Test Publication:
Auto Bild
235/65 R16
10 tyres
5 categories
Test Size:
235/65 R16
Tyres Tested:
10 tyres
Auto Bild is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, Tyre Reviews. This is independent editorial coverage of their published test.
As motorhome, van and commercial vehicle tyre testing is new to the Tyre Reviews website, we thought we'd start with the best of the best, and cover the 2020 Auto Bild 235/65 R16 C test, which used a VW Crafter van to test eight cargo rated all season tyres, and included a summer and winter tyre as reference!
As this is an all season tyre test, Auto Bild not only tested the dry and wet performance of all eight tyres, but also the snow ability of each pattern. Read on below for the full results of what is, another fascinating test by Auto Bild.
Dry
During the dry testing, the Pirelli proved to be the best all season tyre on test, but was still behind the summer tyre in both braking and handling. Of the all season tyres, Falken struggled the most, however it still had an advantage over the dedicated winter pattern.
- Reference Summer
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Hifly All Transit
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
- Reference Winter
- Reference Summer
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Hifly All Transit
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
- Reference Winter
Wet
The Pirelli also proved to have the best wet braking performance, again behind the summer tyre. Kleber, Falken and Vredestein were all a significant amount behind the best, while the winter tyre stopped the VW a huge 11 meters behind the best all season, and nearly thirteen meters behind the summer tyre!
- Reference Summer
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Hifly All Transit
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- Reference Winter
The wet handling test had the first outright win for an all season tyre, with the Continental VanContact 4S beating the summer tyre!
- Reference Summer
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
- Reference Winter
- Hifly All Transit
Straight aquaplaning testing again had just a single all season tyre besting the summer tyre, this time the Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2.
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Reference Summer
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Reference Winter
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
- Hifly All Transit
Snow
Due to the unsafe performance of the summer tyre, Auto Bild chose not to run it during snow testing.
Snow braking was narrowly won by the winter tyre, with the Goodyear and Kleber all season tyres just 0.3 meters behind.
- Reference Winter
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Hifly All Transit
Goodyear and Kleber also proved to be the best during snow traction, this time beating the winter tyre!
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Reference Winter
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Hifly All Transit
The winter tyre took back its advantage during snow handling testing, beating Continental and Vredestein.
- Reference Winter
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Hifly All Transit
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
Environment
The Pirelli Carrier AllSeason was the quietest all season tyre on test, and the only tyre quieter than the summer tyre.
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Reference Summer
- Hifly All Transit
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Reference Winter
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
There was a spread of 11.2kgs per set, or a difference of 2.8kg between the lightest and heaviest tyre on test.
- Hifly All Transit
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
The lightest tyre was also the cheapest tyre.
- Hifly All Transit
- Maxxis VanSmart AS AL2
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Falken EuroAll Season Van11
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Continental VanContact 4Season
Continental had a significant fuel saving advantage over the rest of the group.
Results
It's worth mentioning, for a climate like the majority of the UK which sees very little snow, the Pirelli Carrier All Season might actually be the best choice of all season tyres as it offers excellent dry and wet performances while being more usable than a summer tyre in the snow.
Excellent all season tyre with impressive grip in the wet and on snow. Good steering precision, very low rolling resistance.
Average comfort, high price.
Test winner.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
5th |
48.4 M |
42.2 M |
+6.2 M |
87.19% |
| Dry Handling |
4th |
59.3 Km/H |
59.9 Km/H |
-0.6 Km/H |
99% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
4th |
54.8 M |
49.5 M |
+5.3 M |
90.33% |
| Wet Handling |
1st |
68.6 Km/H |
|
|
100% |
| Straight Aqua |
7th |
90.9 Km/H |
94.5 Km/H |
-3.6 Km/H |
96.19% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Snow Braking |
4th |
25.3 M |
24.3 M |
+1 M |
96.05% |
| Snow Traction |
4th |
4320 N |
4460 N |
-140 N |
96.86% |
| Snow Handling |
2nd |
45.1 Km/H |
45.3 Km/H |
-0.2 Km/H |
99.56% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Noise |
7th |
72.5 dB |
70.5 dB |
+2 dB |
97.24% |
| Tyre Weight |
3rd |
60.8 Kg |
56 Kg |
+4.8 Kg |
92.11% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Price |
8th |
630 |
385 |
+245 |
61.11% |
| Rolling Resistance |
1st |
6.36 kg / t |
|
|
100% |
All round talent with safe driving qualities in all weather conditions, good grip and short braking in the wet, good comfort.
