225/45R17

Auto Bild 2019: All-Season Tire Test

31 tire models were involved in a large tire test conducted by Germany’s Auto Bild publication. The test experts decided to keep it simple and tested the tires in size 225/45 R17. Yes, the exact same size, in which they already compared winter and summer tires in 2019. Don’t be surprised! After all, this is one of the best-selling sizes for compact and medium-sized cars.

All of the tires for the 225/45 R17 all-season tire test were bought anonymously in various retail points. Their list included premium-class models, subsidiary brands of the world’s largest tire makers, as well as «no-name» Chinese tires.

List of all-season tire models tested:

In the first elimination round, due to the fact that the number of models tested was not as large as in winter tire tests, all of the models were tested for wet and dry braking from 100 km/h.

While the difference between the shortest braking distance (suddenly, Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3 — 39.5 meters) and the longest braking distance (GT Radial 4Seasons — 46.5 meters) constituted only 7 meters, on wet pavement this gap increased to 15 meters, where the shortest braking distance was demonstrated by Bridgestone Weather Control A005 (46.3 m), and the longest braking distance was shown by the retreaded King Meiler All Season Tact AS1 (62.2 meters).

Tires with poor braking performance on wet and dry pavement
Place Model Speed / Load index Wet surface Dry surface Total
26 Nankang Cross Seasons AW-6 94 W 55.1 45.2 100.3
27 Linglong Green-Max All Season 94 V 59.4 42.9 102.3
28 Fulda MultiControl 94 V 57.0 45.7 102.7
29 Star Performer SPTS AS 94 V 57.3 46.1 103.4
30 GT Radial 4Seasons 94 V 60.3 46.5 106.8
31 King Meiler All Season Tact AS1 94 V 62.2 46.4 108.6

Adding up the braking distances on both wet and dry pavement, the Auto Bild expert team shortlisted the ten all-season tire models that reached the main part of the competition. What is interesting, says our technical expert, is the fact that the ranks of the tires whose total sum of braking distances exceeded 100 meters were joined by Fulda MultiControl, which, incidentally, not so long ago, in 2016, scored a fourth place in a similar test. What a slump!

Models that forfeited their chance to take part in the final competition
Place Model Speed / Load index Wet surface Dry surface Total
11 Falken EuroAll Season AS210 94 V 50.9 44.2 95.1
12 General Tire Altimax A/S 365 94 V 50.6 44.8 95.4
13 Nokian Weatherproof 94 V 51.3 44.5 95.8
14 Toyo Celsius 94 V 50.2 45.6 95.8
15 Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21 94 V 52.1 44.1 96.2
16 Pirelli Cinturato All Season Plus 94 W 51.9 44.5 96.4
17 Uniroyal AllSeasonExpert 2 94 V 49.2 47.3 96.5
18 Tristar All Season Power 94 Y 54.1 42.9 97.0
19 Kleber Quadraxer 2 94 V 52.6 44.5 97.1
20 Tyfoon 4-season 94 V 51.3 45.9 97.2
21 Matador MP 62 All Weather Evo 94 V 51.6 46.1 97.7
22 BFGoodrich g-Grip All Season 2 94 V 54.1 44.6 98.7
23 Rotalla Setula 4 Season RA03 94 Y 55.5 43.3 98.8
24 Goodride SW602 All Season 94 H 54.0 44.9 98.9
25 Viking FourTech 94 V 53.5 46.0 99.5

Only ten tires with the shortest total braking distances reached the final.

Ten finalists of the Auto Bild all-season tire test 2019
Place Model Speed / Load index Wet surface Dry surface Total
1 Bridgestone Weather Control A005 94 V 46.3 39.7 86.0
2 Michelin CrossClimate+ 94 W 48.6 39.9 88.5
3 Vredestein Quatrac Pro 94 V 46.5 42.9 89.4
4 Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3 94 W 51.0 39.5 90.5
5 Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-2 94 V 47.5 44.4 91.9
6 Continental AllSeasonContact 94 V 49.9 42.6 92.5
7 Nexen N’Blue 4Season 94 V 50.4 42.3 92.7
8 Hankook Kinergy 4S² 94 W 50.8 42.0 92.8
9 Kumho Solus 4S HA31 94 V 49.5 43.8 93.3
10 Cooper Discoverer All Season 94 W 52.6 41.2 93.8

Final: Test Results

In the final round, the ten best models were subjected to extra tests on wet and dry pavement, as well as on snow. These measurements tipped the balance in the top ten.

Snow Pavement

Traction

Goodyear
2723
Vredestein
2718
Winter
2711
Hankook
2686
Michelin
2674
Nexen
2461
Kumho
2441
Continental
2427
Maxxis
2392
Bridgestone
2328
Cooper
2324
Summer
626

Info! Average traction.

