Tyres

Buying tyres can be a lottery as price or marketing is no guide to performance which is why we did two tests this year for 16-inch rubber and the sort fitted to the most popular SUVs. We tried them on wet and dry roads plus  in the lab to assess their affect on fuel economy. You can check out our SUV tyre test here and our standard 16-inch tyre test here.
 
Winner
Continental PremiumContact 2
Contact: 01895 425900 www.conti-online.co.uk
Price: £89
Unlike some designs which star in one performance area the PremiumContact2 is an all rounder and was in the leading pack for all our test tests bar rolling resistance and even then it was mid pack. So whether the roads are dry or soaked you know you are on the right rubber with the PremiumContact2
 
Commended
Goodyear OptiGrip
Contact: 0121 306 6000 www.mygoodyear.co.uk
Price: £79
While Continental may be the all rounder, US giant Goodyear makes safety in the wet its priority. The OptiGrip is designed to maintain that even when it is worn and in our tests put in some stellar performances on the aquaplaning track. If grip when the heavens open is at the top of your requirements look no further.
 
Goodyear Excellence
Contact: 0121 306 6000 www.mygoodyear.co.uk
Price: £164
Top spot by the narrowest of margins in our SUV tyre test secured a commendation for Goodyear’s Excellence. As with the OptiGrip, the Excellence was happiest on wet roads but rivals were closer in this larger size. That prowess in the wet, though came at the expense of fuel economy.
 
Continental CrossContact UHP
Contact: 01895 425900 www.conti-online.co.uk
Price: £141
Another great all round performance from the Freddie Flintoff of the tyre world. Again Continental was near the top of the results table throughout and only just failed to back up its car tyre test victory in this for small off-roaders. It is more than good enough, though to be commended here.
 
Michelin Latitude Diamaris
Contact: 0800 591859 www.michelin.co.uk
Price: £164
French tyre giant Michelin came within a whisker of taking its first tyre test victory with the Diamaris which overturned the form book with the former F1 champion showing impressive speed on wet surfaces while failing to win the fuel economy critical rolling resistance assessment which is normally its sole preserve.