The new AZ test did not include any new models, and did not bring any surprises.
List of models tested:
- BFGoodrich Advantage
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Continental EcoContact 6
- Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Michelin Primacy 4
- Nokian Wetproof
- Vredestein Ultrac
- Yokohama BluEarth-GT AE51
Throughout the course of its production cycle, a tire model is not only constantly checked for quality consistency, but is also compared against its rivals during in-company tests, and, if there is a possibility to improve, let’s say, wet traction, or environmental performance, the tire makers often change the composition of the tread compound, which usually passes unnoticed by the end consumers. For this reason, before publishing the results of its tests of summer tires, Auto Zeitung gets in touch with tire makers in order to find out if any of their tires have been modernized lately.
The Vredestein Ultrac model has not been renewed yet — just because this is quite a new model so far — and, as the AZ experts noted, Apollo’s R&D department (located in Netherlands) and production facility (located in Hungary) did a great job this time around. The asymmetric tread pattern 6.8 mm deep not only allowed the Ultrac tire to outperform its rivals in terms of hydroplaning resistance but also earned it the highest score for wet handling. However, there was one serious disappointment: the Vredestein tire came last in the test for handling response on a watered track with a very low land-to-sea ratio (the kind of pavement that you typically see on the road sections just before the stoplights). It must be noted that the results demonstrated by all the tires when braking from 100 km/h stayed within a 3.7-meter range (the results of the top seven tires stayed within one meter), and they are all rated as «A» by the EU labeling system, i.e. the competition was really stiff. Nevertheless, the remaining speed of the car fitted with the Vredestein tires was about 27 km/h, which proved enough to reduce the overall score, and the tire came second in the final standings.
Wet Braking
- Maxxis
- Michelin
- Bridgestone
- Goodyear
- BFGoodrich
- Continental
- Nokian
- Falken
- Yokohama
- Vredestein
Info! Wet braking in meters. (100-0 km/h)
The best to perform on a wet track was the Maxxis Premitra HP5. According to the experts, in the 2019 and 2020 tests (tires with a fitting diameter of 18 and 17 inches respectively), Maxxis tires demonstrated pretty good results but still fell short of the leaders in terms of braking performance. In the end of 2020, the model was upgraded, which helped it to yield a better performance in this part of the test. The second-best wet traction was demonstrated by the Bridgestone Turanza T005, which won silver in the AZ test two years ago. At that time, the Bridgestone had slight issues with wet traction but in the beginning of 2021 its tread compound was modified, and now the new Turanza ensures a high level of wet traction, short wet braking distances, good handling response, and optimum hydroplaning resistance. And, since the modifications did not compromise the tire’s dry performance, the Bridgestone tire became one of the leaders in this part of the test as well, where it behaved in a reliable and controllable way, and demonstrated short braking distances. On the whole, although the Turanza model did not win in any of the disciplines, it always stayed in the top part of the tournament bracket, which ultimately earned it the top line in the final standings. At the same time, the Maxxis tire demonstrated a very good wet grip, but had a few issues with dry handling, and particularly rolling resistance. Due to this, the tire ultimately came only fifth, nevertheless getting away with a «Highly Recommended» verdict.
Dry Braking
- Maxxis
- Vredestein
- Nokian
- Bridgestone
- BFGoodrich
- Michelin
- Falken
- Continental
- Goodyear
- Yokohama
Info! Dry braking in meters. (100-0 km/h)
Two other tires that received a «Recommended» verdict were the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 and Michelin Primacy 4, which were both good on wet and dry pavement alike, i.e. demonstrated a well-balanced performance. On wet tarmac, the Goodyear model performed slightly better thanks to excellent lateral stability and neutral behavior it maintained up until the grip threshold was reached, while the Michelin tire showed almost as short a braking distance, but was slightly worse in terms of handling response in corners. At the same time, the Michelin model was one of the best on dry pavement, and, just as the Goodyear tire, had a very low rolling resistance.
Although the Nokian Wetproof model fell short of the leaders’ handling performance on dry pavement, and scored relatively low points for environmental performance and ride comfort, once the track was watered, it lived up to its name — well, almost. Despite the fact that the Nokian model demonstrated good acceleration and braking performance on wet pavement, its behavior was described as «sometimes unstable», and, if you take your foot off the gas during the maneuvering, the grip of the rear wheels drops, after which the ESP kicks in, and the car becomes prone to understeer. For this reason, the Nokian model was just a few points short of getting a «Highly Recommended» verdict.
