All Season, Optimum Performance Technology Ensemble going ahead of season

All Season, Optimum Performance Technology Ensemble going ahead of season

The collection of sufficiently worn tires by dealers is recommended for appropriate management of wastes.

Best Performance Tire

Lateral Groove Width enlarged and Land/ Sea Ratio lowered improved wet/snow performances.
OPTIMO 4S Existing products (Lateral groove width/Pitch width) Ratio~ Existing product : 16%, New product : 21~23%-Land/Sea Ratio: Existing product : 67%, New product : 65%

Handling Performance Enhanced

Applied Straight Rib to increase directional stability. Applied wide tread width, enhancing handling performance and wear performances.

The silica content is increased.

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TIRE TEST FOUR-SEASON TIRE

HANDLING

Average speed in km/h

Winter tire 51,3

HYDROPLANING
Dunlop Goodyear Sommer tire Barum Vredstein Hankook Pirelli Maxxis Winter tire Kumho 101,5 101,0 100,5 100,0 100,0 98,0 98,0 97,0 96,0 95,0

Hydroplaning occurring speed in km/h

Hankook Dunlop 48,0 Maxxis 48,0 Goodyear47,9 Pirelli 47,9 Kumho 47,7 Vredstein 47,5 Barum 47,3

48,9

Summer tire Unsuitable 47 48 49 50

Excellent traction and short braking distance do not mean good handling. It is because directional control power is very im-

portant when driving at curves or changing lead. Vredstein and Barum Quartaris, which lanes. Hankook Optimo 4S has also shown has been newly introduced, have recorded excellent results, while a winter tire took the the worst score.

90 95 100 There is great risk of hydroplaning to occur particularly at the muchworn road surfaces at the time of heavy rainfall. Summer tires are safer than winter tires as they have relatively wider cut sections on the surface. It has been conclu-

ded that four-season tires of Dunlop and Goodyear are the safest at the wet road surface. For thin 195 spec. tires, however, winter tires and four-season tires of Kumho have been shown as safe according to the test results.

The test Golf has water-skied at the speed of 95km/h or more if the depth of water is just 8 mm.

TRACTION

Average traction in Newton

BRAKE

Braking distance in meter based on 40km/h

Winter 22,8 Dunlop 23,0 Kumho Maxxis 23,7 23,7

HANDLING
Sommer tire Vredstein Goodyear Hankook Pirelli Kumho 70,3 70,2 70,7 72,0 71,8 71,1

Average speed in km/h

Frankly speaking: Although the test Golf had the best handling and agility when the summer tire was used, Vredestein, Goodyear and Hankook tires also never got slow or sluggish. Dunlop and Barum got evaluated as barely satisfying according to the test results of lap time and handling with winter tires fitted. Maxxis got evaluated as commonplace due to the unbalanced handling.

BRAKE

Braking distance in meter based on 100km/h

Hankook 23,8 Winter tire Dunlop Maxxis Goodyear Hankook Kumho Barum 3613 3504 3449 3419 3408 3371 3368

Vredstein 3252 Pirelli 3143 Sommer tire 1721 3000 3200 3400 3600

Four-season tires have fallen behind winter tires in the traction, which is the strength of winter tires. According to the test results, however, even Vredestein and Pirelli which have shown the worst score, have no problem in driving at snowy roads. Surely, winter tires remain to be safer than four-season tires for drivers who live in mountainous regions which have much snowfall in winter or mountain-climbing lovers.

Vredstein 24,2 Goodyear 24,5 Barum Pirelli Sommer tire 21 23 25 25,2 27,0 61,7 27

Dunlop 69,6 Winter tire 69,6 Barum 69,3 Maxxis

68,7

68,5 69,5 70,5 71,5

Winter tires have disadvantage in braking at the wet road surfaces. Particularly, it is even more difficult to brake in summer weather that Barum 50,8 external temperature reaches 22C. But, suprisingly, Dunlop 51,7 winter tires were better than Kumho 51,7 expected according to test Pirelli 52,1 results. Goodyear and HanVredstein 52,1 kook tires have recored the Maxxis 54,7 braking distance of just about 47 49 51 53 2 meters longer than summer tires when braking at the speed of 100km/h. Sommer tire 47,1 Goodyear 49,1 Hankook 49,3 Winter tire 50,2

Dunlop All Seasons, which has shown excellent result from the braking distance test at snowy roads, has similar surface properties to winter tires and in fact, there was almost no difference from winter tires

according to the test results. On the other hand, Pirelli needed more braking distance as long as a car than Dunlop. Summer tires have shown the longest braking distance at the time of brake at snowy roads.

