2026 AutoView Mid-Range Comfort Tire Test

Overall test winnerKumho Solus TA51+

AutoView's latest tire test takes a deliberate aim at the middle of the Korean market.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson

June 6, 2026 6 min read

Tire shortlist Read the test Watch on YouTube

215/55R17 / 2026 View full image

Tires tested: 5
Tested size: 215/55R17
Test vehicle: Kia K5
Disciplines: 6

At a glance

Tire shortlist

5 Tires tested

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

1^st

Kumho Solus TA51+

+The Kumho Solus TA51+ is the most well-rounded tire in this test. It records the best subjective ride comfort score (8.10), the quietest cabin noise at 50 mph (59.3 dBA) and the highest cornering limit on the circle (44.2 mph). It is also the joint-best built tire, with weight variation within 80 g between samples, and posts the second-shortest dry (141 ft) and wet (106 ft) braking distances.

−The Kumho Solus TA51+ is third on subjective handling (7.3) — it never feels evasive but the steering is less precise than the Hankook or Nexen. Dry braking is good but not class-leading, trailing the Davanti by a few tenths of a meter.

Read owner reviews Test Results

2^nd

Nexen Primus AS T1

+The Nexen Primus AS T1 is the lightest tire in the test at 9.59 kg, which helps both fuel economy and unsprung mass. It scores well on subjective comfort (7.80, second) and cabin noise (59.9 dBA, second), and subjective dry handling is a strong 7.4 — the predictability is close to the class-leading Hankook.

−Wet braking is the standout weakness of the Nexen Primus AS T1: 123 ft from 50 mph, four meters longer than the next-worst tire and over five meters behind the Atlas Force HP. Dry braking is also joint-last at 142 ft. The tread pattern moves around a little in normal driving, which costs it some subjective comfort points.

Read owner reviews Test Results

3^rd

Atlas Force HP

+The Atlas Force HP records the shortest wet braking distance in the test at 105 ft from 50 mph, beating even the Kumho. It is also the joint-best on build consistency (within 80 g across samples) and has the deepest tread of the group at 7.44 mm, and cornering grip is strong at 44.1 mph on the circle.

−Cabin noise on the Atlas Force HP is poor at 61.3 dBA, second-worst in the test, and the subjective comfort score of 7.60 puts it fourth. Dry braking is joint-last with the Nexen at 142 ft, and subjective handling at 7.1 is fourth — not unsafe, just less informative through the wheel than the Korean trio.

Read owner reviews Test Results

4^th

Hankook Kinergy ST AS

+The Hankook Kinergy ST AS posts the best subjective handling score in the test (7.5). AutoView describes the steering as the most consistent and predictable at the limit. It is third on subjective comfort (7.70) and third on both dry (142 ft) and wet (108 ft) braking, so the safety fundamentals are all in the upper half.

−The Hankook Kinergy ST AS is the heaviest tire on test at 10.56 kg, which works against rolling resistance and unsprung mass. Cabin noise is the loudest of the five at 61.5 dBA, and the ride is choppy at lower speeds even though it settles down nicely above 62 mph.

2 owner reviews Test Results

5^th

Davanti DX640

+The Davanti DX640 records the shortest dry braking distance in the test at 139 ft from 62 mph. AutoView also rate it best on rolling resistance, alongside the Kumho, which translates to better real-world fuel economy.

−The Davanti DX640 is last on subjective comfort (6.95), last on subjective handling (6.80), last on cornering limit (43.3 mph) and second-worst on wet braking (112 ft). AutoView note that the rear axle breaks away abruptly at the cornering limit, with little warning. The tire passes sharp impacts through to the cabin rather than absorbing them.

101 owner reviews Test Results

Tire shortlist

Compare selected tires

2026 AutoView Mid-Range Comfort Tire Test · 215/55R17

Tire	Kumho Solus TA51+	Nexen Primus AS T1	Atlas Force HP	Hankook Kinergy ST AS	Davanti DX640
Position	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th
Category scores (% of best)
Dry	99.3%	98.3%	98.5%	98.6%	98.3%
Wet	99.3%	85.5%	100%	96.9%	93.7%
Comfort	100%	97.7%	95.3%	95.7%	91.5%
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

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The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

AutoView's latest tire test takes a deliberate aim at the middle of the Korean market. With prices for premium summer and all-season tires climbing, plenty of drivers are looking for something that costs less than a Michelin or Continental but isn't a no-name budget product. AutoView selected five mid-range comfort tires, fitted them to a Kia K5 in 215/55R17, and ran them through the publication's standard battery of dry braking, wet braking, cornering, noise, comfort and handling tests.

