Menu

2018 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
7 min read Updated
Contents
  1. Introduction
  2. Results
  3. Michelin Primacy 3
  4. Bridgestone Turanza T001 Evo
  5. Continental Premium Contact 5
  6. Firestone RoadHawk
  7. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
  8. Semperit SpeedLife 2
  9. ESA Tecar Spirit 5 HP
  10. Kumho Ecsta HS51
  11. Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
  12. Fulda EcoControl HP
  13. Giti GitiPremium H1
  14. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
  15. Nexen N Blue HD+
  16. Cooper Zeon CS8
  17. Infinity Ecosis
  18. Vredestein Sportrac 5

Test Summary
Wet Braking Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
Dry Braking Bridgestone Turanza T001 Evo
Wear Michelin Primacy 3
Rolling Resistance Continental Premium Contact 5
Vredestein Sportrac 5
Noise Nexen N Blue HD Plus
Snow Braking Michelin Primacy 3
In 2018, German test body ADAC have tested sixteen 205/55 R16 summer tyres, and fourteen tyres in the smaller 175/65 R14 size.

In this 205/55 R16 test, premium manufacturers take the top three places. Michelin lead the way, having the lowest wear on test and proving to be excellent in the dry, Bridgestone have a surprisingly strong performance in the wet to score second place overall, and Continental have a very balanced showing for the last of the podium spots.

The next group of tyres are all mid range brands, with Bridgestone owned Firestone taking fourth place with a very balanced performance, Hankook continuing the run of strong finishes for the Prime 3 in fifth place, and the Continental owned Semperit brand finishing in sixth largely thanks to a great wet performance.

Other note worthy results are Pirelli and Goodyear only managing to finish ninth and twelfth overall, with both premium manufacturers struggling in the wet, and the new Giti brand beating some very established brands on their first attempt.

More results below, or check out the ADAC website for the full details. 

Results

The overall results are weighted 20% dry, 40% wet, 10% noise and comfort, 10% fuel consumption and 20% wear

1st

Michelin Primacy 3

205/55 R16
Michelin Primacy 3
Total: 47.4
Dry 8.6
Wet 7
Comfort 5.8
Rolling Resistance 8.2
Wear 10
Overall 7.8
Bridgestone Turanza T001 Evo
Total: 43.6
Dry 8.2
Wet 8
Comfort 5.2
Rolling Resistance 7.8
Wear 7
Overall 7.4
Continental Premium Contact 5
Total: 43.6
Dry 7.6
Wet 7.6
Comfort 5.4
Rolling Resistance 8.6
Wear 7
Overall 7.4
4th

Firestone RoadHawk

205/55 R16
Firestone RoadHawk
Total: 43.2
Dry 8.6
Wet 7.6
Comfort 4.6
Rolling Resistance 8
Wear 7
Overall 7.4
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
Total: 43
Dry 8.8
Wet 7
Comfort 5.2
Rolling Resistance 7.8
Wear 7
Overall 7.2
6th

Semperit SpeedLife 2

205/55 R16
Semperit SpeedLife 2
Total: 42
Dry 7.2
Wet 7.8
Comfort 5.2
Rolling Resistance 7.6
Wear 7
Overall 7.2
7th

ESA Tecar Spirit 5 HP

205/55 R16
ESA Tecar Spirit 5 HP
Total: 41
Dry 7.8
Wet 6.8
Comfort 4.6
Rolling Resistance 8
Wear 7
Overall 6.8
8th

Kumho Ecsta HS51

205/55 R16
Kumho Ecsta HS51
Total: 40.8
Dry 6.8
Wet 7
Comfort 5.6
Rolling Resistance 7.6
Wear 7
Overall 6.8
9th

Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue

205/55 R16
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
Total: 43.8
Dry 8.6
Wet 6.8
Comfort 4.2
Rolling Resistance 8.4
Wear 9
Overall 6.8
10th

Fulda EcoControl HP

205/55 R16
Fulda EcoControl HP
Total: 41
Dry 6.8
Wet 6.2
Comfort 5.2
Rolling Resistance 7.6
Wear 9
Overall 6.2
11th

Giti GitiPremium H1

205/55 R16
Giti GitiPremium H1
Total: 37.6
Dry 6.6
Wet 6
Comfort 5.4
Rolling Resistance 7.6
Wear 6
Overall 6
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Total: 40.4
Dry 8
Wet 6.4
Comfort 5.6
Rolling Resistance 8.4
Wear 6
Overall 6
13th

Nexen N Blue HD+

205/55 R16
Nexen N Blue HD Plus
Total: 39.4
Dry 7.6
Wet 6.6
Comfort 6
Rolling Resistance 7.2
Wear 6
Overall 6
14th

Cooper Zeon CS8

205/55 R16
Cooper Zeon CS8
Total: 36.8
Dry 5.6
Wet 5.6
Comfort 5.6
Rolling Resistance 7.4
Wear 7
Overall 5.6
15th

Infinity Ecosis

205/55 R16
Infinity Ecosis
Total: 35
Dry 5.8
Wet 5.6
Comfort 5.6
Rolling Resistance 8
Wear 6
Overall 4
16th

Vredestein Sportrac 5

205/55 R16
Vredestein Sportrac 5
Total: 42.6
Dry 8.6
Wet 6.6
Comfort 5.8
Rolling Resistance 8.6
Wear 9
Overall 4

Discussion

13 comments
  1. Andreas archived

    Hello.You are testing Summer tyres and the results are weighted: 20% dry 40%wet???What's wrong with this picture?We are talking about Summer tyres here!!! Anyone understand what i'm saying?
    The results must be equal between dry and wet.You must correct this wrong.Not all countries are north.What about Portugal-Spain-Greece-Italy-France etc...@@@

    #5148
  2. Iza Mitrova archived

    Hi,
    Which are the 'softest' of above?
    Those which are good on wet?
    Thanks

    #4244
    1. TyreReviews Iza Mitrova archived

      If you look the top right of the article your questions are answered :)

      #4246
      1. Iza Mitrova TyreReviews archived

        But there is no information about that. Only for wet/dry roads...
        My question was for tyre 'softness'.

        #4341
        1. TyreReviews Iza Mitrova archived

          Softness as in comfort, top right, softness as in wear, top right. Also each tyre is scored individually

          #4342
  3. Gonçalo archived

    Hi,
    why Vredestein Sportrac 5 wich has good overall scores and a total of 42.6 appears in last? U know some reason for that?
    Tnks

    #3661
    1. TyreReviews Gonçalo archived

      Because the tyre failed the ADAC high speed test so they moved it to the bottom.

      #3662
  4. Paul archived

    It is funny that only in UK Bridgestone tyres are getting so bad reviews. Possibly because in UK summer tires are used in winter :)

    #3323
    1. TyreReviews Paul archived

      Until recently certain Bridgestone patterns performed poorly in the wet, perhaps it's because we get more wet than some countries? :)

      The latest T001 Evo, T005 and the sister brand the Firestone Roadhawk are all now excellent in the wet.

      #3330
      1. Paul TyreReviews archived

        Looking at T005 reviews here I wouldn't call it excellent in wet :D

        #3334
    2. Fahrer Paul archived

      You are absolutely right!
      These people do not understand the meaning of words: "SUMMER TIRES"
      Here's an example from someone. Tell me, is he normal? : - /

      https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

      #3690
  5. David archived

    Why they test old primacy 3 and not the new primacy 4??

    #3266
    1. TyreReviews David archived

      It will have been due to size availability at the time of test

      #3267