Published a later than usual due to covid travel restrictions, the Polish magazine "Motor" have tested ten 225/55 R17 summer tyres in the usual array of wet and dry testing.
The 17 inch size tested can be found on a wide range of vehicles, such as the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, and Mercedes E-Class, smaller vehicles like the BMW 3-Series and Mini Countryman, crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and Skoda Karoq, and even minivans / people carriers like the Chrysler Voyager, Fiat Scudo and Opel Vivaro.
Motor Magazine used a BMW 5 Series for the testing.
Dry
As with most tests including the Continental PremiumContact 6, the German tyre did exceptionally well in the dry, having the shortest dry braking, fastest dry handling lap and the best subjective dry handling feeling. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 kept the Continental honest in the braking and the timed lap, and the Nokian PowerProof, Bridgestone Turanza T005 and Laufenn S Fit EQ+ performed well.
Unfortunately while the Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue was rated as one of the best tyres in the dry subjectively, it had a lack of grip in braking and handling.
Dry Braking
Spread: 4.60 M (13.3%)|Avg: 35.95 M
Dry braking in meters (100 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
Dry Braking: Safety Impact: Best vs Worst Tyre
Dry Handling
Spread: 1.50 s (2.7%)|Avg: 56.99 s
Dry handling time in seconds (Lower is better)
Continental Premium Contact 6
56.10 s
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
56.20 s
Bridgestone Turanza T005
56.80 s
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
56.90 s
Nokian PowerProof
57.00 s
Maxxis Premitra HP5
57.20 s
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
57.20 s
Imperial Ecosport 2
57.30 s
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
57.60 s
Debica Presto UHP2
57.60 s
Subj. Dry Handling
Spread: 0.75 Points (10.7%)|Avg: 6.55 Points
Subjective Dry Handling Score (Higher is better)
Continental Premium Contact 6
7.00 Points
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
6.70 Points
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
6.70 Points
Bridgestone Turanza T005
6.55 Points
Maxxis Premitra HP5
6.50 Points
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
6.50 Points
Nokian PowerProof
6.50 Points
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
6.40 Points
Imperial Ecosport 2
6.40 Points
Debica Presto UHP2
6.25 Points
Wet
The wet grip tests had a very similar order to dry, with the Continental tyre leading the Goodyear in both braking and handling tests, the Nokian and Bridgestone also performing well, and the Pirelli having a surprisingly disappointing result for a premium tyre.
Wet Braking
Spread: 9.40 M (19.5%)|Avg: 52.35 M
Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)
Wet Braking: Safety Impact: Best vs Worst Tyre
Wet Handling
Spread: 7.60 s (8.7%)|Avg: 90.96 s
Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)
Continental Premium Contact 6
87.20 s
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
88.50 s
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
89.70 s
Bridgestone Turanza T005
90.00 s
Maxxis Premitra HP5
90.40 s
Debica Presto UHP2
90.40 s
Nokian PowerProof
90.40 s
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
93.60 s
Imperial Ecosport 2
94.60 s
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
94.80 s
The deep water straight aquaplaning test had a surprise win for the Imperial EcoSport 2 budget tyre, where as the Goodyear proved best in curved aquaplaning.
On balance, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 had the best balance between the shallow and deep water testing.
Straight Aqua
Spread: 5.81 Km/H (5.9%)|Avg: 94.55 Km/H
Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)
Imperial Ecosport 2
98.10 Km/H
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
95.19 Km/H
Nokian PowerProof
94.94 Km/H
Bridgestone Turanza T005
94.80 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
94.80 Km/H
Maxxis Premitra HP5
94.40 Km/H
Debica Presto UHP2
94.11 Km/H
Continental Premium Contact 6
94.01 Km/H
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
92.82 Km/H
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
92.29 Km/H
Curved Aquaplaning
Spread: 0.79 m/sec2 (23%)|Avg: 3.11 m/sec2
Remaining lateral acceleration (Higher is better)
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
3.43 m/sec2
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
3.39 m/sec2
Nokian PowerProof
3.27 m/sec2
Imperial Ecosport 2
3.27 m/sec2
Bridgestone Turanza T005
3.22 m/sec2
Debica Presto UHP2
3.17 m/sec2
Maxxis Premitra HP5
3.09 m/sec2
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
2.82 m/sec2
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
2.78 m/sec2
Continental Premium Contact 6
2.64 m/sec2
Environment
As we've found in the Tyre Reviews tests, the Nokian Powerproof and Continental PremiumContact 6 sit at opposite ends of the external noise tests.
Noise
Spread: 2.30 dB (3.3%)|Avg: 71.27 dB
External noise in dB (Lower is better)
Nokian PowerProof
70.60 dB
Debica Presto UHP2
70.70 dB
Maxxis Premitra HP5
70.80 dB
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
70.90 dB
Imperial Ecosport 2
70.90 dB
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
71.10 dB
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
71.30 dB
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
71.50 dB
Bridgestone Turanza T005
72.00 dB
Continental Premium Contact 6
72.90 dB
The rolling resistance test perhaps highlights why Pirelli struggled in the grip tests, as the P7 Blue has a significantly lower rolling resistance than even the Bridgestone Turanza T005, which usually has the lowest rolling resistance on test.
Rolling Resistance
Spread: 2.25 kg / t (34.1%)|Avg: 7.94 kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
6.60 kg / t
Bridgestone Turanza T005
7.12 kg / t
Debica Presto UHP2
7.76 kg / t
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
7.76 kg / t
Continental Premium Contact 6
7.96 kg / t
Maxxis Premitra HP5
8.12 kg / t
Nokian PowerProof
8.18 kg / t
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
8.20 kg / t
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
8.85 kg / t
Imperial Ecosport 2
8.85 kg / t
19,000 km
£1.45/L
8.0 L/100km
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Annual Difference
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Lifetime Savings
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Extra Fuel/Energy
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Extra CO2
Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tyre age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.
