In their latest tyre test, Teknikens Värld magazine has put eight leading SUV tyres through their paces. Using the popular Volvo XC60 as their test platform with the increasingly common 235/55 R19 tyre size, the Swedish publication's experienced test team subjected each tyre to a battery of challenges ranging from emergency braking and handling to comfort and fuel efficiency assessments.

The All-Season Question: Michelin CrossClimate 2 VOL

A particularly interesting inclusion in this summer tyre test was the Michelin CrossClimate 2 VOL – a Volvo-specific version of Michelin's all-season tyre that had previously been offered as original equipment on the XC60. The testers were keen to assess how this compromised tyre would fare against dedicated summer tyres.

The results were conclusive and somewhat cautionary. Despite being specifically developed in collaboration with Volvo, the CrossClimate 2 VOL struggled to match the performance of purpose-built summer tyres, particularly on wet surfaces. The tyre exhibited noticeably more understeer and significantly duller steering responses, making the Volvo feel less connected to the road and more sluggish in dynamic driving situations.

Teknikens Värld's verdict was clear: while all-season tyres offer convenience, they represent a compromise that still isn't optimal for Swedish driving conditions. The test team explicitly recommended against standardizing vehicles with all-season tyres in this market, suggesting instead that drivers would be better served by switching between dedicated summer and winter tyres appropriate to the season. Their assessment highlights the persistent performance gap between specialized seasonal tyres and all-season alternatives, even when the latter are specifically tailored to a particular vehicle model.

The full data is below. The magazine didn't publish a lot, but you can skip to the summaries for each tyre at the bottom of the page.