Average dry braking.
Good.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
6th |
49.7 M |
42.2 M |
+7.5 M |
84.91% |
| Dry Handling |
4th |
59.3 Km/H |
59.9 Km/H |
-0.6 Km/H |
99% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
3rd |
54.3 M |
49.5 M |
+4.8 M |
91.16% |
| Wet Handling |
4th |
68.1 Km/H |
68.6 Km/H |
-0.5 Km/H |
99.27% |
| Straight Aqua |
4th |
92.8 Km/H |
94.5 Km/H |
-1.7 Km/H |
98.2% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Snow Braking |
2nd |
24.6 M |
24.3 M |
+0.3 M |
98.78% |
| Snow Traction |
1st |
4460 N |
|
|
100% |
| Snow Handling |
5th |
44.8 Km/H |
45.3 Km/H |
-0.5 Km/H |
98.9% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Noise |
6th |
72.4 dB |
70.5 dB |
+1.9 dB |
97.38% |
| Tyre Weight |
6th |
65.2 Kg |
56 Kg |
+9.2 Kg |
85.89% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Price |
7th |
600 |
385 |
+215 |
64.17% |
| Rolling Resistance |
8th |
7.22 kg / t |
6.36 kg / t |
+0.86 kg / t |
88.09% |
Good traction and braking in the snow, stable dry handling, low noise.
Slightly long dry and wet braking, slow steering in the snow.
Satisfactory.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
7th |
49.9 M |
42.2 M |
+7.7 M |
84.57% |
| Dry Handling |
2nd |
59.6 Km/H |
59.9 Km/H |
-0.3 Km/H |
99.5% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
7th |
57.8 M |
49.5 M |
+8.3 M |
85.64% |
| Wet Handling |
6th |
67.2 Km/H |
68.6 Km/H |
-1.4 Km/H |
97.96% |
| Straight Aqua |
6th |
91 Km/H |
94.5 Km/H |
-3.5 Km/H |
96.3% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Snow Braking |
2nd |
24.6 M |
24.3 M |
+0.3 M |
98.78% |
| Snow Traction |
2nd |
4410 N |
4460 N |
-50 N |
98.88% |
| Snow Handling |
8th |
44.2 Km/H |
45.3 Km/H |
-1.1 Km/H |
97.57% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Noise |
4th |
71.6 dB |
70.5 dB |
+1.1 dB |
98.46% |
| Tyre Weight |
2nd |
59.2 Kg |
56 Kg |
+3.2 Kg |
94.59% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Price |
6th |
595 |
385 |
+210 |
64.71% |
| Rolling Resistance |
2nd |
6.8 kg / t |
6.36 kg / t |
+0.44 kg / t |
93.53% |
Well priced all season tyre with a balanced performance. Good winter performance.
Slow steering in the dry, average wet braking, average comfort.
Satisfactory.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
4th |
48.3 M |
42.2 M |
+6.1 M |
87.37% |
| Dry Handling |
7th |
58.8 Km/H |
59.9 Km/H |
-1.1 Km/H |
98.16% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
5th |
55.4 M |
49.5 M |
+5.9 M |
89.35% |
| Wet Handling |
6th |
67.2 Km/H |
68.6 Km/H |
-1.4 Km/H |
97.96% |
| Straight Aqua |
1st |
94.5 Km/H |
|
|
100% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Snow Braking |
6th |
26.3 M |
24.3 M |
+2 M |
92.4% |
| Snow Traction |
7th |
4030 N |
4460 N |
-430 N |
90.36% |
| Snow Handling |
7th |
44.3 Km/H |
45.3 Km/H |
-1 Km/H |
97.79% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Noise |
7th |
72.5 dB |
70.5 dB |
+2 dB |
97.24% |
| Tyre Weight |
4th |
61.6 Kg |
56 Kg |
+5.6 Kg |
90.91% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Price |
2nd |
440 |
385 |
+55 |
87.5% |
| Rolling Resistance |
9th |
7.23 kg / t |
6.36 kg / t |
+0.87 kg / t |
87.97% |
Good grip in the dry and wet, good aquaplaning safety.
