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Summer tires (symbol image)
Photo: KAI-UWE KNOTH/ AP
Shortly before the annual change from winter to summer tires for many drivers, the ADAC tested models for the warm season.
The quality of car tires has “improved enormously” over the past 50 years, according to the ADAC.
The car club examined fifty models in the dimension 205/55 R16.
This popular size is suitable for many compact class cars.
The "Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2" for around 110 euros and the "Continental PremiumContact 6" in a similar price segment are ahead of the "Michelin Primacy 4+" for around 120 euros.
The price alone does not always say something about the quality, but it can be an indication.
All ten tires that were given the second-best rating of "Good" cost an average of between 82 and 120 euros each.
For the 21 models with the grade “satisfactory”, between around 64 and 110 euros per piece are due.
For a dozen tire models, it was still enough for a "sufficient" (64 to 124 euros).
Poor braking characteristics
According to the ADAC, driving safety remains the main criterion.
The auto club found "worrying" differences: Seven tires between 45 and 102 euros each cut off "poorly", also because of poor braking properties.
While the "Continental Premium Contact 6" was the safest tire in the test on wet asphalt from 80 kilometers per hour after just 34 meters braking distance, the tire from the Asian brand DoubleCoin required around 59 meters braking distance under the same conditions.
ADAC writes a difference of 25 meters, which could be life-changing.
Because where the vehicle with the Continental tires is already standing, you are still traveling at over 50 km/h with the DoubleCoin.
According to ADAC, the methodology for its current test has been expanded and, in addition to driving safety (70 percent), the environmental balance (30 percent) has been integrated.
The tires not only have to be measured in terms of mileage, fuel consumption and noise, as before, but can now also be compared in terms of tire wear, weight and sustainable production.
The life cycle from production to recycling is also evaluated.
ani/dpa