Henning Klipp has remained in the testing game since parting ways with Auto Bild, his business Tempotire working on a freelance basis for companies and organisations interested in evaluating and comparing tyres. Klipp’s most recent tyre test appears in an unexpected place – on the site of German IT news portal Netzwelt.de. Klipp has examined summer tyres in size 205/55 R16, a dimension worn by small family cars such as the VW Golf that was used for testing. The test specialist rated four of the tyres as ‘good’.
Conducted at Continental’s Contidrom proving ground near Hannover, the six-tyre test set out to mirror the breadth of the European replacement market – spanning a premium benchmark, established mid-tier brands and low-cost imports from Asia.
Continental remains the benchmark
It was a home win for Continental, with its PremiumContact 7 setting the pace. Klipp reports that the tyre delivered the shortest braking distances on both wet and dry asphalt, strong grip and precise steering, combining sporty handling with high safety reserves. In overall assessment it achieved a clear test win and a ‘good’ rating.
The tyre’s only minor weaknesses lay in average aquaplaning reserves and a firmer ride typical of performance-oriented designs. Nevertheless, its balance of safety and dynamics reaffirmed Continental’s position as the reference point in this highly competitive 205/55 R16 segment.
Linglong closes the gap
More unexpected was the performance of Linglong’s Comfort Master. Produced in Serbia and positioned well below the premium price level, it finished close behind the Continental and also earned a ‘good’ verdict along with Klipp’s ‘price tip’ recommendation. The tyre impressed particularly in wet handling and braking, where it ran the winner close, although it showed some shortcomings in dry-handling precision and higher rolling resistance.
Klipp sees the result as further evidence that Chinese manufacturers are becoming credible competitors in Europe. Linglong’s strong showing demonstrates what he describes as the brand’s serious ambition to shed a budget-only image and establish itself in higher-quality segments.
Mid-tier tyres also achieve ‘good’
Two established mid-range products – Firestone’s Roadhawk 2 and Uniroyal’s RainSport 5 – completed the quartet of ‘good’ performers. The Firestone delivered balanced behaviour with particular strength in dry conditions, while the Uniroyal lived up to its wet-weather reputation, posting excellent aquaplaning resistance and strong wet grip. Both achieved overall scores around the mid-2.0 range.
Just outside the ‘good’ bracket came Maxxis’ Premitra HP 6. Klipp characterised it as broadly competent but lacking the outright grip and handling precision of the top four, resulting in a ‘satisfactory’ overall rating.
Budget tyre draws safety warning
At the bottom of the ranking was the Tourador X Wonder TH1, representing ultra-low-cost imports. Klipp highlighted “serious safety deficiencies”, notably very long wet braking distances and weak grip, and issued an explicit warning against the tyre. The result underscores the continuing performance gulf between the cheapest products and the market leaders despite overall improvements in the segment.
Premium still top but credible competition emerging
Overall, Klipp’s first Netzwelt-published tyre test reinforces two key trends. Premium brands such as Continental still define the safety and performance benchmark, yet credible competition is emerging from ambitious Asian manufacturers. As the tester concludes, tyre choice can still translate into metres of stopping distance in real-world driving – a reminder that even in the mainstream Golf-class size, performance differentials remain significant.
