Tyrereviews All-Season Tyre Test 205/55 R16 2021

Are you planning to switch to all-season tyres and wondering whether the new products on the market can fully replace seasonal tyres? In an extensive test of nine all-season tyres in the extremely popular size 205/55 R16 (supplemented by a reference summer and winter tyre), the latest generations of premium brands went head to head. Testing at low temperatures of around 2 to 4 °C revealed huge differences in grip on dry, wet, and snowy surfaces, as well as in ecological properties.

The absolute star in wet-surface driving turned out to be the Vredestein Quatrac, on snow the Finnish Nokian SeasonProof dominated, and the best summer-like feel on dry surfaces was once again claimed by the new Michelin CrossClimate 2.

• Handling and braking: The fastest and most precise tyre was the summer special, but in the R16 size it was closely followed by the Michelin CrossClimate 2 and Vredestein Quatrac. The Michelin offered the best "summer" feel in steering and fell short in dry braking distance only compared to the summer tyre.
• Tyre overheating: Bridgestone WeatherControl A005 EVO showed excellent grip in the first lap, but after two fast laps it quickly lost traction and left the track significantly worn. The Continental AllSeasonContact also surprised with its sporty and dynamic performance.
• Test flop: The worst performance was delivered by the cheap Star Performer tyre – although it wasn't tricky to drive, it offered almost no grip and slid endlessly on the track.

• Dominance on water: The Vredestein Quatrac literally left the competition behind on the wet track. It offered a huge amount of grip, sporty playfulness, and was the fastest of them all. The second-placed Bridgestone excelled at brutal braking, and the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 gave the driver maximum confidence and a stable rear end.
• Effect of temperature on summer tyres: During braking on water at a temperature of 4 °C, the summer tyre was at the back of the starting field. However, once the road warmed up during testing at 15 °C, the summer tyre immediately jumped past the entire field to first place.

• Winter champion: The Finnish Nokian SeasonProof took the crown on snow, winning both in handling and on the snow circle. Michelin CrossClimate 2 delivered the promised improvement and comfortably mastered snow traction (uphill grip), while Continental dominated in snow braking distance.
• Winter flops: Vredestein, Avon, and Star Performer significantly lagged behind on snow and had trouble keeping the car on track. The summer reference tyre was practically uncontrollable and dangerous on snow.

• Quiet and comfort: The quietest tyre of the entire test (even quieter than the summer tyre) turned out to be the new Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2. Along with the Goodyear and Nokian, it also offered the best ride comfort when driving over uneven surfaces.
• Lowest consumption: Pirelli also dominated the rolling resistance test, where it built up a significant lead over the competition, making it a great choice for fuel savings.