P24 of 30
Beat 21% of the field
Sunny NC501 Test Results
Tested 2025 to 2026
3 publications
Tested 3 times by independent publications, the Sunny NC501 averages a finish of 12th.
- 3Independent tests
- 0Test wins
- 0Podium finishes
- 12thAverage finish
- 7%Field beaten on average
- 3Publications
3 tests, 2025 to 2026
- Test win
- Second
- Third
- Average 7%
Record by discipline
Where the Sunny NC501 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.
| Discipline | Tests | Avg finish | Field beaten | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ||||
| Dry Braking | 3 | P7.3 of 14.3 | 64% | - |
| Dry Handling | 2 | P4.5 of 6.5 | 37% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 3 | P12.7 of 14.3 | 6% | - |
| Wet Handling | 2 | P6.5 of 6.5 | 0% | - |
| Straight Aqua | 1 | P7 of 7 | 0% | - |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking | 2 | P4 of 6.5 | 45% | - |
| Snow Traction | 1 | P3 of 7 | 67% | - |
| Snow Handling | 2 | P6 of 6.5 | 8% | - |
| Comfort | ||||
| Noise | 1 | P4 of 7 | 50% | - |
| Value | ||||
| Rolling Resistance | 1 | P4 of 7 | 50% | - |
Head-to-head record
Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Sunny NC501. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nokian Seasonproof 2
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
Compare with Seasonproof 2 |
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
Performance Analysis
Drawn from 3 tests. Updated October 29, 2026.
Weak wet braking is the clearest pattern for the Sunny NC501. Auto Bild placed it 24th of 30 overall in 2026, with wet braking 25th at 56.5 m, 34.2% longer than the best. Motor's 2025 comparison ranked it last of seven overall and in all wet disciplines: braking was 22.1% behind the best, wet lap time 5.9% longer and straight-line aquaplaning last. Wybór Kierowców also placed it last of six in 2025, with the longest wet stops and slowest wet handling. Those two 2025 reports have very similar measured results, so they should not be treated as wholly separate confirmation.
Dry braking was a relative strength in 2025, third of seven at Motor and joint second of six at Wybór Kierowców, both 41.5 m. Auto Bild's 17th-of-30 result in 2026 was unusually less competitive, though its 9% deficit was far smaller than in the wet. Motor placed snow traction third, but snow handling was sixth in both 2025 reports. Motor raised emergency wet-braking safety concerns, whereas Wybór Kierowców said required safety margins were maintained, an unusual difference in severity despite similar measurements. Neither verdict makes wet performance competitive. Noise and rolling resistance were mid-field at Motor, while Wybór Kierowców criticised high resistance.
Performance Strengths
-
Dry braking
Minor
Details
- 2025 Motor: third of seven at 41.5 m, 6.7% longer than the best.
- 2025 Wybór Kierowców: joint second of six at the same 41.5 m; closely matching results rather than clearly independent confirmation.
- 2026 Auto Bild unusually less competitive at 17th of 30, 39.8 m, 9% longer than the best.
-
Snow traction
Minor
in 1 of 2 tests
Details
- 2025 Motor: third of seven, 5.6 s, 7.7% behind the best.
performs adequately on dry surfaces and in winter conditions
- 2025 Motor All Season Tire Test (2025)
Performance Weaknesses
-
Wet braking
Strong
in 2 of 2 tests
Details
- 2026 Auto Bild: 25th of 30, 56.5 m, 34.2% longer than the shortest stop.
- 2025 Motor: last of seven, 35.4 m, 22.1% longer than the shortest stop; emergency braking safety concerns.
- 2025 Wybór Kierowców: last of six at the same 35.4 m; unusually less severe safety verdict, saying required margins were maintained.
loses the most points on wet surfaces, where it performs poorly with the longest braking distances and weakest handling characteristics
- 2025 Mid Range All Season Tire Test (2025)does not provide the required level of safety during emergency wet braking situations
- 2025 Motor All Season Tire Test (2025)
-
Wet handling
Minor
in 1 of 2 tests
Details
- 2025 Motor: last of seven, lap time 5.9% longer than the fastest.
- 2025 Wybór Kierowców: last of six, lap time 6.4% longer than the fastest; closely matching 2025 results.
loses the most points on wet surfaces, where it performs poorly with the longest braking distances and weakest handling characteristics
- 2025 Mid Range All Season Tire Test (2025)
-
Aquaplaning resistance
Minor
Details
- 2025 Motor: straight-line aquaplaning last of seven at 74.1 km/h, 19.6% behind the best.
-
Snow handling
Minor
Details
- 2025 Motor: sixth of seven, lap time 5.4% longer than the fastest.
- 2025 Wybór Kierowców: last of six, also 5.4% behind.
-
Rolling resistance
Minor
in 1 of 2 tests
Details
- 2025 Wybór Kierowców: high rolling resistance criticised.
- 2025 Motor: fourth of seven, 7.899 kg/t, 21.9% above the best, so not a consistent bottom-place result.
suffers from high rolling resistance
- 2025 Mid Range All Season Tire Test (2025)
-
Wet grip
Strong
in 1 of 2 tests
Details
fails significantly on wet asphalt, losing all wet-surface tests
- 2025 Motor All Season Tire Test (2025)
Every test, newest first 3
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
2026 1 test
2025 2 tests
P7 of 7
Beat 0% of the field
2025 Motor All Season Tire Test
The Sunny NC501 finishes last in the overall rankings with an average point score. This Chinese-manufactured budget tire proves to be an improperly balanced product. While it performs adequately on dry surfaces and in winter conditions, it fails significantly on wet asphalt, losing all wet-surface tests. Most critically, the NC501 does not provide the required level of safety during emergency wet braking situations, with results described as being on the borderline of acceptability. Drivers should be particularly cautious about this tire's limitations in rainy conditions, where its shortcomings could pose genuine safety concerns.
P6 of 6
Beat 0% of the field
2025 Mid Range All Season Tire Test
The Sunny NC501 finishes last in the test with an average point score, though it maintains required safety margins throughout. The Chinese budget tire loses the most points on wet surfaces, where it performs poorly with the longest braking distances and weakest handling characteristics. On dry roads and in winter conditions, the NC501 performs at an average level without any particular strengths or weaknesses. The tire also suffers from high rolling resistance, impacting fuel efficiency negatively. While it offers decent dry road parameters, the significant performance gap on wet asphalt is concerning. The price is not particularly attractive compared to better-performing alternatives, making it difficult to recommend despite meeting basic safety requirements.
Back to the Sunny NC501 overview
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