Sustainable value: tyres that don’t cost the earth
Acknowledging the close relationship between electric car tyres and sustainable motoring, we have overhauled our Eco Tyre of the Year category for 2024. Having expanded the scope of what might constitute a great tyre for an EV, reflecting market trends for original equipment fitments, many particularly efficient tyres are now available as ”EV-Ready” products – tyres that can be fitted to any car. By configuring products to optimise range in EVs, these products are naturally fuel-efficient too, since the concepts of low rolling resistance, lighter weight and more aerodynamic sidewalls achieve the same ultimate goal. With this in mind, we have included another metric in judging what tyres might offer the best economical deal for motorists, while also demonstrating sustainable characteristics.
Legislative changes, demand from consumers, and the desire to boost sustainability in all aspects of the business mean that tyres have never been as eco-friendly. At the same time, there are also more ambitious global tyre manufacturers, with some of the best-established sub-premium brands committing to produce more sustainable, higher-quality products. Running a car is also an expensive business, whether that be due to high energy or fuel prices, the inflated prices in the used car market and the current lack of support for electrification available in the UK, but we believe this does not mean consumers want to participate in a race to the bottom on a safety-critical component such as tyres.
The good news is that there are many high-quality tyres available on the market at a relatively low purchase cost that will offer good performance characteristics, while also offering advanced technologies and sustainably certified manufacturing. In putting together WhatTyre’s recommendations for the best Eco Tyres available to buy now, we purposefully looked beyond tyres already featured in other categories, applying a very stringent criteria that ensures the tyres offer high quality, low price, and among the lowest environmental impact both in terms of performance and manufacturing. These were:
- A or B-grade fuel economy and wet grip on the EU tyre label, demonstrating low rolling resistance and high safety
- Produced by a manufacturer with independent Environmental, Social and Governance certification – WhatTyre ranks manufacturers according to this data with a mark that affects the Tyrescore of their products
- The tyres meeting these criteria, while also not available on other category recommendations also needed to be available for purchase online in a market-leading 15, 16 or 17-inch size for under £70.
After identifying eight tyres that matched this criteria, we applied a new formula based on their Tyrescore, WhatTyre’s Eco Rating for each manufacturer, and the best price found online to rank them, with the tyres offering the best performance for their price receiving the highest recommendations.
Continental EcoContact 6 (Photo: Continental)
The best Eco Tyres to fit in 2024
With quite tight cost constraints, we thought we might be ruling out the top tyre brands, but one tyre demonstrated such great value that it was impossible not to make it this year’s winner. The Continental EcoContact 6 is a well-established model that offers very low running costs due to exceptionally low rolling resistance. The tyre is beloved by mass-market vehicle manufacturers, who use bespoke fitments to ensure their latest models can offer great fuel economy ratings. Independent testers, while not blown away by the tyre’s driving performance, have consistently noted low wear rates alongside its high fuel economy too. So why is it so low-priced? Conti is launching the EcoContact 7 this year, meaning stocks of this tyre are likely to start selling out. If you want to add low running costs and long-lasting tread to a low purchase price, now is a great time to pick up a set of the 6s. However, other tyres in this list may be more suitable for driving enjoyment…
The Kumho Ecowing ES31 has won original equipment fitments on mass-market cars like the Seat Ibiza (Photo: Kumho)
Highly Recommended alternatives
The Kumho Ecowing ES31 is another tyre that has established eco credentials in original equipment editions on efficiency focused car models. Featuring on some of Europe’s biggest-selling hatchbacks, the tyre is highly proven. Its innovative asymmetric pattern includes: a quartet of wide drainage channels for optimum wet weather performance; a stiff centre rib for minimal rolling resistance; and aerodynamically designed shoulders for improved wind resistance that feature novel heat dissipation dimples on the inner flank.
GitiSynergyH2 (Photo: Giti Tire)
Matching the relatively low purchase price of older tyre models, the GitiSynergyH2 is a much more recently released product with a large range extension announced in 2022, covering most mass-market fitments. Aimed primarily at compact and family cars, crossover vehicles and small SUVs, the core characteristics of the GitiSynergyH2 are listed as “safety without worry”, energy efficiency and precise control. Giti Tire designed and engineered the tyre at its European Research & Development Centre in Hannover, Germany, with testing at the company’s MIRA facility in the UK as well as key locations in Germany and Spain.
Finally, the Yokohama BluEarth-GT AE51 also gets WhatTyre’s Highly Recommended accolade. The tyre is a grand touring tyre, offering high steering stability and a newly developed compound to combine low rolling resistance and wet performance, while also promoting comfort.
Four more Eco Tyres commended
The Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 offers low rolling resistance and increased mileage. The Korean tyre-maker also reduced tyre noise from the product while retaining the durability of its predecessor. A test by Auto Bild Klassik called the tyre faultless, with harmoniously precise performance on wet and dry roads, and short braking distances.
The Dunlop Sport BluResponse has continuously proven its abilities in tyre tests over the past three years, offering low rolling resistance as well as capable balanced performance characteristics. Testers have also noted good abrasion qualities, indicating the tyre may achieve a longer than average life, further increasing its already stellar value at its current low price.
The Firestone Roadhawk 2 targets everyday driving with increased sustainability (Photo: Bridgestone)
While tyres that have been in the market for a sustained period had a price advantage over younger models, the Giti tyre and two other tyres from less well-known brands also showed outstanding value as more recently launched models. Bridgestone’s second-line brand has been reinvigorated in recent years, and the Firestone Roadhawk 2 represents its second-generation touring tyre since this relaunch. The tyre was praised highly by Autozeitung in a 2024 test for its efficiency alongside decent performance characteristics. The Roadhawk 2 also achieves very good labelling results, while offering some of its parent brand’s cutting-edge technologies at a lower price point.
Finally, a new name in our Tyre of the Year awards for 2024, but one you may get more accustomed to seeing over the next decade. Sailun is one of China’s fastest-growing manufacturers and broke into the global top 10 in 2024 according to Tyres & Accessories magazine. The Sailun Atrezzo ZSR2 is one of its most recent products, designed to offer value in the ultra-high performance segment, rather than the touring segment in which every other tyre on this list belongs. As such, the tyre is not designed to offer the same level of longevity, though it scores well in terms of rolling resistance. Rather, this tyre is Commended for offering a viable economical alternative to higher-priced tyres in bigger tyre sizes.
