For the 2021 Sport Auto summer tyre test, the German publication have tested eleven tyres in the relatively small 195/55 R16 tyre size. As this tyre size is intended for smaller vehicles such as the Audi A1, Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208 and other similar sized cars, Sport Auto used a Seat Ibiza for testing, and placed all eleven sets of tyres through the usual dry, wet and environment based tests.

The first and second placed tyres will be no surprise. The Michelin Primacy 4, which always seems to work well in the smaller sizes, dominated both braking tests, was the fastest in wet handling and was the quietest on test. Second placed Bridgestone Turanza T005 had the lowest rolling resistance, and scored well in every other key test, other than a slightly average dry braking result, while the third placed Nokian WetProof lived up to its name and was the fastest around the wet handling lap, but struggled during the dry handling lap.

One other issue with this lower volume tyre size is not all patterns are the most up to date, with the testers having to test the Continental PremiumContact 5 rather than the 6.

Dry

During dry braking, the Michelin Primacy 4 had a large advantage, beating the second placed Maxxis Premitra 5 by nearly a full meter. The next ten tyres were only separated by another 1.9 meters!

The new Toyo Proxes Comfort was the fastest around the dry handling lap, with the BFGoodrich Advantage struggling to set a quick time.

Wet

The Primacy 4 continued its braking advantage in the wet, with the sister brand BFGoodrich placing second.

The Primacy 4 was also the fastest around the wet handling lap, but this time tying first place with the Nokian WetProof.

Falken and Nokian led the way in the straight aquaplaning test.

Environment

The difference in external noise between the eleven sets was relatively low, with Goodyear, Michelin and Nokian all tying for the quietest tyres on test.

The two most expensive tyres on test offered the lowest rolling resistance, but with the group relatively close it's unlikely they would recover that higher purchase price. As we've seen before, the Falken ZE310 struggled with high rolling resistance.

Surprisingly, Michelin wasn't the most expensive tyre on test, with the Bridgestone 4 euros per tyre more expensive. There is a 184 euro price difference between a full set of the Maxxis and Bridgestone tyres.

