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2014 Top 15 Summer Tyre Test

The Premiums

This test had a slightly strange mix of tyres on show from the premium manufacturers. Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear and Dunlop provided their premium touring tyres, whereas Continental and Dunlop provided their ultra high performance summer tyres.

With the test weighted towards wet performance and price per mile, Michelin got the balance spot on with the Michelin Primacy 3 thanks to its excellent all round performance combined with exceptionally low wear. Pirelli scored a strong second with their updated P7 Cinturato, the Eco Impact, and Continental rounded out the top three with the Sport Contact 5 having another strong all round performance.

Surprisingly, Goodyear were beaten to fourth position by Fulda, who are owned by Goodyear and considered a sub brand, thanks to the SportControls excellent value for money, while the sister tyre from Dunlop had to settle for 13th place thanks to very high wear – it scored strongly in all other tests.

Bridgestone finished the test second to last, again thanks to high wear, which is unusual for a Bridgestone tyre.

The Rest

As mentioned Fulda had a very strong showing to finish fourth – while it only scored joint highest in the comfort test, an all round strong performance coupled with a low price earned its excellent finish. Sava, another Goodyear Dunlop brand finished in sixth, showing there are some very promising mid range brands out there if you’re not overly interested in dynamic qualities, which this test largely ignored.

A couple of new brands took seventh and ninth place, sandwiching the established Kumho in eighth. Nexen and Hankook finished the tenth and twelfth, leaving this round of the Korean battle won by Kumho.

The Results

Michelin Primacy 31stMichelin Primacy 3
Total: 46 / Dry: 8 / Wet: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 7 / Comfort: 7 / Noise: 7 / Wear: 10
Positive: The Michelins performed flawlessly, with sharp dynamic handling, low fuel consumption and the best wear, meaning the price per mile was class leading. An all round briliant tyre
Negative: None
Pirelli Cinturato P 7 Ecoimpact2ndPirelli Cinturato P 7 Ecoimpact
Total: 41 / Dry: 7 / Wet: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 6 / Comfort: 6 / Noise: 6 / Wear: 9
Positive: The Pirelli is a very balanced summer tyre with excellent braking on wet and dry roads, precise steering response, and low wear
Negative: Aquaplaning
Continental Sport Contact 53rdContinental Sport Contact 5
Total: 40 / Dry: 9 / Wet: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 7 / Comfort: 5 / Noise: 5 / Wear: 7
Positive: Excellent driving performance in wet and dry conditions, short wet and dry braking, good wear, low rolling resistance
Negative: Expensive
Fulda SportControl4thFulda SportControl
Total: 40 / Dry: 7 / Wet: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 4 / Comfort: 7 / Noise: 7 / Wear: 9
Positive: Good safety reserves with aquaplaning, well-balanced handling in wet and dry conditions, good value for money
Negative: Increased fuel consumption
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance5thGoodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Total: 42 / Dry: 8 / Wet: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 10 / Comfort: 6 / Noise: 5 / Wear: 7
Positive: Safe handling qualities and short braking distances on dry roads, good wear, lowest fuel consumption
Negative: Slightly noisy
Sava intensa uhp6thSava intensa uhp
Total: 34 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 3 / Comfort: 5 / Noise: 6 / Wear: 8
Positive: Stable driving on a wet track, good aquaplaning properties, short dry braking distances
Negative: Slow steering response, increased rolling resistance
Atlas Sport Green7thAtlas Sport Green
Total: 36 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 5 / Rolling Resistance: 7 / Comfort: 3 / Noise: 9 / Wear: 6
Positive: Good safety reserves with aquaplaning, short dry braking distances, low pass-by noise, best price-performance ratio
Negative: Average handling / steering feel, only moderate comfort
Kumho Ecsta KU398thKumho Ecsta KU39
Total: 32 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 5 / Rolling Resistance: 6 / Comfort: 4 / Noise: 7 / Wear: 4
Positive: Good aquaplaning results, short braking distances on dry roads, quiet pass-by noise, good value for money
Negative: Poor mileage, slow steering response
Point S Summerstar Sport 29thPoint S Summerstar Sport 2
Total: 33 / Dry: 6 / Wet: 5 / Rolling Resistance: 5 / Comfort: 5 / Noise: 7 / Wear: 5
Positive: Short braking distances on wet and dry roads, quiet pass-by noise
Negative: Average handling in the wet
Nexen N Fera SU110thNexen N Fera SU1
Total: 35 / Dry: 5 / Wet: 5 / Rolling Resistance: 7 / Comfort: 5 / Noise: 9 / Wear: 4
Positive: Quiet pass-by noise, good price-performance ratio, good economy
Negative: Average handling and grip on dry and wet roads
General Altimax UHP11thGeneral Altimax UHP
Total: 31 / Dry: 3 / Wet: 5 / Rolling Resistance: 6 / Comfort: 6 / Noise: 7 / Wear: 4
Positive: Short braking distances on both wet and dry conditions, low pass-by noise, low price
Negative: Poor dry handling and braking
Hankook Ventus Prime212thHankook Ventus Prime2
Total: 37 / Dry: 8 / Wet: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 6 / Comfort: 6 / Noise: 8 / Wear: 2
Positive: Convincing handling qualities on wet and dry roads, pleasant ride comfort
Negative: Very high wear, high cost considering performance
Dunlop SportMaxx RT13thDunlop SportMaxx RT
Total: 37 / Dry: 9 / Wet: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 7 / Comfort: 6 / Noise: 6 / Wear: 2
Positive: Sporty handling qualities, good safety margins when aquaplaning, short braking distances
Negative: Very high wear, high price, cost-effectiveness is restricted
Bridgestone Turanza T00114thBridgestone Turanza T001
Total: 35 / Dry: 7 / Wet: 7 / Rolling Resistance: 6 / Comfort: 6 / Noise: 7 / Wear: 2
Positive: Good performance on a wet track, good safety reserves to aquaplaning
Negative: Very high wear, high price, restricted economy
Apollo Aspire 4G15thApollo Aspire 4G
Total: 34 / Dry: 7 / Wet: 6 / Rolling Resistance: 2 / Comfort: 7 / Noise: 5 / Wear: 7
Positive: Balanced safe driving characteristics, short braking distances, good comfort
Negative: Significantly increased rolling resistance

Source: www.tyrereviews.co.uk