Published a later than usual due to covid travel restrictions, the Polish magazine "Motor" have tested ten 225/55 R17 summer tyres in the usual array of wet and dry testing.

The 17 inch size tested can be found on a wide range of vehicles, such as the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, and Mercedes E-Class, smaller vehicles like the BMW 3-Series and Mini Countryman, crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and Skoda Karoq, and even minivans / people carriers like the Chrysler Voyager, Fiat Scudo and Opel Vivaro. 

Motor Magazine used a BMW 5 Series for the testing.

Dry

As with most tests including the Continental PremiumContact 6, the German tyre did exceptionally well in the dry, having the shortest dry braking, fastest dry handling lap and the best subjective dry handling feeling. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 kept the Continental honest in the braking and the timed lap, and the Nokian PowerProof, Bridgestone Turanza T005 and Laufenn S Fit EQ+ performed well.

Unfortunately while the Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue was rated as one of the best tyres in the dry subjectively, it had a lack of grip in braking and handling.

Wet

The wet grip tests had a very similar order to dry, with the Continental tyre leading the Goodyear in both braking and handling tests, the Nokian and Bridgestone also performing well, and the Pirelli having a surprisingly disappointing result for a premium tyre.

The deep water straight aquaplaning test had a surprise win for the Imperial EcoSport 2 budget tyre, where as the Goodyear proved best in curved aquaplaning.

On balance, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 had the best balance between the shallow and deep water testing.

Environment

As we've found in the Tyre Reviews tests, the Nokian Powerproof and Continental PremiumContact 6 sit at opposite ends of the external noise tests.

The rolling resistance test perhaps highlights why Pirelli struggled in the grip tests, as the P7 Blue has a significantly lower rolling resistance than even the Bridgestone Turanza T005, which usually has the lowest rolling resistance on test.

Unsurprisingly the budget tyre is the cheapest tyre on test, with the Pirelli tyre offsetting it's low fuel use with a very high purchase price!

