Test Charts / Al Volante

2025 Al Volante 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: 225/55 R18
Tires tested: 7
Disciplines: 7

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
1Continental PremiumContact 7	120 ft	Best	0 mph
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6	121 ft	+1 ft	7 mph
2Pirelli Cinturato C3	121 ft	+1 ft	7 mph
4Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	124 ft	+4 ft	14 mph
5Michelin Primacy 5	125 ft	+5 ft	16 mph
6Hankook Ventus Prime 4	127 ft	+7 ft	19 mph
7Austone Athena SP 303	133 ft	+13 ft	25 mph

The difference between best and worst was 10.9% (13 ft ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Austone Athena SP 303 would still be travelling at 25 mph when the Continental PremiumContact 7 had stopped.

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

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Continental PremiumContact 7	94 ft	Best	0 mph
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6	96 ft	+2 ft	12 mph
2Pirelli Cinturato C3	96 ft	+2 ft	12 mph
4Michelin Primacy 5	97 ft	+3 ft	14 mph
5Hankook Ventus Prime 4	97 ft	+3 ft	15 mph
6Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	98 ft	+4 ft	15 mph
7Austone Athena SP 303	108 ft	+14 ft	28 mph

The difference between best and worst was 14.3% (14 ft ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Austone Athena SP 303 would still be travelling at 28 mph when the Continental PremiumContact 7 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 C3	109.55 s	Best
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6	109.71 s	+0.16 s
3Continental PremiumContact 7	110.11 s	+0.56 s
4Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	111.22 s	+1.67 s
5Michelin Primacy 5	111.71 s	+2.16 s
6Hankook Ventus Prime 4	113.22 s	+3.67 s
7Austone Athena SP 303	120.93 s	+11.38 s

The difference between best and worst was 10.4% (11.38 s).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6	50.8 mph	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato C3	50.7 mph	-0.1 mph
3Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	50.5 mph	-0.3 mph
4Michelin Primacy 5	50.5 mph	-0.3 mph
5Hankook Ventus Prime 4	50.3 mph	-0.5 mph
6Continental PremiumContact 7	49.5 mph	-1.3 mph
7Austone Athena SP 303	46.2 mph	-4.6 mph

The difference between best and worst was 9% (4.6 mph).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6	301.2 ft/s²	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato C3	291.0 ft/s²	-10.2 ft/s²
3Michelin Primacy 5	290.0 ft/s²	-11.2 ft/s²
4Continental PremiumContact 7	289.0 ft/s²	-12.2 ft/s²
5Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	283.5 ft/s²	-17.7 ft/s²
6Hankook Ventus Prime 4	279.9 ft/s²	-21.3 ft/s²
7Austone Athena SP 303	262.8 ft/s²	-38.4 ft/s²

The difference between best and worst was 12.7% (38.4 ft/s²).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Primacy 5	70.6 dB	Best
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6	70.8 dB	+0.20 dB
3Pirelli Cinturato C3	71.8 dB	+1.20 dB
4Continental PremiumContact 7	72 dB	+1.40 dB
5Austone Athena SP 303	72.7 dB	+2.10 dB
6Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	72.8 dB	+2.20 dB
7Hankook Ventus Prime 4	72.9 dB	+2.30 dB

The difference between best and worst was 3.3% (2.3 dB).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	6.8 kg/t	Best	$0
2Michelin Primacy 5	7 kg/t	+0.20 kg/t	$9
3Pirelli Cinturato C3	7.4 kg/t	+0.60 kg/t	$26
4Hankook Ventus Prime 4	7.7 kg/t	+0.90 kg/t	$39
5Continental PremiumContact 7	7.9 kg/t	+1.10 kg/t	$48
6Austone Athena SP 303	8.2 kg/t	+1.40 kg/t	$61
7Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6	8.7 kg/t	+1.90 kg/t	$82

The difference between best and worst was 27.9% (1.9 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 uses about 23 gal ($82) more fuel than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.

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.