Test source Sport Auto

2026 Summer ECO Tire Test

Overall test winnerDunlop Blue Response TG

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson

March 18, 2026 8 min read

Tire shortlist Read the test

Tires tested: 8
Tested size: 195/55 R16

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

Dunlop Blue Response TG

+The Dunlop Blue Response TG wins with the shortest dry braking, the fastest dry and wet handling, the best wet circle and straight-line aquaplaning results, the second-shortest wet braking and the lowest noise.

−It has the highest rolling resistance and the highest energy consumption in the test.

2 owner reviews Test Results

2^nd

Vredestein Ultrac+

+The Vredestein Ultrac+ has the shortest wet braking by a clear margin, the second-best wet circle result, and is third for wet handling and straight-line aquaplaning.

−It is the slowest tire through the dry handling course, with sluggish, imprecise turn-in, and its rolling resistance and energy use are on the high side.

8 owner reviews Test Results

3^rd

Michelin Primacy 5

+The Michelin Primacy 5 is second for aquaplaning both straight and in bends, third quietest and fourth for wet braking, wet handling and efficiency.

−It has the second-longest dry braking, is second from last on the wet circle, rides firmly and is slightly unstable in fast lane changes.

64 owner reviews Test Results

Joint4^th

Falken e.Ziex

+The Falken e.Ziex has the second-shortest dry braking, the third-lowest rolling resistance and energy use, and is third on the wet circle, with a comfortable ride.

−Its wet braking and wet handling are only mid-field, and the steering response is somewhat lazy.

Read owner reviews Test Results

Joint4^th

Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN

+The Firestone Roadhawk 2 Enliten is the best tire for aquaplaning in bends, second fastest on the wet handling track and third for wet braking.

−It has the second-highest energy consumption, is the second-loudest tire and its steering response is slightly delayed.

11 owner reviews Test Results

6^th

Continental EcoContact 6

+The Continental EcoContact 6 has the lowest rolling resistance and energy consumption by a wide margin, is the second-quietest tire and joint second through the dry handling course.

−Wet grip is its weakness: last on the wet handling track, the wet circle and both aquaplaning tests, with the second-longest wet braking.

182 owner reviews Test Results

7^th

Cooper Summer

+The Cooper Summer is the cheapest tire, third for aquaplaning in bends and fourth in a straight line, with secure, easy wet handling.

−It has the longest dry braking and is the loudest tire in the test.

2 owner reviews Test Results

8^th

Giti GitiSynergyH2

+The Giti GitiSynergy H2 has the second-lowest rolling resistance and energy use and the joint second-fastest dry handling lap.

−It has the longest wet braking and is second from last for wet handling and both aquaplaning tests.

22 owner reviews Test Results

Tire shortlist

Compare selected tires

2026 Summer ECO Tire Test · 195/55 R16

Tire	Dunlop Blue Response TG	Vredestein Ultrac+	Michelin Primacy 5	Falken e.Ziex	Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	Continental EcoContact 6	Cooper Summer	Giti GitiSynergyH2
Position	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	Joint 4^th	Joint 4^th	6^th	7^th	8^th
Category scores (% of best)
Dry	100%	97.6%	96.6%	99%	97.3%	98%	96.1%	97.8%
Wet	98.1%	97.1%	95.4%	92.3%	96.6%	88%	93.6%	89%
Comfort	100%	99%	99.6%	98.1%	96.1%	99.7%	95.6%	98.9%
Value	79.1%	80.4%	87.9%	90.6%	79.9%	100%	84.8%	93%
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

Auto motor und sport tested eight summer tires in size 195/55 R 16, a common fitment for small cars such as the VW Polo, Hyundai i20, Fiat 500, and Renault Clio, including several electric models like the Hyundai Inster and Fiat 500e. Testing covered wet performance (braking, handling, aquaplaning), dry performance (braking, handling, steering response, comfort), and environmental factors (rolling resistance, noise). The test used both a conventional Hyundai i20 and a battery-electric Hyundai Inster, with a separate EV-focused rating that weighted efficiency more heavily.

The Dunlop Blue Response TG - a newly developed tire from Sumitomo/Falken following their acquisition of the Dunlop brand - took a clear overall win with the only "outstanding" rating, finishing first in most wet and dry tests. At the other end, the Giti Synergy H2 finished last despite carrying an A/A/A EU label (the best possible in all three categories), with the testers concluding that the label ratings were far more optimistic than the actual measured performance. The Continental EcoContact 6 highlighted the core trade-off in this test: it delivered the lowest rolling resistance and longest EV range by a wide margin, but paid for it with the worst wet braking distance - sliding 21 feet further than the Dunlop on wet surfaces.

