Test Charts / Auto Express

2026 Auto Express 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: 8
Disciplines: 9
Test vehicle: Audi A3

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
1Falken ZIEX ZE320	118 ft	Best	0 mph
2Continental PremiumContact 7	119 ft	+1 ft	8 mph
3Pirelli Cinturato C3	120 ft	+2 ft	10 mph
4Nokian Powerproof 2	123 ft	+5 ft	15 mph
5Michelin Primacy 5	124 ft	+6 ft	18 mph
6Maxxis Premitra HP6	126 ft	+8 ft	20 mph
7Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	126 ft	+8 ft	20 mph
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	135 ft	+17 ft	28 mph

The difference between best and worst was 14.4% (17 ft ≈ 1.2 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Dynamo STREET H MH01 would still be travelling at 28 mph when the Falken ZIEX ZE320 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
1Falken ZIEX ZE320	53.5 s	Best
2Maxxis Premitra HP6	53.71 s	+0.21 s
3Continental PremiumContact 7	53.99 s	+0.49 s
4Dynamo STREET H MH01	54.2 s	+0.70 s
4Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	54.2 s	+0.70 s
6Pirelli Cinturato C3	54.26 s	+0.76 s
6Nokian Powerproof 2	54.26 s	+0.76 s
8Michelin Primacy 5	54.87 s	+1.37 s

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

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Continental PremiumContact 7	82 ft	Best	0 mph
2Pirelli Cinturato C3	86 ft	+4 ft	17 mph
3Michelin Primacy 5	88 ft	+6 ft	21 mph
4Maxxis Premitra HP6	89 ft	+7 ft	22 mph
5Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	89 ft	+7 ft	22 mph
6Falken ZIEX ZE320	90 ft	+8 ft	23 mph
7Nokian Powerproof 2	91 ft	+9 ft	25 mph
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	106 ft	+24 ft	38 mph

The difference between best and worst was 28.3% (24 ft ≈ 1.6 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Dynamo STREET H MH01 would still be travelling at 38 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
1Falken ZIEX ZE320	88 s	Best
2Pirelli Cinturato C3	88.62 s	+0.62 s
3Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	88.71 s	+0.71 s
4Continental PremiumContact 7	88.89 s	+0.89 s
5Maxxis Premitra HP6	89.34 s	+1.34 s
6Nokian Powerproof 2	89.61 s	+1.61 s
7Michelin Primacy 5	90.72 s	+2.72 s
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	97.02 s	+9.02 s

The difference between best and worst was 10.3% (9.02 s).

Wet Circle
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Maxxis Premitra HP6	11.5 s	Best
2Continental PremiumContact 7	11.52 s	+0.02 s
3Falken ZIEX ZE320	11.66 s	+0.16 s
4Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	11.68 s	+0.18 s
5Michelin Primacy 5	11.93 s	+0.43 s
6Dynamo STREET H MH01	12.07 s	+0.57 s
7Nokian Powerproof 2	13.61 s	+2.11 s
8Pirelli Cinturato C3	13.76 s	+2.26 s

The difference between best and worst was 19.7% (2.26 s).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	52.8 mph	Best
2Nokian Powerproof 2	51.6 mph	-1.2 mph
3Falken ZIEX ZE320	48.7 mph	-4.1 mph
4Pirelli Cinturato C3	48.4 mph	-4.4 mph
4Michelin Primacy 5	48.4 mph	-4.4 mph
6Continental PremiumContact 7	47.8 mph	-5.0 mph
7Maxxis Premitra HP6	47.2 mph	-5.6 mph
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	45.4 mph	-7.4 mph

The difference between best and worst was 14.1% (7.4 mph).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	12.5 ft/s²	Best
2Nokian Powerproof 2	12.3 ft/s²	-0.2 ft/s²
3Falken ZIEX ZE320	11.8 ft/s²	-0.7 ft/s²
4Pirelli Cinturato C3	11.3 ft/s²	-1.2 ft/s²
5Michelin Primacy 5	11.2 ft/s²	-1.3 ft/s²
6Continental PremiumContact 7	10.9 ft/s²	-1.6 ft/s²
7Maxxis Premitra HP6	10.0 ft/s²	-2.5 ft/s²
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	9.5 ft/s²	-3.0 ft/s²

The difference between best and worst was 23.7% (3 ft/s²).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	68 dB	Best
2Continental PremiumContact 7	68.4 dB	+0.40 dB
3Falken ZIEX ZE320	68.9 dB	+0.90 dB
4Dynamo STREET H MH01	69.1 dB	+1.10 dB
5Pirelli Cinturato C3	69.3 dB	+1.30 dB
6Maxxis Premitra HP6	69.7 dB	+1.70 dB
7Michelin Primacy 5	69.8 dB	+1.80 dB
7Nokian Powerproof 2	69.8 dB	+1.80 dB

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

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Michelin Primacy 5	7 kg/t	Best	$0
2Maxxis Premitra HP6	7.53 kg/t	+0.53 kg/t	$22
3Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	7.87 kg/t	+0.87 kg/t	$37
4Falken ZIEX ZE320	8.05 kg/t	+1.05 kg/t	$44
5Nokian Powerproof 2	8.06 kg/t	+1.06 kg/t	$44
6Continental PremiumContact 7	8.43 kg/t	+1.43 kg/t	$60
7Pirelli Cinturato C3	8.61 kg/t	+1.61 kg/t	$68
8Dynamo STREET H MH01	9.37 kg/t	+2.37 kg/t	$99

The difference between best and worst was 33.9% (2.37 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Dynamo STREET H MH01 uses about 28 gal ($99) more fuel than the Michelin Primacy 5.

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.