Average snow performance, moderate traction and cornering on ice and snow.
Satisfactory.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
2nd |
44.8 M |
42.2 M |
+2.6 M |
94.2% |
| Dry Handling |
2nd |
59.6 Km/H |
59.9 Km/H |
-0.3 Km/H |
99.5% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
2nd |
51.8 M |
49.5 M |
+2.3 M |
95.56% |
| Wet Handling |
5th |
68 Km/H |
68.6 Km/H |
-0.6 Km/H |
99.13% |
| Straight Aqua |
3rd |
93.2 Km/H |
94.5 Km/H |
-1.3 Km/H |
98.62% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Snow Braking |
8th |
29.9 M |
24.3 M |
+5.6 M |
81.27% |
| Snow Traction |
8th |
3860 N |
4460 N |
-600 N |
86.55% |
| Snow Handling |
9th |
43.9 Km/H |
45.3 Km/H |
-1.4 Km/H |
96.91% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Noise |
1st |
70.5 dB |
|
|
100% |
| Tyre Weight |
7th |
66 Kg |
56 Kg |
+10 Kg |
84.85% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Price |
3rd |
510 |
385 |
+125 |
75.49% |
| Rolling Resistance |
4th |
6.84 kg / t |
6.36 kg / t |
+0.48 kg / t |
92.98% |
Good winter qualities with balanced safe behavior, good aquaplaning reserves.
Long wet and dry braking, average dry handling.
Satisfactory.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
8th |
50.1 M |
42.2 M |
+7.9 M |
84.23% |
| Dry Handling |
6th |
58.9 Km/H |
59.9 Km/H |
-1 Km/H |
98.33% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
9th |
58 M |
49.5 M |
+8.5 M |
85.34% |
| Wet Handling |
3rd |
68.2 Km/H |
68.6 Km/H |
-0.4 Km/H |
99.42% |
| Straight Aqua |
5th |
92.6 Km/H |
94.5 Km/H |
-1.9 Km/H |
97.99% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Snow Braking |
5th |
25.7 M |
24.3 M |
+1.4 M |
94.55% |
| Snow Traction |
6th |
4115 N |
4460 N |
-345 N |
92.26% |
| Snow Handling |
3rd |
45 Km/H |
45.3 Km/H |
-0.3 Km/H |
99.34% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Noise |
9th |
74.7 dB |
70.5 dB |
+4.2 dB |
94.38% |
| Tyre Weight |
4th |
61.6 Kg |
56 Kg |
+5.6 Kg |
90.91% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Price |
5th |
585 |
385 |
+200 |
65.81% |
| Rolling Resistance |
10th |
7.4 kg / t |
6.36 kg / t |
+1.04 kg / t |
85.95% |
Good snow handling, low noise.
Understeer and long braking distances in the wet, slow steering in the dry.
Satisfactory.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
3rd |
45.3 M |
42.2 M |
+3.1 M |
93.16% |
| Dry Handling |
8th |
58.7 Km/H |
59.9 Km/H |
-1.2 Km/H |
98% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
6th |
55.8 M |
49.5 M |
+6.3 M |
88.71% |
| Wet Handling |
10th |
65.3 Km/H |
68.6 Km/H |
-3.3 Km/H |
95.19% |
| Straight Aqua |
10th |
89.9 Km/H |
94.5 Km/H |
-4.6 Km/H |
95.13% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Snow Braking |
9th |
30.2 M |
24.3 M |
+5.9 M |
80.46% |
| Snow Traction |
9th |
3840 N |
4460 N |
-620 N |
86.1% |
| Snow Handling |
6th |
44.5 Km/H |
45.3 Km/H |
-0.8 Km/H |
98.23% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Noise |
2nd |
71 dB |
70.5 dB |
+0.5 dB |
99.3% |
| Tyre Weight |
1st |
56 Kg |
|
|
100% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Price |
1st |
385 |
|
|
100% |
| Rolling Resistance |
5th |
6.9 kg / t |
6.36 kg / t |
+0.54 kg / t |
92.17% |
Good performance in the snow, good aquaplaning reserves.
