bridgestone Turanza 6	98 %
6Falken Azenis FK520	98 %
7Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV	97 %
8Continental PremiumContact 7	95 %

The difference between best and worst was 5%.

Value

The Michelin Primacy 4+ and Bridgestone Turanza 6 had the lowest rolling resistance on test.

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result
1Michelin Primacy 4+	100 %
1Bridgestone Turanza 6	100 %
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV	96 %
3Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV	96 %
5Vredestein Ultrac	93 %
6Falken Azenis FK520	88 %
7Continental PremiumContact 7	86 %
8Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV	73 %

The difference between best and worst was 27%.

Results

By far the highest grip and safest tire in the test.

Dry100%

Wet98.7%

Comfort94.7%

Rolling Resistance85.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	1^st / 8	100%
Dry Handling	1^st / 8	100%
Wet Braking	1^st / 8	100%
Wet Handling	1^st / 8	100%
Wet Circle	1^st / 8	100%
Straight Aqua	7^th / 8	94.35%
Curved Aquaplaning	6^th / 8	93.75%
Noise	8^th / 8	94.67%
Rolling Resistance	7^th / 8	85.71%

EU Label: C/A/71
Weight: 11.34 kgs
Tread: 6.6 mm

Balanced and comfortable with only marginal weaknesses.

Dry97.2%

Wet95.1%

Comfort98.6%

Rolling Resistance95.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	5^th / 8	94.46%
Dry Handling	2^nd / 8	99.89%
Wet Braking	3^rd / 8	96.54%
Wet Handling	3^rd / 8	98.28%
Wet Circle	3^rd / 8	98.96%
Straight Aqua	6^th / 8	94.99%
Curved Aquaplaning	7^th / 8	75.11%
Noise	3^rd / 8	98.58%
Rolling Resistance	3^rd / 8	95.65%

EU Label: C/A/72
Weight: 12.64 kgs
Tread: 7.6 mm

Especially in the rain: a tire you can rely on.

Dry97.1%

Wet98.2%

Comfort98.9%

Rolling Resistance93%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	4^th / 8	95.52%
Dry Handling	7^th / 8	98.72%
Wet Braking	2^nd / 8	97.21%
Wet Handling	2^nd / 8	99.47%
Wet Circle	4^th / 8	97.68%
Straight Aqua	2^nd / 8	99.49%
Curved Aquaplaning	2^nd / 8	97.5%
Noise	2^nd / 8	98.86%
Rolling Resistance	5^th / 8	92.96%

EU Label: B/A/70
Weight: 10.98 kgs
Tread: 6.5 mm

Dry-strong summer tire with very low fuel/electricity consumption.

Dry96.7%

Wet95.6%

Comfort98.3%

Rolling Resistance100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	7^th / 8	93.68%
Dry Handling	4^th / 8	99.68%
Wet Braking	4^th / 8	93.31%
Wet Handling	7^th / 8	97.09%
Wet Circle	8^th / 8	95.94%
Straight Aqua	4^th / 8	96.53%
Curved Aquaplaning	4^th / 8	95.68%
Noise	4^th / 8	98.3%
Rolling Resistance	1^st / 8	100%

EU Label: B/A/69
Weight: 10.64 kgs
Tread: 7.3 mm

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV

The new Goodyear. Supposed to last longer, but lacking in grip.

Dry96.2%

Wet96.1%

Comfort100%

Rolling Resistance95.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	8^th / 8	93.17%
Dry Handling	6^th / 8	99.15%
Wet Braking	6^th / 8	92.08%
Wet Handling	6^th / 8	97.62%
Wet Circle	6^th / 8	96.98%
Straight Aqua	5^th / 8	96.41%
Curved Aquaplaning	1^st / 8	100%
Noise	1^st / 8	100%
Rolling Resistance	3^rd / 8	95.65%

EU Label: B/A/70
Weight: 12.04 kgs
Tread: 8.6 mm

The Maxxis stumbles over its long wet-braking distances.

Dry97.1%

Wet96.2%

Comfort97.1%

Rolling Resistance72.5%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	5^th / 8	94.46%
Dry Handling	4^th / 8	99.68%
Wet Braking	8^th / 8	89.71%
Wet Handling	3^rd / 8	98.28%
Wet Circle	2^nd / 8	99.07%
Straight Aqua	3^rd / 8	99.1%
Curved Aquaplaning	3^rd / 8	96.7%
Noise	7^th / 8	97.06%
Rolling Resistance	8^th / 8	72.53%

EU Label: C/A/71
Weight: 12.98 kgs
Tread: 7.4 mm

In wet grip and driving stability, Falken could still improve a bit.

Dry98.4%

Wet96.3%

Comfort97.7%

Rolling Resistance88%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	2^nd / 8	96.88%
Dry Handling	2^nd / 8	99.89%
Wet Braking	5^th / 8	92.69%
Wet Handling	5^th / 8	97.75%
Wet Circle	4^th / 8	97.68%
Straight Aqua	1^st / 8	100%
Curved Aquaplaning	5^th / 8	94.55%
Noise	6^th / 8	97.74%
Rolling Resistance	6^th / 8	88%

EU Label: C/A/70
Weight: 12.9 kgs
Tread: 7.5 mm

With low rolling resistance, great in the fuel-saving chapter. Unfortunately, at the expense of safety.

Dry97.4%

Wet91.3%

Comfort98.3%

Rolling Resistance100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	%
Dry Braking	3^rd / 8	96.06%
Dry Handling	7^th / 8	98.72%
Wet Braking	7^th / 8	90%
Wet Handling	8^th / 8	96.82%
Wet Circle	7^th / 8	96.06%
Straight Aqua	8^th / 8	88.06%
Curved Aquaplaning	8^th / 8	72.95%
Noise	4^th / 8	98.3%
Rolling Resistance	1^st / 8	100%

EU Label: B/A/70
Weight: 11.68 kgs
Tread: 6.3 mm

Discussion

2 comments

Theo Oct 10, 2024 archived

So the Falken is better across the board than the Goodyear yet it got 7th instead of 5th? How did they manage that?

#9740
1. TireReviews Theo Oct 15, 2024 archived
  
  It's a good question. It seems from the comments they degraded it based on subjective wet handling.
  
  #9757

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2024 AMS Summer SUV Tire Test