There's a new comfort bias summer tyre to market, the Pirelli Cinturato C3! To see how good the new tyre really is, I've tested it against some of its key rivals from Michelin and Continental. I've also added some new tyres I've not tested before. 

As usual, all the tyres in this test will be tested in the dry and wet, and I'll be assessing the comfort, noise, and rolling resistance (energy use) of the tyres to give you a complete overview of which tyre is best.

Test Publication:

https://www.tyrereviews.com

Test Size: 225/50 R17

Tyres Tested: 7 tyres

Test Categories:
4 categories (11 tests)

View Test Summary

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Test Category	Best Performer	Worst Performer	Difference
Dry (3 tests)
Dry Braking	▲ Pirelli Cinturato C3: 34.13 M	▼ Goodtrip GR 66: 37.09 M	3.0 M (8.0%)
Dry Handling	▲ Falken ZIEX ZE320: 85.54 s	▼ Goodtrip GR 66: 87.4 s	1.9 s (2.1%)
Subj. Dry Handling	▲ Michelin Primacy 4 Plus: 10 Points	▼ Goodtrip GR 66: 6 Points	4.0 Points (66.7%)
Wet (5 tests)
Wet Braking	▲ Continental PremiumContact 7: 24.61 M	▼ Goodtrip GR 66: 34 M	9.4 M (27.6%)
Wet Handling	▲ Falken ZIEX ZE320: 105.18 s	▼ Goodtrip GR 66: 116.72 s	11.5 s (9.9%)
Subj. Wet Handling	▲ Falken ZIEX ZE320: 10 Points	▼ Goodtrip GR 66: 8 Points	2.0 Points (25.0%)
Straight Aqua	▲ Continental PremiumContact 7: 98.1 Km/H	▼ Goodtrip GR 66: 88.2 Km/H	9.9 Km/H (11.2%)
Curved Aquaplaning	▲ Pirelli Cinturato C3: 2.6 m/sec2	▼ Falken ZIEX ZE320: 2.27 m/sec2	0.3 m/sec2 (14.5%)
Comfort (2 tests)
Subj. Comfort	▲ Michelin Primacy 4 Plus: 10 Points	▼ Goodtrip GR 66: 7 Points	3.0 Points (42.9%)
Noise	▲ Vredestein Ultrac: 70.9 dB	▼ Continental PremiumContact 7: 73.2 dB	2.3 dB (3.1%)
Value (1 tests)
Rolling Resistance	▲ Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN: 7.31 kg / t	▼ Goodtrip GR 66: 7.94 kg / t	0.6 kg / t (7.9%)

Dry

Dry handling was very close! As always for the dry I'm not just testing outright lap time, as that is probably less interesting for this category of tyre, but we're digging deep into things like steering precision and predictability, things which impact your life on the road with these tyres.

The Firestone was lovely and predictable driving around, light steering, but as you sped up the rear got saturated quickly.

The Vredestein felt pretty bouncy, the steering wasn't precise and the softness of the tyre meant the rear took time to stabilise when turning which isn't a feeling I enjoy, it means you're guessing where the car is going. Otherwise, great grip.

The Falken felt more sporty, and was very stable, this new falken continues to perform well.

The top three were pretty difficult to pick from, which were the Conti, Michelin and Pirelli. The Conti had the quickest steering but did feel a touch elastic in this size, whereas the Michelin and Pirelli both felt very stable, rounded, mature and had excellent grip.

Subjectively it was very hard to pick a favorite between Michelin and Pirelli, but as the Pirelli was faster around the lap, it won.

The Pirelli Cinturato C3 needed just 34.13 meters to stop from 100 km/h, while the Goodtrip GR 66 took nearly 3 meters longer at 37.09 meters.

Wet

It's been a while since I wet tested in a RWD car, and while safety systems have come a long way, it is a nice reminder how important tyres are. 

The Goodtrip must have been named ironically as you wouldn't have a good trip in the wet. To be fair to it, it's not the worst cheap tyre I've ever used, but it certainly doesn't compare to the rest.

