With the test season of all tyre types in full swing, the Automobile Club Europa magazine has decided to innovate this year with a test which does not include premium tyre brands. Nine “alternative” tyres were compared in the size 215/55 R17 for the Audi Q2 SUV.
The best known brands intentionally left out
Leading brands dominate regularly the first places in tyre reviews. But Michelin, Goodyear, Continental, Bridgestone and Pirelli tyres come at a price that not everyone is willing to pay. This is the reason why ACE Lenkrad, the Auto Club Europa magazine, has proposed a quite unusual test. The German automobile association has compared nine tyres from intermediate brands, in the size 215/55 R17 on an Audi Q2, which should deliver a good level of performance at a lower price:
- Apollo Aspire XP
- Avon ZV7
- Firestone Roadhawk
- Fulda Sport Control 2
- Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
- Kleber Dynaxer HP4
- Maxxis Premitra HP5
- Sava Intensa UHP 2
- Toyo Proxes Sport
ACE Lenkrad went to Bridgestone’s test centre in Italy to test these tyres in braking, handling, aquaplaning, noise, fuel consumption, and more.
The size chosen is already available for vehicles such as the DS4, Peugeot 407 and 508, Seat Ateca, Skoda Superb, Karoq, Toyota Avensis or the Volkswagen Passat and Touran.
What is the best tyre from intermediate brands according to ACE Lenkrad?
| Best tyres from intermediate brands | + | – |
| 1 – Maxxis Premitra HP5 | Balanced, good dry performance, cheapest tyre | None |
| 2 – Sava Intensa UHP 2 | Very good balance and price | Braking in dry conditions |
| 3 – Fulda SportControl 2 | Best tyre in wet conditions | Price |
| 4 – Apollo Aspire XP | Good performance in dry conditions | Fuel consumption |
| 5 – Toyo Proxes Sport | Good wet performance | Braking in dry conditions |
| 6 – Kleber Dynaxer HP3 | Good performance in dry conditions | Poor wet performance |
| 7 – Firestone Roadhawk | Fuel consumption | Poor wet grip |
| 8 – Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 | Dry handling | Low resistance to aquaplaning and wet performance in general |
| 9 – Avon ZV7 | Low rolling noise | Braking in dry conditions |
Wet performances still equally important
First observation, there tyres are reassuring in dry conditions. They all require less than 40 metres to brake from 100 km/h, a reassuring distance according to ACE Lenkrad. It is a little longer than specialist tyres in this area, but much better than certain cheap tyres. Likewise, no tyre in particular stands out in dry handling tests apart from the Avon ZV7 which is less efficient on this surface.
The problems begin in wet conditions for certain models. The Firestone Roadhawk clearly falls behind the other tyres in braking tests in this category whereas the Maxxis, Fulda, Toyo and Kleber tyres are much more efficient.
The aquaplaning resistance tests are probably those that say most about all the tyres compared. The Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 reveals a dislike of rain, in the words of ACE Lenkrad, and is even unable to negotiate a corner covered with water. On the other hand, the Maxxis Premitra HP5 can easily negotiate corners and keeps its grip up to 90 km/h.
The cheapest tyres at the top
If in most comparison tests, the price gives a fairly good idea of a tyre’s performance, this does not seem to be the case here.The first two tyres of the test – Maxxis Premitra HP5 and Sava Intensa UHP 2 – are also the cheapest tyres: around £90 less for 4 tyres, all the same!
The video (in German) of the test conducted by ACE Lenkrad:
