Given
94%
while driving a
Skoda Octavia estate
(205/55 R16 V) on
a combination of roads
for 50,000
average miles
EXCELLENT tyre. Perfect grip in dry and wet. I live in Greece. The tyres are fitted on a Skoda Octavia 5 (fsi-115PS) for 7 (yes, seven) years . Production code is "1912" ie made in the 19th week of 2012 (May 2012). And YES they ARE really exhausted, just 1-1.5mm depth of grooves, but they still DO grip on the road - when dry. When it rains I have to drive very carefully. So it's time to change them. During winter I use 195/65/15 winter tyres fitted on 15" iron rims. So Conti-5's run from late March till late November. That's about 8 months per year for 7 years. And every year I make about 23-24,000 km (in total) which is 15.000 miles per year. That is said because I'm trying to figure out how many miles they've done. I estimate they have done about 80,000 to 90,000km (50-56.000 miles). If they had been changed to the legal margins (1.6-2 mm) they would have made 70-80.000 km (44-50.000 miles). Unimaginable numbers for a tyre that still holds incredible (on dry)! Of course I take care of them (always with the right pressure and a little upwards), they have never been on snow-chains, they have not roll on roads of dirt and stones.
During their normal life they were excellent both on dry AND wet. Yes, they DO wear, as they should, but they DO keep their perfect grip until they wear-out completely!!!
I would really like to use them again, but for the same money I will probably try the Continental EcoContact 6 which is supposed to be more economical on fuel. By the way, the guy (what's your name my friend?) who is on the "tyrereviews" videos was absolutelly right about the Conti Premium 5: It's a VERY good and VERY honest tyre till the last milimetre of it ...