Ten premium and mid-range brands of tyre show us their strengths and weaknesses in Autozeitung’s 2021 summer tyre test. This year the German motoring publication looks at size 225/40 R18, a dimension suitable for around 60 vehicle models – including the new Seat Leon, which served as test vehicle.
Testing took place last September at a proving ground south of Rome, and Autozeitung’s Paul Englert evaluated the ten tyre brands for performance in wet and dry conditions as well as environmental and comfort factors. He gave each tyre an overall percent score as well as separate scores for their wet and dry performance.
Half the candidates ‘highly recommendable’
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5: 92%
Autozeitung recommends five of the ten tested tyres, but there can only be one winner – and this winner is the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5, the tyre that also took top honours in Gute Fahrt’s tyre test. Englert reports that the Goodyear tyre delivered “top performance on wet and dry surfaces” and secured first place in the important 100 to 0 km/h wet braking test with a stopping distance of just 41.9 metres. Autozeitung additionally awards the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 its efficiency recommendation.
Continental PremiumContact 6: 89%
The winner of Autozeitung’s 2020 and 2019 summer tyre tests is back in this year, albeit as runner-up. The PremiumContact 6 provided “strong performance in the dry, but a slight reduction (in performance) the wet.” Although finishing the 100 to 0 km/h wet braking test in second place, it ended up next to last in the wet handling discipline.
Pirelli P Zero PZ4: 88%
The P Zero PZ4 completed the podium. The Pirelli tyre set the bar high in the wet handling disciplines, being responsible not only for the fastest lap but also a safe one. Englert thus awarded it top spot in the wet handling test, reporting excellent balance between the front and rear axles.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4: 87%
The Michelin tyre was at its best in dry conditions, achieving the shortest 100 to 0 km/h braking distance of 34.3 metres as well as the (joint) second-highest score in the dry handling test.
Falken Azenis FK510: 86%
Falken’s entry in the 2021 Autozeitung summer tyre test performed well in most wet disciplines and gained the publication’s additional price-performance recommendation.
The rest of the field
Nokian Powerproof: 85%
Paul Engert comments that the Nokian tyre missed out on a recommendation by just a whisker, losing marks in the wet braking test despite solid performance in the wet handling discipline.
Maxxis Victra Sport 5: 83%
The Victra Sport 5 was another tyre that came close to gaining a recommendation, but not close enough. While it performed well on dry surfaces, the Maxxis tyre couldn’t back this up in the wet.
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2: 81%
Although it topped both aquaplaning tests and delivered the lowest rolling resistance, Englert comments that the Sport Maxx RT2 is “not grippy enough” when it comes to wet braking. The Dunlop tyre also finished the dry braking test in last place.
Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3: 78%
The tester found the Hankook tyre wanting for wet braking grip as well, and its wooden spoon distance of 50.6 metres when braking to a stop from 100 km/h was 8.7 metres longer than the winning result achieved by its Goodyear rival.
Nexen N’Fera Sport: 74%
Englert comments that the Nexen N’Fera Sport “shows weaknesses in both (the wet and dry) sections,” finishing next to last in both the wet and dry braking tests as well as in last place for the wet handling discipline.
