2025 | 255/55R18 | Summer - Auto Bild Summer SUV Tire Test

The AutoBild test was interesting in comparing the classic summer SUV tire Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 with the off-road model Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure, which is designed for demanding off-road. Both tires are winners in their categories, but the test clearly showed significant differences in their focus.

The results revealed fundamental compromises

• Off-road performance: The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure achieved the best traction on grass and sand and demonstrated high resistance to damage.
• Wet road: Braking distance was up to 37% longer than the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 – a difference of more than three car lengths.
• Dry road: The all-terrain tire stopped up to 9 meters later than the best-rated model.

Testers therefore described the off-road model as "unsuitable for everyday traffic", as the robust construction increases off-road durability, but significantly impairs safety on asphalt.

Dry tests clearly showed how much of an impact a tire's construction has on safety in normal driving. The Falken Azenis FK520 achieved the shortest braking distance of 33.2 meters, closely followed by the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 with 34.3 meters.

At the other end of the scale was the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure, which took 42.2 meters to stop – more than 9 meters more than the best tire in the test. This difference clearly highlights the safety trade-off that off-road tires bring when driving on asphalt.

A similar picture was also revealed in the dry handling test. The highest average speed of 108.1 km/h was achieved by the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, closely followed by the Falken FK520. The Wrangler SUV again lagged behind with a value of 102.3 km/h, which confirms its limited grip and slower cornering reactions.

The results clearly show that specialized all-terrain tires are not suitable for everyday road driving, where steering precision, stability and short braking distances are key to safety.

The wet road test revealed significant differences between the classic SUV tires and the off-road model. The shortest braking distance was achieved by the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV, stopping at 46.8 meters, closely followed by the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 (47.6 m) .

At the other end of the scale was the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure, which took 65.4 meters – almost 19 meters more than the winner and 37% more than its “road sibling.” In real-world traffic, this is a difference that can make or break an accident.

Wet handling

The highest average speed in the handling test was achieved by the Falken Azenis FK520 (86.6 km/h), closely followed by the Goodyear (86.5 km/h). The all-terrain tire again fell significantly behind with a value of 75.5 km/h, confirming its limitations on asphalt in the rain.

Aquaplaning: the differences are even more pronounced

In the longitudinal aquaplaning test, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV excelled with a speed of 87.8 km/h, while in the transverse aquaplaning test, the Vredestein Ultrac excelled with a lateral acceleration of 2.74 m/s² .

The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure achieved just 72.2 km/h in straight-line aquaplaning and 1.30 m/s² in cornering – less than half the lateral grip of the best model. This represents a significant compromise in safety when driving in the rain.

The off-road test yielded interesting findings. On gravel, the Pirelli Scorpion achieved the highest average speed (61.2 km/h), closely followed by the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure (60.9 km/h). The differences between the specialized off-road and classic SUV tires were minimal, suggesting that a dedicated off-road tire is not necessary for regular gravel roads.

Gravel traction: a surprising leader

The highest traction force on gravel was achieved by the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV with a value of 12,150 N, followed by the Bridgestone Turanza 6 (11,180 N).
The all-terrain Wrangler model finished eighth (10,360 N), challenging the notion that off-road tires automatically have the upper hand on every unpaved surface.

Sand and grass: this is where specialization manifested itself

On soft sand, the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure already showed its strengths – with 11,510 N of traction, it outperformed the competition by approximately 12%. The Vredestein Ultrac came in second (10,280 N).

A similar picture was presented in the acceleration test on grass, where the Wrangler achieved a best time of 1.51 s, just ahead of the Michelin model (1.58 s).

In the test of SUV tires in size 255/55 R18 on both asphalt and light terrain, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 clearly dominated, taking first place thanks to its excellent performance on both dry and wet roads, short braking distances and a very good balance of road safety with off-road capabilities.

Second place was shared by the * Pirelli Scorpion and Falken Azenis FK520, which also excelled in bridge disciplines and demonstrated a great balance of driving characteristics, including a quiet and comfortable ride.

The test showed that even non-off-road tires can offer solid traction on gravel or sand, while the all-terrain tire (Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure) demonstrated strengths in sand and grass, but on regular roads it fell behind in safety disciplines such as wet braking or aquaplaning.

At the bottom of the ranking are cheaper models like the Hifly HP801 SUV, which, while offering an attractive price, show significant compromises in critical areas of performance – especially braking and handling on wet roads.

Summary : Premium SUV tires provide clearly better performance and safety in everyday conditions, while off-road models and cheaper solutions may only be suitable for specific situations or occasional use off-road.