The new test performed by the German experts involved light-truck tires in the size 235/65 R16C designed to year-round use.
List of models tested:
- Continental VanContact 4Season
- Falken Euroall Season Van11
- Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- Hifly All-Transit
- Kleber Transpro 4S
- Maxxis Vansmart A/S AL2
- Pirelli Carrier All Season
- Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
In 2020, Auto Bild has already published the results of tests involving a few tire categories; now it’s time for all-season models designed to be installed on light trucks and minivans. This test involved eight tire models of various price brackets, all of them sporting a 3PMSF sign on their sidewalls. The tires were tested in various conditions on snow, wet and dry pavements; the test car was VW Crafter with a 600-kilogram load.
The special feature of the test was that it only involved tires optimized for being used on camper vans and bearing the CP sign. For this reason, the test did not include the Michelin Agilis CrossClimate, which was not available in the required version and the required size. On the other hand, the test did involve the Kleber tires from the French tire maker, and they showed very good results, surpassing a few rivals in the same price bracket.
The test did not bring any surprises, and the best tire became the Continental VanContact 4Season, which demonstrated a great well-balanced performance that ensures safety in any weather conditions. The second place was scored by the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo, and this means that the two most expensive tires on test turned out to be also the two most effective ones. The main loser this time around was Falken EuroAll Season Van11 from the Japanese Sumitomo, which scored the last place and even lost to the cheap Chinese Hifly due to inadequate performance on dry and wet surfaces.
Result summary
| Place | Model | Snow | Wet Performance | Dry Performance | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Continental VanContact 4Season | 1- | 2 | 2- | Exemplary/Winner of the test |
| 2 | Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo | 1- | 2 | 2- | Good |
| 3 | Kleber Transpro 4S | 2+ | 2- | 2 | Satisfactory |
| 4 | Maxxis Vansmart A/S AL2 | 2 | 2- | 2- | Satisfactory |
| 5 | Pirelli Carrier All Season | 3+ | 2 | 2 | Satisfactory |
| 5 | Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season | 2+ | 2- | 3+ | Satisfactory |
| 6 | Hifly All-Transit | 2- | 3+ | 2+ | Satisfactory |
| 7 | Falken Euroall Season Van11 | 2 | 3+ | 3+ | Satisfactory |
The verdicts by the Auto Bild testers.
Continental VanContact 4Season
- Many sizes of this line have been discontinued.
- This tire replaced Continental / Vanco FourSeason 2
- Available Sizes in Line: 57
- For light commercial vehicles, transporters and vans.
- Year Released: 2017
- Regions for sale: USA+, Canada, Europe, Russia+
- Exemplary all-season tires with great handling response on snow and on wet pavement, as well as with crisp steering response and low rolling resistance
- Average riding comfort
- High price
Quick Take
Continental VanContact 4Season
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
- This tire replaced š Goodyear / Cargo Vector 2
- Available Sizes in Line: 47
- For light commercial vehicles, transporters and vans.
- Year Released: 2019
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+, Japan, South Africa
- Great handling response in any weather conditions
- Excellent lateral stability and short stopping distance in the wet
- Great riding comfort
- Relatively long braking distance on dry pavement
Quick Take
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo
Kleber Transpro 4S
- Available Sizes in Line: 40
- For light commercial vehicles, transporters and vans.
- Year Released: 2017
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+
- Excellent traction and short braking distance on snow
- Good handling in the dry
- Low noise emission
- Relatively long braking distance on dry and wet pavement
- Delayed steering response when driving on snow
Quick Take
Kleber Transpro 4S
Maxxis Vansmart A/S AL2
- This tire replaced ā Maxxis / MA-LAS
- Available Sizes in Line: 58
- For light commercial vehicles, transporters and vans.
- Year Released: 2017
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+
- An inexpensive tire with a well-balanced performance
- Good winter performance
- Delayed steering response on dry pavement
- Relatively long braking distance on wet pavement
- Average riding comfort
Quick Take
Maxxis Vansmart A/S AL2
Pirelli Carrier All Season
- This tire replaced ā Pirelli / Chrono Four Seasons
- Available Sizes in Line: 36
- For light commercial vehicles, transporters and vans.
- Year Released: 2016
- Regions for sale: USA+, Canada, Europe, South Korea
- Great handling response in the wet and in the dry
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Weak traction and lateral stability on snow
Quick Take
Pirelli Carrier All Season
Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
- This tire has been replaced by Vredestein / Comtrac 2 All Season+
- Available Sizes in Line: 28
- For light commercial vehicles, transporters and vans.
- Year Released: 2017
- Regions for sale: USA+, Canada, Europe, Russia+
- Good performance on snow
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Long braking distance on wet and dry pavements
- Insufficient handling response in the dry
Quick Take
Vredestein Comtrac 2 All Season
Hifly All-Transit
- Available Sizes in Line: 9
- For light commercial vehicles, transporters and vans.
- Year Released: 2015
- Regions for sale: Europe
- Good handling response on snow
- Great riding comfort
- Prone to understeer and long braking distance on wet pavement
- Delayed steering response
Quick Take
Hifly All-Transit
Falken Euroall Season Van11
- Available Sizes in Line: 54
- For light commercial vehicles, transporters and vans.
- Year Released: 2018
- Regions for sale: Europe
- Short braking distance and good lateral stability on snow
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Weak traction and prone to understeer on wet and dry pavement
Quick Take
Falken EuroAll Season Van11