The Continental EcoContact 6, Falken Ziex ZE-310, BFGoodrich Advantage, and Yokohama BluEarth-GT AE-51 also did not make the «Highly Recommended» list, first of all because of their relatively poor wet performance. The Continental model in this case is a slightly different matter because this is not a classic all-purpose tire but a product that was specially developed with a focus on reducing fuel consumption, which is further evidenced by the fact that of all the tested tires only the EcoContact was rated as «A» for environmental performance by EU label system. This was also confirmed by laboratory tests, in which the Continental model demonstrated the lowest rolling resistance. The alternative could have been the Continental PremiumContact 6, but, as the AZ experts noted, only the OE tires were available in the size selected for the test, and, since the purpose was to test tires designed for the aftermarket, it was decided to take the EcoContact 6, in spite of the fact that its wet grip would be obviously weaker. In the wet braking test, the Continental model was not really much worse than the best tires, but it was indeed prone to understeer and had very low hydroplaning resistance, among other things, due to its small tread depth. At the same time, the Michelin tire had grooves of the same depth, but it started floating much later than the Continental model, which ultimately came seventh. BFGoodrich and Yokohama also did not become the leaders in terms of evacuating water from the contact patch, ultimately dropping to the bottom lines of the tournament bracket, while the Falken model, which came eighth, demonstrated better results, the experts commending it for well-balanced performance. On the downside, the Falken tire had a very strong rolling resistance, due to which it lost a number of points and came only eighth.
Verdict
Small changes in the composition of the tread compound often make a big difference, which is proven by the results of the Bridgestone Turanza T005, the winner of the AZ test 2022. Silver goes to the Vredestein Ultrac, which ensures good hydroplaning resistance and a high level of overall safety when driving in rainy weather, followed by the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 and Michelin Primacy 4, equally good on wet and dry pavement. Then comes the renewed Maxxis Premitra 5 that further improved its wet performance; the Nokian Wetproof fell just one step away from the «Highly Recommended» verdict, and the Falken Ziex ZE-310 was failed by a very high rolling resistance. And, finally, the BFGoodrich Advantage tire could not demonstrate a well-balanced performance, while the Yokohama BluEarth-GT AE-51 simply lacked overall traction.
1st place: Bridgestone / Turanza T005
Quick Take
Bridgestone Turanza T005
- A high level of driving safety in any weather conditions
- Highly recommended
2nd place: Vredestein / Ultrac
Quick Take
Vredestein Ultrac
- Excellent wet performance (but a long braking distance)
- Good results on dry pavement
- Highly recommended
3rd place: Goodyear / EfficientGrip Performance 2
Quick Take
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
- Excellent grip in any conditions
- Low rolling resistance
- Highly recommended
3rd place: Michelin / Primacy 4
Quick Take
Michelin Primacy 4
- Excellent grip in any conditions
- Minor issues with lateral grip on wet pavement
- Highly recommended
5th place: Maxxis / Premitra 5 HP5
Quick Take
Maxxis Premitra 5 HP5
- Very good grip on wet pavement
- Very good price/quality ratio
- High rolling resistance
- Highly recommended
6th place: Nokian / Wetproof
Quick Take
Nokian Wetproof
- A short braking distance and generally good wet grip (but a slightly temperamental behavior on the verge of losing grip may create difficulties for an inexperienced driver)
- Good results on dry pavement
7th place: Continental / EcoContact 6
Quick Take
Continental EcoContact 6
- Very low rolling resistance
- Acceptable wet grip (but very low hydroplaning resistance)
8th place: Falken / Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
Quick Take
Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
- Acceptable level of driving safety on wet and dry pavement (despite the slightly lowered overall traction)
- Very high rolling resistance
- Average riding comfort
9th place: BFGoodrich / Advantage
Quick Take
BFGoodrich Advantage
- Short braking distance on wet pavement
- Insufficient lateral grip on wet pavement
- Average hydroplaning resistance
10th place: Yokohama / BluEarth-GT AE-51
Quick Take
Yokohama BluEarth-GT AE-51
- Acceptable results on dry pavement
- Poor wet performance (the tire lacks traction just when you need it most)
- Increased rolling resistance
