Summer SUV tyre test by Motor — 2026
Triangle is one of the most well-known and in-demand Chinese brands on the Russian market, and in a recent test by Motor, the Triangle AdvanteX SUV TR259 model for crossovers and SUVs had the chance to demonstrate its capabilities in direct comparison with other budget tyres, as well as mid- and premium-range products. The tests were conducted last year at a test track near Madrid, which allows tyres to be evaluated under summer conditions even in late autumn. The tyres tested were in the size 235/55 R18, suitable for vehicles such as the BYD Tang, Chery Tiggo 8, Jaecoo J7, Kia Sportage and others.
Test participants:
Nokian Powerproof 2
The wet braking distance was measured from 80 to 5 km/h (the driver initiated emergency braking from 100 km/h, and this range was chosen to avoid ABS interference). The first place goes to Nokian, while Triangle, unfortunately, delivered an unsatisfactory result.
In the lateral stability test on a wet 65-meter-diameter track, Nokian again took first place, but overall, all participants' results were considered quite satisfactory.
Nokian and Bridgestone were most effective at resisting straight aquaplaning, while the bottom positions went to Nexen and Triangle.
In the lateral aquaplaning resistance test, Debica performed the worst, but experts noted that all tyres handled their tasks well.
Although Nokian won all previous disciplines, in the handling test—where a combination of characteristics such as tyre behaviour at the limit of grip matters—Goodyear took the lead, while premium Bridgestone unexpectedly ended up second to last, with only Triangle falling behind them.
On dry pavement, the fastest braking was achieved by Kleber tyres, a brand belonging to Michelin, which pulled significantly ahead of its nearest competitor. The Triangle's last-place result was also deemed acceptable.
In the dry handling test, the vast majority of tyres received high scores, with Triangle being the only exception.
External noise was measured at 50 km/h with the engine off, and here the Chinese brand outperformed all competitors, while Nexen and Hankook were the loudest.
Rolling resistance was evaluated on a drum test rig, and the difference between Bridgestone (first place) and Triangle (last place) was so significant that the Chinese tyres could increase fuel consumption by more than 10%.
Verdict
While it's typical for Nokian to win winter tyre tests, the Finnish brand has historically been less successful in summer tyre evaluations. However, the UHP Nokian Powerproof 2, introduced last year, may change that: in the Motor test, it confidently outperformed all competitors. Nokian led in most disciplines, delivering effective braking and excellent handling in all conditions, and also offers a competitive price on the European market.
Silver goes to Kleber Dynaxer HP5, which also stop the car quickly on both dry and wet surfaces, giving them an edge over rivals. They performed well in other disciplines too, and Kleber also boasts low rolling resistance.
Next are Goodyear EfficientGrip 2 SUV, which demonstrated a good balance of characteristics and were among the leaders in most tests. Their main drawback was average dry braking performance. However, even in this regard, the tyres do not compromise safety.
In fourth place are Hankook Ventus Prime4, which, like the top two, proved that modern mid-range tyres can effectively compete with premium products. Hankook offer very good driving qualities in all weather, but they were the noisiest, and their fuel efficiency also leaves something to be desired.
Bridgestone Turanza 6 finished just 0.1 points behind Hankook. Their relatively low wet performance primarily prevented a higher ranking. However, Bridgestone still provide an adequate safety level and had the lowest rolling resistance among all tested tyres.
Nexen N’Fera Primus performed best on the dry track, while their wet results, like those of Bridgestone, were not among the highest. Nexen are also relatively noisy and have higher rolling resistance, with their key advantage being a low price.
Debica Presto performed on par with Nexen on dry surfaces but showed worse results on wet, placing them second to last. At the same time, Debica are quiet and fuel-efficient, and even cheaper.
Triangle AdvanteX SUV TR259 stood out only for its affordable price and the lowest external noise level among all tested tyres, while consistently finishing last in safety-related disciplines. According to testers, wet performance is “at the edge of acceptable,” and the tyres also have very high rolling resistance.
Source: Motor. Photo: Paweł Tyszko / Motor