For their 2024 summer tyre test, the magazine "Auto Motor und Sport" tested eight summer tyres in the popular 235/55 R18 SUV size. 

The test includes new tyres like Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV, Bridgestone Turanza 6, and Continental PremiumContact 7, evaluating them on wet and dry braking, handling, aquaplaning resistance, comfort, and environmental impact. 

The report emphasises the importance of short braking distances and reliable performance under various conditions. Continental's PremiumContact 7 stood out for its excellent grip and safety, while others like Michelin and Bridgestone were noted for their fuel efficiency and environmental considerations.

Dry

As we've seen many times before, the Continental PremiumContact 7 had a good lead in dry braking. While the Goodyear was last in dry braking, it also has the highest starting tread depth which affects this test.

The Continental was also the fastest around the dry handling lap.

Wet

Shockingly the Continental was back at the front for wet braking.

The Continental also led wet handling and the wet circle.

Wet Circle

The Falken, Vredestein and Goodyear all did well in the deeper water of aquaplaning.

Comfort

The new Goodyear had the lowest noise, an impressive feat considering its high starting tread depth.

Value

The Michelin Primacy 4+ and Bridgestone Turanza 6 had the lowest rolling resistance on test.

Results

1st: Continental PremiumContact 7
235/55 R18 100V EU Label: C/A/71 Weight: 11.34kgs Tread: 6.6mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 34.1 M 100% Dry Handling 1st 93.8 Km/H 100% Wet Braking 1st 27.9 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 75.5 Km/H 100% Wet Circle 1st 8.62 m/s 100% Straight Aqua 7th 73.5 Km/H 77.9 Km/H -4.4 Km/H 94.35% Curved Aquaplaning 6th 8.25 m/sec2 8.8 m/sec2 -0.55 m/sec2 93.75% Noise 8th 73.2 dB 69.3 dB +3.9 dB 94.67% Rolling Resistance 7th 7.7 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +1.1 kg / t 85.71% Outstanding grip on wet surfaces, safe in aquaplaning. Also strong adhesion in dry curves, precise and reliable. Good rolling comfort. Slightly louder rolling noise outside, increased rolling resistance/low fuel efficiency. By far the highest grip and safest tyre in the test. Read Reviews    Buy from £140.84
2nd: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV
235/55 R18 104W EU Label: C/A/72 Weight: 12.64kgs Tread: 7.6mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 36.1 M 34.1 M +2 M 94.46% Dry Handling 2nd 93.7 Km/H 93.8 Km/H -0.1 Km/H 99.89% Wet Braking 3rd 28.9 M 27.9 M +1 M 96.54% Wet Handling 3rd 74.2 Km/H 75.5 Km/H -1.3 Km/H 98.28% Wet Circle 3rd 8.53 m/s 8.62 m/s -0.09 m/s 98.96% Straight Aqua 6th 74 Km/H 77.9 Km/H -3.9 Km/H 94.99% Curved Aquaplaning 7th 6.61 m/sec2 8.8 m/sec2 -2.19 m/sec2 75.11% Noise 3rd 70.3 dB 69.3 dB +1 dB 98.58% Rolling Resistance 3rd 6.9 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +0.3 kg / t 95.65% Very good, dynamic wet handling with high grip level and easy controllability. Direct steering response, very dynamic on dry roads, good comfort features. Weaknesses in corner aquaplaning and in driving stability during fast lane changes. Balanced and comfortable with only marginal weaknesses. Read Reviews
3rd: Vredestein Ultrac
235/55 R18 100V EU Label: B/A/70 Weight: 10.98kgs Tread: 6.5mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 35.7 M 34.1 M +1.6 M 95.52% Dry Handling 7th 92.6 Km/H 93.8 Km/H -1.2 Km/H 98.72% Wet Braking 2nd 28.7 M 27.9 M +0.8 M 97.21% Wet Handling 2nd 75.1 Km/H 75.5 Km/H -0.4 Km/H 99.47% Wet Circle 4th 8.42 m/s 8.62 m/s -0.2 m/s 97.68% Straight Aqua 2nd 77.5 Km/H 77.9 Km/H -0.4 Km/H 99.49% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd 8.58 m/sec2 8.8 m/sec2 -0.22 m/sec2 97.5% Noise 2nd 70.1 dB 69.3 dB +0.8 dB 98.86% Rolling Resistance 5th 7.1 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +0.5 kg / t 92.96% Very good grip and easy controllability in wet conditions, safe in aquaplaning. Benign handling characteristics on dry asphalt. Sensitive to load changes and cause for a slightly unstable rear during fast lane changes. Limitations in rolling comfort due to slight bumpiness. Especially in the rain: a tyre you can rely on. Read Reviews    Buy from £129.91
4th: Bridgestone Turanza 6
