Auto Express: Crossover All-Season Tire Test R18 2024

Auto Express: Crossover All-Season Tire Test R18

Auto Express conducted a specialized tire test for crossovers, using the size 235/55R18. This test aimed to compare the performance of two top all-season tires against one winter and one summer SUV tire. The tires included were Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 and Michelin CrossClimate 2 (all-season), Bridgestone Turanza 6 Enliten (summer), and Pirelli Scorpion Winter (winter). The comprehensive testing covered various conditions including snow, wet, and dry asphalt, with tests conducted at renowned facilities in Sweden and Germany.

  1. Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 - Winner Recommended
    Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3
    91 59
    · All Season · 2020 · Passenger - Premium Touring All-Season
    Verdict:

    The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3, clinching first place, stands out as a top choice for all-season tires, particularly favored for its performance in wet conditions. This tire closely competes with the Michelin in snow performance, but its superior wet grip and handling, especially evident in the UK climate, give it an edge. While its snow performance gap to the CrossClimate is marginal, it excels in dry conditions with only a slight disadvantage in stopping distance. The Goodyear's handling is characterized by a safe understeer balance and a significant margin for grip at the rear axle. Its most notable advantages are seen in all wet tests, especially in straight hydroplaning resistance. Additionally, it outperforms its rival in terms of being quieter and more fuel-efficient.

    Straight Hydroplaning   Handling   Quietness   Economy   Wet Grip   Dry Braking  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan · South Africa South Africa
    Test Score:
    100
  2. Michelin CrossClimate 2 Recommended
    Michelin CrossClimate 2
    86 54
    · All Season · 2020 · Passenger - Performance All-Season
    Verdict:

    The Michelin CrossClimate 2 secures second place, continuing its impressive performance in all-season tire tests. It particularly shines in winter conditions, with superior performance in sub-zero temperatures and on snow, closely rivaling dedicated winter tires. Its dry asphalt performance is noteworthy, with significantly shorter braking distances compared to the Goodyear. Handling-wise, it's on par with its competitor, showing only a minimal time difference on a sport track.

    However, its wet grip is somewhat compromised to favor snow performance. While it performs safely on wet tracks, exhibiting stable behavior and clear signaling of grip limits, it falls slightly behind the Goodyear in terms of stability and overall wet performance. This slight deficiency extends to other wet tests as well. Additionally, its fuel economy, while competitive, doesn't match up to Goodyear, consolidating its second-place ranking. The CrossClimate 2's primary limitation is its wet asphalt performance; if improved, it could have outclassed its competitors.

    Handling   Winter Performance   Dry Braking   Fuel Economy   Wet Grip   Wet Stability  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · Japan Japan
    Test Score:
    99
  3. Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2
    Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2
    87 44
    · Winter · 2022 · Light Truck / SUV - Light Truck/SUV Performance Winter / Snow
    Verdict:

    The Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 excelled in the winter testing environment in Sweden, though its advantage over the top all-season tire was a modest two percent. This smaller than expected gap can be attributed to the relatively mild weather conditions during the tests, with temperatures just below freezing. Under such conditions, the performance differences between all-season and winter tires tend to narrow.

    In wet conditions, the Pirelli was almost on par with the Goodyear all-season tire, benefitting from air temperatures just above freezing, which fall within winter tires' optimal operating range. It provided good grip and stability at the rear axle, avoiding skidding tendencies.

    However, on dry pavement, the winter tire fell short compared to the Michelin all-season tire. Its braking distances were about 10 percent longer, with noticeable deficiencies in responsiveness and steering. Additionally, the winter tire's rolling resistance was nearly 20 percent higher than the all-season tire, translating to an approximate 4 percent increase in fuel consumption. This underlines the specialized nature of winter tires, optimized for cold and snowy conditions but less efficient in milder and dry environments.

    Performance in Cold Conditions   Rear Axle Stability   Wet Grip   Dry Braking   Rolling Resistance   Responsiveness  
    Europe Europe · Russia+ Russia+ · China China
    Test Score:
    99.6
  4. Bridgestone Turanza 6
    Bridgestone Turanza 6
    80 56
    · Summer · 2023 · Passenger - Premuim Touring Summer
    Verdict:

    The Bridgestone Turanza 6 Enliten, a summer tire, faced limitations in its testing due to weather constraints, particularly the absence of snow handling tests. However, the results from other tests are telling. On snow, the Turanza significantly underperforms, with much longer stopping distances and only a fraction of the grip in acceleration compared to the Michelin all-season tire, highlighting the inadvisability of using summer tires in winter conditions.

    On dry asphalt, the Turanza exhibits a marginal advantage over all-season tires, though this could be partially attributed to the test vehicle's limited power, possibly underutilizing the summer tire's potential. In wet conditions, while all-season tires generally outperform in braking and handling, the Turanza shows strengths in transverse hydroplaning resistance and lateral stability. This mixed performance underscores the specialized nature of summer tires, optimized for warm, dry conditions, but less suitable for colder, snowy environments.

    Dry Asphalt Performance   Lateral Stability   Lateral Hydroplaning   Snow Grip   Wet Handling   Snow Braking   Wet Braking  
    USA+ USA+ · Canada Canada · Europe Europe
    Test Score:
    91
Year
2024
Tire Test Original Link
Visit Website
Max Score, points
100
Tire Size
235/55R18
Season
All-Season
Auto Type
Light Truck / SUV / 4*4
List Type
Professional Tire Test
Region
Europe
Date added
Jan 15, 2024
Date updated
Jan 23, 2024
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