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2019 AMS Summer SUV Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
6 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the 2019 AMS Summer SUV Tyre Test, displaying how each tyre performed across all test categories. The spider chart below provides a complete overview of performance, where one hundred percent represents the best performance in each category. The larger the area covered by each tyre's plot, the better its overall performance.
How to read these charts: For each test category, data is presented relative to the best performing tire. The direction indicates whether lower or higher values are better - pay close attention to this when interpreting results.

Performance Overview

This radar chart shows relative performance across all test categories, with 100% representing the best performance in each category. Reference tires may have gaps where data is not available.

Pirelli CINTURATO P7
Continental Premium Contact 5
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Nexen N Blue HD Plus
Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
Giti GitiPremium H1
Bridgestone Turanza T005
Michelin Primacy 4
Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
Nokian WetProof

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Spread: 3.20 M (8.9%) | Avg: 37.55 M

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Primacy 4 with a result of 36.1 M. The difference between best and worst was 8.1%.
  1. Michelin Primacy 4
    36.1 M
  2. Nokian WetProof
    36.2 M
  3. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    36.4 M
  4. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    36.4 M
  5. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
    37.3 M
  6. Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
    37.5 M
  7. Pirelli CINTURATO P7
    38 M
  8. Nexen N Blue HD Plus
    38 M
  9. Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
    38.6 M
  10. Continental Premium Contact 5
    39.2 M
  11. Giti GitiPremium H1
    39.3 M

Dry Handling (Km/H)

Spread: 2.10 Km/H (2%) | Avg: 103.74 Km/H

Dry Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)

Key Insight: All the tyres in the dry handling test finished less than 3% apart.
  1. Nokian WetProof
    104.5 Km/H
  2. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    104.3 Km/H
  3. Giti GitiPremium H1
    104.3 Km/H
  4. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    104 Km/H
  5. Michelin Primacy 4
    104 Km/H
  6. Pirelli CINTURATO P7
    103.9 Km/H
  7. Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
    103.9 Km/H
  8. Nexen N Blue HD Plus
    103.5 Km/H
  9. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
    103.2 Km/H
  10. Continental Premium Contact 5
    103.1 Km/H
  11. Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
    102.4 Km/H

Subj. Dry Handling ( Points)

Spread: 3.00 Points (33.3%) | Avg: 7.82 Points

Subjective Dry Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli CINTURATO P7 with a result of 9 Points. The difference between best and worst was 33.3%.
  1. Pirelli CINTURATO P7
    9 Points
  2. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    9 Points
  3. Michelin Primacy 4
    9 Points
  4. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
    8 Points
  5. Giti GitiPremium H1
    8 Points
  6. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    8 Points
  7. Nokian WetProof
    8 Points
  8. Continental Premium Contact 5
    7 Points
  9. Nexen N Blue HD Plus
    7 Points
  10. Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
    7 Points
  11. Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
    6 Points

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Spread: 4.30 M (12.1%) | Avg: 37.11 M

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nokian WetProof with a result of 35.4 M. The difference between best and worst was 10.8%.
  1. Nokian WetProof
    35.4 M
  2. Pirelli CINTURATO P7
    35.5 M
  3. Continental Premium Contact 5
    35.9 M
  4. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
    36.1 M
  5. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    36.1 M
  6. Michelin Primacy 4
    36.6 M
  7. Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
    37.3 M
  8. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    38.1 M
  9. Nexen N Blue HD Plus
    38.3 M
  10. Giti GitiPremium H1
    39.2 M
  11. Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
    39.7 M

Wet Handling (Km/H)

Spread: 5.30 Km/H (6%) | Avg: 85.60 Km/H

Wet Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Turanza T005 with a result of 88.1 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 6%.
  1. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    88.1 Km/H
  2. Nokian WetProof
    87.1 Km/H
  3. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
    87 Km/H
  4. Pirelli CINTURATO P7
    86.2 Km/H
  5. Continental Premium Contact 5
    86.2 Km/H
  6. Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
    85.7 Km/H
  7. Giti GitiPremium H1
    85.3 Km/H
  8. Michelin Primacy 4
    85.1 Km/H
  9. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    84.1 Km/H
  10. Nexen N Blue HD Plus
    84 Km/H
  11. Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
    82.8 Km/H