Limited grip and understeer in the dry and wet.
Satisfactory.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
9th |
50.7 M |
42.2 M |
+8.5 M |
83.23% |
| Dry Handling |
9th |
58.1 Km/H |
59.9 Km/H |
-1.8 Km/H |
96.99% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
7th |
57.8 M |
49.5 M |
+8.3 M |
85.64% |
| Wet Handling |
8th |
66.7 Km/H |
68.6 Km/H |
-1.9 Km/H |
97.23% |
| Straight Aqua |
8th |
90 Km/H |
94.5 Km/H |
-4.5 Km/H |
95.24% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Snow Braking |
7th |
26.5 M |
24.3 M |
+2.2 M |
91.7% |
| Snow Traction |
5th |
4130 N |
4460 N |
-330 N |
92.6% |
| Snow Handling |
4th |
44.9 Km/H |
45.3 Km/H |
-0.4 Km/H |
99.12% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Noise |
5th |
72.3 dB |
70.5 dB |
+1.8 dB |
97.51% |
| Tyre Weight |
8th |
67.2 Kg |
56 Kg |
+11.2 Kg |
83.33% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Price |
3rd |
510 |
385 |
+125 |
75.49% |
| Rolling Resistance |
7th |
7.21 kg / t |
6.36 kg / t |
+0.85 kg / t |
88.21% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
1st |
42.2 M |
|
|
100% |
| Dry Handling |
1st |
59.9 Km/H |
|
|
100% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
1st |
49.5 M |
|
|
100% |
| Wet Handling |
1st |
68.6 Km/H |
|
|
100% |
| Straight Aqua |
2nd |
93.7 Km/H |
94.5 Km/H |
-0.8 Km/H |
99.15% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Noise |
2nd |
71 dB |
70.5 dB |
+0.5 dB |
99.3% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
6th |
6.98 kg / t |
6.36 kg / t |
+0.62 kg / t |
91.12% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
10th |
52.5 M |
42.2 M |
+10.3 M |
80.38% |
| Dry Handling |
10th |
57.9 Km/H |
59.9 Km/H |
-2 Km/H |
96.66% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
10th |
62.2 M |
49.5 M |
+12.7 M |
79.58% |
| Wet Handling |
9th |
66.5 Km/H |
68.6 Km/H |
-2.1 Km/H |
96.94% |
| Straight Aqua |
8th |
90 Km/H |
94.5 Km/H |
-4.5 Km/H |
95.24% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Snow Braking |
1st |
24.3 M |
|
|
100% |
| Snow Traction |
3rd |
4350 N |
4460 N |
-110 N |
97.53% |
| Snow Handling |
1st |
45.3 Km/H |
|
|
100% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Noise |
9th |
74.7 dB |
70.5 dB |
+4.2 dB |
94.38% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
2nd |
6.8 kg / t |
6.36 kg / t |
+0.44 kg / t |
93.53% |
I would be interested in the conditions of the test. What temperature were they carried out in as that is more important they work better at temps below 7c where they should exceed summer tyres. Only reason for me to buy all season is to meet the legal requirement for many EU countries and be safer than regular camper tyres.
That's quite a shame that they didn't include the Michelin Agilis CrossClimate which seems to work wonderfully.
Agreed, it's performed well in other van tests
Is it possible to post summaries of these too? (One merit of TR, which this would serve, is acting as a one-stop-shop for magazine test summaries.)
I'll see what I can dig out from 2020 :)
I share your enthusiasm for AutoBild's work. They also do "classic" tyre tests. Would it be possible to feature these as well?
Sorry I missed this, I'll try and look them out!