SLALOM
The road surface should be well arranged and hardened in order for the best result.

Maximale lateral acceleration in m/s2

Winter tire Kumho Pirelli Maxxis Hankook 4,63 Dunlop 4,60 Vredstein 4,58 Barum 4,57 Sommer tire 1,73 5,0 4,4 4,6 4,8 Goodyear 4,65 5,07 4,98 4,95 4,83

CURVE-HYDROPLANING
Speed in km/h if remaining lateral acceleration is 0.1g

ROUND TRACK
Many other decisive factors work in the wet round track, in addition to the material of a tire. The inner structure of a wheel, that is, a part which determines the weight distribution of a vehicle, should be appropriate. According to the round track test result, Dunlop, Barum and Maxxis recorded worse results than winter tires, which will have negative influence on the handling test results at wet road surfaces. Summer tires firmly kept the top position in this category.

Track rotation time in sec

Sommer tire 13,32 Vredstein Goodyear Hankook Kumho Pirelli Winter tire Dunlop Barum Maxxis

13,51 13,58 13,59

13,69 13,85 13,90 13,91 13,95
fotos: uli sonntag

13,61

Tires which have excellent directional control power have shown the best results as for slalom (zigzag travel). It was Kimho Solus Vier and Pirelli P 2500 that have shown

the excellent results at the level of winter king the curve as its directional control potires. Maxxis All Season also recored ex- wer already decreased. cellent score. On the other hand, the summer tire has got out of the course when ma-

There is risk of hydroplaning at curves too if snow is melting or it rains. Summer tires have shown the most excellent results, satisfying the expectation. Kumho, which has fallen behind this time, first got out of the course at the curves. Rear axis of a car ensures stability at curves. That is why it is desirable to use a tire which has the deepest cut sections as rear tires when replacing them.

Sommer tire Dunlop Vredstein Goodyear Barum Hankook Pirelli Kumho Maxxis 88,5 88,0 Winter tire

97,7 97,7 97,6 97,1 94,0

93,0

13,313,513,713,9

87,8

83,0 80 90 100
Winter tire (Reference) Somme tire (Reference) Colors for each rating

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Winter tire (Reference)

Somme tire (Reference)

Colors for each rating

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TIRE TEST FOUR-SEASON TIRE

TIRE TEST FOUR-SEASON TIRE

Average speed in km/h

HANDLING DRY SURFACE

NOISE
Winter tires made of smooth rubber mixtures not only haWinter 66,5 ve smoothness and also noHankook 66,9 70,6 ticeably lesser noise due to Maxxis 67,1 70,7 the many cut sections in the Sommer 67,6 71,3 tire surface. Only Kumho Solus Vire won winter tires. SumGoodyear 68,0 71,4 mer tires also had less noise. Pirelli 68,7 72,5 On the other hand, a Golf Dunlop 69,2 72,3 which was equipped with Vredstein 69,1 73,3 tires of Vredstein and Barum Barum 69,5 73,2 recorded the highest noise at 66 70 74 the noise-measuring road.
Kumho 66,6 70,0 70,3

DIMENSION: 195/65 R 15

SNOW

WET ROAD SURFACE

Curve-Hydroplaning

DRY ROAD SURFACE

High-speed travel passed

EVALUATION METHOD
Test result was announced from 1 point (most excellent) to 6 point (insufficient). The numbers shown below each item indicate the weight of each item in the correspoding test category. If there is any test category of which score is lower than 2 point or the score of an individual item is lower than 3 point, it is not possible to get evaluated as exemplary in total. It is not possible to get appraised as recommendable in total if there is any individual item of which score is 4 point or lower. The result is announced according to the order of test scores below. It is announced according to the order of Alphabet of the company names if tied.

Rolling Friction

Hydroplaning

Round Track

Handling

Handling

Handling

Comfort

Average

Average

Average

Traction

Slalom

Brake

Brake

Brake

Noise

Sommer tire Vredstein Goodyear Hankook Pirelli Barum

94,3 90,2 90,0 90,0 89,7 88,3

Weight in % EXEMPLARY

30 30 30 10

20 10 30 10 30

30 30 15 15 10

Smooth four-season tires did not win summer tires made of hard rubber mixtures at curves. Therefore, it is desirabel for Maxxis 86,9 a driver who enjoys the speed and thrill not to use four-season Winter tire 84,0 tires. Surely, there is no problem in using excellent four-season Kumho 83,2 tires for an average driver. Kumho and Dunlop tires somwhat Dunlop 81,1 decrease the joy of driving as they slightly fall behind in con80 84 88 92 trol.