Next up was the Michelin Primacy 4+, as usual this was classic Michelin, super safe feeling with plenty of understeer. The French tyre is now a little down on grip, showing its age as one of the oldest tyres in this test.

The top 5 were separated by less than 3% which is crazy close on such a complicated track. While all the times were close, as usual, the grip was delivered in varying ways.

The Firestone was an easy tyre to drive, the rear felt very planted and it posted a good time, it didn't feel special but it wasn't particularly bad in any way either.

Next up was the Continental, and we're now 1.8% away from the best so these is a very tight group.

I usually love Continental in subjective handling, but in this size and this vehicle it didn't really gel for me. Still loads of grip, but the rear was a little behind the front, and the front had high levels of understeer. But again, we're within 2% of the best.

Third and second was the new Pirelli and the Vredestein Ultrac. The Pirelli felt like one of the best on this vehicle with nice steering and a solid balance, whereas the Vredestein felt a little sluggish in comparison but like always, the Ultrac had buckets of grip.

Finally, the new Falken posted the fastest time by the smallest of margins. It felt very similar to the vredestein, as in a little sluggish compared to the Pirelli, but loads of grip and no issue with the deeper water on the track.

A very close handling test, so let's see if braking is can spread things out!

The Continental PremiumContact 7 showed its wet weather ability by stopping in just 24.61 meters from 80 km/h. The Goodtrip GR 66 needed an extra 9.4 meters to stop, taking 34 meters in total - a significant safety gap between best and worst.

The Continental PremiumContact 7 maintained grip up to 98.1 km/h before aquaplaning, while the Goodtrip GR 66 lost control at just 88.2 km/h. 

The Pirelli Cinturato C3 generated the most grip in curved aquaplaning with 2.6 m/s², while the Falken could only manage 2.27 m/s². Unlike other wet tests, the Goodtrip wasn't the worst performer here.

Comfort

The Michelin Primacy 4+ led the comfort ratings with a perfect 10/10 score. The Goodtrip GR 66 scored lowest at 7/10, feeling somewhat firm in all impact conditions.

The Vredestein Ultrac was the quietest tyre tested at 70.9 dB, while the Continental PremiumContact 7 was the loudest at 73.2 dB.

Value

The Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN had the lowest rolling resistance at 7.3 kg/t, while the Goodtrip GR 66 was least efficient at 7.9 kg/t. A close group overall.

