Test Charts / Auto Bild

2024 Classic Car 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: 205/70 R15
Tires tested: 7
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.

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	122 ft	Best	0 mph
2Pirelli Cinturato P5	125 ft	+3 ft	12 mph
3Dunlop Sport Classic	127 ft	+5 ft	16 mph
4Radar Dimax Classic	128 ft	+6 ft	18 mph
5Michelin XWX	129 ft	+7 ft	18 mph
6Vredestein Sprint Classic	130 ft	+8 ft	19 mph
7Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	136 ft	+14 ft	25 mph

The difference between best and worst was 11.3% (14 ft ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet would still be travelling at 25 mph when the Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato P5	54.4 mph	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	54.4 mph	0.0 mph
3Dunlop Sport Classic	53.9 mph	-0.5 mph
3Radar Dimax Classic	53.9 mph	-0.5 mph
5Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	53.6 mph	-0.8 mph
6Vredestein Sprint Classic	53.6 mph	-0.8 mph
7Michelin XWX	53.1 mph	-1.3 mph

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

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Pirelli Cinturato P5	162 ft	Best	0 mph
2Dunlop Sport Classic	165 ft	+3 ft	10 mph
3Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	166 ft	+4 ft	11 mph
4Vredestein Sprint Classic	176 ft	+14 ft	22 mph
5Michelin XWX	192 ft	+30 ft	31 mph
6Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	212 ft	+50 ft	39 mph
7Radar Dimax Classic	236 ft	+74 ft	45 mph

The difference between best and worst was 45.3% (74 ft ≈ 5 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Radar Dimax Classic would still be travelling at 45 mph when the Pirelli Cinturato P5 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	49.0 mph	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato P5	48.7 mph	-0.3 mph
3Dunlop Sport Classic	47.3 mph	-1.7 mph
4Vredestein Sprint Classic	46.7 mph	-2.3 mph
5Michelin XWX	45.3 mph	-3.7 mph
6Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	44.2 mph	-4.8 mph
7Radar Dimax Classic	41.1 mph	-7.9 mph

The difference between best and worst was 16% (7.9 mph).

Wet Circle
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	11.4 s	Best
1Pirelli Cinturato P5	11.4 s	Best
3Dunlop Sport Classic	11.8 s	+0.40 s
4Vredestein Sprint Classic	11.9 s	+0.50 s
5Michelin XWX	12.6 s	+1.20 s
6Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	12.9 s	+1.50 s
7Radar Dimax Classic	13.2 s	+1.80 s

The difference between best and worst was 15.8% (1.8 s).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato P5	58.0 mph	Best
2Vredestein Sprint Classic	56.9 mph	-1.1 mph
3Dunlop Sport Classic	54.1 mph	-3.9 mph
4Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	53.5 mph	-4.5 mph
5Radar Dimax Classic	49.7 mph	-8.3 mph
6Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	45.9 mph	-12.1 mph
7Michelin XWX	45.7 mph	-12.3 mph

The difference between best and worst was 21.1% (12.3 mph).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Dunlop Sport Classic	12.9 ft/s²	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato P5	11.6 ft/s²	-1.3 ft/s²
3Vredestein Sprint Classic	11.1 ft/s²	-1.8 ft/s²
4Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	10.5 ft/s²	-2.4 ft/s²
5Radar Dimax Classic	9.0 ft/s²	-3.9 ft/s²
6Michelin XWX	7.7 ft/s²	-5.2 ft/s²
7Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	7.0 ft/s²	-5.9 ft/s²

The difference between best and worst was 45.7% (5.9 ft/s²).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	71.6 dB	Best
2Radar Dimax Classic	71.9 dB	+0.30 dB
3Michelin XWX	72.5 dB	+0.90 dB
4Vredestein Sprint Classic	72.6 dB	+1.00 dB
5Dunlop Sport Classic	74 dB	+2.40 dB
6Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	75.4 dB	+3.80 dB
7Pirelli Cinturato P5	78 dB	+6.40 dB

The difference between best and worst was 8.9% (6.4 dB).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Dunlop Sport Classic	9.01 kg/t	Best	$0
2Radar Dimax Classic	9.53 kg/t	+0.52 kg/t	$17
3Michelin XWX	9.99 kg/t	+0.98 kg/t	$32
4Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12	10.9 kg/t	+1.89 kg/t	$62
5Vredestein Sprint Classic	10.91 kg/t	+1.90 kg/t	$62
6Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet	11.54 kg/t	+2.53 kg/t	$83
7Pirelli Cinturato P5	11.88 kg/t	+2.87 kg/t	$94

The difference between best and worst was 31.9% (2.87 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Pirelli Cinturato P5 uses about 26 gal ($94) more fuel than the Dunlop Sport Classic.

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.