The Auto Bild 2024 summer tyre test for electric vehicles (EVs) in the 235/55 R19 size aimed to compare the performance of standard and specialized EV tyres to determine if EV-specific tyres offer significant advantages over their conventional counterparts. The test included eight tyre models: the Continental PremiumContact 7, Falken e.Ziex [ev specific], Hankook iON evo SUV [ev specific], Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, GT Radial SportActive 2 EV [ev specific], Bridgestone Potenza Sport, and Goodride ZuperEco Z-107.
4 categories (13 tests)
| Test Category | Best Performer | Worst Performer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (2 tests) | |||
| Dry Braking | ▲ Hankook iON evo SUV: 33 M | ▼ GT-Radial Sport Active 2 EV: 37.9 M | 4.9 M (12.9%) |
| Dry Handling | ▲ Continental PremiumContact 7: 71.3 Km/H | ▼ Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco: 67.1 Km/H | 4.2 Km/H (6.3%) |
| Wet (5 tests) | |||
| Wet Braking | ▲ Continental PremiumContact 7: 37.7 M | ▼ Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco: 48.1 M | 10.4 M (21.6%) |
| Wet Handling | ▲ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 59.2 Km/H | ▼ Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco: 54.3 Km/H | 4.9 Km/H (9.0%) |
| Wet Circle | ▲ Continental PremiumContact 7: 12.88 s | ▼ Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco: 13.95 s | 1.1 s (7.7%) |
| Straight Aqua | ▲ Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV: 95.5 Km/H | ▼ Falken e.Ziex: 92.1 Km/H | 3.4 Km/H (3.7%) |
| Curved Aquaplaning | ▲ Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco: 3.28 m/sec2 | ▼ GT-Radial Sport Active 2 EV: 2.64 m/sec2 | 0.6 m/sec2 (24.2%) |
| Comfort (1 tests) | |||
| Noise | ▲ Hankook iON evo SUV: 68.6 dB | ▼ Michelin Pilot Sport EV: 71.3 dB | 2.7 dB (3.8%) |
| Value (5 tests) | |||
| Wear | ▲ Continental PremiumContact 7: 36885 KM | ▼ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 18530 KM | 18,355.0 KM (99.1%) |
| Value | ▲ Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco: 14.55 Price/1000 | ▼ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 38.32 Price/1000 | 23.8 Price/1000 (62.0%) |
| Rolling Resistance | ▲ Falken e.Ziex: 5.55 kg / t | ▼ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 9.1 kg / t | 3.6 kg / t (39.0%) |
| Energy Consumption | ▲ Falken e.Ziex: 18.28 kWh/100km | ▼ GT-Radial Sport Active 2 EV: 20.82 kWh/100km | 2.5 kWh/100km (12.2%) |
| Abrasion | ▲ Continental PremiumContact 7: 1069 g | ▼ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 2093 g | 1,024.0 g (48.9%) |
Interestingly, Michelin decided not to officially enter their EV-specific tyre, the Pilot Sport EV, or their e-Primacy model in the test, opting instead for the Pilot Sport 4 SUV from their sports tyre segment. Despite this, the discontinued Pilot Sport EV was still tested alongside the other contenders, providing an opportunity to compare its performance against both standard and EV-specific tyres.
The tyres were evaluated on a Kia EV6 electric vehicle across three main categories: Wet Performance (40% weightage), Dry Performance (40% weightage), and Cost (20% weightage). Wet Performance tests included aquaplaning, curved aquaplaning, handling, steering response, and braking. Dry Performance assessed handling, braking, rolling comfort, and pass-by noise. The Cost category considered mileage, price per mileage, rolling resistance, and electricity consumption.
In the final results, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV emerged as the overall winner, receiving an "Exemplary" rating. The Continental PremiumContact 7 and Hankook iON evo SUV tied for second place, also with "Exemplary" ratings. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 followed closely in fourth place. The test demonstrated that while specialized EV tyres like the Hankook iON evo SUV can offer benefits, high-quality standard tyres such as those from Continental and Michelin can also provide excellent performance on electric vehicles.
As for the Michelin Pilot Sport EV, although it wasn't officially part of the test, its performance in the measured categories suggests it would have likely placed in the lower half of the rankings. The tyre struggled in wet conditions, placing 7th in braking and 8th in both aquaplaning tests. It fared slightly better in dry handling, securing 6th place. However, without complete data across all test criteria, it's difficult to determine its exact position in the final order.
The Auto Bild 2024 summer tyre test for EVs showcases the importance of considering a balance of safety, performance, and efficiency when selecting tyres for electric vehicles. While EV-specific tyres can offer some advantages, the test proves that high-quality standard tyres can also rise to the challenge of providing excellent performance on these technologically advanced vehicles.
Dry
The Hankook iON evo SUV showcased the best dry braking performance, stopping just short of the Continental PremiumContact 7. The GT Radial SportActive 2 EV and Goodride ZuperEco Z-107 required the longest distances to come to a halt.
