Auto Bild Allrad 2022: Summer Tire Test R18
The German motoring magazine tested 10 tire models designed for compact SUVs.
List of models tested:
- Falken Azenis FK510 SUV
- General Grabber GT Plus
- Goodyear EfficientGrip 2 SUV
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 SUV K127A
- Imperial Ecosport SUV
- Maxxis Victra Sport 5 SUV
- Michelin Primacy 4
- Nexen N’Fera Sport SUV
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde
- Toyo Proxes Comfort
The Auto Bild magazine conducted a test of crossover and SUV summer tires, selecting models from various price brackets. The tires were tested in size 235/55 R18, which fits such increasingly popular SUVs as Volkswagen Tiguan, Skoda Kodiaq and Volvo XC40; tires of this size can also be installed on an Audi Allroad or older models of Toyota RAV4. The tests were performed on wet and dry pavement, as well as on loose gravel, wet grass, and mud.
The first place was shared by the Goodyear EfficientGrip 2 SUV and Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 SUV tires, neither of which had any prominent issues in any of the disciplines. According to the experts, Goodyear was effective on any type of surface and ensured excellent riding comfort, while Hankook turned out to be the best in off-road conditions, its extra advantage being a competitive price. The bronze went to the Falken Azenis FK510 SUV, which was quite good on both wet and dry pavement, but demonstrated a less-than-perfect mud traction, and, in addition, had increased rolling resistance.
The fourth line of the tournament bracket was occupied by four models at once — Michelin Primacy 4, Nexen N’Fera Sport SUV, Toyo Proxes Comfort and Maxxis Victra Sport 5 SUV — which nevertheless had substantial differences in their performance. The Michelin model stood out with a very good balance of all of its parameters, its only weaknesses being average hydroplaning resistance and high price, while the Nexen model, conversely, had a very good hydroplaning resistance, but fell short of the leader’s’ performance in terms of wet grass traction and fuel efficiency. The Toyo model was nothing special on wet grass either, but this was its only weakness, while the Maxxis tire had issues with traction on sand and wet braking. A still lower chart position was occupied by the Pirelli Scorpion Verde, a tire that was first presented more than 10 years ago, this year to be replaced by the new Pirelli Scorpion. Speaking about the Pirelli model, the AB experts noted that it had a good handling response in off-road conditions and on wet pavement, but it also had a long wet braking distance, and was prone to understeer in the dry.
The ninth place was scored by the relatively new General Grabber GT Plus, which was pretty good on gravel and quickly stopped the car on tarmac, but demonstrated average grip on grass and average ride comfort, while the last line was occupied by the cheap Imperial EcoSport SUV tire (a brand privately owned by the Belgian company Deldo), which lost points due to a dangerously long wet braking distance, ending up with a «Not Recommended» verdict.
During the test, the experts also evaluated the Linglong Grip Master C/S tire from the new Master line, which will be launched on the European market this spring. The new Linglong model was available in a pre-mass production version, and the AB experts noted that this tire demonstrated a well-balanced performance and excellent wet traction combined with good hydroplaning resistance; there were only minor gripes about handling response on dry pavement and gravel.
