2019 NAF Summer Tyre Test

Dry BrakingContinental Premium Contact 6: 34.6 MGoodyear EfficientGrip Performance: 36.3 M
Dry HandlingContinental Premium Contact 6: 108.52 sMichelin Primacy 4: 109.4 s
Wet BrakingMichelin Primacy 4: 49.1 MBridgestone Turanza T005: 53.1 M
Wet HandlingContinental Premium Contact 6: 69.46 sMichelin Primacy 4: 71.14 s
Straight AquaNokian Hakka Blue 2: 84 Km/HContinental Premium Contact 6: 79.8 Km/H
NoiseBridgestone Turanza T005: 72.2 dBMichelin Primacy 4: 73.4 dB
Rolling ResistanceBridgestone Turanza T005: 5.34 kg / tNokian Hakka Blue 2: 5.62 kg / t
The Norwegian AutoMobile Federation (NAF) has tested seven summer tyre patterns in 205/55 R16, and included a premium winter tyre for comparison.

The winter tyre performed surprisingly well during the wet braking testing, which was tested between 18 and 25c, beating the Dunlop and Bridgestone summer tyres. Wet handling showed a little more weakness, with the winter tyre finishing last, but it was still within a few percent of the summer tyres.

As with all siped tyres, the penalty came in the dry. Testing at 21-23c, the winter tyre was at a huge disadvantage, stopping the car nearly 30% further on than the best summer tyre on test, which is the difference between stopping safely, and having a huge accident! While the tyre was closer during dry handling, it was still significantly slower than all the summer tyres.

Let this test be a good reminder as to why we shouldn't run winter tyres, or winter-bias all season tyres across the dry summer months.

Full data below.

Dry

Wet

Environment

Results

1st: Continental Premium Contact 6

Continental Premium Contact 6
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking1st34.6 M100%
Dry Handling1st108.52 s100%
Wet Braking2nd50.5 M49.1 M+1.4 M97.23%
Wet Handling1st69.46 s100%
Straight Aqua7th79.8 Km/H84 Km/H-4.2 Km/H95%
Noise1st72.2 dB100%
Rolling Resistance3rd5.48 kg / t5.34 kg / t+0.14 kg / t97.45%
Excellent lateral stability on dry and wet surfaces, impressive braking performance, especially on dry surfaces, low noise.
The weakest resistance to aquaplaning.

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2nd: Nokian Hakka Blue 2

Nokian Hakka Blue 2
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th36.1 M34.6 M+1.5 M95.84%
Dry Handling6th109.38 s108.52 s+0.86 s99.21%
Wet Braking3rd50.9 M49.1 M+1.8 M96.46%
Wet Handling4th70.18 s69.46 s+0.72 s98.97%
Straight Aqua1st84 Km/H100%
Noise5th72.8 dB72.2 dB+0.6 dB99.18%
Rolling Resistance7th5.62 kg / t5.34 kg / t+0.28 kg / t95.02%
Short braking distance, high lateral stability and good handling on wet surfaces.
Relatively long braking distance and insufficient dry handling, highest fuel consumption.

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3rd: Dunlop Sport BluResponse

Dunlop Sport BluResponse
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd35.6 M34.6 M+1 M97.19%
Dry Handling3rd109 s108.52 s+0.48 s99.56%
Wet Braking6th52.5 M49.1 M+3.4 M93.52%
Wet Handling5th70.38 s69.46 s+0.92 s98.69%
Straight Aqua3rd82.8 Km/H84 Km/H-1.2 Km/H98.57%
Noise3rd72.4 dB72.2 dB+0.2 dB99.72%
Rolling Resistance4th5.51 kg / t5.34 kg / t+0.17 kg / t96.91%
Accurate and fast reactions to steering, low noise.
Relatively long braking distance on wet roads.

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3rd: Firestone RoadHawk

Firestone RoadHawk
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd35.6 M34.6 M+1 M97.19%
Dry Handling2nd108.94 s108.52 s+0.42 s99.61%
Wet Braking4th51.3 M49.1 M+2.2 M95.71%
Wet Handling2nd69.82 s69.46 s+0.36 s99.48%
Straight Aqua4th81.9 Km/H84 Km/H-2.1 Km/H97.5%
Noise3rd72.4 dB72.2 dB+0.2 dB99.72%
Rolling Resistance6th5.58 kg / t5.34 kg / t+0.24 kg / t95.7%
High lateral stability, quick steering, neutral balance.
High noise levels.

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5th: Michelin Primacy 4

Michelin Primacy 4
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking5th35.9 M34.6 M+1.3 M96.38%
Dry Handling7th109.4 s108.52 s+0.88 s99.2%
Wet Braking1st49.1 M100%
Wet Handling7th71.14 s69.46 s+1.68 s97.64%
Straight Aqua2nd83.8 Km/H84 Km/H-0.2 Km/H99.76%
Noise7th73.4 dB72.2 dB+1.2 dB98.37%
Rolling Resistance5th5.57 kg / t5.34 kg / t+0.23 kg / t95.87%
Excellent braking performance.
Weak lateral stability.

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6th: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking7th36.3 M34.6 M+1.7 M95.32%
Dry Handling5th109.31 s108.52 s+0.79 s99.28%
Wet Braking5th51.7 M49.1 M+2.6 M94.97%
Wet Handling6th71.09 s69.46 s+1.63 s97.71%
Straight Aqua5th81.8 Km/H84 Km/H-2.2 Km/H97.38%
Noise6th73 dB72.2 dB+0.8 dB98.9%
Rolling Resistance2nd5.39 kg / t5.34 kg / t+0.05 kg / t99.07%
Low fuel consumption, high aquaplaning resistance.
Weak lateral stability, understeer and long braking in the dry, elevated noise.

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7th: Bridgestone Turanza T005

Bridgestone Turanza T005
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking2nd35.5 M34.6 M+0.9 M97.46%
Dry Handling4th109.01 s108.52 s+0.49 s99.55%
Wet Braking7th53.1 M49.1 M+4 M92.47%
Wet Handling3rd70.08 s69.46 s+0.62 s99.12%
Straight Aqua6th81.3 Km/H84 Km/H-2.7 Km/H96.79%
Noise1st72.2 dB100%
Rolling Resistance1st5.34 kg / t100%
Good handling and grip in the dry and wet, short dry braking distances.
Longest wet braking, low aquaplaning resistance, noise.

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