Dry

Wet

Comfort

Results

1st: Pirelli Scorpion
235/55 R19 105W Origin: Romania Weight: 11.8 kgs Tread: 7.5 mm 3PMSF: no Price: 2100.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 21.87 M 21.75 M +0.12 M 99.45% Wet Braking 3rd 24.75 M 24.64 M +0.11 M 99.56% Wet Handling 1st 38.71 s 100% Subj. Comfort 6th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% The Pirelli Scorpion emerged as the overall test winner, delivering classic performance where grip and excellent road behavior were clear priorities. While slightly noisier than some competitors, this drawback was easily overlooked given the tyre's exceptional road manners. The Scorpion made the Volvo XC60 feel exactly as it should - with precise, responsive steering that built force predictably, outstanding directional stability, and excellent balance. The testers noted it provided perfect steering feedback from initial input through corners, making the car feel planted and confident at all times. Despite having higher rolling resistance as a trade-off for its superior grip, the Pirelli Scorpion consistently delivered top-tier performance in safety-critical tests. Read Reviews    Buy from £140.18
2nd: Michelin e.Primacy
235/55 R19 105V Origin: Italy Weight: 11.9 kgs Tread: 6.5 mm 3PMSF: no Price: 2200.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 22.35 M 21.75 M +0.6 M 97.32% Wet Braking 1st 24.64 M 100% Wet Handling 4th 39.44 s 38.71 s +0.73 s 98.15% Subj. Comfort 1st 10 Points 100% The Michelin e Primacy impressed with its remarkably low rolling resistance (best in test by a significant margin) while maintaining strong overall performance. Though it sacrificed some grip in hydroplaning resistance, this weakness wasn't generally noticeable in normal driving. The e Primacy delivered exceptional comfort, being both the quietest tyre and offering excellent shock absorption without feeling spongy. Its handling characteristics were quite similar to the winning Pirelli, though slightly less precise in steering feel and responsiveness. For drivers prioritizing comfort and fuel efficiency while still wanting strong safety performance, the Michelin e Primacy offers an excellent compromise, finishing just one point behind the test winner. Read Reviews    Buy from £152.91
3rd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
235/55 R19 105Y Origin: Germany Weight: 12.9 kgs Tread: 7.4 mm 3PMSF: no Price: 1900.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 21.75 M 100% Wet Braking 5th 25.41 M 24.64 M +0.77 M 96.97% Wet Handling 5th 39.49 s 38.71 s +0.78 s 98.02% Subj. Comfort 6th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 performed confidently throughout the test, showing particular strength in emergency maneuvers by tying for first in the moose test. With mild understeer, the tyre provided predictable handling around the wet track without any surprises, allowing drivers to easily anticipate the car's reactions in various situations. While it didn't match the Pirelli's precise, engaging road feel, the Goodyear offered a well-balanced performance across all test metrics. The testers noted that the small differences in road feel and stability compared to the top performers were what relegated it to third place, despite impressive objective measurements in most safety categories. Read Reviews    Buy from £154.93
4th: Continental PremiumContact 7
235/55 R19 105Y Origin: France Weight: 12.0 kgs Tread: 6.9 mm 3PMSF: no Price: 1800.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 21.9 M 21.75 M +0.15 M 99.32% Wet Braking 6th 26.18 M 24.64 M +1.54 M 94.12% Wet Handling 2nd 39.33 s 38.71 s +0.62 s 98.42% Subj. Comfort 3rd 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% The Continental PremiumContact 7 delivered consistent, high-level performance across most test categories with no significant weaknesses. Like Goodyear, it excelled in the moose test, showing excellent emergency handling capabilities. However, the testers noted the tyre felt slightly sluggish in everyday driving compared to the leaders, with less responsive steering and a somewhat lazier character than expected, particularly given Continental's typically sharper performance in smaller dimensions. While braking performance, wet handling, and hydroplaning resistance were all good, the Continental couldn't match the precision and engaging road feel of the test winner, making the Volvo XC60 feel less connected to the road than with the Pirelli mounted. Read Reviews    Buy from £152.21
5th: Nexen N Fera Sport SUV
235/55 R19 105V Origin: Czech Republic Weight: 12.9 kgs Tread: 7.4 mm 3PMSF: no Price: 1800.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 23 M 21.75 M +1.25 M 94.57% Wet Braking 2nd 24.73 M 24.64 M +0.09 M 99.64% Wet Handling 6th 39.94 s 38.71 s +1.23 s 96.92% Subj. Comfort 3rd 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% The Nexen N'Fera Sport SUV SU2S represented something of an eye-opener for the test team, showing significant improvement over previous Nexen products while landing in a tie for fifth place. The Korean manufacturer has clearly addressed many prior criticisms, delivering impressive objective performance in braking and hydroplaning resistance. However, the tyre still lagged behind the leaders in subjective handling characteristics, with testers noting a spongy feel with poor response and diminished stability that made the vehicle feel disconnected from the road. Interestingly, the historically budget-oriented brand has now priced itself alongside premium competitors, reflecting the costs of their performance improvements but losing their previous price advantage. Read Reviews
6th: Nokian Hakka Black 3 SUV
235/55 R19 105W Origin: Finland Weight: 13.6 kgs Tread: 7.8 mm 3PMSF: no Price: 2400.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 22.55 M 21.75 M +0.8 M 96.45% Wet Braking 4th 25.21 M 24.64 M +0.57 M 97.74% Wet Handling 3rd 39.34 s 38.71 s +0.63 s 98.4% Subj. Comfort 8th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% The Nokian Hakka Black 3 SUV tied for fifth place, delivering strong grip performance but struggling with comfort. The Finnish tyre generated the most noise of any in the test, producing a deeper, low-frequency sound on all road surfaces that became particularly noticeable on coarser pavement. Its shock absorption was also inferior, transmitting more road imperfections into the otherwise comfortable Volvo XC60. On the positive side, its handling response was quite similar to the winning Pirelli, though with less overall grip. The testers questioned why the Nokian was the most expensive tyre in the test despite these compromises, noting that while it performed well in grip-focused categories, it couldn't match the balanced approach of the top performers. Read Reviews
7th: Michelin CrossClimate 2
235/55 R19 105H Origin: Germany Weight: 11.4 kgs Tread: 6.6 mm 3PMSF: no Price: 2400.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 23.4 M 21.75 M +1.65 M 92.95% Wet Braking 7th 26.88 M 24.64 M +2.24 M 91.67% Wet Handling 7th 40.83 s 38.71 s +2.12 s 94.81% Subj. Comfort 3rd 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% The Michelin CrossClimate 2 VOL, despite being a Volvo-specific version previously offered as original equipment on the XC60, clearly lagged behind dedicated summer tyres in most test categories. As an all-season tyre attempting to bridge summer and winter performance, it demonstrated compromises that became particularly evident on wet surfaces, where significant understeer and duller responses made the car feel sluggish and less connected. The testers explicitly recommended against standardizing cars with all-season tyres in Sweden, suggesting that drivers would be better served by dedicated summer tyres paired with proper winter tyres when the season changes, rather than this compromise solution that fell well short of true summer tyre performance. Read Reviews    Buy from £179.41
8th: Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco
235/55 R19 105V Origin: China Weight: 12.7 kgs Tread: 7.0 mm 3PMSF: no Price: 900.00	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 24.96 M 21.75 M +3.21 M 87.14% Wet Braking 8th 26.97 M 24.64 M +2.33 M 91.36% Wet Handling 8th 40.85 s 38.71 s +2.14 s 94.76% Subj. Comfort 2nd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% The Goodride ZuperEco Z-107, the least expensive tyre in the test by a considerable margin, proved the old adage that "you get what you pay for." While surprisingly competent in comfort metrics and relatively quiet on smooth surfaces, the tyre's critical safety deficiencies were impossible to overlook. It was the only tyre to demonstrate unstable, unpredictable sliding tendencies combined with severe understeer, making the vehicle genuinely difficult to control in emergency situations. Its catastrophic performance in the moose test (7 km/h slower than the next worst tyre) led to a 10-point penalty in the final scoring. Despite some acceptable objective measurements in other categories, the testers strongly advised avoiding this tyre due to its dangerous handling characteristics. Read Reviews