235/55 R18 100V EU Label: B/A/69 Weight: 10.64kgs Tread: 7.3mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 36.4 M 34.1 M +2.3 M 93.68% Dry Handling 4th 93.5 Km/H 93.8 Km/H -0.3 Km/H 99.68% Wet Braking 4th 29.9 M 27.9 M +2 M 93.31% Wet Handling 7th 73.3 Km/H 75.5 Km/H -2.2 Km/H 97.09% Wet Circle 8th 8.27 m/s 8.62 m/s -0.35 m/s 95.94% Straight Aqua 4th 75.2 Km/H 77.9 Km/H -2.7 Km/H 96.53% Curved Aquaplaning 4th 8.42 m/sec2 8.8 m/sec2 -0.38 m/sec2 95.68% Noise 4th 70.5 dB 69.3 dB +1.2 dB 98.3% Rolling Resistance 1st 6.6 kg / t 100% Good aquaplaning prevention and decent wet braking properties. On dry roads, sporty-dynamic yet still easily controllable tyre. Limitations in traction and cornering grip on wet surfaces. Somewhat jolty over transverse joints. Dry-strong summer tyre with very low fuel/electricity consumption. Read Reviews    Buy from £135.07
5th: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 SUV
235/55 R18 100V EU Label: B/A/70 Weight: 12.04kgs Tread: 8.6mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 36.6 M 34.1 M +2.5 M 93.17% Dry Handling 6th 93 Km/H 93.8 Km/H -0.8 Km/H 99.15% Wet Braking 6th 30.3 M 27.9 M +2.4 M 92.08% Wet Handling 6th 73.7 Km/H 75.5 Km/H -1.8 Km/H 97.62% Wet Circle 6th 8.36 m/s 8.62 m/s -0.26 m/s 96.98% Straight Aqua 5th 75.1 Km/H 77.9 Km/H -2.8 Km/H 96.41% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 8.8 m/sec2 100% Noise 1st 69.3 dB 100% Rolling Resistance 3rd 6.9 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +0.3 kg / t 95.65% High aquaplaning safety in curves. Dry good lane change safety, precise, easily controllable handling, very quiet rolling noise, good comfort. Weak braking, moderate cornering grip and pronounced understeering on wet surfaces. Quite sluggish steering response. The new Goodyear. Supposed to last longer, but lacking in grip. Read Reviews
6th: Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 SUV
235/55 R18 100Y EU Label: C/A/71 Weight: 12.98kgs Tread: 7.4mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 36.1 M 34.1 M +2 M 94.46% Dry Handling 4th 93.5 Km/H 93.8 Km/H -0.3 Km/H 99.68% Wet Braking 8th 31.1 M 27.9 M +3.2 M 89.71% Wet Handling 3rd 74.2 Km/H 75.5 Km/H -1.3 Km/H 98.28% Wet Circle 2nd 8.54 m/s 8.62 m/s -0.08 m/s 99.07% Straight Aqua 3rd 77.2 Km/H 77.9 Km/H -0.7 Km/H 99.1% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd 8.51 m/sec2 8.8 m/sec2 -0.29 m/sec2 96.7% Noise 7th 71.4 dB 69.3 dB +2.1 dB 97.06% Rolling Resistance 8th 9.1 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +2.5 kg / t 72.53% With the exception of the comparatively long braking distances, good, balanced wet performance with safe aquaplaning behavior. Quite responsive steering, safe in evasive maneuvers, reliable in handling. Long braking distances on both wet and dry roads, highest rolling resistance in the test. The Maxxis stumbles over its long wet-braking distances. Read Reviews
7th: Falken Azenis FK520
235/55 R18 104Y EU Label: C/A/70 Weight: 12.9kgs Tread: 7.5mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 35.2 M 34.1 M +1.1 M 96.88% Dry Handling 2nd 93.7 Km/H 93.8 Km/H -0.1 Km/H 99.89% Wet Braking 5th 30.1 M 27.9 M +2.2 M 92.69% Wet Handling 5th 73.8 Km/H 75.5 Km/H -1.7 Km/H 97.75% Wet Circle 4th 8.42 m/s 8.62 m/s -0.2 m/s 97.68% Straight Aqua 1st 77.9 Km/H 100% Curved Aquaplaning 5th 8.32 m/sec2 8.8 m/sec2 -0.48 m/sec2 94.55% Noise 6th 70.9 dB 69.3 dB +1.6 dB 97.74% Rolling Resistance 6th 7.5 kg / t 6.6 kg / t +0.9 kg / t 88% Very good aquaplaning prevention, easily controllable but not very dynamic driving behavior on dry roads. Limitations in braking and traction on wet surfaces. Also, unbalanced driving dynamics with oversteering and understeering in wet conditions. In wet grip and driving stability, Falken could still improve a bit. Read Reviews    Buy from £150.79
8th: Michelin Primacy 4+
235/55 R18 104V EU Label: B/A/70 Weight: 11.68kgs Tread: 6.3mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 35.5 M 34.1 M +1.4 M 96.06% Dry Handling 7th 92.6 Km/H 93.8 Km/H -1.2 Km/H 98.72% Wet Braking 7th 31 M 27.9 M +3.1 M 90% Wet Handling 8th 73.1 Km/H 75.5 Km/H -2.4 Km/H 96.82% Wet Circle 7th 8.28 m/s 8.62 m/s -0.34 m/s 96.06% Straight Aqua 8th 68.6 Km/H 77.9 Km/H -9.3 Km/H 88.06% Curved Aquaplaning 8th 6.42 m/sec2 8.8 m/sec2 -2.38 m/sec2 72.95% Noise 4th 70.5 dB 69.3 dB +1.2 dB 98.3% Rolling Resistance 1st 6.6 kg / t 100% Short braking distances and spontaneous steering behavior on dry asphalt. Long braking distances, weak cornering grip, and poor traction on wet surfaces. Deficiencies in aquaplaning protection. On dry asphalt, increased risk of oversteering during fast lane changes and in load change situations. With low rolling resistance, great in the fuel-saving chapter. Unfortunately, at the expense of safety. Read Reviews    Buy from £150.04