Eco tyres put through paces in European tests
By Denna Bowman
Eco tyres were put through their paces in the latest test carried out by a leading German car magazine.
Auto Bild compared the performance of five green tyres - the Pirelli Cinturato P7, Bridgestone Turanza ER300 Ecopia, Nokian V, Goodyear EfficientGrip and Michelin Energy Saver.
The five size 205/55 R16 tyres were fitted to a C-Class Mercedes and subjected to a number of wet and dry performance tests, while fuel consumption was measured with a highly precise in-car meter at speeds of 80, 100 and 130 kph. Rolling resistance was also measured in a test facility.
According to a report in Tyres and Accessories magazine, the Nokian and Bridgestone products, along with the Pirelli tyre, received Auto Bild’s highest “exemplary” rating.
Although no outright winner from this trio was named, Auto Bild listed no weaknesses for the Cinturato P7 and described it as a “convincing all-round talent with satisfying savings potential.”
Bridgestone’s Turanza ER300 Ecopia was singled out for its “balanced characteristics in wet and dry, high safety for hydroplaning, good wet braking and low noise while providing satisfactory fuel savings,” although Auto Bild did note the tyre had a reduced fuel savings potential.”
The Nokian V was said to have “well balanced safe handling properties on wet and dry road, high safety reserves with aquaplaning, short braking distances on wet road, satisfying fuel saving potential” as positives, although on the minus side Auto Bild reported “slightly reduced ride comfort.”
However, the two most fuel efficient tyres in the test, the Michelin and Goodyear, were only “recommendable with some reservations.”
Number: Z8037079
Reg: NKF419