Dry

The Dunlop stopped shortest at 115 feet from 62 mph, with the Falken close behind at 116 feet. The spread is relatively tight - only 9 feet separates best from worst - but the Cooper trailed the field at 123 feet, a result the testers described as borderline.

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result
1Dunlop Blue Response TG	100 %
2Falken e.Ziex	98 %
3Continental EcoContact 6	96 %
3Vredestein Ultrac+	96 %
5Giti GitiSynergyH2	96 %
6Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	95 %
7Michelin Primacy 5	94 %
8Cooper Summer	93 %

The difference between best and worst was 7%.

Handling lap times on the 1900-meter dry track were closely bunched, with just 0.6 mph covering the entire field. The Dunlop was fastest, followed by the Giti and Continental in a dead heat. Vredestein was slowest on the clock, though the testers noted that lap times only tell part of the story - subjective scores for steering precision and limit behavior varied more widely, with the Dunlop, Continental, and Michelin rated highest for driving feel.

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result
1Dunlop Blue Response TG	100 %
2Continental EcoContact 6	100 %
2Giti GitiSynergyH2	100 %
4Falken e.Ziex	100 %
5Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	99 %
6Michelin Primacy 5	99 %
6Cooper Summer	99 %
8Vredestein Ultrac+	99 %

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

Wet

Wet braking showed the largest performance gaps in the entire test. The Vredestein stopped first at 116 feet from 50 mph, with the Dunlop just one meter behind. At the other end, the Giti needed 144 feet - over 26 feet further, which the testers called unacceptably long. The Continental, despite being the efficiency leader, also struggled here at 141 feet, paying for its low rolling resistance with an 18% longer braking distance than the Dunlop.

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result
1Vredestein Ultrac+	100 %
2Dunlop Blue Response TG	97 %
3Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	92 %
4Michelin Primacy 5	91 %
5Falken e.Ziex	86 %
6Cooper Summer	86 %
7Continental EcoContact 6	83 %
8Giti GitiSynergyH2	81 %

The difference between best and worst was 19%.

The Dunlop led wet handling on the 1823-meter circuit at 34.7 mph, with Firestone and Vredestein close behind. The Continental was slowest at 32.6 mph - consistent with its weak wet braking - and the Giti also struggled near the bottom. The efficiency-focused tires clearly lost ground when grip mattered most.

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result
1Dunlop Blue Response TG	100 %
2Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	99 %
3Vredestein Ultrac+	99 %
4Michelin Primacy 5	98 %
5Falken e.Ziex	97 %
5Cooper Summer	97 %
7Giti GitiSynergyH2	95 %
8Continental EcoContact 6	94 %

The difference between best and worst was 6%.

Lateral grip on the wet 100-meter circle followed a similar pattern, with the Dunlop recording the highest cornering force and the Continental the lowest. The gap between them - 0.33 m/s² - is significant for a standardised circle test and reinforces the trade-off between rolling resistance and wet grip seen throughout this test.

Wet Circle
Position / Tire	Result
1Dunlop Blue Response TG	100 %
2Vredestein Ultrac+	98 %
3Falken e.Ziex	98 %
4Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	97 %
5Cooper Summer	97 %
6Giti GitiSynergyH2	96 %
7Michelin Primacy 5	96 %
8Continental EcoContact 6	96 %

The difference between best and worst was 4%.

The Dunlop and Michelin were nearly identical for straight-line aquaplaning resistance, floating up at 92.2 and 57.2 mph respectively. The Continental was weakest at 50.8 mph - over 6 mph behind the leaders. The testers observed that low-rolling-resistance tires tended to aquaplane earlier, which aligns with the broader trend in this test.

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result
1Dunlop Blue Response TG	100 %
2Michelin Primacy 5	100 %
3Vredestein Ultrac+	99 %
4Cooper Summer	98 %
5Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	97 %
6Falken e.Ziex	96 %
7Giti GitiSynergyH2	91 %
8Continental EcoContact 6	89 %

The difference between best and worst was 11%.

Curved aquaplaning reversed some of the usual order: the Firestone posted the best lateral grip before float at 4.78 m/s², while the Continental was again last at 3.20 m/s². The Dunlop, dominant in most other wet tests, was mid-pack here at 4.28 m/s².

