The experts from the German motoring publication tested eight models of 18-inch tires for everyday life.
List of models tested:
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Continental PremiumContact 6
- Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
- Nokian Powerproof
- Pirelli Cinturato P7 (P7C2)
- Toyo Proxes Sport A
- Vredestein Ultrac Satin
The German magazine Gute Fahrt tested summer tires in size 245/40 R18, designed for such cars as Audi A4 Avant, which was also the car that was used in this test. Tires of eight brands were tested — Bridgestone, Continental, Falken, Goodyear, Nokian, Pirelli, Toyo, and Vredestein — which got rated in the range from «very good» to «satisfactory», i.e. there were no obvious outsiders this time around.
There are many sports tires available in this size out there, but the experts decided to test models with an emphasis on delivering superior riding comfort. For this reason, the test involved Continental tires from the PremiumContact line instead of SportContact, while the Bridgestone range was represented by Turanza instead of Potenza, and the experts noted that ride comfort was very important both in everyday life and during long vacation trips. At the same time, to get a high score, the tires were also supposed to ensure the optimum level of driving safety — meaning, well-balanced performance was as important as ever.
The test was conducted at the Pirelli test facility, which, as GF noted, was beneficial for both sides because the journalists had all the necessary infrastructure at their disposal, while the Italian tire maker could evaluate the performance by products of competing brands and compare them to its own tires in order to determine, which areas of performance required further improvement.
The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 was taken as the reference tires, i.e. the pilot was making regular runs on them, monitoring the stability of conditions in accordance with the industry standard. Goodyear won in last year’s GF test, and this year it was able to defend its title, even though a tire of a different size was tested. Not a single one of its rivals was able to outperform Goodyear, and this had to do, among other things, with its exceptionally strong grip on wet pavement. According to the experts, Goodyear’s performance on wet track was almost just as reliable as on the dry one — it provided crisp steering response and high cornering stability. On dry pavement Goodyear also showed exemplary results, but, as is well-known, there are no perfect tires as such, and the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 fell short of some of its competitors in terms of fuel efficiency, noise emission, and ride comfort.
Second place was shared by the Continental PremiumContact 6 and the new-generation Pirelli Cinturato P7; both came so close to the Goodyear model that any of the top three will be an excellent choice, and all these tires came as highly recommended by GF. At the same time, these three tires are not completely identical: the Continental model, for example, successfully combines excellent braking performance in any conditions with high ride comfort, while the Pirelly model turned out to be more on the sporty side, which came at the cost of ride smoothness, even though no obvious noise issues or vibrations are to be expected either.
The other five tire models could not demonstrate a performance as balanced as that of the three leaders: for example, the Nokian tire delivered excellent handling response in any weather conditions but it lost a few points due to a long stopping distance on wet pavement and poor resistance to lateral hydroplaning. The Vredestein model, in turn, demonstrated generally good results, but it also had its weaknesses, such as insufficient dry braking performance and low lateral grip on wet pavement.
The Bridgestone tire performed pretty well this time, and it also had the lowest rolling resistance among the tested tires. On the downside, the Bridgestone model had the longest wet braking distance, and provided average ride comfort. The Falken tire had issues with wet handling, ride comfort, and lateral hydroplaning resistance, while the Toyo model came last, but, according to the experts, this model would also be an acceptable option for everyday use.
Test results
1st place: Goodyear / Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
Quick Take
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
- This tire has been replaced by Goodyear / Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- This tire replaced Goodyear / Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Available Sizes in Line: 154
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • Audi e-tron GT [2020 .. 2023]
- • Tesla Model Y [2020 .. 2023]
- • Rolls-Royce Ghost II [2020 .. 2023]
- • DS DS 4 F [2021 .. 2023]
- • Mercedes-Benz EQS X296 [2022 .. 2024]
- Year Released: 2018
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Oceania
- Excellent handling response and short braking distance in any conditions
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Falls short of some of the competitors in terms of environmental performance and ride comfort
- Very good+ (recommended by Gute Fahrt)
2nd place: Continental / PremiumContact 6
Quick Take
Continental PremiumContact 6
- This tire has been replaced by Continental / PremiumContact 7