Subj. Wet Handling ( Points)

Spread: 5.00 Points (50%) | Avg: 7.55 Points

Subjective Wet Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance with a result of 10 Points. The difference between best and worst was 50%.
  1. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
    10 Points
  2. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    9 Points
  3. Nokian WetProof
    9 Points
  4. Pirelli CINTURATO P7
    8 Points
  5. Continental Premium Contact 5
    8 Points
  6. Michelin Primacy 4
    8 Points
  7. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    7 Points
  8. Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
    7 Points
  9. Nexen N Blue HD Plus
    6 Points
  10. Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
    6 Points
  11. Giti GitiPremium H1
    5 Points

Straight Aqua (Km/H)

Spread: 5.40 Km/H (6.7%) | Avg: 77.39 Km/H

Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Continental Premium Contact 5 with a result of 80.5 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 6.7%.
  1. Continental Premium Contact 5
    80.5 Km/H
  2. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
    79.7 Km/H
  3. Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
    79.1 Km/H
  4. Giti GitiPremium H1
    78.2 Km/H
  5. Nokian WetProof
    78.1 Km/H
  6. Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
    77 Km/H
  7. Michelin Primacy 4
    76.9 Km/H
  8. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    76.1 Km/H
  9. Pirelli CINTURATO P7
    75.4 Km/H
  10. Nexen N Blue HD Plus
    75.2 Km/H
  11. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    75.1 Km/H

Comfort Performance Overview

Subj. Comfort ( Points)

Spread: 4.00 Points (40%) | Avg: 8.09 Points

Subjective Comfort Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli CINTURATO P7 with a result of 10 Points. The difference between best and worst was 40%.
  1. Pirelli CINTURATO P7
    10 Points
  2. Continental Premium Contact 5
    9 Points
  3. Giti GitiPremium H1
    9 Points
  4. Michelin Primacy 4
    9 Points
  5. Nexen N Blue HD Plus
    8 Points
  6. Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
    8 Points
  7. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    8 Points
  8. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    8 Points
  9. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
    7 Points
  10. Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
    7 Points
  11. Nokian WetProof
    6 Points

Noise (dB)

Spread: 3.00 dB (4.2%) | Avg: 73.10 dB

External noise in dB (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nokian WetProof with a result of 71.5 dB. The difference between best and worst was 4%.
  1. Nokian WetProof
    71.5 dB
  2. Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
    71.6 dB
  3. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    72.4 dB
  4. Giti GitiPremium H1
    72.7 dB
  5. Michelin Primacy 4
    72.8 dB
  6. Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
    72.8 dB
  7. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
    73 dB
  8. Nexen N Blue HD Plus
    74.2 dB
  9. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    74.2 dB
  10. Continental Premium Contact 5
    74.4 dB
  11. Pirelli CINTURATO P7
    74.5 dB

Value Performance Overview

Rolling Resistance (kg / t)

Spread: 1.70 kg / t (22.4%) | Avg: 8.37 kg / t

Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Primacy 4 with a result of 7.6 kg / t. The difference between best and worst was 18.3%.
  1. Michelin Primacy 4
    7.6 kg / t
  2. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    7.7 kg / t
  3. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
    7.8 kg / t
  4. Pirelli CINTURATO P7
    8.1 kg / t
  5. Giti GitiPremium H1
    8.4 kg / t
  6. Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
    8.5 kg / t
  7. Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    8.5 kg / t
  8. Nexen N Blue HD Plus
    8.6 kg / t
  9. Continental Premium Contact 5
    8.8 kg / t
  10. Nokian WetProof
    8.8 kg / t
  11. Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
    9.3 kg / t

Overall Findings

Based on the weighted scoring from all tests, here are the overall results:

Position Tyre Score
Nokian WetProof 0%
2 Bridgestone Turanza T005 0%
3 Michelin Primacy 4 0%
4 Pirelli CINTURATO P7 0%
5 Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 0%
6 Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 0%
7 Continental Premium Contact 5 0%
8 Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun 0%
9 Giti GitiPremium H1 0%
10 Nexen N Blue HD Plus 0%
11 Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV 0%

Discussion

14 comments
  1. StuBeeDoo archived

    I have a BMW X3 with Pirelli P7s on and they just don't seem to be wearing out! I wouldn't mind if I liked them, but in the wet they don't inspire confidence. They have done over 35000 miles and still have over 3.5mm on. The date code is 4014, so they have likely been on the car for over 4 years. I'm thinking of changing them due to age, although I wouldn't normally change tyres until they get below 3mm. I'd like to see an SUV group test that includes the Avon ZX7.