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tire	Result
1Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	100 %
2Michelin Primacy 5	92 %
3Cooper Summer	92 %
4Dunlop Blue Response TG	90 %
5Vredestein Ultrac+	83 %
6Falken e.Ziex	81 %
7Giti GitiSynergyH2	74 %
8Continental EcoContact 6	67 %

The difference between best and worst was 33%.

Comfort

Pass-by noise at 50 mph ranged from 68.7 dB(A) for the Dunlop to 71.9 dB(A) for the Cooper - a 3.2 dB(A) spread. The testers noted that the standard ECE exterior noise measurement does not capture low-speed rolling noise below 37 mph, which is particularly relevant for city driving. For interior noise at low speeds, the Falken was rated the quietest, while the Vredestein and Firestone scored lowest subjectively.

Noise
Position / Tire	Result
1Dunlop Blue Response TG	100 %
2Continental EcoContact 6	100 %
3Michelin Primacy 5	100 %
4Vredestein Ultrac+	99 %
5Giti GitiSynergyH2	99 %
6Falken e.Ziex	98 %
7Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	96 %
8Cooper Summer	96 %

The difference between best and worst was 4%.

Value

Lab-measured rolling resistance ranged from 5.8 kg/t for the Continental to 8.4 kg/t for the Dunlop - a 45% difference. The Giti, despite carrying an A label for rolling resistance, measured 6.6 kg/t and was beaten by the Continental. This test highlights the fundamental engineering trade-off: the three tires with the lowest rolling resistance (Continental, Giti, Falken) all had the weakest wet braking performance.

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result
1Continental EcoContact 6	100 %
2Giti GitiSynergyH2	88 %
3Falken e.Ziex	84 %
4Michelin Primacy 5	81 %
5Cooper Summer	75 %
6Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	70 %
6Vredestein Ultrac+	70 %
8Dunlop Blue Response TG	69 %

The difference between best and worst was 31%.

Real-world energy consumption was measured on the Hyundai Inster over a 6 miles urban circuit kept below 37 mph to isolate tire effects from aerodynamic drag. The Continental used 9.9 kWh/100km while the Dunlop used 11.1 kWh/100km - a difference of over 10%, translating to 24 miles of extra range for the Continental. The results correlated closely with the lab rolling resistance figures.

Energy Consumption
Position / Tire	Result
1Continental EcoContact 6	100 %
2Giti GitiSynergyH2	98 %
3Falken e.Ziex	97 %
4Michelin Primacy 5	95 %
5Cooper Summer	94 %
6Vredestein Ultrac+	91 %
7Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN	90 %
8Dunlop Blue Response TG	89 %

The difference between best and worst was 11%.

Results

The Dunlop Blue Response TG took a clear win with the only "outstanding" rating, dominating wet and dry grip but finishing last for efficiency. The Vredestein Ultrac+ and Michelin Primacy 5 followed in second and third. The Giti Synergy H2 finished last overall, its A/A/A EU label not reflected in the measured results.

Sport Auto Test Winner / Outstanding Testsieger / überragend

The Dunlop Blue Response TG wins this test outright with top scores across nearly every category. It delivers the shortest braking distances on both wet and dry surfaces, the highest lateral grip on wet roads, and the fastest lap times in wet and dry handling. Test drivers rated it as precise, responsive to steering inputs, and stable during lane changes, with a wide and predictable limit range. Under hard cornering at the limit, it tends toward understeer but can become slightly unsettled by lift-off oversteer. The trade-off is clear: it has the highest rolling resistance and energy consumption in the test, resulting in the shortest range on the electric test car. Interior noise levels are well controlled. This is a newly developed tire from Sumitomo/Falken following their full acquisition of the Dunlop brand, manufactured in Turkey. Retail-purchased tires matched the test samples in follow-up checks.

Dry100%

Wet98.1%

Comfort100%

Value79.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (10)

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	2^nd / 8	97.26%
Wet Handling	1^st / 8	100%
Wet Circle	1^st / 8	100%
Straight Aqua	1^st / 8	100%
Curved Aquaplaning	4^th / 8	89.54%
Noise	1^st / 8	100%
Rolling Resistance	8^th / 8	69.05%
Energy Consumption	8^th / 8	89.19%

EU Label: C/A/70
Origin: Turkey
Weight: 7.8 kgs
Tread: 7.1 mm
Price: 110.00

Sport Auto Very Good sehr gut

The Vredestein Ultrac+ is a recently revised tire that finishes second overall, driven mainly by strong wet performance. It posts the shortest wet braking distance of all tires tested and performs well in wet handling and aquaplaning resistance. On dry roads, however, test drivers found it less impressive - cornering behavior is safe but lacks precision, with sluggish initial turn-in response. Steering feel is described as vague on dry asphalt. A faint slip-angle noise is audible during cornering. Rolling resistance is on the higher side, placing it sixth out of eight. It was also subject to follow-up verification testing with retail-purchased tires, which confirmed the original results.

