Auto Express summer tyre test — 2026
The market continues to see a trend toward larger automotive tire sizes, but the most passenger tires of relatively modest dimensions remain popular in Britain205/55 R16, and magazine Auto Express last tested them three years ago, deciding in 2026 to repeat the trials but with an updated list of participants. In 2023, the yet brand-new Continental PremiumContact 7 took first place and will be contending for the top spot again in this test, while silver went toBridgestone Turanza T005, but this time the company decided to choose another tyre from its range, specifically the Firestone Roadhawk 2, released a couple of years ago.
Three years ago Michelin and Pirelli took mid-table positions in the rating, and now they are back with new models, and Primacy 4+was replaced with Primacy 5, andCinturato P7— on Cinturato (C3). Falken also hopes for high performance with its new ZE320 model, and the same applies to Maxxis, which replaced the tyres Premitra HP5new Premitra HP6.
Hankook, Vredestein, KumhoandGoodyeardeclined the invitation to participate in the test, as they will soon present new developments; to evaluate the performance of tyres available at a low price, experts tested the budget Dynamo tyres from the Chinese companySailun.
Nokian Powerproof 2
Braking performance on wet roads directly affects safety, and the premium models proved best in this categoryContinental, Pirelli and Michelin, whereas Dynamo lag behind, and by a significant margin.
On the wet handling circuit, lateral grip necessary to prevent slipping in corners was evaluated, and Maxxis unexpectedly took first place, slightly edging out Continental. Surprisingly, Pirelli turned out to be the worst performers in the test.
In the wet handling test, Falken tires from Japanese Sumitomo took the lead, and Pirelli also delivered strong results.Firestone. At the same time, Michelin clearly lagged behind the leaders, although Dynamo's performance was much worse.
Firestone tyres,Nokian and Falken demonstrated the best resistance to aquaplaning, both longitudinal and lateral, while Maxxis and Dynamo ended up at the bottom of both tests.
On dry surfaces, the most effective braking is provided by Falken, Continental, and Pirelli, whereas Dynamo shows very weak performance even under these conditions.
Falken also won the handling test on dry track, Maxxis took second place, Dynamo showed good results as well, while Michelin surprisingly ended up the outsider.
The highest scores for acoustic comfort went to Firestone, while Michelin ended up in last place again, sharing it with the Nokian UHP-class tyres presented last year.
Michelin has no issues at all when it comes to fuel efficiency, and Maxxis tires also feature low rolling resistance, unlike Pirelli and especially Dynamo.
First place in the overall ranking was unexpectedly taken by Falken Ziex ZE320, and these tyres previously participated in British testsZiex ZE310 Ecorun, but they did not deliver such impressive results. The Japanese brand tires won in three disciplines and recorded the best lap time on both dry and wet surfaces, demonstrating their versatility.
On the wet track, the tyres performed confidently from the first turn, providing both high traction and good lateral stability, resulting in a significant lead over the nearest competitor. In addition, the Falkens offer excellent resistance to aquaplaning, both in straight-line driving and through corners, although braking performance on wet surfaces is only average. On dry tarmac, the tyres were also highly reliable, allowing effortless handling of complex corner sequences, with low rolling resistance serving as the icing on the cake.
Three years ago, the Continental PremiumContact 7 won the Auto Express test, delivering the best results in key disciplines such as wet braking and handling on both wet and dry surfaces. This time, the tyres led in only one test—but the most important one—stopping the car fastest on a wet road. There are no complaints about wet handling either; the Continentals remain confident when entering corners, even at high speeds, and overall were described as "dynamic and assured." The tyres also feature a very low noise level, though their rolling resistance is significantly higher than that of Michelin.
The podium also included the Firestone Roadhawk 2, which proved best in resistance to aquaplaning and was the quietest among the tested tyres. On wet surfaces, the tyres don't offer the highest braking performance, but they performed better in handling tests, with Firestone trailing only slightly behind Pirelli thanks to reliable grip when entering corners and overall good maneuverability. On dry pavement, the results are less impressive but still very good, with the tyres behaving confidently and stably. In the rolling resistance test, the tyre secured a strong third place.
In 2023, the Maxxis Premitra HP5 ranked 11th out of 11, while the new Premitra HP6 model has risen to 4th place, meaning its characteristics have been significantly improved, including the most critical ones such as wet braking and handling. On wet surfaces, Maxxis tyres responded quickly to steering inputs, provided excellent ease of handling, and even took first place in the lateral stability test. However, these tyres show relatively weak resistance to aquaplaning. On dry surfaces, they received high marks for handling, even under intensive driving conditions, and they are also sufficiently quiet. In terms of fuel efficiency, they were surpassed only by Michelin, significantly outperforming the competitor in third place. Thus, Maxxis has managed to create tyres with a truly well-balanced set of performance attributes.
Pirelli Cinturato (C3) took fifth place, which, as experts noted, reflects the high level of competition rather than any shortcomings of the tyres themselves from the Italian manufacturer. Pirelli performed particularly well in the most critical wet-track disciplines, stopping the car quickly and earning silver in handling tests. Subjectively, testers ranked them first, stating that the vehicle remains stable on Pirelli tyres both during braking and through the middle of a corner, offering excellent feedback. The Cinturato also handles aquaplaning well, with the only weakness on wet surfaces appearing in the lateral stability test. On dry surfaces, Pirelli tyres deliver strong braking performance, though they show a slight tendency to deviate from the optimal trajectory, and additionally, they have relatively high rolling resistance.
The Michelin Primacy 4+ took eighth place in 2023, and one might have expected the Primacy 5 to deliver a significant improvement in performance, but that didn't happen. The tyre stood out only for having the lowest rolling resistance. Wet braking performance was decent, but in the handling test, the tyres lagged behind competitors, with testers noting that "they just couldn't properly grip the track surface." On dry pavement, Michelin tyres finished last, even behind budget models. Experts pointed out that steering responses were too imprecise, requiring additional driver input, which negatively affected lap times.
Nokian Powerproof 2 are positioned as tyres with enhanced wet grip and excellent resistance to aquaplaning. However, in braking and handling tests, they ranked seventh and sixth respectively—results that cannot be called outstanding. That said, testers noted that overall, the tyres performed reliably and provided strong grip when cornering. On dry pavement, the Nokian model didn't make it to the top either, but again, competition was extremely tough. While the response is not particularly sharp, the tyres' behaviour is predictable, which is an important factor. Noise levels are elevated, and fuel efficiency is average.
In last place were the inexpensive Dynamo Street-H MH01 tyres, which delivered very weak performance, especially on wet surfaces, where they ranked worst in four out of five test categories. During braking from 80 km/h, their residual speed was around 32 km/h higher compared to the Continental, and the Chinese brand tyres fell significantly behind even the second-to-last competitor. In corners, these tyres behaved unpredictably and readily lost grip on both front and rear axles. On dry tarmac, handling characteristics were better, but in braking efficiency, Dynamo once again came last among all tyres tested. In addition, Dynamo had the highest rolling resistance of all participants. Experts noted that there were tyres in the test that cost only slightly more but performed significantly better, stating that "in this case, the additional cost provides a much higher level of safety."
Source, including photos:Auto Express