The line-up reflects what is actually on Korean shelves at that price: three Korean home-market tires (Hankook Kinergy ST AS, Nexen Primus AS T1 and the Kumho Solus TA51+), the British Davanti DX640, and the American Atlas Force HP. The Kumho Solus TA51+ wins the test outright on AutoView's combined scoring, with the best subjective ride comfort, the quietest cabin and the highest cornering limit of the five.

Test setup & methodology

The test setting, the conditions recorded and how the results contribute to the score.

Recorded test conditions

Dry Braking: 62.1 → 0.0 mph
Wet Braking: 49.7 → 0.0 mph

The two value imports take very different paths: the Atlas Force HP wins wet braking by a clear margin and has the deepest tread, while the Davanti DX640 has the shortest dry braking distance and the best rolling resistance but trails the rest on comfort, handling and cornering grip. The Korean trio splits along intuitive lines - Kumho for comfort, Nexen for low weight and balance, Hankook for steering feel.

Dry Braking

Stops are measured from 62 mph to a standstill on dry tarmac. The Davanti DX640 is the surprise winner here at 139 ft, with the Kumho a few centimeters behind and the Hankook third. The Nexen Primus AS T1 and Atlas Force HP are joint last at 142 ft - still respectable for the segment, with less than a meter covering all five tires.

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Davanti DX640	139 ft	Best	0 mph
2Kumho Solus TA51+	141 ft	+2 ft	8 mph
3Hankook Kinergy ST AS	142 ft	+3 ft	10 mph
4Atlas Force HP	142 ft	+3 ft	12 mph
4Nexen Primus AS T1	142 ft	+3 ft	12 mph

All the tires in the Dry Braking test finished less than 3% apart. From 80 mph, the Nexen Primus AS T1 would still be travelling at 12 mph when the Davanti DX640 had stopped.

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

Wet Braking

Measured from 50 mph on a wet surface, this is where the test really separates the field. The Atlas Force HP stops shortest at 105 ft, half a meter clear of the Kumho, with the Hankook and Davanti within reach. The Nexen Primus AS T1 is well off the pace at 123 ft - over five meters further than the Atlas - and is the one obvious weakness in an otherwise tidy tire.

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Atlas Force HP	105 ft	Best	0 mph
2Kumho Solus TA51+	106 ft	+1 ft	7 mph
3Hankook Kinergy ST AS	108 ft	+3 ft	14 mph
4Davanti DX640	112 ft	+7 ft	20 mph
5Nexen Primus AS T1	123 ft	+18 ft	30 mph

The difference between best and worst was 16.9% (18 ft ≈ 1.2 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Nexen Primus AS T1 would still be travelling at 30 mph when the Atlas Force HP had stopped.

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

Cornering Limit

A note on methodology: AutoView measure cornering grip as the maximum sustainable speed around a fixed-radius circle, rather than a lap time on a full handling track. It is a clean comparison of pure lateral grip but it doesn't capture transient behavior the way a proper handling course would. The Kumho leads at 44.2 mph, narrowly ahead of the Atlas at 71.05, with the Davanti last at 69.76 - only 0.9 mph covers the entire field.

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Kumho Solus TA51+	44.2 mph	Best
2Atlas Force HP	44.1 mph	-0.1 mph
3Nexen Primus AS T1	43.6 mph	-0.6 mph
4Hankook Kinergy ST AS	43.5 mph	-0.7 mph
5Davanti DX640	43.3 mph	-0.9 mph

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

Cabin Noise

Interior noise measured at 50 mph. Only the Kumho dips into the high-58 / low-59 dBA band that buyers expect from a true comfort tire; the Nexen is close behind. The Atlas and Hankook are both above 61 dBA, which is audibly noisier inside the K5 than the top two.

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Kumho Solus TA51+	59.3 dB	Best
2Nexen Primus AS T1	59.9 dB	+0.60 dB
3Davanti DX640	61 dB	+1.70 dB
4Atlas Force HP	61.3 dB	+2.00 dB
5Hankook Kinergy ST AS	61.5 dB	+2.20 dB

The difference between best and worst was 3.7% (2.2 dB).

Subjective Ride Comfort

AutoView's testers score each tire on impact absorption and overall ride quality. The Kumho's flexible sidewall takes the sting out of the K5's firm suspension and leads the field at 8.10. The Davanti, by contrast, transmits sharp impacts almost unfiltered and scores worst at 6.95.

Subj. Comfort
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Kumho Solus TA51+	8.1 Points	Best
2Nexen Primus AS T1	7.8 Points	-0.30 Points
3Hankook Kinergy ST AS	7.7 Points	-0.40 Points
4Atlas Force HP	7.6 Points	-0.50 Points
5Davanti DX640	6.95 Points	-1.15 Points

The difference between best and worst was 14.2% (1.15 Points).

Subjective Handling

Limit handling is scored on steering linearity, predictability and balance. The Hankook Kinergy ST AS feels the most natural through the wheel and tops the category at 7.5. The Davanti is marked down for an abrupt rear-axle break-away at the limit - the tire with the lowest cornering grip and the least warning before it lets go.

Subj. Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Hankook Kinergy ST AS	7.5 Points	Best
2Nexen Primus AS T1	7.4 Points	-0.10 Points
3Kumho Solus TA51+	7.3 Points	-0.20 Points
4Atlas Force HP	7.1 Points	-0.40 Points
5Davanti DX640	6.8 Points	-0.70 Points

The difference between best and worst was 9.3% (0.7 Points).

Results

Combining objective measurements and subjective scores, AutoView make the Kumho Solus TA51+ a clear winner of this mid-range comfort tire test, with the Nexen Primus AS T1 second on the strength of its low weight and balance - provided buyers can live with the longer wet braking distance.

2026 AutoView Mid-Range Comfort Tire TestWatch the full video of this test on YouTube Watch on YouTube

AutoView overall score: 99.5 points. The Kumho Solus TA51+ wins this comfort tire comparison by combining the best comfort and noise scores with strong braking and the highest cornering limit. AutoView call it the best choice for cars with firm suspension such as the K5 or Sonata, where the tire's compliant sidewall can take the edge off the ride.

Dry99.3%

Wet99.3%

Comfort100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 5	141 ft	+2 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	1^st / 5	44.2 mph	Best in this discipline
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	3^rd / 5	7.3 Points	-0.20 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 5	106 ft	+1 ft
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	1^st / 5	8.1 Points	Best in this discipline
NoiseLower is better	1^st / 5	59.3 dB	Best in this discipline

Weight: 10.12 kgs

AutoView overall score: 89.5 points. The Nexen Primus AS T1 takes a clear second place on the strength of its low weight, good comfort and tidy handling. The poor wet braking distance is the one thing buyers should be aware of — on a wet motorway it gives away meaningful stopping distance to its rivals.

Dry98.3%

Wet85.5%

Comfort97.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	4^th / 5	142 ft	+3 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	3^rd / 5	43.6 mph	-0.6 mph
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	2^nd / 5	7.4 Points	-0.10 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	5^th / 5	123 ft	+18 ft
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	2^nd / 5	7.8 Points	-0.30 Points
NoiseLower is better	2^nd / 5	59.9 dB	+0.60 dB

Weight: 9.59 kgs
Tread: 7.41 mm

AutoView overall score: 85.0 points. The Atlas Force HP is the wet-weather specialist of the group and offers good cornering grip and a deep new tread, but it gives back ground on comfort, cabin noise and dry braking. A reasonable budget choice for drivers who do a lot of rainy-day miles.

Dry98.5%

Wet100%

Comfort95.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	4^th / 5	142 ft	+3 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	2^nd / 5	44.1 mph	-0.1 mph
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	4^th / 5	7.1 Points	-0.40 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	1^st / 5	105 ft	Best in this discipline
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	4^th / 5	7.6 Points	-0.50 Points
NoiseLower is better	4^th / 5	61.3 dB	+2.00 dB

Weight: 10.26 kgs
Tread: 7.44 mm

AutoView overall score: 84.5 points. The Hankook Kinergy ST AS is the driver's pick of this comfort tire group — the best steering feel, solid braking — but it loses ground on the things comfort buyers actually care about: it is the noisiest and the heaviest, and the ride is fidgety in town.

Dry98.6%

Wet96.9%

Comfort95.7%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 5	142 ft	+3 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	4^th / 5	43.5 mph	-0.7 mph
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	1^st / 5	7.5 Points	Best in this discipline
Wet BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 5	108 ft	+3 ft
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	3^rd / 5	7.7 Points	-0.40 Points
NoiseLower is better	5^th / 5	61.5 dB	+2.20 dB

Weight: 10.56 kgs

AutoView overall score: 78.5 points. The Davanti DX640 wins on dry braking and efficiency but trails the field on comfort, handling balance and cornering grip — the areas that matter most for a comfort tire. The abrupt limit-handling behavior is the most concerning finding and is worth a careful test drive before buying.

Dry98.3%

Wet93.7%

Comfort91.5%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (6)

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	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	1^st / 5	139 ft	Best in this discipline
Dry HandlingHigher is better	5^th / 5	43.3 mph	-0.9 mph
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	5^th / 5	6.8 Points	-0.70 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	4^th / 5	112 ft	+7 ft
Subj. ComfortHigher is better	5^th / 5	6.95 Points	-1.15 Points
NoiseLower is better	3^rd / 5	61 dB	+1.70 dB