Dry97.6%

Wet97.1%

Comfort99%

Value80.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (10)

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	96.14%
Dry Handling	8^th / 8	99.07%
Wet Braking	1^st / 8	100%
Wet Handling	3^rd / 8	98.57%
Wet Circle	2^nd / 8	97.73%
Straight Aqua	3^rd / 8	99.13%
Curved Aquaplaning	5^th / 8	82.85%
Noise	4^th / 8	98.99%
Rolling Resistance	6^th / 8	69.88%
Energy Consumption	6^th / 8	90.83%

EU Label: C/A/69
Origin: Hungary
Weight: 7.6 kgs
Tread: 6.4 mm
Price: 110.00

Sport Auto Good gut

The Michelin Primacy 5 delivers balanced and safe handling on both wet and dry surfaces, with enough cornering reserve to remain controllable at the limit. Test drivers noted good aquaplaning protection. On dry roads, however, braking distances are longer than average, and the tire felt somewhat unstable during fast lane-change maneuvers. Ride comfort is a weak point due to low self-damping, making it feel firm over bumps. It sits in the middle of the field for rolling resistance and is the most expensive tire in the test at 135 euros. Overall, it offers predictable, secure behavior without standout performance in any single area.

Dry96.6%

Wet95.4%

Comfort99.6%

Value87.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (10)

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	94.07%
Dry Handling	6^th / 8	99.16%
Wet Braking	4^th / 8	91.49%
Wet Handling	4^th / 8	98.03%
Wet Circle	7^th / 8	96.09%
Straight Aqua	2^nd / 8	99.89%
Curved Aquaplaning	2^nd / 8	92.26%
Noise	3^rd / 8	99.57%
Rolling Resistance	4^th / 8	80.56%
Energy Consumption	4^th / 8	95.19%

EU Label: C/A/70
Origin: Germany
Weight: 7.8 kgs
Tread: 6.8 mm
Price: 135.00

Sport Auto Good gut

The Falken e.Ziex is specifically designed for electric vehicles, prioritizing low rolling resistance and quiet running. It is the quietest tire in the test at low speeds inside the cabin, and it delivers comfortable ride quality. On dry roads, it behaves in a safe, understeer-biased manner with good cornering reserves, though steering response is somewhat lazy. The main weakness shows on wet roads: braking distances are longer than average, and the tire exhibits unstable, lift-off-sensitive behavior in wet corners. Rolling resistance and efficiency are strong, making it the top recommendation for EV owners focused on range. It carries a B/A/B EU label, deliberately trading some rolling resistance performance for better wet grip compared to the most aggressive efficiency tires.

Dry99%

Wet92.3%

Comfort98.1%

Value90.6%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (10)

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	98.31%
Dry Handling	4^th / 8	99.72%
Wet Braking	5^th / 8	85.75%
Wet Handling	5^th / 8	96.95%
Wet Circle	3^rd / 8	97.6%
Straight Aqua	6^th / 8	95.88%
Curved Aquaplaning	6^th / 8	80.96%
Noise	6^th / 8	98.14%
Rolling Resistance	3^rd / 8	84.06%
Energy Consumption	3^rd / 8	97.06%

EU Label: B/A/71
Origin: Turkey
Weight: 7.2 kgs
Tread: 6.2 mm
Price: 110.00

Sport Auto Good gut

The Firestone Roadhawk 2 performs well on wet surfaces, with strong results in wet handling, aquaplaning resistance, and the best lateral aquaplaning score in the test. Dry road behavior offers good cornering stability. Steering response is somewhat delayed, and test drivers noted minor comfort shortcomings. Its biggest drawback is efficiency - rolling resistance is among the highest in the group, tied with Vredestein, leading to high energy consumption and reduced range. The exterior pass-by noise measurement is also the second loudest. It is the cheapest tire in the test after Cooper, priced at 106 euros.