Braking

Winter
23.3
Goodyear
23.6
Continental
24.2
Hankook
24.8
Vredestein
24.9
Michelin
25.4
Cooper
25.6
Kumho
25.6
Nexen
25.7
Maxxis
26.3
Bridgestone
27.1
Summer
69.3

Info! Braking distance from 50 km/h.


Handling

Goodyear
56.9
Michelin
56.7
Winter
56.7
Hankook
56.6
Nexen
56.1
Continental
56.0
Vredestein
55.9
Maxxis
55.7
Kumho
55.1
Cooper
55.0
Bridgestone
54.8
Summer
0

Info! Average speed.

Slalom

Nexen
3.82
Winter
3.80
Continental
3.78
Maxxis
3.69
Hankook
3.66
Michelin
3.65
Cooper
3.53
Vredestein
3.51
Goodyear
3.46
Kumho
3.32
Bridgestone
3.27
Summer
1.81

Info! Sideward acceleration.

Wet Pavement

Lateral stability

Summer
11.95
Vredestein
12.03
Goodyear
12.14
Continental
12.19
Bridgestone
12.25
Hankook
12.34
Winter
12.35
Michelin
12.46
Kumho
12.48
Nexen
12.57
Maxxis
12.61
Cooper
12.76

Info! Lap time.

Handling

Vredestein
72.6
Summer
71.6
Continental
71.2
Michelin
71.0
Goodyear
70.9
Bridgestone
70.8
Hankook
70.6
Winter
70.5
Nexen
70.0
Kumho
69.3
Maxxis
68.7
Cooper
66.2

Info! Average speed.


Straight hydroplaning

Summer
76.8
Maxxis
74.3
Cooper
73.7
Goodyear
72.9
Hankook
72.2
Winter
72.1
Bridgestone
71.5
Nexen
71.0
Kumho
70.5
Vredestein
70.4
Michelin
70.0
Continental
68.9

Info! Average speed.

Lateral hydroplaning

Summer
3.03
Cooper
2.48
Winter
2.46
Goodyear
2.21
Continental
2.17
Maxxis
2.15
Vredestein
2.14
Hankook
2.10
Kumho
2.02
Nexen
2.02
Bridgestone
1.88
Michelin
1.71

Info! Average sideward acceleration.


Braking

Summer
42.4
Bridgestone
46.3
Vredestein
46.5
Goodyear
47.5
Michelin
48.6
Kumho
49.5
Continental
49.9
Nexen
50.4
Winter
50.4
Hankook
50.8
Maxxis
51.0
Cooper
52.6

Info! Braking distance from 100 km/h.


Dry Pavement

Braking

Summer
37.9
Maxxis
39.5
Bridgestone
39.7
Michelin
39.9
Cooper
41.2
Hankook
42.0
Nexen
42.3
Continental
42.6
Vredestein
42.9
Kumho
43.8
Goodyear
44.4
Winter
44.4

Info! Braking distance from 100 km/h.

Handling

Summer
86.3
Michelin
85.7
Vredestein
85.1
Hankook
84.6
Bridgestone
84.4
Continental
84.4
Maxxis
84.2
Winter
84.0
Nexen
83.4
Goodyear
83.3
Kumho
83.1
Cooper
82.5

Info! Average speed.


Noise

Nexen
71.3
Maxxis
71.8
Kumho
71.9
Goodyear
72.0
Vredestein
72.1
Cooper
72.4
Continental
72.7
Hankook
72.8
Summer
72.8
Bridgestone
73.1
Michelin
73.7
Winter
73.9

Info! The noise level at a speed 80 km/h, db(A).

Environment

Bridgestone
8.45
Continental
8.64
Goodyear
9.35
Michelin
9.38
Hankook
9.47
Vredestein
9.86
Maxxis
9.88
Cooper
9.92
Winter
10.05
Kumho
10.06
Nexen
11.02
Summer
11.17

Info! Rolling Resistance, kg/t.


Mileage

Michelin
70800
Continental
67700
Goodyear
64100
Nexen
59900
Kumho
59600
Vredestein
52000
Hankook
50500
Cooper
50100
Maxxis
48100
Bridgestone
39000

Info! Expected mileage.

Price / mileage

Nexen
5.34
Kumho
5.96
Continental
6.35
Michelin
6.36
Goodyear
6.40
Cooper
6.69
Hankook
6.93
Vredestein
7.21
Maxxis
7.38
Bridgestone
10.26

Info! Euro per 1000 km.


Auto Bild Ranking of All-Season Tires 2019

The result summary of 225/45 R17 all-season tire test. Auto Bild, 2019
The result summary of 225/45 R17 all-season tire test. Auto Bild, 2019. Places 1–10. Click to enlarge.

The Experts’ Feedback

10th place — Cooper Discoverer AllSeason

Cooper Discoverer AllSeason
Cooper Discoverer AllSeason

Pros: Good hydroplaning resistance, effective braking performance on snow and on dry pavement, budget-friendly.

