Summer tire test by Vi Bilägare (2024)
For their latest test, the Swedish magazine Vi Bilägare chose tires with a size of 215/55 R17, designed for everyday use, and the list of participants included both premium-class models (Continental PremiumContact 7, Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2, Michelin Primacy 4+ and Nokian Hakka Blue 3) and mid-range tires (Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun, Hankook Ventus Prime4 and Kumho Ecsta HS52). In addition, two budget tires from Chinese companies were tested (Linglong Comfort Master and Sentury Qirin 990), and Michelin CrossClimate 2 acted as a "joker", which, according to VB, "are essentially summer tires that have been given some 'winter' characteristics", and in southern latitudes they are simply considered all-season.
The selected tire size is suitable, for example, for the Kia Niro, VW T-Roc, Ford Mondeo, etc., and most tires have a sidewall marking indicating that they have been adapted for use on electric vehicles, which, due to their increased weight and torque, increase the load on the tires.
The tires were tested on dry and wet asphalt, and the noise level, ride smoothness, and economy were also evaluated, and, summing up, the testers said that premium and mid-range models generally provide a higher level of grip compared to budget tires, and CrossClimate 2, the most expensive product in the test, in terms of grip in warm weather, is comparable to cheap tires. The tests were conducted in October 2023 at the Hakka Ring track of the Nokian company in Spain near Madrid at a temperature of 20-30 degrees. Skoda Karoq and Superb were used.
The Continental PremiumContact 7 took first place in the 2024 test, which was characterized by experts as tires with "unparalleled grip level". Continental was the best among the participants in terms of braking properties on both dry and wet asphalt, and also did not present unpleasant surprises to the driver in emergency situations. The drawbacks are high rolling resistance, and if on a rough surface the noise is acceptable, then on a smooth one it is clearly increased.
Silver is awarded to the Nokian Hakka Blue 3 tires (after the change of ownership of the plant in Vsevolozhsk, they are now produced in Russia as Ikon Autograph Aqua 3), whose name hints at improved performance in rainy weather. Similar positioning was confirmed by the test results, and the tires, for example, very well resist aquaplaning, and also provide high grip on wet asphalt both when braking and when maneuvering. In addition, Nokian forgives the driver certain errors and maintains stability even when rapidly slowing down in the middle of a turn. At the same time, on dry pavement, grip leaves much to be desired, and there is a tendency to insufficient steerability, and in turns, increased efforts on the steering wheel are required. The comfort of the ride is good.
The Kumho Ecsta HS52 took third place, which entered the European market two years ago, and by 2024, it underwent a minor upgrade. As noted in VB, in terms of sensations and sportiness, Kumho on dry pavement was close to Continental, but their reactions to steering wheel turns were not as precise and sharp. At the same time, on wet pavement, the "facelift" enhanced grip, but it should be taken into account that Kumho has a fairly rigid ride.
The Falken tires from the Japanese Sumitomo cope well with preventing aquaplaning, but at the same time, on wet asphalt, the indicators are generally worse than on dry pavement. While in dry conditions, the tires quickly respond to steering wheel turns, stably behave during emergency obstacle avoidance, and quite quickly stop the car, on wet pavement, grip begins to decrease over time, which requires additional actions from the driver. Rolling resistance is high, and noise on uneven pavement is the lowest among the participating tires. In general, the characteristics are unbalanced, but Falken still takes fourth place.
Goodyear tires scored the same number of points as Falken, which, in turn, demonstrate good balance of parameters and combine economy with high grip level and decent acoustic comfort (the tires were not the quietest, but the noise does not get tired on either uneven or smooth pavement). On wet surfaces, Goodyear provides good handling and stability against lateral skidding, and they also have excellent resistance to aquaplaning. At the same time, reactions to the driver's actions are somewhat blurred, and in terms of braking properties, Goodyear concedes to some other tires, including less expensive Kumho.
The Hankook Ventus Prime fourth-generation tires finished sixth, which are offered at a competitive price and work well in both calm and sporty modes. The tires confidently performed in all disciplines, although they conceded to Continental and Kumho in terms of lateral stability on wet pavement. The comfort level is average, and in general, Hankook did not show any obvious drawbacks or outstanding advantages.
The Michelin Primacy 4+ tires, like Kumho, have been upgraded, but VB did not have the opportunity to compare the two versions, so one has to believe the manufacturer, which claims to have increased the grip level. Despite the smallest tread depth among the tested tires, Michelin resists aquaplaning well, but on wet asphalt, the transition from slight skidding to complete loss of grip occurs very quickly. Braking is quite effective in any conditions, and although under load, insufficient steerability appears, ease of handling is maintained. At the same time, Michelin makes quite a lot of noise on uneven pavement, and as a result of the entire test, it takes seventh place.
The Linglong Comfort Master tires finished one line below, which, in fact, excellently absorb irregularities, but at the same time, are not suitable for a sporty driving style. The car starts to skid in turns even at low speeds, and on wet surfaces, grip is generally weak. On dry pavement, the tires behave unstable, and during emergency braking, the car leaves the trajectory.
The Sentury tires were even less effective, which also concede to premium-class products in terms of grip on both wet and dry pavement. In addition, the sensitivity on the steering wheel leaves much to be desired in any driving style, and Sentury also had the worst stability against aquaplaning among the tested tires.
As for the Michelin CrossClimate 2, in summer conditions, the grip, according to the experts, was as bad as that of cheap tires from Chinese brands, and in turns, Michelin behaves stably, but the soft rubber compound worsens the sensitivity of control. At the same time, Michelin is capable of working on snow, where ordinary summer tires would be completely useless, which can be useful, for example, if winter reminds you of itself in May.
Source (including photo): Vi Bilägare.