2014 Auto Bild Top 15 Summer Tyre Test

Following on from yesterdays 50 tyre shootout, Auto Bild have tested the top 15 tyres more thoroughly, putting them through the usual mix of wet, dry, wear and NVH tests in 225/50 R17 on a BMW 320i Touring.

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.