Summer Premium Touring Tyre Tests

Every year there's a tyre test that makes me stop and wonder how they got to their conclusion, and this year that award goes to the UTAC / Aftonbladet summer tyre test.

As a bit of scene setting, Aftonbladet is a Scandinavian newspaper, so UTAC, who performed the testing, focused on the cold weather ability of the tyres, which is something I love. However, they did make some interesting statements, and ended up with some interesting findings. In total they tested 14 tyres, 10 summer and 4 European spec all season tyres, all in 225/45 R17.

German publication AutoBild has tested eight summer tyres in the 215/55 R18 size specifically aimed at electric vehicles. The test aimed to find tyres that could achieve the difficult balance between energy efficiency (for maximum EV range) and safety performance.

AutoBild evaluated models from premium manufacturers like Continental, Goodyear and Michelin alongside offerings from mid-range brands including Falken, Firestone and Yokohama, plus budget option Goodride. Interestingly, only two tyres in the test - the Hankook iON evo and Falken e.Ziex - were specifically designed as EV tyres, while others were standard tyres that manufacturers claim are also suitable for electric vehicles.

In their latest tyre test, Motor magazine has taken a unique approach to evaluating summer tyres, focusing on models that combine energy efficiency with high performance. The test specifically targeted tyres with the lowest rolling resistance ratings, examining whether fuel-saving characteristics would compromise grip and safety features.

The testing team selected seven tyres in the popular 205/55 R16 size, a dimension commonly found on vehicles ranging from the Audi A3 to the Volvo V70. Six of the tested models carried the EU label's top "A" rating for both rolling resistance and wet grip, while the seventh tyre (Prinx XLAB Comfort EV) featured an "A" rating for rolling resistance but a "B" for wet grip.

Auto Motor Und Sport always pushes traditional tyre testing in new directions, and this years summer tyre test has a new twist - sustainability. The test focused on the 215/55 R17 size, suitable for midsize sedans, station wagons, and compact SUVs, with particular attention paid to tyres achieving at least a "B" rating for rolling resistance on the EU tyre label.

Vi Bilägare magazines summer tyre test features eight tyres in size 235/55 R19, focusing on performance for EV SUVs. Testing took place in unusually cold conditions near Madrid, Spain, where temperatures hovered around 10°C - similar to Scandinavian spring or autumn weather.

The test featured six standard aftermarket tyres from premium and budget manufacturers, alongside two OE (Original Equipment) tyres specifically designed for Volkswagen and Volvo vehicles. The testing vehicle was a Kia EV6, a battery-electric SUV weighing 2,031kg, with some measurements also taken using a Tesla Model Y.

Finnish magazine Moottori tested eight mid-range summer tyres in size 205/55 R16. They ran the tyres through wet and dry braking tests, handling circuits, aquaplaning resistance, and measured noise levels and rolling resistance. The test showed clear differences in grip levels, with Nokian's Hakka Blue 3 taking the top spot over BF Goodrich Advantage DT1 and Hankook Ventus Prime 4.

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.

Auto Bild Klassik magazine recently conducted a test of seven classic-style summer tyres in the 205/70 VR 15 size, aiming to improve safety and performance for vintage sports cars. The testers used a Jaguar E-Type Lightweight replica, an iconic 1960s sports car renowned for its powerful 270 PS engine and impressive 240 km/h top speed. I'm very sad this isn't a Tyre Reviews test!

As usual with Auto Bild tests, they've done a proper job. On wet surfaces, the tyres were evaluated for their resistance to aquaplaning, cornering stability, overall handling, and braking efficiency. Dry condition tests focused on handling, braking performance, rolling comfort, and noise levels. Additionally, the tyres' rolling resistance was measured to gauge their efficiency.

As motorcycle enthusiasts, we all know that choosing the right set of tyres is crucial for a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable ride. Sadly, I'm not a good enough rider to do motorbike testing myself, so that's where the annual Motorrad motorcycle touring tyre test comes in.

For the 2024 edition, Motorrad has put six of the most popular touring tyres in the 120/70 ZR 17 front and 180/55 ZR 17 rear sizes to the test. The contenders are the Bridgestone Battlax T 32, Continental RoadAttack 4 GT, Dunlop Roadsmart IV GT, Metzeler Roadtec 02, Michelin Road 6 GT, and Pirelli Angel GT II.