Results

1st: Pirelli Cinturato C3
225/50 R17 98Y Weight: 9.15 kgs Tread: 7 mm Rim Protection: Small 3PMSF: no Price: 157.89	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 34.13 M 100% Dry Handling 2nd 85.61 s 85.54 s +0.07 s 99.92% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Wet Braking 2nd 24.96 M 24.61 M +0.35 M 98.6% Wet Handling 3rd 106.63 s 105.18 s +1.45 s 98.64% Subj. Wet Handling 4th 9.5 Points 10 Points -0.5 Points 95% Straight Aqua 3rd 95.7 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -2.4 Km/H 97.55% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 2.6 m/sec2 100% Subj. Comfort 4th 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Noise 4th 71.9 dB 70.9 dB +1 dB 98.61% Rolling Resistance 3rd 7.7 kg / t 7.31 kg / t +0.39 kg / t 94.94% Strong dry performance with the best dry braking distance, excellent dry handling characteristics and impressive wet performance with near class-leading scores in both curved aquaplaning and braking. Slightly lower comfort levels on harsh impacts when compared to the best. The new Cinturato C3 is an excellent upgrade to the P7 C2. This tyre had no real weaknesses, just a string of excellent performances across both wet and dry tests. While it might not have the absolute highest scores in comfort or refinement, the balance of performance puts it at the top of this test. Read Reviews
1st: Continental PremiumContact 7
225/50 R17 98Y Weight: 9.25 kgs Tread: 7.6 mm Rim Protection: Good 3PMSF: no Price: 128.59	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 34.65 M 34.13 M +0.52 M 98.5% Dry Handling 3rd 85.73 s 85.54 s +0.19 s 99.78% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 9.5 Points 10 Points -0.5 Points 95% Wet Braking 1st 24.61 M 100% Wet Handling 4th 107.14 s 105.18 s +1.96 s 98.17% Subj. Wet Handling 5th 9.25 Points 10 Points -0.75 Points 92.5% Straight Aqua 1st 98.1 Km/H 100% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd 2.57 m/sec2 2.6 m/sec2 -0.03 m/sec2 98.85% Subj. Comfort 2nd 9.5 Points 10 Points -0.5 Points 95% Noise 7th 73.2 dB 70.9 dB +2.3 dB 96.86% Rolling Resistance 4th 7.72 kg / t 7.31 kg / t +0.41 kg / t 94.69% Dominated the wet tests with best-in-test wet braking and straight aquaplaning performance, matched with good dry grip and handling balance. The noisiest tyre in test at 73.2 dB, and showed some slight balance issues in wet handling with the rear end feeling less planted than the front. The PremiumContact 7 continues Continental's strong run of form, matching the Pirelli's overall performance. The tyre clearly prioritized safety with its class-leading wet grip, but the higher noise levels and slight handling imbalance kept it from another clear win. Read Reviews    Buy from £125.69
3rd: Vredestein Ultrac
225/50 R17 98Y Weight: 9.7 kgs Tread: 6.8 mm Rim Protection: Small 3PMSF: no Price: 117.19	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 34.43 M 34.13 M +0.3 M 99.13% Dry Handling 6th 86.57 s 85.54 s +1.03 s 98.81% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Wet Braking 4th 25.79 M 24.61 M +1.18 M 95.42% Wet Handling 2nd 106.28 s 105.18 s +1.1 s 98.96% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Straight Aqua 5th 95.2 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -2.9 Km/H 97.04% Curved Aquaplaning 4th 2.55 m/sec2 2.6 m/sec2 -0.05 m/sec2 98.08% Subj. Comfort 2nd 9.5 Points 10 Points -0.5 Points 95% Noise 1st 70.9 dB 100% Rolling Resistance 6th 7.78 kg / t 7.31 kg / t +0.47 kg / t 93.96% Class-leading refinement with the lowest noise levels and excellent comfort scores. Strong wet handling performance with consistent, predictable behavior. Bouncy handling characteristics in the dry with slower rear response to direction changes. One of the highest rolling resistance scores, though the group was very close. The Ultrac proves Vredestein knows how to make a refined tyre. While it might not have the outright performance of the top three, its comfort and refinement make it a solid choice for drivers prioritizing these characteristics. Read Reviews    Buy from £112.76
3rd: Falken ZIEX ZE320
225/50 R17 98W Weight: 9.25 kgs Tread: 6.8 mm Rim Protection: Good 3PMSF: no Price: 129.69	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 34.21 M 34.13 M +0.08 M 99.77% Dry Handling 1st 85.54 s 100% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 9.5 Points 10 Points -0.5 Points 95% Wet Braking 3rd 25.47 M 24.61 M +0.86 M 96.62% Wet Handling 1st 105.18 s 100% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Straight Aqua 4th 95.5 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -2.6 Km/H 97.35% Curved Aquaplaning 7th 2.27 m/sec2 2.6 m/sec2 -0.33 m/sec2 87.31% Subj. Comfort 4th 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Noise 3rd 71.2 dB 70.9 dB +0.3 dB 99.58% Rolling Resistance 5th 7.77 kg / t 7.31 kg / t +0.46 kg / t 94.08% Posted the fastest times in both wet and dry handling, demonstrating excellent grip and balance. Near the top of the pack for noise levels with good overall refinement. Struggled with curved aquaplaning, posting the worst result in test. Higher than average rolling resistance impacts, though the group was very close. Falken keeps improving with each new tyre, and the ZE320 shows they can compete with the premium brands. The handling performance in both wet and dry was impressive, but the curved aquaplaning performance suggests there's still room for improvement. Read Reviews    Buy from £109.70
5th: Michelin Primacy 4+
225/50 R17 98Y Weight: 9.7 kgs Tread: 6.6 mm Rim Protection: Small 3PMSF: no Price: 149.19	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 35.22 M 34.13 M +1.09 M 96.91% Dry Handling 5th 86.43 s 85.54 s +0.89 s 98.97% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Wet Braking 5th 27.16 M 24.61 M +2.55 M 90.61% Wet Handling 6th 109.92 s 105.18 s +4.74 s 95.69% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 8.75 Points 10 Points -1.25 Points 87.5% Straight Aqua 2nd 97.7 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -0.4 Km/H 99.59% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd 2.58 m/sec2 2.6 m/sec2 -0.02 m/sec2 99.23% Subj. Comfort 1st 10 Points 100% Noise 2nd 71.1 dB 70.9 dB +0.2 dB 99.72% Rolling Resistance 2nd 7.57 kg / t 7.31 kg / t +0.26 kg / t 96.57% Best-in-test comfort scores and second quietest tyre tested. Low rolling resistance. Wet performance now showing the tyre's age, with longer stopping distances and slower handling times than the newer designs. The Primacy 4+ demonstrates Michelin's comfort expertise but shows its age in wet performance. While still a safe, capable tyre, newer designs have moved the game on in terms of outright grip and handling. I look forward to testing the Primacy 5 in the near future. Read Reviews    Buy from £138.74
6th: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
225/50 R17 98Y Weight: 10.1 kgs Tread: 7.5 mm Rim Protection: Good 3PMSF: no Price: 104.09	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 35.27 M 34.13 M +1.14 M 96.77% Dry Handling 4th 86.22 s 85.54 s +0.68 s 99.21% Subj. Dry Handling 6th 8.5 Points 10 Points -1.5 Points 85% Wet Braking 6th 27.57 M 24.61 M +2.96 M 89.26% Wet Handling 5th 108.05 s 105.18 s +2.87 s 97.34% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Straight Aqua 6th 92.1 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -6 Km/H 93.88% Curved Aquaplaning 5th 2.47 m/sec2 2.6 m/sec2 -0.13 m/sec2 95% Subj. Comfort 6th 8.5 Points 10 Points -1.5 Points 85% Noise 5th 72.6 dB 70.9 dB +1.7 dB 97.66% Rolling Resistance 1st 7.31 kg / t 100% Best rolling resistance of any tyre tested and predictable handling characteristics with no nasty surprises. Poor straight aquaplaning performance, longer wet braking distances than the class leaders, and below average comfort scores. The Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN shows promise with its efficiency focus, but falls short in too many key areas to challenge the leaders. While safe and predictable, it lacks the all-round performance needed in this competitive segment. Read Reviews    Buy from £104.36
7th: Goodtrip GR 66
225/50 R17 98W Weight: 10.4 kgs Tread: 7.3 mm Rim Protection: Good 3PMSF: no Price: 62.89	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 37.09 M 34.13 M +2.96 M 92.02% Dry Handling 7th 87.4 s 85.54 s +1.86 s 97.87% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Wet Braking 7th 34 M 24.61 M +9.39 M 72.38% Wet Handling 7th 116.72 s 105.18 s +11.54 s 90.11% Subj. Wet Handling 7th 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Straight Aqua 7th 88.2 Km/H 98.1 Km/H -9.9 Km/H 89.91% Curved Aquaplaning 6th 2.35 m/sec2 2.6 m/sec2 -0.25 m/sec2 90.38% Subj. Comfort 7th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% Noise 6th 72.8 dB 70.9 dB +1.9 dB 97.39% Rolling Resistance 7th 7.94 kg / t 7.31 kg / t +0.63 kg / t 92.07% Significantly lower price than the other tyres tested. Longest wet braking distances, poorest handling times, lowest comfort scores and highest rolling resistance showing consistent weakness across all test criteria. The budget price brings budget performance, with the GR 66 trailing significantly in almost every test. While much cheaper than the premium brands, the performance gap is too large to make this a recommended choice in any category. Read Reviews