Imperial All Season Driver review

• Score: 93.9%
• Ranking: 7th
• Price: £76

There’s no question that in the snow the Imperial is a much better option than the summer tyre that we included for reference. However, compared with the other all-seasons it’s poor, finishing seventh and last in all three snow tests, and by some considerable margin. 

On the handling course it had very little grip compared with the others, and even driven tentatively, the rear would step out suddenly with no warning, sapping driver confidence.

Results did not improve in the wet and dry. It was seventh in the crucial wet braking test, taking a huge 4.5m longer than the pace-setters to stop and 2.2m longer than the sixth-best tyre; and it was even further off the pace in the deeper-water aquaplaning tests. On the handling circuit it lacked grip generally, and light feedback at the wheel made committing to the faster turns anxious moments. It was last in dry braking, taking a huge 6.3m longer to stop than the best from 60mph but managed fifth in dry handling, the only performance test where it wasn’t last.

We included a budget tyre to illustrate the gap in performance versus the premium brands. As our tests show, the level of grip in all conditions is massively lower, yet the cost saving is quite small by comparison – it simply isn’t worth the penny pinching.

We say:

“Performance is poor in all conditions. This budget all-season tyre is a false economy.”

Blackcircles.com says:

“We are unable to provide any insight into the tyre’s popularity with our customers.”

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