Dry97.3%

Wet96.6%

Comfort96.1%

Value79.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (10)

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	6^th / 8	95.36%
Dry Handling	5^th / 8	99.26%
Wet Braking	3^rd / 8	92.21%
Wet Handling	2^nd / 8	98.75%
Wet Circle	4^th / 8	97.22%
Straight Aqua	5^th / 8	97.18%
Curved Aquaplaning	1^st / 8	100%
Noise	7^th / 8	96.08%
Rolling Resistance	6^th / 8	69.88%
Energy Consumption	7^th / 8	90%

EU Label: C/A/70
Origin: Italy
Weight: 7.7 kgs
Tread: 6.7 mm
Price: 106.00

Sport Auto Good gut

The Continental EcoContact 6 is the efficiency leader, recording the lowest rolling resistance by a significant margin and delivering the longest range on the electric test car. Interior noise is very quiet. On dry roads, it handles securely with stable cornering behavior and precise steering - test drivers gave it the highest score for steering response. The cost of this efficiency focus is severe: wet braking distances are the longest in the test, wet lateral grip is the weakest, and wet handling times are the slowest. The gap is substantial - it slides 21 feet further than the Dunlop when braking on wet surfaces. Its EU label reflects this trade-off with an A rating for rolling resistance but only B for wet grip, the only tire in the group not rated A for wet grip. Dry braking is also on the longer side.

Dry98%

Wet88%

Comfort99.7%

Value100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (10)

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	96.14%
Dry Handling	2^nd / 8	99.81%
Wet Braking	7^th / 8	82.75%
Wet Handling	8^th / 8	93.91%
Wet Circle	8^th / 8	95.83%
Straight Aqua	8^th / 8	88.72%
Curved Aquaplaning	8^th / 8	66.95%
Noise	2^nd / 8	99.71%
Rolling Resistance	1^st / 8	100%
Energy Consumption	1^st / 8	100%

EU Label: A/B/71
Origin: France
Weight: 7.4 kgs
Tread: 5.8 mm
Price: 129.00

Sport Auto Good gut

The Cooper Summer is a new product following Cooper's acquisition by Goodyear. On wet roads, it delivers secure, precise, and reliable handling with very good aquaplaning protection, and test drivers found it easy to control. The problem area is dry braking, where it records the longest stopping distance in the test at 123 feet - a borderline result. A slight rubbing sensation was noted at the handling limit, and a faint rolling noise is audible in corners. Rolling resistance is mid-pack, and it is among the cheaper options at 100 euros. Like Dunlop and Vredestein, retail-purchased samples were verified in follow-up tests and confirmed the original results.

Dry96.1%

Wet93.6%

Comfort95.6%

Value84.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (10)

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	93.07%
Dry Handling	6^th / 8	99.16%
Wet Braking	6^th / 8	85.54%
Wet Handling	5^th / 8	96.95%
Wet Circle	5^th / 8	96.97%
Straight Aqua	4^th / 8	98.37%
Curved Aquaplaning	3^rd / 8	91.84%
Noise	8^th / 8	95.55%
Rolling Resistance	5^th / 8	75.32%
Energy Consumption	5^th / 8	94.29%

EU Label: C/A/71
Origin: France
Weight: 7.7 kgs
Tread: 7.4 mm
Price: 100.00

Sport Auto Good gut

The Giti Synergy H2 carries an ambitious A/A/A EU label - the best possible ratings for rolling resistance, wet grip, and noise - but the test results do not support those claims. Wet braking is the worst in the field at 144 feet, and wet grip scores are consistently near the bottom. On dry roads, it is sluggish and imprecise but still safe and manageable, with reasonably comfortable ride quality. Rolling resistance lab results place it second behind Continental, which is decent but not the class-leading performance the A label implies. The article concludes that the gap between label and actual performance is more about optimistic self-labeling than poor engineering. Manufactured in China, it finishes last in the overall ranking.

Dry97.8%

Wet89%

Comfort98.9%

Value93%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (10)

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	95.88%
Dry Handling	2^nd / 8	99.81%
Wet Braking	8^th / 8	81.05%
Wet Handling	7^th / 8	94.98%
Wet Circle	6^th / 8	96.34%
Straight Aqua	7^th / 8	91.11%
Curved Aquaplaning	7^th / 8	74.48%
Noise	5^th / 8	98.85%
Rolling Resistance	2^nd / 8	87.88%
Energy Consumption	2^nd / 8	98.02%

EU Label: A/A/69
Origin: China
Weight: 7.5 kgs
Tread: 6.2 mm
Price: 110.00

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2026 Summer ECO Tire Test