Bridgestone Weather Control A005 EVO - All-Season Tyre Test 2021

• Score: 99.90%
• Ranking: 2nd
• Price: £81.12

When the EVO replacement for the Weather Control A005 was launched late in 2020, its top A grade in the EU tyre label ratings caught our eye. It is the only tyre here with an A rating and, for once, that was reflected in our results, which don’t always match the claimed grades. 

No surprise then that the A005 EVO won the wet braking by more than a metre from the Vredestein. But it was not the overall wet road winner, only managing third in a close battle with Hankook and Vredestein. Proof that, while tyre labels have a useful role, for the full picture you need a test like ours, which looks at more than three times the performance criteria. 

That wet crown was lost in the deeper waters of the aquaplaning tests, where the EVO only topped the Pirelli. But it still felt strong in the wet with a lively turn-in and good lateral grip and balance. It wasn’t quite so strong in the dry, but the same liveliness was present. 

The price you pay for that strong wet performance could be seen at the pumps, although by a smaller margin – two per cent – than you might expect.

We say:

Useful performance increase over its predecessor with impressive wet and dry grip, but at the expense of ability on snow. 

Blackcircles.com says:

Customers have rated this tyre highly, with an overall score of 4.6/5. Comments focus on impressive grip in winter weather and good stopping performance in wet conditions.