Unsurprisingly the budget tyre is the cheapest tyre on test, with the Pirelli tyre offsetting it's low fuel use with a very high purchase price!
Good handling in all conditions (light understeer appears in high-speed corners on wet surfaces, but overall the tires provide a fairly high level of grip), good level of comfort, high resistance to aquaplaning.
Interesting question, The Dunlop would probably be the quietest thanks to the foam but I would guess the Primacy 4 would give the best overall levels of NVH
Hi Jonathan, do you have any idea, if Dunlop plan something new in 17"? Something like SP Sport Maxx 2 or SportMaxx RT 3. And they have also no all season tyre. In Dunlop is something frozen probably :-D
If you don't already know, Goodyear own Dunlop, but at the moment they are going through a phase of pushing Goodyear which is why a lot of the Dunlop tyres are the same as previous generation Goodyear tyres (RT2 = Asym 3)
Thank you, I didn't notice new all season from Dunlop. Looks like siped summer, such a Vredestein way. I prefer directional pattern in winter. I know about ownership, but I like Dunlop more. So they should release something new due to the name Dunlop. I'm little bit confused with RT2. In some test is too much "eco" and in another is sporty. A had RT on Auris, and they were good tyres. Not best, but definitely not what some tests are saying.
I was wondering because I do 50.000km / year so I change annually. In 205/55/16 the last 5 years I have sampled efficient grip performance 1, primacy 3, T005, rainstorm 5 and premium contact 6. So I am running out of options for October. As of now I am thinking of e-primacy but haven't been tested yet. Also pirelli is a letdown and the venture prime 3 is pretty old as is the Dunlop blu response.
From the 5 tyres I would only refit PC6 and T005. I am intrigued by the AE51 Yokohama the EFP2 well it is good no doubt but it seems the least sporty premium choice.
If you do 50.000 km/year than you will not find longer lasting tyre than GY EGP2 and it really also is very fuel efficient. Second best lasting should be Michelin Primacy 4, according to tests. All in 205/55/16. My experience with GY EGP1 195/65 R15 is that they de facto pay themselves/pay off via fuel saved and long lasting endurance. P.S. E.g. UK petrol prices are now at an eight-year high.
I read somewhere about the upcoming Conti SportContact 7. How real is that. If they are able to blend the good sportiness of the SC6 with the wear properties of the latest Contis, it should be a killer, don’t you think?
Which of these 5 tyres in 235/55R17 do you recon would be the most comfortable and quiet on an S-Class?
Premium Contact 6
Premium Contact 6 MO-V (Mercedes spec tyre but for the V-Class which is a Van)
Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
Sport Maxx RT2 with NST (sound deadening foam)
Primacy 4
Interesting question, The Dunlop would probably be the quietest thanks to the foam but I would guess the Primacy 4 would give the best overall levels of NVH
Hi Jonathan, do you have any idea, if Dunlop plan something new in 17"? Something like SP Sport Maxx 2 or SportMaxx RT 3. And they have also no all season tyre. In Dunlop is something frozen probably :-D
Dunlop do have a new all season tyre! https://www.tyrereviews.com... they're just not pushing it.
If you don't already know, Goodyear own Dunlop, but at the moment they are going through a phase of pushing Goodyear which is why a lot of the Dunlop tyres are the same as previous generation Goodyear tyres (RT2 = Asym 3)
Thank you, I didn't notice new all season from Dunlop. Looks like siped summer, such a Vredestein way. I prefer directional pattern in winter.
I know about ownership, but I like Dunlop more. So they should release something new due to the name Dunlop.
I'm little bit confused with RT2. In some test is too much "eco" and in another is sporty. A had RT on Auris, and they were good tyres. Not best, but definitely not what some tests are saying.
Which summer tires would you recommend for a 2015 VW Polo 1.4TSI BlueGT? Tire size is 215/40/R17.
The new Continental EcoContact 6 looks good on paper, but can't find any test of it?
So the Pirellis oh boy have they plummeted. I am wondering are there any new tyres planned to be unveiled later this year?
As far as I'm aware there's nothing big and new this year other than the CrossClimate 2.
Strange result for the Pirelli but I'm sure their next range of tyres will be much improved, as the updated P Zero PZ4 is
I was wondering because I do 50.000km / year so I change annually. In 205/55/16 the last 5 years I have sampled efficient grip performance 1, primacy 3, T005, rainstorm 5 and premium contact 6. So I am running out of options for October. As of now I am thinking of e-primacy but haven't been tested yet. Also pirelli is a letdown and the venture prime 3 is pretty old as is the Dunlop blu response.
EGP2 is worth a go if you've only used V1?
From the 5 tyres I would only refit PC6 and T005. I am intrigued by the AE51 Yokohama the EFP2 well it is good no doubt but it seems the least sporty premium choice.
If you do 50.000 km/year than you will not find longer lasting tyre than GY EGP2 and it really also is very fuel efficient. Second best lasting should be Michelin Primacy 4, according to tests. All in 205/55/16.
My experience with GY EGP1 195/65 R15 is that they de facto pay themselves/pay off via fuel saved and long lasting endurance.
P.S. E.g. UK petrol prices are now at an eight-year high.
I read somewhere about the upcoming Conti SportContact 7. How real is that. If they are able to blend the good sportiness of the SC6 with the wear properties of the latest Contis, it should be a killer, don’t you think?