    #5016
    1. TyreReviews StuBeeDoo archived

      AT 4 years old they're coming to the end of their usable life, so it's best to get them changed :)

      #5019
      1. StuBeeDoo TyreReviews archived

        Thanks for replying. There's lot of conflicting information on the 'net, which is why I posted here - I'd rather trust your judgement. A very useful resource, a credit to the internet.

        #5020
  2. Roman archived

    Can you please test Toyo Tranpath MPZ?

    #4729
  3. Lux archived

    How sub. comfort has been calculated?
    Nokian are the best for noise but the worst in sub. comfort...

    #4639
    1. TyreReviews Lux archived

      Every magazine has slightly different criteria so I'm not entirely sure how AMS came to their scoring.

      #4644
  4. dufonrafal . archived

    The Primacy 4 dfoesn't score that well in the wet. But that's with new tyres.

    Since Michelin is advertising that the Primacy 4 will keep his wet handling capabilities better that the competitors, a used tyre test would have been nice.

    #4527
    1. TyreReviews dufonrafal . archived

      There are other tests where it does score well in wet handling, it's all very close at the top at the moment!

      #4529
  5. Dan archived

    Could you possibly do a video/an article about various parameters of the tyre? How it can influence the end-result? (as I take the response here would be just too long - well I would hope for a long one ;))

    - how load / speed index influences the construction of the tyre, and if having way higher than needed might improve/lower comfort/handling etc
    - how tyre presure can influence the behavior on dry/wet/breaking and how balance of the car can be impacted/improved by having rear/front differ in pressure

    Also is there any way of actually know the thread width of individual tyres? I've only seen one web page having this listed - www.tirerack.com, but those are US market tyres, so will differ to what we have in europe...
    Theory here being that some say, 235 width tyres will have contact patch (thread width) wider than other manufacturer, but even than different height one (ie 235/45 might be different to 235/35) - which in the end will not reflect various bits of the tests.. (like breaking distances, aquaplaning resistance etc.)

    #4525
  6. MG archived

    Still waiting for some 225-40-R18 or similar tests for a FWD car. Need new rubber in less than 6 months. I kinda look more to Continental because they're usually strong in wet grip/traction without sacrificing dry performance. But I'm still not sure for the Premium Contact 6 (some test "complain" about wet grip) . I have bad experience with Michelin after 3 years, where wet grip/traction get a major hit (currently running 4 year old PS3, and wheel spin in wet and understeer, is ridiculous in a Ceed GT 1.6 Turbo). On my previous car originally with Michelin Energy (205-55R16)and wet grip... well, butter would provide more grip. Swapped for Continental PremiumContact 5 at the time, and the difference was night and day.
    So the contenders for the requirements, Continental PremiumContact 6, Michelin PS4, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 or Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport if available in 18... it's a tough one.

    #4522
    1. TyreReviews MG archived

      The wet grip of the PC6 is up there with PS4 and Asym 5. They're all amazing tyres.

      #4523
      1. MG TyreReviews archived

        For example the Auto Bild 2019 Summer tire test puts the PremiumContact 6 in 5 place overall. It gets a 7 place for wet braking and 10 place for wet handling. Even the Falkens FK510 and the Hankook S1 evo3 get better results.
        The previous Continental (premiumcontact 5 or sportcontact5) tires were always at the top in the wet compared to the rivals at the time.
        The only tire that gets consistent results between tests is the Michelin PS4. So it might be a safer bet.
        Sorry for all the doubts, but replacing 4 tires is expensive, and i want to make sure it's a proper fit for the car so i can enjoy it the best.
        Thanks for the help. Can't wait for the next video.

        #4530