Results

1st: Continental Premium Contact 6
225/55 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 34.5 M 100% Dry Handling 1st 56.1 s 100% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 7 Points 100% Wet Braking 1st 48.1 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 87.2 s 100% Straight Aqua 8th 94.01 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -4.09 Km/H 95.83% Curved Aquaplaning 10th 2.64 m/sec2 3.43 m/sec2 -0.79 m/sec2 76.97% Noise 10th 72.9 dB 70.6 dB +2.3 dB 96.84% Price 9th 572 234 +338 40.91% Rolling Resistance 5th 7.96 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +1.36 kg / t 82.91% High level of safety and comfort, stable dry behavior, high grip and good wet stability. Relatively low resistance to aquaplaning. Read Reviews    Buy from £141.99
2nd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
225/55 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 34.9 M 34.5 M +0.4 M 98.85% Dry Handling 2nd 56.2 s 56.1 s +0.1 s 99.82% Subj. Dry Handling 8th 6.4 Points 7 Points -0.6 Points 91.43% Wet Braking 2nd 49.3 M 48.1 M +1.2 M 97.57% Wet Handling 2nd 88.5 s 87.2 s +1.3 s 98.53% Straight Aqua 4th 94.8 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -3.3 Km/H 96.64% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 3.43 m/sec2 100% Noise 7th 71.3 dB 70.6 dB +0.7 dB 99.02% Price 6th 508 234 +274 46.06% Rolling Resistance 9th 8.85 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +2.25 kg / t 74.58% Good handling and short braking distances on dry and wet roads, good aquaplaning resistance. High rolling resistance. Read Reviews    Buy from £111.91
3rd: Nokian PowerProof
225/55 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 35.3 M 34.5 M +0.8 M 97.73% Dry Handling 5th 57 s 56.1 s +0.9 s 98.42% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 6.5 Points 7 Points -0.5 Points 92.86% Wet Braking 3rd 50.3 M 48.1 M +2.2 M 95.63% Wet Handling 5th 90.4 s 87.2 s +3.2 s 96.46% Straight Aqua 3rd 94.94 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -3.16 Km/H 96.78% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd 3.27 m/sec2 3.43 m/sec2 -0.16 m/sec2 95.34% Noise 1st 70.6 dB 100% Price 5th 452 234 +218 51.77% Rolling Resistance 7th 8.18 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +1.58 kg / t 80.68% Good performance on dry and wet surfaces, low noise level, well priced. High rolling resistance. Read Reviews
4th: Bridgestone Turanza T005
225/55 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 35.5 M 34.5 M +1 M 97.18% Dry Handling 3rd 56.8 s 56.1 s +0.7 s 98.77% Subj. Dry Handling 4th 6.55 Points 7 Points -0.45 Points 93.57% Wet Braking 4th 51.2 M 48.1 M +3.1 M 93.95% Wet Handling 4th 90 s 87.2 s +2.8 s 96.89% Straight Aqua 4th 94.8 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -3.3 Km/H 96.64% Curved Aquaplaning 5th 3.22 m/sec2 3.43 m/sec2 -0.21 m/sec2 93.88% Noise 9th 72 dB 70.6 dB +1.4 dB 98.06% Price 8th 546 234 +312 42.86% Rolling Resistance 2nd 7.12 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +0.52 kg / t 92.7% Good handling on dry and wet surfaces, low rolling resistance. High externa noise. Read Reviews    Buy from £119.99
5th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
225/55 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 35.5 M 34.5 M +1 M 97.18% Dry Handling 6th 57.2 s 56.1 s +1.1 s 98.08% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 6.5 Points 7 Points -0.5 Points 92.86% Wet Braking 6th 51.9 M 48.1 M +3.8 M 92.68% Wet Handling 3rd 89.7 s 87.2 s +2.5 s 97.21% Straight Aqua 2nd 95.19 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -2.91 Km/H 97.03% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd 3.39 m/sec2 3.43 m/sec2 -0.04 m/sec2 98.83% Noise 8th 71.5 dB 70.6 dB +0.9 dB 98.74% Price 7th 525 234 +291 44.57% Rolling Resistance 8th 8.2 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +1.6 kg / t 80.49% Good handling in all conditions (light understeer appears in high-speed corners on wet surfaces, but overall the tires provide a fairly high level of grip), good level of comfort, high resistance to aquaplaning. High rolling resistance. Read Reviews    Buy from £110.13
6th: Maxxis Premitra HP5
225/55 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 36.1 M 34.5 M +1.6 M 95.57% Dry Handling 6th 57.2 s 56.1 s +1.1 s 98.08% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 6.5 Points 7 Points -0.5 Points 92.86% Wet Braking 5th 51.3 M 48.1 M +3.2 M 93.76% Wet Handling 5th 90.4 s 87.2 s +3.2 s 96.46% Straight Aqua 6th 94.4 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -3.7 Km/H 96.23% Curved Aquaplaning 7th 3.09 m/sec2 3.43 m/sec2 -0.34 m/sec2 90.09% Noise 3rd 70.8 dB 70.6 dB +0.2 dB 99.72% Price 3rd 376 234 +142 62.23% Rolling Resistance 6th 8.12 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +1.52 kg / t 81.28% Good balance of performance, good handling on dry and wet surfaces (although there is a slight tendency to understeer), well priced. Long dry braking. Read Reviews
7th: Debica Presto UHP2
225/55 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 35.6 M 34.5 M +1.1 M 96.91% Dry Handling 9th 57.6 s 56.1 s +1.5 s 97.4% Subj. Dry Handling 10th 6.25 Points 7 Points -0.75 Points 89.29% Wet Braking 8th 53.8 M 48.1 M +5.7 M 89.41% Wet Handling 5th 90.4 s 87.2 s +3.2 s 96.46% Straight Aqua 7th 94.11 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -3.99 Km/H 95.93% Curved Aquaplaning 6th 3.17 m/sec2 3.43 m/sec2 -0.26 m/sec2 92.42% Noise 2nd 70.7 dB 70.6 dB +0.1 dB 99.86% Price 4th 390 234 +156 60% Rolling Resistance 3rd 7.76 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +1.16 kg / t 85.05% Acceptable performance on dry and wet surfaces, good balance of performance, low noise level, low rolling resistance Slow dry handling lap. Read Reviews
8th: Laufenn S Fit EQ+
225/55 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 35.9 M 34.5 M +1.4 M 96.1% Dry Handling 4th 56.9 s 56.1 s +0.8 s 98.59% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 6.7 Points 7 Points -0.3 Points 95.71% Wet Braking 7th 53.7 M 48.1 M +5.6 M 89.57% Wet Handling 8th 93.6 s 87.2 s +6.4 s 93.16% Straight Aqua 10th 92.29 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -5.81 Km/H 94.08% Curved Aquaplaning 9th 2.78 m/sec2 3.43 m/sec2 -0.65 m/sec2 81.05% Noise 6th 71.1 dB 70.6 dB +0.5 dB 99.3% Price 2nd 319 234 +85 73.35% Rolling Resistance 3rd 7.76 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +1.16 kg / t 85.05% Acceptable dry results, relatively low rolling resistance. Long wet braking, poor aquaplaning resistance. Read Reviews
9th: Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
225/55 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 9th 37.1 M 34.5 M +2.6 M 92.99% Dry Handling 9th 57.6 s 56.1 s +1.5 s 97.4% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 6.7 Points 7 Points -0.3 Points 95.71% Wet Braking 9th 56.4 M 48.1 M +8.3 M 85.28% Wet Handling 10th 94.8 s 87.2 s +7.6 s 91.98% Straight Aqua 9th 92.82 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -5.28 Km/H 94.62% Curved Aquaplaning 8th 2.82 m/sec2 3.43 m/sec2 -0.61 m/sec2 82.22% Noise 4th 70.9 dB 70.6 dB +0.3 dB 99.58% Price 10th 642 234 +408 36.45% Rolling Resistance 1st 6.6 kg / t 100% Very low rolling resistance. Long braking distances and poor handling on dry and wet surfaces, relatively low resistance to aquaplaning, high price. Read Reviews
10th: Imperial Ecosport 2
225/55 R17 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 10th 39.1 M 34.5 M +4.6 M 88.24% Dry Handling 8th 57.3 s 56.1 s +1.2 s 97.91% Subj. Dry Handling 8th 6.4 Points 7 Points -0.6 Points 91.43% Wet Braking 10th 57.5 M 48.1 M +9.4 M 83.65% Wet Handling 9th 94.6 s 87.2 s +7.4 s 92.18% Straight Aqua 1st 98.1 Km/H 100% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd 3.27 m/sec2 3.43 m/sec2 -0.16 m/sec2 95.34% Noise 4th 70.9 dB 70.6 dB +0.3 dB 99.58% Price 1st 234 100% Rolling Resistance 9th 8.85 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +2.25 kg / t 74.58% Very low price, good wet performance, low noise level. Poor dry performance, high rolling resistance. Read Reviews