- This tire replaced Continental / ContiPremiumContact 5
- Available Sizes in Line: 267
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • Toyota C-HR Facelift [2019 .. 2023]
- • Mercedes-Benz C-Class Br205 [2015 .. 2021]
- • BMW 3 Series VII (G20/G21) [2018 .. 2023]
- • BMW 5 Series VII (G30/G31) Facelift [2020 .. 2023]
- • Mazda CX-5 KF [2016 .. 2023]
- • Ford Kuga III (CX482) [2019 .. 2023]
- • Renault Koleos II (HC) [2016 .. 2020]
- • Subaru Forester SK [2018 .. 2023]
- • Renault Megane IV (9A) [2016 .. 2022]
- • Volvo XC40 I [2017 .. 2023]
- • Skoda Superb III B8 (3V) Facelift [2020 .. 2023]
- • Volvo V60 Cross Country II [2018 .. 2023]
- • Mercedes-Benz X-Class D23 [2017 .. 2020]
- • Audi A6 C8 [2018 .. 2023]
- • Volvo S60 III [2019 .. 2023]
- • Renault Alaskan D23 [2016 .. 2020]
- • Volvo V60 II [2018 .. 2023]
- • Jaguar I-Pace [2018 .. 2023]
- • Ford Fiesta VII [2017 .. 2023]
- • Ford Mustang Mach-E [2020 .. 2023]
- • Porsche Taycan I [2020 .. 2023]
- • Mercedes-Benz C-Class Br206 [2021 .. 2023]
- Year Released: 2016
- Regions for sale: North America, Europe, Russia+, Japan, Middle East, Oceania
- Short braking distance on wet and dry pavement
- Good handling response in the dry
- Smooth ride
- Low noise emission
- Poor resistance to lateral hydroplaning
- Very good (recommended by Gute Fahrt)
3rd place: Pirelli / Cinturato P7 (P7C2)
Quick Take
Pirelli Cinturato P7 (P7C2)
- This tire has been replaced by Pirelli / Scorpion
- This tire replaced Pirelli / Cinturato P7
- Available Sizes in Line: 28
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • BMW 8 Series G14/G15/G16 [2018 .. 2023]
- Year Released: 2020
- Regions for sale: North America, Central & South America, Europe, Russia+, Japan, China, Middle East, Oceania
- Excellent handling response and short braking distance in any conditions
- High lateral hydroplaning resistance
- Falls short of some of the competitors in terms of environmental performance and ride comfort
- Very good (recommended by Gute Fahrt)
4th place: Bridgestone / Turanza T005
Quick Take
Bridgestone Turanza T005
- This tire has been replaced by Bridgestone / Turanza 6
- This tire has run-flat model:
- Available Sizes in Line: 239
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • Audi A7 4K8 [2018 .. 2023]
- • Volkswagen Tiguan
- • Volkswagen Caddy V [2020 .. 2023]
- • Skoda Superb
- • Volkswagen Transporter
- • Jeep Renegade
- • Renault Captur
- • Nissan Juke
- • Ford Kuga
- • Nissan Micra
- • Volkswagen T-Roc I (A11/AC7) [2017 .. 2023]
- • BMW 1 Series
- • BMW 3 Series
- • BMW 8 Series
- • MINI Clubman
- • Audi A6
- • Audi A3
- • Audi SQ2 GA [2019 .. 2020]
- • Audi A1
- • Audi A4
- • Audi A5
- • Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- • Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- • Mercedes-Benz A-Class
- • Mercedes-Benz B-Class
- • Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
- • MINI Countryman
- • BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer
- • Lexus LC Z100 [2017 .. 2023]
- • Lexus LS
- • Lexus ES
- • Mazda Mazda6
- • Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
- • Toyota Camry
- • Volkswagen Polo
- • Volkswagen Golf
- Year Released: 2018
- Regions for sale: North America, Central & South America, Europe, Russia+, China, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Oceania
- Good handling response in the dry
- Excellent lateral grip on wet pavement
- Low rolling resistance
- Long braking distance on wet pavement
- Low riding comfort
- Good-
5th place: Nokian / Powerproof
Quick Take
Nokian Powerproof
- This tire will be replaced by Nokian / Powerproof 1
- Available Sizes in Line: 80
- Year Released: 2019
- Regions for sale: Europe
- Good handling response on all types of surfaces
- Excellent lateral grip on wet pavement
- Smooth ride
- Long braking distance on wet pavement
- Low lateral hydroplaning resistance
- High noise emission
6th place: Vredestein / Ultrac Satin
Quick Take
Vredestein Ultrac Satin
- This tire has been replaced by Vredestein / Ultrac
- Available Sizes in Line: 128
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • Volkswagen Touareg II (CR) [2018 .. 2023]
- Year Released: 2016
- Regions for sale: USA+, Canada, Europe, Russia+
- Acceptable handling response in the wet and in the dry
- High lateral hydroplaning resistance
- Long braking distance on dry pavement
- Poor lateral grip on wet pavement
7th place: Falken / Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
Quick Take
Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
- Available Sizes in Line: 131
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • Audi A1 citycarver GB [2019 .. 2023]
- • Audi Q3 F3 [2018 .. 2023]
- Year Released: 2017
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+, South Africa
- Satisfactory braking performance on wet and dry pavement
- Relatively weak straight hydroplaning resistance
- Increased rolling resistance
- Relatively low riding comfort
- Satisfactory+
8th place:Toyo / Proxes Sport A
Quick Take
Toyo Proxes Sport A
- This tire replaced Toyo / Proxes Sport
- Available Sizes in Line: 17
- Year Released: 2020
- Regions for sale: USA+, Canada, Europe
- Satisfactory handling response on dry and wet pavement (even though this tire model came last, it will still be an acceptable option for everyday use).
- Relatively long braking distance on wet pavement
- Increased rolling resistance
- Relatively low riding comfort
- Satisfactory