Cons: Poor handling response coupled with an increased braking distance on wet pavement, and delayed steering response in the dry.

Verdict: Not recommended.

9th place — Bridgestone Weather Control A005

Bridgestone Weather Control A005
Bridgestone Weather Control A005

Pros: Short braking distances and good handling response on both wet and dry pavement, a good hydroplaning safety margin, low rolling resistance.

Cons: Only average performance on snow, limited mileage.

Verdict: Satisfactory.

8th place — Kumho Solus 4S HA31

Kumho Solus 4S HA31
Kumho Solus 4S HA31

Pros: All-season tires with great hydroplaning resistance and large mileage, effective braking on snow, and low noise emission.

Cons: Average level of lateral grip on snow, slightly increased braking distances on wet and dry pavement, relatively weak handling response in the dry, limited riding comfort.

Verdict: Satisfactory.

7th place — Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3

Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3
Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3

Pros: a new all-season tire model of Chinese origin with safe handling on snow and dry pavement, great hydroplaning resistance, and a short braking distance on dry pavement.

Cons: Average traction coupled with an increased braking distance on wet pavement, average mileage.

Verdict: Good.

6th place — Nexen N’Blue 4Season

Nexen N’Blue 4Season
Nexen N’Blue 4Season

Pros: budget-friendly low-noise all-season tires with safe handling in any wintertime weather conditions, outstanding lateral grip, and effective snow braking, large mileage, and a good price/quality ratio.

Cons: A slightly increased braking distance on wet pavement; increased rolling resistance.

Verdict: Good.

5th place — Hankook Kinergy 4S2 H750

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 H750
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 H750

Pros: Extremely dependable performance on snow, including traction, and dynamic handling, great hydroplaning resistance, safe handling response on wet and dry pavement, good price/quality ratio.

Cons: A slightly increased braking distance on wet pavement.

Verdict: Good.

4th place — Continental AllSeason Contact

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Continental AllSeason Contact

Pros: well-balanced premium-class tires with a sporty dynamic feel on wet pavement and a long running life, effective braking, and great lateral stability on snow, low rolling resistance, and a good price/quality ratio.

Cons: A slightly increased braking distance on wet pavement.

Verdict: Good.

3rd place — Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen-2

Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen-2
Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen-2

Pros: all-season classic with very convincing winter performance, safe handling response on wet pavement, a pleasantly smooth ride, high resistance to wear, and a decent price/quality ratio.

Cons: Delayed steering response and a slightly increased braking distance on dry pavement.

Verdict: Good.

2nd place — Vredestein Quatrac Pro

Vredestein Quatrac Pro
Vredestein Quatrac Pro

Pros: exemplary all-season tires with impressive snow performance, dynamic handling on dry and wet pavement, crisp steering response with a great feedback, and efficient wet braking.

Cons: Average mileage.

Verdict: Exemplarily.

1st place — Michelin CrossClimate+

Michelin CrossClimate+
Michelin CrossClimate+

The Auto Bild ranking of all-season tires 2019 was topped by a model that is marketed by its manufacturer as not quite an all-season tire. For CrossClimate+, the Michelin marketing experts specifically came up with a category named «summer+», rather extrapolating the use of this tires to spring and fall, than to the wintertime.

Pros: «all-rounded» talent for dynamic driving in any weather conditions, crisp steering response, efficient braking on wet and dry pavement, maximum mileage on test, and a smooth pleasant ride.
Verdict: Exemplary (test winner and Eco Master).

Price

 

Conclusion

Currently, there are at least two all-season tires that the Auto Bild expert group can recommend with an easy heart for safe year-round operation — these are Michelin CrossClimate+, and Vredestein Quatrac Pro, who earned the «exemplary» status at the finish line.

Side Notes

As a rule, the consumers benefit from independent comparative tire tests, but sometimes different kinds of advice come in respect to one and the same tire. While the experts of GTÜ/ACE/ARBÖ claim that, when it comes to choosing their all-season tires, motorists should go for a compromise, chiefly proceeding from the weather conditions of the area where they are most likely to drive, the experts of Auto Bild contend that all-season tires are a totally safe solution for year-round driving.

One may also find interesting comparing the result of Auto Bild test 2019 to the last year’s, which involved all-season tires of a smaller size — 195/65 R15. For example, the Nokian model, which won bronze in 2018, was not even able to reach the final in this year’s test. Just as surprisingly, Pirelli Cinturato All Season Plus also didn’t make it to the top ten.

Michelin CrossClimate+ made a huge leap from the fourth line to the first, while the 2018 leader Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen-2 dropped down two lines.

Stability in both sizes was only demonstrated by Hankook Kinergy 4S2 that was able to hold its fifth place, and by Bridgestone, which, as usual, popped up at the bottom of the ranking of all-season tires.