1st place: Goodyear / EfficientGrip 2 SUV
Quick TakeGoodyear EfficientGrip 2 SUV
- This tire replaced Goodyear / EfficientGrip SUV
- Available Sizes in Line: 23
- Year Released: 2021
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+
- Good performance on all types of surfaces
- Good handling response and a short stopping distance on wet and dry pavement alike
- Great riding comfort
- Low rolling resistance
- Exemplary
1st place: Hankook / Ventus S1 evo3 SUV K127A
Quick TakeHankook Ventus S1 evo3 SUV K127A
- This tire replaced Hankook / Ventus S1 evo2 SUV K117A
- Available Sizes in Line: 64
- Original Equipment (OE) tires for:
- • BMW X5 IV (G05) [2018 .. 2023]
- • BMW X6 III (G06) [2019 .. 2023]
- • Audi RS Q8 4M [2019 .. 2023]
- • Porsche Cayenne III (9Y) [2017 .. 2023]
- • Audi Q8 4MN [2018 .. 2023]
- • Audi Q5 FY Facelift [2021 .. 2023]
- • Volkswagen Tiguan II (AD/BW) Facelift [2020 .. 2023]
- • Audi SQ8 4MN [2019 .. 2023]
- Year Released: 2019
- Regions for sale: USA+, Canada, Europe, Russia+, China, South Korea
- Excellent results in off-road conditions and on dry pavement
- Excellent gravel and mud traction
- Good handling response in the dry
- Short braking distance on wet and dry pavement
- Fair price
- Exemplary
3rd place: Falken / Azenis FK510 SUV
Quick TakeFalken Azenis FK510 SUV
- Available Sizes in Line: 54
- Original Equipment (OE) tires for:
- • Porsche Macan I (95B) Facelift [2019 .. 2023]
- Year Released: 2017
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Oceania
- Great handling response in the wet and in the dry
- Precise steering response
- Excellent braking performance
- Average grass traction
- High rolling resistance
- Good
4th place: Maxxis / Victra Sport 5 SUV
Quick TakeMaxxis Victra Sport 5 SUV
- Available Sizes in Line: 27
- Year Released: 2020
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+
- Good handling response in off-road conditions and wet pavement
- Short braking distance on dry pavement
- Average sand traction
- Relatively long wet braking distance
- Increased rolling resistance
- Good
4th place: Michelin / Primacy 4
Quick TakeMichelin Primacy 4
- This tire has been replaced by Michelin / e.Primacy , Michelin / Primacy 4+
- Available Sizes in Line: 138
- Year Released: 2017
- Regions for sale: Mexico, Central & South America, Europe, Russia+, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Oceania
- Well-balanced performance
- Short braking distance on dry pavement
- Low rolling resistance
- Average hydroplaning resistance
- High price
- Good
4th place: Nexen N’Fera Sport SUV SU2S
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Very good handling response in the wet
- Short braking distance on dry pavement
- Attractive price
- Average grass traction
- Increased rolling resistance
- Good
4th place: Toyo / Proxes Comfort
Quick TakeToyo Proxes Comfort
- This tire replaced Toyo / Proxes CF2
- Available Sizes in Line: 64
- Year Released: 2020
- Regions for sale: Europe, Russia+
- Very good grip on wet pavement
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Great handling response in the wet and in the dry
- Short braking distance on dry pavement
- Great riding comfort
- Fair price
- Average grass traction
- Good
8th place: Pirelli / Scorpion Verde
Quick TakePirelli Scorpion Verde
- This tire has run-flat model:
- Available Sizes in Line: 97
- Original Equipment (OE) tires for:
- • Audi RS Q3 8U [2013 .. 2014]
- • Audi Q3 8U [2011 .. 2015]
- • Ford Edge I Facelift [2011 .. 2014]
- • Ford Edge II [2015 .. 2018]
- • Mercedes-Benz M-Class W166 [2012 .. 2015]
- • Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class X204 [2008 .. 2012]
- • Porsche Macan I (95B) [2014 .. 2018]
- • BMW X5 III (F15) [2013 .. 2018]
- • BMW X6 II (F16) [2014 .. 2019]
- • Volkswagen Touareg II (7P) [2010 .. 2015]
- • Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
- • Maserati Levante
- • Jeep Grand Cherokee
- • Volkswagen Tiguan
- • Audi Q7
- • Volvo XC90
- Year Released: 2010
- Regions for sale: North America, Central & South America, Europe, Russia+, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Oceania
- Good handling response in off-road conditions and wet pavement
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Relatively long braking distance on wet pavement
- Delayed steering response
- Prone to understeer on dry pavement
- Satisfactory
9th place: General / Grabber GT Plus
Quick TakeGeneral Grabber GT Plus
- This tire replaced General / Grabber GT
- Available Sizes in Line: 37
- Year Released: 2020
- Regions for sale: Central & South America, Europe
- Excellent gravel traction
- Short braking distance on wet and dry pavement
- Average grass traction
- Prone to understeer on dry and wet pavement
- Average riding comfort
- Satisfactory
10th place: Imperial / Ecosport SUV
Quick TakeImperial Ecosport SUV
- Available Sizes in Line: 39
- Year Released: 2007
- Regions of sales: unknown
- Good traction on gravel and grass
- Low price
- Unbalanced behavior. Prone to understeer on all types of surfaces
- Dangerously long braking distance on wet pavement
- Not recommended
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