In its 2021 summer test, Auto Bild Allrad looks at ten brands of SUV tyres, from a premium product costing £450 for a set of four to a budget tyre almost half the price. On the whole, the test team was impressed with the candidates’ performance and declared six of the ten products either ‘exemplary’ or ‘good’. They declined to recommend just one tyre.
The motoring magazine tested size 215/60 R17, one of the most popular SUV dimensions in the UK and Europe. The testers looked at how the tyres behaved during a series of challenges on wet and dry tarmac as well as on several off-road surfaces. They also evaluated the tyres for rolling resistance, noise and ride comfort.
3 tyres were ‘exemplary’
Goodyear EfficientGrip 2 SUV – test winner
Strengths: Excellent driving characteristics on all surfaces, sporty-dynamic handling in the dry, precise steering response, short stopping distances on wet and dry surfaces, low rolling resistance.
Michelin Primacy 4
Strengths: Very good performance on wet and dry surfaces, good aquaplaning safety reserves, precise wet and dry handling, short stopping distances on dry surfaces.
Weaknesses: Average traction on sand, high purchase price.
Bridgestone Turanza T005
Strengths: Dynamic handling with high steering precision on wet and dry tarmac and also off-road, short stopping distances in the dry, low rolling resistance.
Weaknesses: Average traction on grass, relatively high purchase price.
3 ‘good’ tyres
Continental PremiumContact 6
Strengths: A balanced premium summer tyre with top handling on all surfaces, precise steering behaviour, short stopping distances on wet and dry tarmac.
Weaknesses: Average traction on grass and gravel.
Nokian Wetproof SUV
Strengths: Good aquaplaning safety reserves, high traction on grass and gravel, short stopping distances on wet and dry tarmac.
Weaknesses: Elevated rolling resistance, slightly delayed steering response.
Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun
Strengths: Well-balanced performance potential, good aquaplaning characteristics, stable and safe wet handling, short stopping distances on dry surfaces.
Weaknesses: Average traction on gravel and mud, elevated rolling resistance.
3 ‘satisfactory’ tyres
Maxxis Premitra 5 HP5
Strengths: Best aquaplaning safety reserves, short stopping distance on dry surfaces, good comfort, well priced.
Weaknesses: Understeer and delayed steering response in the wet, wet stopping distance too long.
BFGoodrich Advantage SUV
Strengths: High traction on gravel and mud, good comfort, low rolling resistance.
Weaknesses: Limited traction on sand, understeering wet and dry handling, wet stopping distance too long.
Toyo Proxes Comfort
Strengths: High traction on gravel and sand, safe aquaplaning characteristics, good comfort.
Weaknesses: Limited suitability for off-road applications, delayed steering response and understeer in wet conditions, wet stopping distances too long.
Not recommended
Imperial EcoSport SUV
Strengths: Safe aquaplaning characteristics, well priced.
Weaknesses: Considerable weaknesses in wet conditions, unbalanced and oversteering wet handling, vague steering, wet and dry stopping distances too long.
