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Just as they do this time every year, the ACL and its European partners have put a number of tyre brands to the test. We tested a total of 34 different models to help you make the right choice.
There were two sizes, 15" and 16", that caught our experts’ attention. These sizes are the most common in the car fleet and offer a coherent overview of what’s available on the market.
This year's 185/65 R15 88H summer tyre test produced positive results, with none of the 16 candidates, which were all suitable for small cars such as the VW Polo, showing signs of any major flaws. No fewer than six models were found to be particularly worthy of recommendation, with a further ten proving to be worthy of recommendation.
That said, it’s certainly worth looking at the findings in greater detail, because even among the six tyres we deemed to be 'good', there were some notable differences. Of the top six, the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 comes particularly highly recommended for heavy drivers, thanks to its excellent life expectancy. The Bridgestone Turanza T005 and the Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde, on the other hand, offered above-average levels of performance in both wet and dry conditions. The Michelin Primacy 4 offered balanced positioning, which makes all the difference in both dry and wet conditions and when it comes to wear, while the Dunlop Sport Bluresponse and the Giti Synergy H2 also performed well in both wet and dry conditions.
16-inch tyres also perform well
Overall, the 215/60 R16 tyres we tested this year (fitted notably on mid-range SUVs) also performed well, with five of the 18 models tested proving to be ‘good’, twelve ‘satisfactory’ and only one ‘acceptable’.
The Continental PremiumContact 6, Michelin Primacy 4, Bridgestone Turanza T005, Dunlop Sport Bluresponse and Toyo Tires Proxes Comfort had no notable weaknesses and were all perfectly balanced. Among the top scorers, Michelin and Bridgestone did particularly well in dry conditions, while Continental got the highest score in the wet.
Bottom of the scoreboard was the Kormoran Road Performance, which, despite keeping fuel consumption in check, had obvious safety flaws, especially on wet roads, with the tyre quickly reaching the limits of its grip.
Working with the Goodyear Innovation Centre in Colmar-Berg
How can research into rubber help protect the environment?
We envisage a sustainable approach to tyres throughout both the manufacturing process and indeed their life span. The R&D teams, for example, are working on advanced technologies to improve the tyre's performance in terms of rolling resistance and mileage, with a positive impact on both electrical energy and fuel consumption and a reduction in CO2 emissions. Research also focuses on the materials used, and it was with this in mind that Goodyear recently introduced a demonstration tyre containing 70% renewable materials.
What are the avenues of progress where tyres are concerned?
Fleets of autonomous, connected and electric vehicles are the future of mobility, and Goodyear is working on innovative solutions to make tyres intelligent and therefore promote safer and more sustainable mobility in an effort to support this transformation within the tyre industry.
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