Auto Express all-season tyre test 205/55 R16 2026

The 205/55 R16 size is one of the best-selling sizes in Europe. The British magazine Auto Express tested eight all-season tyres on a VW Golf, from snowy Finland to German test tracks. Last year's winner defended its title: according to the testers, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 is "objectively the best tyre and also the best to drive".

Which tyres were tested

• Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
• Michelin CrossClimate 3
• Continental AllSeasonContact 2
• Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
• Nokian Seasonproof 2
• Falken Euroall Season AS220
• Linglong Sport Master 4S
• Tomket Allyear 3

For comparison, the testers also measured a Continental summer and winter tyre, to make it clear how much all-season tyres give up compared to seasonal ones.

• Snow: test track in Ivalo, Finland, at temperatures of −9 to −11 °C. Acceleration, braking and handling were measured on an undulating snow-covered circuit.
• Wet and dry: Contidrom in Germany. Wet braking from 80 km/h and dry braking from 100 km/h, circular driving, handling on the track, aquaplaning, noise and rolling resistance.

Weighting of disciplines:

• wet: 50%
• snow: 20%
• dry: 20%
• other (noise, rolling resistance, etc.): 10%

Half of the overall rating comes from the wet surface. Given the weather in Britain as well as in Central Europe, this makes sense.

Pirelli achieved 100% and won the entire test.

Strengths:

• exceptional in the wet: the best in both wet braking and wet handling,
• shortest dry braking distance: stopped 1.2 metres sooner than the second-best tyre,
• good in the snow too: second in handling and third in traction,
• strong against aquaplaning: second on both the straight and in the curve,
• quiet: second-lowest interior noise.

Weaknesses:

• rolling resistance, i.e. fuel consumption: it finished last here. The testers write that its "only weakness is economy".
• snow braking: it was also last in this sub-discipline. However, the differences in snow were small, and it ranked among the best in snow handling.

Verdict: if you want an all-season tyre that you'll mainly drive on wet and dry roads with occasional snow, Pirelli is, according to Auto Express, the best choice.

Michelin CrossClimate 3 finished second. The testers rate it as "a very good tyre overall". It's a strong alternative, especially for drivers who want balanced performance in all conditions.

The Continental AllSeasonContact 2, a proven all-season tyre with balanced performance, also made it onto the podium.

The Nokian Seasonproof 2 was not among the top three, but it finished first in the aquaplaning tests. For drivers who often drive on the motorway in the rain, this is an important quality.

Who is an all-season tyre for?

All-season tyres are suitable for drivers who:

• mainly drive in the city and over shorter distances
• live in an area with mild winters
• don't want to deal with two sets of tyres, changing them over, and storage

If you often drive in the mountains or in snow, consider winter tyres or an all-season model with strong winter properties.