For its 2019 comparison test of SUV tyres, the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport has tested 11 summer tyres in the size 215/55 R17.
11 tyres tested
Given current trends, SUVs are becoming more urban and adapting to smaller spaces. Heavier and more powerful than a standard compact, today SUVs come with tyres adapted to driving on asphalt and around town. This is why Auto Motor und Sport has conducted a new comparison test of tyres for compact SUV type vehicles such as the Opel Mokka, Skoda Karoq, Seat Ateca, Hyundai Kona or the Audi Q2. But the German magazine has chosen to test the 11 best SUV tyres on a Volkswagen T–Roc in the size 215/55 R17:
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Continental ContiPremiumContact 5, le Continental PremiumContact 6 was not available for the test.
- Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
- Giti Premium H1
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Michelin Primacy 4
- Nexen N’blue HD+
- Nokian WetProof
- Pirelli Cinturato P7
- Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
2 tyres not recommended
The Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV is relatively cheap compared with its competitors but still offers good ride comfort and an acceptable level of performance in dry conditions. It is less at ease on wet surfaces with, in particular, a low resistance to aquaplaning.
The Nexen N’blue HD Plus provides predictable handling and is reassuring despite its relatively weak grip on the different test surfaces. This results in longer braking distances than the other tyres.
2 tyres recommended with reservations
The Giti Premium H1 has difficulty in wet conditions. It tends to understeer and its braking distances, one of the longest on this surface, prevent it from finishing higher in the final ranking. It provides good dry handling performance and good ride comfort despite a slightly slow steering response and long braking distances.
The Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun is particularly at ease on dry surfaces where it offers a good steering response and dynamic handling despite a tendency to understeer. Its braking distances are short in both wet and dry conditions. However, it has a high rolling resistance and its steering response is less precise on wet surfaces.
7 tyres recommended
Despite having been replaced by the Continental PremiumContact 6, it was the ContiPremiumContact 5 that took part in this test conducted by Auto Motor und Sport due to a late launch in relation to the German magazine’s test date. Nevertheless, the “old” tyre delivers good performance particularly in wet conditions with short braking distances and high aquaplaning resistance. It is not the same story in dry conditions where it shows a few weaknesses, particularly with its tendency to understeer and braking distances which are amongst the longest of the comparison test on this surface. It also has a low rolling resistance. In the end, Auto Motor und Sport notes that the German tyre manufacturer cannot compete with the best tyres since its tyre is “obsolete”.
The Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance is one of the most expensive tyres taking part in the magazine’s test. And for good reason, it is reliable on both wet and dry asphalt. Its stability, steering response and safe handling makes it a very good tyre according to Auto Motor und Sport. Offering a high resistance to aquaplaning, it has a slight tendency to understeer in dry conditions.
The Hankook Ventus Prime 3 has relatively short braking distances and provides good performance in dry and wet conditions. Efficient in dry conditions, unfortunately it does not provide the same balance in other test criteria. In wet conditions, it has a slow steering response and lacks precision.
The Pirelli Cinturato P7 provides very sporty on-road handling. Despite a low resistance to aquaplaning, it is in its element in wet conditions with the shortest braking distances of the comparison test on this surface. If braking distances are a little longer than the best on dry surfaces, the Cinturato P7 compensates with its dynamic handling and high comfort.
Although the most expensive tyre of the comparison test, the Michelin Primacy 4 lives up to expectations. Well balanced, it delivers short braking distances in both wet and dry conditions. Easy to manage, it has a few difficulties in wet handling tests. It is also the tyre with the lowest rolling resistance of this comparison test.
The relatively long wet braking distance of the Bridgestone Turanza T005 is the only shortcoming for this extremely well balanced tyre. It provides good lateral grip in wet conditions, and precise high speed handling. It has a low rolling resistance and good ride comfort.
Best summer SUV tyre for 2019, according to Auto Motor und Sport, the all new Nokian WetProof has the shortest wet braking distances and is only 10 cm from the first in dry braking tests. In track handling tests, it finishes second in wet conditions and dominates tests on dry asphalt. However it has a relatively high rolling resistance and average comfort.
| Tyre | Ranking | Remarks |
| Nokian Wetproof | 1 | Best tyre for handling and braking, high rolling resistance |
| Bridgestone Turanza T005 | 2= | Good all rounder, relatively long wet braking distances |
| Michelin Primacy 4 | 2= | Well balanced tyre, a few weaknesses in wet conditions |
| Pirelli Cinturato P7 | 4= | Sports tyre, relatively long dry braking distances |
| Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 | 4= | Good balance between dry and wet braking performance, not for handling |
| GoodYear EfficientGrip Performance | 4= | Good wet performance, understeers in the dry |
| Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 | 7 | Good wet performance, not as good in the dry |
| Falken Ziex ZE310 EcoRun | 8 | Short braking distance, very high rolling resistance |
| Giti Premium H1 | 9 | Understeers in wet conditions, good comfort |
| Nexen N’Blue HD+ | 10 | Long braking distances, safe handling |
| Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV | 11 | Good dry performance, not as good in the wet |