Continental PremiumContact 7 demonstrated the most agile and precise handling on dry roads, closely followed by the Michelin's Pilot Sport 4 SUV and Bridgestone Potenza Sport. The Goodride ZuperEco Z-107 and GT Radial SportActive 2 EV struggled to keep up with the leaders in this discipline.
Wet
In wet braking tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 outperformed the competition, with the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV not far behind. The Goodride ZuperEco Z-107 had the longest braking distance on wet surfaces.
The Bridgestone Potenza Sport and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV displayed the best handling characteristics on wet roads, while the Goodride ZuperEco Z-107 was again last.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV had the highest resistance to aquaplaning in straight-line conditions, with most tires performing similarly well. The Falken e.Ziex was the first to lose grip on the water-covered surface.
Comfort
The Hankook iON evo SUV proved to be the quietest tire, whereas the Bridgestone Potenza Sport produced the most noise.
Value
The Continental PremiumContact 7 demonstrated the lowest wear rate, promising the highest mileage. The Bridgestone Potenza Sport had the highest wear, just half of the Continental.
The rolling resistance and energy consumption tests yielded intriguing results, particularly for the Bridgestone Potenza Sport and GT Radial SportActive 2 EV tires. In the rolling resistance test, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport had the highest rolling resistance, while the GT Radial SportActive 2 EV performed well, ranking second only to the Falken e.Ziex.
However, the real-world efficiency test revealed a different picture. The GT Radial SportActive 2 EV, despite its low rolling resistance in the lab test, consumed the most energy during real-world testing. This discrepancy highlights the importance of conducting both laboratory and real-world assessments to gain a comprehensive understanding of a tire's performance.
The article does not provide specific theories to explain this discrepancy, but it is possible that other factors, such as the tire's construction, compound, or interaction with the road surface, may have contributed to the GT Radial SportActive 2 EV's higher energy consumption in real-world conditions.
The Continental PremiumContact 7 produced the least amount of tire abrasion, suggesting a more environmentally friendly performance. The Bridgestone Potenza Sport had the highest abrasion rate, which may lead to increased tire particulate emissions.
Results
1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV is a sports tyre that delivers impressive performance on both wet and dry surfaces. It exhibits dynamic handling qualities, precise steering response, short braking distances, and high mileage. The tyre has slightly increased rolling resistance. Read Reviews Buy from £168.07 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd: Continental PremiumContact 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Continental PremiumContact 7 is a standard tyre that offers outstanding mileage and exemplary sustainability. It delivers the shortest wet and dry braking distances, precise dry handling, and a pleasantly quiet ride. The tyre also showcases low rolling resistance, reduced tyre abrasion, and minimal electricity consumption. None mentioned. Read Reviews Buy from £159.13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd: Hankook iON evo SUV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Hankook iON evo SUV is a new EV summer tyre that provides a well-balanced, high-performance package. It offers stable and secure handling, short wet and dry braking distances, low noise emissions, excellent mileage, and good overall value. None mentioned. Read Reviews Buy from £152.47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 is a sports tyre that offers convincing performance on dry and wet roads. It provides good aquaplaning resistance, short braking distances, and good overall value. The tyre has a slightly elevated rolling resistance. Read Reviews Buy from £145.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th: Falken e.Ziex | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Falken e.Ziex is an EV tyre that delivers short dry braking distances, extended range, low rolling resistance, and a very attractive price point. The tyre has a satisfactory mileage and a tendency to understeer. Read Reviews Buy from £149.80 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6th: GT Radial Sport Active 2 EV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The GT Radial SportActive 2 EV is an EV tyre that offers high mileage, quiet rolling comfort, low rolling resistance, and an affordable price. The tyre exhibits understeering in both wet and dry handling and has extended wet braking distances. Read Reviews Buy from £151.32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th: Bridgestone Potenza Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Bridgestone Potenza Sport is a sports tyre that provides dynamic driving behavior on wet and dry surfaces, short braking distances, and good aquaplaning resistance. The tyre has limited mileage, very high rolling resistance, increased fuel consumption, and a less comfortable ride. Read Reviews Buy from £137.48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8th: Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Goodride ZuperEco Z-107 is an eco-friendly tyre available at a budget-friendly price, offering good aquaplaning resistance. The tyre has limited lateral grip and extended braking distances on wet surfaces, understeering handling, and moderate mileage. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9th: Michelin Pilot Sport EV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As a tyre specifically designed for electric vehicles, the Michelin Pilot Sport EV likely offers some performance benefits tailored to the unique demands of EVs. Although not officially part of the test, the Pilot Sport EV was included in some of the assessments, allowing for a partial comparison with the other contenders. Based on the available results, the Michelin Pilot Sport EV struggled in wet conditions, with relatively poor performances in wet braking, aquaplaning, and curved aquaplaning tests. The tyre's dry handling performance was moderate, placing 6th among the tested tyres. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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