2015 European Tyre Test 205/55 R16

Test Summary
Wet BrakingMichelin Primacy 3
Continental Premium Contact 5
Dry BrakingGoodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
Kumho Solus HS51 Harmony Sports
WearMichelin Primacy 3
Rolling ResistanceHankook K425 Kinergy Eco
Bridgestone Ecopia EP001S
Snow BrakingMichelin Primacy 3
Michelin Energy Saver Plus
Snow HandlingContinental Eco Contact 5
Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco

The 2015 European tyre test by the German organisations ADAC and Stiftung Warentest is here, and this time it's a little more interesting than usual.

This year testing 205/55 R16, ADAC made their annual tyre test a little more in-depth by including a number of "low rolling resistance" ECO tyres. These tyres are designed to use less fuel than normal tyres, with a little trade in dry and wet grip.

Unfortunately for those of us looking to save a few pound on the annual fuel bill, not one of the ECO tyres offered a balance of performance ADAC were happy with, and they finished in the final five places. While all the tyres offered slightly improved rolling resistance scores, the trade off in wet grip wasn't worth the small saving.

While the ECO Michelin Energy Saver+ could only manage 15th place due to a poor wet performance, it's sister tyre, the Michelin Primacy 3, won the test by a large margin thanks to an excellent performance in the dry, wet, the best wear score and low rolling resistance.

The usual suspects filled places two to five, with Bridgestone making a suprise return to the top six with the Turenza T001 - apparently Bridgestone have finally got on top of the wet performance issues their tyres have faced in the past.

 

The Results

1st: Michelin Primacy 3

Michelin Primacy 3
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 49.2
  2. Dry: 9
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Rolling Resistance: 8
  5. Noise: 6
  6. Wear: 11
  7. Overall: 8.2
Very balanced summer tyres, top marks in the dry and lowest wear

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2nd: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 45.8
  2. Dry: 8.6
  3. Wet: 7.8
  4. Rolling Resistance: 8
  5. Noise: 6.2
  6. Wear: 7.4
  7. Overall: 7.8
Very balanced tyre, top marks in the wet, good in the dry

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3rd: Continental Premium Contact 5

Continental Premium Contact 5
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 45.2
  2. Dry: 9
  3. Wet: 7.4
  4. Rolling Resistance: 7.8
  5. Noise: 6
  6. Wear: 7.4
  7. Overall: 7.6
Very balanced tyre, top marks in the dry, good in the wet

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4th: Dunlop Sport BluResponse

Dunlop Sport BluResponse
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 45.2
  2. Dry: 8.6
  3. Wet: 7.4
  4. Rolling Resistance: 8
  5. Noise: 6.6
  6. Wear: 7
  7. Overall: 7.6
Very balanced summer tyres, good in the dry and wet

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5th: Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue

Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 44.2
  2. Dry: 8.4
  3. Wet: 7.8
  4. Rolling Resistance: 7.6
  5. Noise: 4.8
  6. Wear: 8
  7. Overall: 7.6
Very balanced tyre, top in the wet, good in the dry, low wear
A little noisy

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6th: Bridgestone Turanza T001

Bridgestone Turanza T001
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 44.2
  2. Dry: 8.8
  3. Wet: 7.6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 7.4
  5. Noise: 6
  6. Wear: 7
  7. Overall: 7.4
Very balanced summer tyres, especially good in the dry and wet

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7th: Fulda EcoControl HP

Fulda EcoControl HP
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 43.2
  2. Dry: 7.6
  3. Wet: 6.6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 7.8
  5. Noise: 6.2
  6. Wear: 8.4
  7. Overall: 6.6
Low wear
Not as good as the best in the wet

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8th: Hankook Ventus Prime2

Hankook Ventus Prime2
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 42.2
  2. Dry: 8.2
  3. Wet: 6.6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 7
  5. Noise: 6.4
  6. Wear: 7.4
  7. Overall: 6.6
Good in the dry
A little weak in the wet, slightly high fuel consumption

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9th: Semperit Speed Life

Semperit Speed Life
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 41
  2. Dry: 6.6
  3. Wet: 6.6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 8.2
  5. Noise: 6
  6. Wear: 7
  7. Overall: 6.6
Low fuel consumption
Slightly weak in the dry and wet

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10th: Vredestein Sportrac 5

Vredestein Sportrac 5
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 43.6
  2. Dry: 8.6
  3. Wet: 6.6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 8.2
  5. Noise: 6.2
  6. Wear: 7.4
  7. Overall: 6.6
Good in the dry, low fuel consumption
A little weak in the wet

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11th: Falken ZE914

Falken ZE914
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 42.4
  2. Dry: 8.8
  3. Wet: 6.8
  4. Rolling Resistance: 7.2
  5. Noise: 6.8
  6. Wear: 6.4
  7. Overall: 6.4
Very good in the dry
High wear

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12th: Nokian Line

Nokian Line
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 42
  2. Dry: 8.4
  3. Wet: 7.2
  4. Rolling Resistance: 7.4
  5. Noise: 6.2
  6. Wear: 6.4
  7. Overall: 6.4
Good in the dry
High wear

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13th: Bridgestone Ecopia EP001S

Bridgestone Ecopia EP001S
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 42.4
  2. Dry: 8.2
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 8.8
  5. Noise: 7
  6. Wear: 6.4
  7. Overall: 6
Top marks in fuel consumption, good in the dry
Somewhat weak in the wet, slightly high wear

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14th: Continental Eco Contact 5

Continental Eco Contact 5
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 43.4
  2. Dry: 8.4
  3. Wet: 5.6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 8.2
  5. Noise: 7.2
  6. Wear: 8.4
  7. Overall: 5.6
Good on dry roads, relatively low fuel consumption and wear, top marks in noise
Weak in the wet

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15th: Michelin Energy Saver+

Michelin Energy Saver Plus
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 45.4
  2. Dry: 8.6
  3. Wet: 5.6
  4. Rolling Resistance: 8.2
  5. Noise: 6.4
  6. Wear: 11
  7. Overall: 5.6
Top marks in wear, relatively low fuel consumption, good on dry roads
Weak in the wet

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16th: Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco

Hankook K425 Kinergy Eco
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 40
  2. Dry: 6.8
  3. Wet: 5.4
  4. Rolling Resistance: 8.8
  5. Noise: 7.2
  6. Wear: 6.4
  7. Overall: 5.4
Top marks in fuel consumption and noise
Weak in the wet, high wear

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17th: Kumho Solus HS51 Harmony Sports

Kumho Solus HS51 Harmony Sports
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 39.8
  2. Dry: 7.4
  3. Wet: 7.8
  4. Rolling Resistance: 7.4
  5. Noise: 6.4
  6. Wear: 5.4
  7. Overall: 5.4
Good in the wet
High wear

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18th: Kleber Dynaxer HP 3

Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 39.4
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 5
  4. Rolling Resistance: 8
  5. Noise: 5.4
  6. Wear: 9
  7. Overall: 5
Low wear
Weak in the wet

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19th: Nankang Green Sport Eco 2

Nankang Green Sport Eco 2
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 29.8
  2. Dry: 5.6
  3. Wet: 1
  4. Rolling Resistance: 7.8
  5. Noise: 6.4
  6. Wear: 8
  7. Overall: 1
Low wear
Very weak in the wet. Weak on dry roads

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