Results

1st: Michelin Primacy 4
195/55 R16 87T EU Label: C/A/68 Origin: Germany Weight: 7.76kgs Tread: 6.7mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 36 M 100% Dry Handling 7th 117.2 Km/H 118.8 Km/H -1.6 Km/H 98.65% Wet Braking 1st 34.6 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 71 Km/H 100% Straight Aqua 9th 78.2 Km/H 82.6 Km/H -4.4 Km/H 94.67% Noise 1st 70 dB 100% Tyre Weight 4th 7.76 Kg 7.48 Kg +0.28 Kg 96.39% Price 10th 107 65 +42 60.75% Rolling Resistance 1st 7.6 kg / t 100% The Primacy 4 has the shortest braking distances and high safety reserves in the dry and wet. Balanced performance, easily controllable, low noise levels, and low rolling resistance. Poor aquaplaning resistance, limited comfort. Very good. Read Reviews    Buy from £104.88
2nd: Bridgestone Turanza T005
195/55 R16 91H EU Label: B/A/71 Origin: France Weight: 7.53kgs Tread: 7.4mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 37.5 M 36 M +1.5 M 96% Dry Handling 2nd 117.7 Km/H 118.8 Km/H -1.1 Km/H 99.07% Wet Braking 3rd 36.2 M 34.6 M +1.6 M 95.58% Wet Handling 4th 70.5 Km/H 71 Km/H -0.5 Km/H 99.3% Straight Aqua 8th 78.6 Km/H 82.6 Km/H -4 Km/H 95.16% Noise 11th 72.4 dB 70 dB +2.4 dB 96.69% Tyre Weight 2nd 7.53 Kg 7.48 Kg +0.05 Kg 99.34% Price 11th 111 65 +46 58.56% Rolling Resistance 1st 7.6 kg / t 100% The T005 has very good dry handling with precise stable steering, lowest rolling resistance on test. Average braking, low aquaplaning resistance. Very good. Read Reviews    Buy from £95.88
3rd: Nokian WetProof
195/55 R16 87H EU Label: C/A/68 Origin: Finland Weight: 7.48kgs Tread: 7.9mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 37.1 M 36 M +1.1 M 97.04% Dry Handling 9th 117 Km/H 118.8 Km/H -1.8 Km/H 98.48% Wet Braking 6th 37.9 M 34.6 M +3.3 M 91.29% Wet Handling 1st 71 Km/H 100% Straight Aqua 2nd 81.8 Km/H 82.6 Km/H -0.8 Km/H 99.03% Noise 1st 70 dB 100% Tyre Weight 1st 7.48 Kg 100% Price 5th 78 65 +13 83.33% Rolling Resistance 6th 8.2 kg / t 7.6 kg / t +0.6 kg / t 92.68% Apart from a slight weakness when braking, the WetProof is very good in the wet with the fastest wet handling lap, and it's also controllable in the dry. Average wet braking, average rolling resistance. Very good. Read Reviews
4th: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
195/55 R16 87H EU Label: A/C/67 Origin: France Weight: 7.76kgs Tread: 8.46mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 38.1 M 36 M +2.1 M 94.49% Dry Handling 3rd 117.4 Km/H 118.8 Km/H -1.4 Km/H 98.82% Wet Braking 6th 37.9 M 34.6 M +3.3 M 91.29% Wet Handling 6th 70.2 Km/H 71 Km/H -0.8 Km/H 98.87% Straight Aqua 3rd 81.5 Km/H 82.6 Km/H -1.1 Km/H 98.67% Noise 1st 70 dB 100% Tyre Weight 4th 7.76 Kg 7.48 Kg +0.28 Kg 96.39% Price 8th 83 65 +18 78.31% Rolling Resistance 4th 7.9 kg / t 7.6 kg / t +0.3 kg / t 96.2% The EfficientGrip Performance 2 has good aquaplaning resistance, excellent steering during lane change maneuvers, and good levels of comfort. Long dry and wet braking distances. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £89.93
5th: Continental Premium Contact 5
195/55 R16 87H EU Label: C/A/71 Origin: Portugal Weight: 7.74kgs Tread: 7.4mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 37.9 M 36 M +1.9 M 94.99% Dry Handling 8th 117.1 Km/H 118.8 Km/H -1.7 Km/H 98.57% Wet Braking 4th 36.6 M 34.6 M +2 M 94.54% Wet Handling 5th 70.3 Km/H 71 Km/H -0.7 Km/H 99.01% Straight Aqua 6th 80.5 Km/H 82.6 Km/H -2.1 Km/H 97.46% Noise 6th 70.9 dB 70 dB +0.9 dB 98.73% Tyre Weight 3rd 7.74 Kg 7.48 Kg +0.26 Kg 96.64% Price 7th 82 65 +17 79.27% Rolling Resistance 6th 8.2 kg / t 7.6 kg / t +0.6 kg / t 92.68% Safe handling balance in the dry and wet. Long dry braking, average rolling resistance. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £115.22
6th: Maxxis Premitra HP5
