Netherlands-based motoring association the Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB) has compared 18 brands of summer tyre in size 225/40 R18. This is a dimension often seen on cars such as the Audi A3, BMW 1 and 2-series, Mercedes A and B-class, Seat Leon and Toyota Corolla, and it is also a standard size on the ANWB test team’s VW Golf VIII.
The ANWB team subjected the 18 tyre brands to safety-related tests in wet and dry conditions, these contributing 70 per cent towards the final score. They additionally appraised rolling resistance, fuel consumption, noise characteristics and wear.
Summarising the results from this test, ANWB reports that it “rarely had such a big difference between the best and worst tyres in the test.” This wasn’t the case because the best tyres were uncharacteristically good – rather, the tyre testers explain that “the worst is really bad.”
11 four-star tyres
While none of the 18 tyres achieved the top ANWB rating of five stars, which would be equivalent to a ‘very good’ rating, 11 brands gained a ‘good’ rating of four stars. The ANWB test team tells us that tyre buyers can’t really go wrong when buying a four-star tyre, but there are “definitely differences” amongst these 11 tyres – even when taking price out of the equation.
ANWB reports that the Continental SportContact 7 and Bridgestone Potenza Sport are “both very good on dry and wet roads,” with “phenomenal” driving characteristics, braking performance and safety reserves. “A new benchmark is set here,” comments the test team. They judged the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 to be “slightly behind” the Continental and Bridgestone tyres, especially in regard to driving characteristics on dry roads, but found the Michelin tyre compensated for this with better wear resistance, while the Goodyear produced less rolling noise.
The Vredestein Ultrac Pro, Yokohama Advan Sport V107 and Firestone Firehawk Sport approached the performance levels of the Continental and Bridgestone tyres on dry roads but were slightly less capable in the wet. Belgium’s Testaankoop gave the Vredestein tyre its ‘Best Buy’ accolade.
“Receiving the ‘Best Buy’ recognition from Testaankoop is further testament to the outstanding performance of the Vredestein Ultrac Pro. As a leader in the ultra-high performance tyre segment, this tyre continues to set new benchmarks, and we are seeing increasing demand for it as more drivers seek the perfect blend of performance, reliability and comfort,” comments Yves Pouliquen, Vice President, Commercial, Europe at Apollo Tyres Ltd.
Although delivering a slightly lower score on both wet and dry roads, ANWB considers the Falken Azenis FK520 to be a good tyre with the added advantage of a lower purchase price. The Nexen N Fera Sport provides a good cost per mile ratio.
Three-star tyres – the midfield
Four tyres achieved a three-star result, the equivalent of a ‘satisfactory’ rating. ANWB says these products showed some slight shortcomings in certain test disciplines but emphasises that “depending on your own requirements and expectations of a tyre, there could be some very interesting candidates.”
The motoring association considers the Kumho Ecsta PS71 – a tyre now being succeeded by the Ecsta Sport – to be very good on wet roads. The Nokian Tyres Powerproof 1 also performed well on wet surfaces. “For people who find wet (safety and performance) the most important, these could be good options,” comments ANWB. The other three-star tyres are the Giti Tire GitiSport S2 and the Ceat SportDrive, the latter being the tyre with the lowest mileage cost.
Two stars, one star
A two-star result is comparable to an ‘adequate’ rating, and two tyres achieved this. These are the Norauto Prevensys 4 and the Syron Premium Performance.
Gaining just one star is a ‘poor’ result, notes ANWB. One tyre suffered this indignity, the Double Coin DC-100. Remembering the publication’s words that the “worst” tyre in this current test is “really bad”, we begin by looking for good news to give Double Coin. We find it in the wear resistance test, with the DC-100 achieving the best result.
But good wear characteristics by no means excuse the tyre’s wet braking performance. The DC-100 needed 45.1 metres to bring the VW Golf test car to a stop from 80km/h / 50mph. This is 16.7 metres longer than the Continental-shod car required – or put differently, the Golf was still travelling at 49 km/h / 30mph when braking with Double Coin tyres at the point it came to a complete stop when wearing the SportContact 7.
Choose lower priced tyres carefully
ANWB concludes with the observation that tyres have become “considerably more expensive in recent years,” leading to increasing numbers of “budget and low budget” tyres being sold. But low price can be costly. While the premium brands tested “do not disappoint and score well without exception,” some low-price tyres in the test are “really bad and even dangerous.” Other candidates managed to deliver a lower price together with performance slightly below the best tyres in the test, and ANWB says it can “wholeheartedly recommend” these.
“Choose tyres based on test results and not on price,” implores the ANWB test team. “It does not always have to be an expensive premium brand but do not compromise on safety. There are certainly cheap alternatives on the market that score well and are safe. Use test results to find out which ones they are. Be careful with just the cheapest on the internet.”
ANWB’s 225/40 R18Y tyre buying tips
- If seeking good performance under all conditions and on all components, it is best to choose one of the tyres with a four-star rating.
- When wanting optimum performance in dry conditions choose the Continental, Bridgestone, Vredestein, Yokohama or Firestone tyres.
- Those looking for an inexpensive but safe tyre should opt for the Ceat, Nexen or Falken (here ANWB considers the combination of purchase price, life expectancy in miles and fuel consumption).
- The most durable tyre in the test is the Michelin. Behind it come the Continental, the Goodyear and the Falken.
- The tyres with the best wear resistance (after discounting the Double Coin DC-100) are the Michelin, followed by the Goodyear and the Bridgestone.
