Summer tire test by Motor (2024)

In the 2024 summer tire test by Polish magazine Motor, models from all price segments participated, with the most expensive tire costing 719 and the cheapest one costing 249 zlotys (16 and 5.5 thousand rubles, respectively). The list of participants included premium Bridgestone Turanza 6, Continental PremiumContact 7, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, and Michelin Pilot Sport 5, while the medium segment was represented by Falken Azenis FK520 and Nexen N’Fera Sport, and in the economy class, Imperial Ecosport 2 and Nankang NS-20 were chosen, both of which were made in China, as well as Debica Presto UHP2.

The tests were conducted in November last year at a test site in Texas, where even late in the fall, the weather is roughly the same as in Europe in the summer. In total, over 100 tires were tested, and the temperature varied from 21 to 24°C under variable cloudiness. The 225/50 R17 size was chosen for the tests, which is suitable for cars such as Audi A4 and A5, Opel Astra, Skoda Octavia and Yeti, Volkswagen Jetta and Passat, Volvo S60, and many others.

All tires were tested on dry and wet asphalt, and noise (outside at 50 km/h), comfort (considering smoothness, stability, and predictability of tire behavior on the verge of skidding), and rolling resistance were also evaluated. The first place was taken by Continental, which have balanced characteristics and are capable of providing a high level of safety in any conditions. The key advantages of PremiumContact 7 include a short braking distance and good handling on dry and wet surfaces, as well as improved fuel efficiency, and the only drawback is the increased noise level.

The second place was shared by Goodyear and Michelin. According to the testers, Goodyear also boasts good balance of characteristics and short braking distances on dry and wet asphalt, and the tires are also quite quiet, although the comfort was called "average". At the same time, Michelin slightly lagged behind Goodyear in the wet track tests, but were ahead on dry surfaces. In general, Pilot Sport 5 has excellent driving properties in any weather, and the tires also effectively resist aquaplaning, and the main drawback is the high price.

The fourth place went to Falken tires from the Japanese Sumitomo, which lagged behind Goodyear and Michelin by 4.1 points. Although Azenis FK520 did not win in any discipline, they also did not allow themselves significant weaknesses, which allowed them to rise in the rating, and besides, the tires have a fairly attractive price. Next came Bridgestone, which were not as effective as Falken, either on dry or wet surfaces. At the same time, the level of safety is quite acceptable, and Turanza also provide good comfort, both mechanical and acoustic, and an additional bonus is low rolling resistance.

Nexen ended up in sixth place, which were characterized as "a typical example of a good mid-range tire". In most disciplines, N’Fera Sport were in the middle of the rating, and the tires will not give the driver any unpleasant surprises, and besides, they were also the quietest among the test participants (in this test, Nexen shared first place with Goodyear).

The Poles could not help but test the tires of the local brand Debica (the company was acquired by Goodyear in 1995), and, as noted in Motor, the Presto UHP2 model, although it took seventh place, "deserves applause", since, belonging to the economy segment, it conceded only two points to the premium Bridgestone. Debica tires were the best in the test for lateral aquaplaning resistance (in tests for longitudinal aquaplaning resistance, they only lost to Nankang) and provide good handling on dry asphalt, and another advantage is the low cost. In turn, Nankang ended up in eighth place, and on wet surfaces, they were comparable to Debica in terms of points (thanks to their good aquaplaning prevention), but on dry surfaces, they lost to the Polish brand's tires. In addition, Nankang had the highest rolling resistance among the tested tires.

In the very end of the rating, the budget tires Imperial (a private brand owned by the Belgian company Deldo) were placed, which showed frankly weak results in wet asphalt tests. According to experts, the braking distance in such conditions was "on the verge of acceptable", and on dry surfaces, the indicators were not much better. In addition, Imperial will also not contribute to fuel savings.