For 2024 Autobild's motorhome magazine tested ten sets of 225/55 R17 tyres using a van like Mercedes Vito Tourer.

The onset of the travel season marks a crucial time for motorhome owners to evaluate the condition and performance of their tyres. Autobild’s comprehensive review begins with practical advice on tyre inspection, emphasizing the significance of understanding tyre age through the DOT code and the necessity of regular checks for wear and damage. Generally speaking, tyres which are over five years old are nearing the end of their life, even if they have good tread depth.

For their 2024 summer tyre test, the magazine "Auto Motor und Sport" tested eight summer tyres in the popular 235/55 R18 SUV size. 

The test includes new tyres like Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV, Bridgestone Turanza 6, and Continental PremiumContact 7, evaluating them on wet and dry braking, handling, aquaplaning resistance, comfort, and environmental impact. 

In a data-extravaganza, Autobild have taken eleven SUV summer tyres in the popular 235/55 R19 size, and even though this size is an ultrahigh performance fitment, and is fitted to soft-roaders such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Honda CR-V and many others, tested them exhaustively in off-road tests along with the usual dry and wet testing!

The 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test evaluated nine premium touring summer tyres, providing a detailed analysis of their performance in various conditions, including dry and wet braking, handling, noise level, and rolling resistance. The Continental PremiumContact 7 stood out with top marks in most categories, followed closely by other brands like Pirelli and Hankook.

The 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test reviewed 20 premium touring summer tyres in size 205/55 R16. The test focused on several key performance indicators including dry and wet braking, handling, noise, wear, value, and rolling resistance. 

Michelin Primacy 4+ ranked first, demonstrating a balanced performance with short braking distances and high efficiency. Continental PremiumContact 7 and Bridgestone Turanza 6 followed, showing strong wet and dry road performance and low wear levels.

The 2024 ADAC summer tyre test tested sixteen tyres in the popular 215/55 R17 size.

Top Tire Review is a relatively new website, similar to Tyre Reviews (not affiliated), operating in the Asian Pacific (APAC) region, which have different tyre patterns to Europe and North America.

In spite of being a relatively new organisation, they have already conducted their first Asian Pacific tyre test, testing six region specific patterns!

The Polish Motor Magazine recently conducted a premium touring tyre test. The test included eight different tyre brands, all in the popular size of 205/55 R16, which is commonly used in compact and some larger car models. The brands tested were Continental, Goodyear, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Hankook, Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein. The test was comprehensive, covering various aspects of tyre performance including wet and dry handling, rolling resistance, noise, and comfort.

Times are hard, and now more so than ever people are asking me what the best budget tyre they can buy is. As these have never been tested against each other properly, I usually don't have an answer, but all that is about to change!

Sadly I've not been able to test every budget available, there are literally hundreds of tyre brands coming out of the far east, most of them from just a handful of factories. In fact, I've got over 300 tyre brands on the tyre reviews website, and as much as I love big tests, even that's too much for me.

Instead, I've bought eight of the most common and cheapest tyres available I could find, and because I've never tested a retread tyre, I bought one of those too. Naturally they'll all be going through a full tyre reviews tyre test to see which is best.

It's not often I'm completely shocked by a tyre test, but this years AMS EV tyre vs normal tyre test has me stumped.

Why? Let me run a few things past you. The Michelin e.Primacy was best in wet braking, beating both the Continental SportContact 7 and Bridgestone Potenza Sport, which usually ace that test. The Michelin e.Primacy also beat the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV overall, which has won every other test it's featured in, and Continental won the test twice!

The concept for the test seems relatively straightforward - get a bunch of the best performance tyres on the market and test them against the newest ultra low rolling resistance / EV tyres, the Michelin e.Primacy, the Falken eZiex and the Pirelli Scorpion Elect.

Sadly Tyre Reviews isn't performing an SUV summer tyre test this year, but luckily the German publication AutoBild once again have us covered if you want to know what the best tyre is for your SUV!

This year AutoBild tested twelve SUV tyres for the crossover SUV segment in the 225/65 R17 tyre size.

As usual, all the tyres were tested in the dry and wet, and had their rolling resistance and noise / comfort levels graded, but as this category of tyre is also intended for some "light off-roading" they tested the twelve SUV tyres in mud, sand, dirt and even on wet grass! This means this really is the best test this year you show you what the best tyre is for your SUV!