Sensitive to wet conditions: 10 summer tires in size 235/45 R 18 tested by GTÜ

Contents

Ten summer tires in the dimension 235 /45 R 18, widely used on many mid-range cars and sporty compacts, have been tested by technicians from GTÜ and ARBÖ (Auto-, Motor- und Radfahrerbund Österreich) in cooperation with Auto Zeitung. The test field included so-called premium tires from the brands Continental, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli; for the mid-price range, the testers sourced tires from BF Goodrich, Firestone and Maxxis. In addition, there were the three brands Laufenn, Tercelo and West Lake from the budget segment. An Audi A5 TFSI served as the test vehicle.

Breaking out or understeering

As usual, this investigation also indicates that safety has its price. On dry road surfaces, you can drive safely on all tires. However, the differences become unpleasantly large on wet surfaces, and the braking performance of some candidates then enters an unacceptable range.

The tires from Continental and Pirelli offer the best balance and inherent stability if the vehicle does start to skid. They allow the vehicle to react neutrally for a long time and thus predictably for the person at the wheel. That it can go significantly worse is demonstrated, particularly by Laufenn and Tercelo. They build up noticeably less grip during fast cornering. During load changes, they surprisingly react with unpredictable grip and handling, which leads to earlier breaking out when assistance systems are deactivated, especially if the accelerator is suddenly released or even the brake is applied. This can lead to the car switching seamlessly from understeer to oversteer. In other situations, however, the car can understeer so strongly that it is barely steerable. The poorer lateral guidance of the cheap tires, to make matters worse, requires even larger steering angles, which further challenge the person at the wheel.

Communicative

The tire from Continental lives up to both its first and last name. At 745 Euro per set, the Premium Contact 7 is the second most expensive product in the test, but the best. "Outstanding" in wet conditions, "very good" in dry conditions are the main statements from the conclusion. With 32.8 meters, it offers the shortest braking distance from 100 km/h in dry conditions. On wet roads, it surpasses all other tires in handling or braking tests, on the test track or in driving safety in terms of grip. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 for 700 Euro is, according to the test verdict, "a versatile tire that impresses with sporty qualities, high safety reserves and durability". Third place is taken by the Pirelli Cinturato C3 for 720 Euro due to its "balanced properties in wet and dry conditions".

In the upper middle of the field is the Firestone Roadhawk 2. With its qualities, it achieves fourth place. At a price of 565 Euro, the testers speak of a "price-performance recommendation" because it not only offers "good wet grip" but can also "compete with premium tires". In detail, however, it must be admitted that although the tire offers the most effective protection against aquaplaning, it has a longer wet braking distance. It is followed by the BF Goodrich Advantage 2 for 640 Euro, to which the testers certify "solid wet grip and overall balanced performance". At 765 Euro per set, the most expensive in the test field is the Michelin Primacy 5. However, the high price is put into perspective by the highest mileage and the lowest energy consumption of all tested tires. The low wear and the quietest rolling noise make it an "environmental recommendation".

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Wetness changes everything

While the three cheap tires still hold up relatively well in dry conditions in terms of driving safety, wetness changes everything. Both West Lake and Tercelo and Laufenn then have far too long braking distances from 100 km/h. Where the test car came to a standstill on the Continental tire set, it is still driving at over 30 km/h with all three discount tires despite full braking. Given such performance, even the 295 Euro for the cheapest set is too expensive: the purchase is not worth it. Especially if an accident were to occur due to the long wet braking distance. Those who try to save money on tires may not fully utilize the high safety reserves of their car. In case of doubt, it's a shame for the car, but in the worst case, it's also at the expense of the health of fellow human beings.

The price must also be factored into durability. Well-constructed tires can recoup the additional costs through a longer lifespan. Here, a conflict of objectives becomes clear, which can only be resolved with expensive effort in the rubber compound. Because in principle, a soft rubber compound is superior in grip, but does not last as long and emits more harmful fine dust. Similarly, the rubber compound and tread design influence noise levels, which can sometimes mean a significant difference in driving comfort, not to mention the burden on residents.

(fpi)