Auto Express tested 8 summer tyres in the hugely popular 205/55 R16 91V size at the Continental Contidrom proving ground near Hannover, Germany, with expert tester John Barker behind the wheel of an Audi A3. All tyres were bought anonymously from retail. Prices ranged from £53.77 (Dynamo) to £124.58 (Pirelli).
The scoring system allocated half of the overall score to wet performance and 40 per cent to dry, with the emphasis on braking and handling in both instances; the remaining 10 per cent was shared among the noise and rolling resistance tests. Wet braking was measured from 50mph (80 km/h) as the average of seven runs on an evenly wetted surface.
The headline: the Falken Ziex ZE320 scored an impressive first ever Auto Express test win, topping the table in three disciplines including the fastest lap times on both the wet and dry handling circuits. “The Falken scored an impressive victory, beating some excellent tyres to take a first win,” said Barker. The defending champion Continental PremiumContact 7 (★98) slipped to second despite dominating wet braking, sandwiched by a talented newcomer — the Firestone Roadhawk 2 (★83) in third.
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Top 3 comparison
Full rankings
1. Falken Ziex ZE320 — 100.0 — Test Winner
A deserved winner with few weaknesses. The Falken won dry braking (stopping almost 0.5 m sooner than anything else), dry handling and wet handling, inspiring confidence from the first corner with superb traction and lateral grip. Its only real blemish: sixth in straight-line wet braking, 2.2 m behind the Continental. At £79.99 it undercuts every premium rival too.
2. Continental PremiumContact 7 (★98) — 99.7
Still the benchmark for the most safety-critical test of all: it stopped from 50mph in just 25.1 metres, 1.2 m better than the second-placed Pirelli. Crisp turn-in and a remarkably neutral balance impressed in wet and dry alike, but sixth places in both aquaplaning tests and mediocre rolling resistance cost it the title.
3. Firestone Roadhawk 2 (★83) — 98.9
A clear third built on outstanding water clearance: the Firestone won both the straight and curved aquaplaning tests and was the quietest tyre on test. Wet braking (fifth, 2.1 m off the best) and dry braking (seventh) kept it from challenging for the win.
4. Maxxis Premitra HP6 (★64) — 97.8 — Value Pick
A huge step forward for Maxxis. The HP6 won the wet cornering test, took second in dry handling with calm, precise responses, and nearly matched the Michelin for rolling resistance — all at just £63.50. Seventh places in both aquaplaning disciplines explain the gap to the podium.
5. Pirelli Cinturato C3 — 97.2
Second in wet braking and wet handling, third in dry braking, and rated the best of all for feedback and confidence. But it finished last in the wet cornering circle, had the second-worst rolling resistance, and at £124.58 it was by far the most expensive tyre in the test.
6. Michelin Primacy 5 (★86) — 97.1
The efficiency champion: lowest rolling resistance in the test, making it the most economical tyre here, backed by third place in wet braking. But it was last in dry handling, 1.4 seconds off the winner, with a soft steering feel that needed hustling to set competitive lap times.
7. Nokian Powerproof 2 (★84) — 97.0
Excellent aquaplaning resistance — second in both disciplines behind only the Firestone — and composed, confidence-inspiring wet cornering. Seventh-place wet braking, 2.7 m behind the leader, pushed it down the order despite an attractive £68.74 price.
8. Dynamo Street-H MH01 — 92.4 — Not Recommended
The cheapest tyre in the test at £53.77, but poor wet grip and braking make it difficult to recommend. It needed 7.1 metres longer than the best to stop from 50mph in the wet and was nearly 10 seconds slower around the wet handling circuit, with very little traction or bite. Spending modestly more buys substantially better safety.
Key measured values
Wet braking (50-0 mph): Continental 25.1 m — 1.2 m ahead of the Pirelli. The Falken gave up 2.2 m to the best; the Dynamo needed 7.1 m more than the Continental.
Dry braking: the Falken stopped almost 0.5 m sooner than anything else; the Firestone was less than 2.5 m off the best in seventh; the Dynamo was last.
Aquaplaning: straight-line resistance was measured as the speed at which each tyre generated 15% slip in 9 mm of water, curved aquaplaning in 5 mm of water between 40 and 60mph. The Firestone won both, ahead of the Nokian.
Prices (205/55 R16 91V): Dynamo £53.77, Maxxis £63.50, Nokian £68.74, Falken £79.99, Firestone £87.97, Continental £106.99, Michelin £107.99, Pirelli £124.58.
Key takeaways
The Falken Ziex ZE320 proves a mid-priced tyre can beat the premium establishment outright — a genuine all-rounder with only one soft spot in straight-line wet braking. The Continental PremiumContact 7 remains the wet braking benchmark and loses the crown only on aquaplaning and efficiency. The Firestone Roadhawk (★60) 2 is the pick for standing-water security, while the Maxxis Premitra HP6 is the bargain of the test. At the other end, the budget Dynamo shows why the cheapest option can be the most expensive mistake: its wet braking deficit is measured in car lengths.
Test winner
Falken ZIEX ZE320
Dimensions: 185/40R15 - 245/70R18
Number of sizes: 56
Number of tests: 5
Wet braking benchmark
Continental PremiumContact 7
Dimensions: 205/35R16 - 315/65R21
Number of sizes: 62
Number of tests: 5
Best value
Maxxis Premitra HP6
Dimensions: 185/40R15 - 255/65R18
Number of sizes: 63
Number of tests: 5