195/55 R16 91V EU Label: C/A/71 Origin: Taiwan Weight: 8.34kgs Tread: 7.5mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 36.9 M 36 M +0.9 M 97.56% Dry Handling 3rd 117.4 Km/H 118.8 Km/H -1.4 Km/H 98.82% Wet Braking 5th 37.7 M 34.6 M +3.1 M 91.78% Wet Handling 3rd 70.8 Km/H 71 Km/H -0.2 Km/H 99.72% Straight Aqua 4th 81.3 Km/H 82.6 Km/H -1.3 Km/H 98.43% Noise 5th 70.3 dB 70 dB +0.3 dB 99.57% Tyre Weight 10th 8.34 Kg 7.48 Kg +0.86 Kg 89.69% Price 1st 65 100% Rolling Resistance 9th 8.5 kg / t 7.6 kg / t +0.9 kg / t 89.41% The Premitra 5 has dynamic and driveable in the dry and wet, low noise. Long wet braking distances, increased rolling resistance. Good. Read Reviews
7th: BFGoodrich Advantage
195/55 R16 87V EU Label: C/A/70 Origin: Romania Weight: 7.87kgs Tread: 6.95mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 37.9 M 36 M +1.9 M 94.99% Dry Handling 11th 116.3 Km/H 118.8 Km/H -2.5 Km/H 97.9% Wet Braking 2nd 35.8 M 34.6 M +1.2 M 96.65% Wet Handling 7th 69.3 Km/H 71 Km/H -1.7 Km/H 97.61% Straight Aqua 7th 78.8 Km/H 82.6 Km/H -3.8 Km/H 95.4% Noise 9th 71.4 dB 70 dB +1.4 dB 98.04% Tyre Weight 7th 7.87 Kg 7.48 Kg +0.39 Kg 95.04% Price 9th 93 65 +28 69.89% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.1 kg / t 7.6 kg / t +0.5 kg / t 93.83% Good wet braking, stable and surprise free dry handling. Slightly long dry braking, average aquaplaning, average rolling resistance. Good. Read Reviews
8th: Hankook Kinergy Eco 2
195/55 R16 87H EU Label: B/A/71 Origin: Hungary Weight: 7.92kgs Tread: 7.6mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 9th 38.3 M 36 M +2.3 M 93.99% Dry Handling 5th 117.3 Km/H 118.8 Km/H -1.5 Km/H 98.74% Wet Braking 6th 37.9 M 34.6 M +3.3 M 91.29% Wet Handling 8th 68.7 Km/H 71 Km/H -2.3 Km/H 96.76% Straight Aqua 9th 78.2 Km/H 82.6 Km/H -4.4 Km/H 94.67% Noise 4th 70.2 dB 70 dB +0.2 dB 99.72% Tyre Weight 9th 7.92 Kg 7.48 Kg +0.44 Kg 94.44% Price 4th 75 65 +10 86.67% Rolling Resistance 3rd 7.7 kg / t 7.6 kg / t +0.1 kg / t 98.7% The Kinergy Eco2 is stable in evasive situations, very quiet, low rolling resistance. Weak braking in the dry and wet, low grip during wet handling. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £93.13
9th: Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
195/55 R16 87H EU Label: E/A/67 Origin: Turkey Weight: 8.97kgs Tread: 7.8mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 11th 38.8 M 36 M +2.8 M 92.78% Dry Handling 5th 117.3 Km/H 118.8 Km/H -1.5 Km/H 98.74% Wet Braking 9th 38.5 M 34.6 M +3.9 M 89.87% Wet Handling 8th 68.7 Km/H 71 Km/H -2.3 Km/H 96.76% Straight Aqua 1st 82.6 Km/H 100% Noise 8th 71.3 dB 70 dB +1.3 dB 98.18% Tyre Weight 11th 8.97 Kg 7.48 Kg +1.49 Kg 83.39% Price 3rd 74 65 +9 87.84% Rolling Resistance 11th 9.9 kg / t 7.6 kg / t +2.3 kg / t 76.77% The EcoRun ZE310 has a very good aquaplaning resistance. Sluggish steering, very long dry braking, oversteer in the wet, very high rolling resistance. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £102.46
10th: Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde
195/55 R16 87H EU Label: C/B/69 Origin: Turkey Weight: 7.76kgs Tread: 7.5mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 10th 38.4 M 36 M +2.4 M 93.75% Dry Handling 10th 116.8 Km/H 118.8 Km/H -2 Km/H 98.32% Wet Braking 10th 39.8 M 34.6 M +5.2 M 86.93% Wet Handling 10th 68.5 Km/H 71 Km/H -2.5 Km/H 96.48% Straight Aqua 5th 80.9 Km/H 82.6 Km/H -1.7 Km/H 97.94% Noise 7th 71 dB 70 dB +1 dB 98.59% Tyre Weight 4th 7.76 Kg 7.48 Kg +0.28 Kg 96.39% Price 6th 80 65 +15 81.25% Rolling Resistance 8th 8.4 kg / t 7.6 kg / t +0.8 kg / t 90.48% Good aquaplaning resistance, stable dry balance. Long braking distances in the dry and wet, high rolling resistance. Satisfactory. Read Reviews    Buy from £94.65
11th: Toyo Proxes Comfort
195/55 R16 91V EU Label: C/B/70 Origin: Japan Weight: 7.89kgs Tread: 7.5mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 37.6 M 36 M +1.6 M 95.74% Dry Handling 1st 118.8 Km/H 100% Wet Braking 11th 41.8 M 34.6 M +7.2 M 82.78% Wet Handling 11th 68.2 Km/H 71 Km/H -2.8 Km/H 96.06% Straight Aqua 11th 77.3 Km/H 82.6 Km/H -5.3 Km/H 93.58% Noise 10th 71.7 dB 70 dB +1.7 dB 97.63% Tyre Weight 8th 7.89 Kg 7.48 Kg +0.41 Kg 94.8% Price 2nd 69 65 +4 94.2% Rolling Resistance 10th 8.8 kg / t 7.6 kg / t +1.2 kg / t 86.36% Very good cornering grip in the dry. Very long dry and wet braking, limited ride comfort. Devaluation due to long wet braking result. Average. Read Reviews    Buy from £79.56