Tyre Tests

Optional sport tyres always deliver better performance, right? Not necessarily, says auto motor und sport (ams). When the German motoring publication tested the latest Porsche Macan Turbo Electric, the model they received didn’t arrive on standard 20-inch rims, rather with 22-inch wheels fitted with “performance tyres” – an option that costs £464 in the UK.

After conducting half a dozen all-season and winter tyre tests this year, Auto Bild is well positioned to identify and acknowledge the manufacturers who have consistently produced safe, well-performing tyres. It has now done so, naming Pirelli its star amongst the all-season tyre makers for 2024/25 and Michelin the leading manufacturer of winter tyres. Continental and Goodyear secure a podium place for both categories.

Earlier this year, when Sportauto tested examined five brands of size 215/40 R18 summer tyres, it included an all-season product in its testing. This premium all-season tyre struggled against the summer tyres at temperatures well above the 20-degree mark, prompting the motoring magazine to conclude that “the all-season tyre is just a compromise” in summer conditions, especially when paired with sportsters such as the Hyundai i20 N it used for testing. Sportauto still holds this opinion, but it has now tested six all-season tyres – again in size 215/40 R18 – to see if the compromise label applied in cooler conditions.

Many motorists believe the added traction of four-wheel drive is all that’s needed for surefooted driving on snow or ice, but fitting the right tyre is just as important, arguably even more so. Winter tyres, a niche product in the UK, are unbeatable should you need grip in these harshest of conditions. To help find the right product, Auto Bild Allrad tested 12 brands of size 245/45 R18 winter tyres for SUVs and 4x4s on snowy, wet and dry roads. The motoring publication’s test team also added a summer tyre to its test programme, and this provided some interesting results.

All-season tyres are increasingly popular choice for SUV and 4x4 drivers seeking a tyre they can use with confidence all year round. But not every all-season tyre lives up to its promises. To help buyers make more informed purchases, Auto Bild Allrad has tested ten tyre models in size 245/45 R18. Fitting the tyres a Cupra Ateca, the publication’s testers determined how each performs under various conditions, including snow, wet roads, and dry surfaces.

The most recent Auto Bild Sportscars test involves winter tyre in the size 235/35 R19, which the publication’s test team fitted on a BMW M135i to assess their performance across a range of conditions. The results were encouraging in one respect, reflecting significant progress in winter tyre technology, particularly in snow and ice performance. But testing also highlighted that some tyre makers still battle with winter tyre performance in wet and dry conditions.

Winter tyres may account for less than one per cent of retail tyre sales in the UK, but that hasn’t stopped Auto Express from examining seven products in the run-up to the colder part of the year. For its 2024 winter tyre test, the publication focused on the popular 205/55 R16 size, testing the Continental WinterContact TS 870, Falken Eurowinter HS02, Goodride Snowmaster S608, Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, Hankook i’cept RS3, Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 and Vredestein Wintrac.

For its 2024 summer tyre test, Auto Express revisited the 225/45 R17 size, a popular dimension it hadn’t tested in three years. This year's assessment featured eight tyres, including new models from Michelin, Goodyear, Continental, and Bridgestone. The reigning champion in this size category, Hankook, returned to defend its title, competing against Falken, Pirelli, and Vredestein. Testing took place at Goodyear’s proving ground in Montpellier, France.

Unlike some all-season tyre tests published so far in 2024, Italian magazine Al Volante has featured the latest models, including the Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6, Continental AllSeasonContact 2, and Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3. The Al Volante team examined seven tyres in total, fitting the 225/50 R17 to an Audi A4 Avant for testing.