Goodyear

Vector 4Seasons 91 V

approx 95 Euro

2 2 2- 3+ 2

1 1 2 2 2 2+

2 2- 2 2 2- 2

ja

Strength: Control force and stability have been evaluated as excellent in total irrespective of the surface conditions. It is very strong to hydroplaning and has excellent comfort of ride. Strength: Excellent comfort of ride for every condition. Particularly, it has dynamic handling at snowy roads and short braking distance for both wet and dry road surfaces. Weakness: Direction control power at snowy roads is commonplace

1.

Hankook
Optimo 4S 91 H

approx 75 Euro EXCELLENT

2 2+ 2 3+ 2

2+ 2+ 2 2 2 2

2 2 3+ 2+ 2 2

ja

2.

BRAKE

Braking distance: in meter based on 100km/h of speed per hour

60/80 km/h, in dB(A)

Kumho

Solus Vier KH 21 95 V

approx 70 Euro
Quatrac 3 91 H

2- 2+ 2- 2 2

2 3+ 2- 2 3+ 2-

3 2- 3 1- 1 2-

ja

Strength: Stable direction control power specially suitable for winter, low noise and the lowest rolling friction. Weakness: long braking distance at wet road, and unbalanced handling at dry road surface. Strength: Fine control possible at dry roads, excellent handling due to the stable directional control, and high stability at the time of hydroplaning Weakness: Long braking distance at both dry and wet road surfaces, a little decrease of performance at snowy roads

3.

ROLLING FRICTION
Sommer tire 38,2 Hankook 40,4 Barum Pirelli Kumho Goodyear Vredstein Maxxis Winter tire Dunlop 40,8 40,8 41,2 41,5 41,9 42,3 42,5 42,6

Rolling friction in CR

Vredestein
3+ 2 3+ 3 21 1 2 2+ 3+ 2 2 3+ 2- 3 3 2ja

approx 80 Euro SATISFYING

3.

Barum
Quartaris 91 T

approx 65 Euro
The test result in dry and wet road surfaces has shown that summer tires were more excellent than winter tires and four-season tires regardless of temperature. Winter tires needed more braking distance as long as a car than summer tires at the time of full brake. Only Dunlop All Season recorded worse score than winter tires and Pirelli P2500 Euro of which cut section in the tire surface is noticeably less than the others was ranked in the upper class.
Kumho 1,062 Winter 1,083 Sommer Hankook 1,155 1,176 1,191 1,197 1,205 1,237 1,307 1,351
SP 4 All Seasons 91 H

2- 2- 3 3 3+

1 2+ 3 3 2- 2-

3+ 2 2 3 3+ 2-

ja

Strength: Well prepared against hydroplaning, short braking distance at both dry and wet road surfaces, excellent comfort of ride Weakness: A little decrease of performace in the winter environment, a little inferior control (handling) power Strength: The most excellent performance in winter, short braking distance, and exemplarily prepared against hydroplaning Weakness: A little inferior handling, long braking distance at dry roads, and big rolling friction Strength: Stable direction control possible at both dry and wet road surfaces, balanced and comfortable ride Weakness: A little decrease of performance at snowy roads, and longer braking distance at the wet road surface.

5.

Dunlop

approx 85 Euro
P 2500 Euro 4S 91 H

2+ 1 2- 3 2+

1 1 3+ 3 3+ 2-

3- 3 2- 3+ 4+ 3

ja

5.

38

40

42

Pirelli

COMFORT

Subjective evaluation

Comfort test is based on the subjective feelings of the tester. The test is performed at the holey and uneven road dedicated for comfort test which has been specially prepared. Four-season tires of Goodyear and Barum recorded the most excellent score even at the uneven road, while Kumho and Maxxis recored the worst score.

Maxxis Pirelli Goodyear Barum Vredstein Dunlop

1,0 1,1 1,2 1,3

Tires consume fuel, wasting a specific amount of energy as they roll. Generally speaking, fuel consumption increases as much as 1% for each 5% increase of rolling friction. Kumho was also at the head of this rolling friction test. It has been shown that Dunlop SP 4 All Seasons had 25% more of rolling friction than Kumho, and therefore, consumed more amount of fuel. have better transmission of axial and shear forces. Broad cut sections contribute to decreasing hydroplaning.

approx 80 Euro NOT RECOMMENDABLE

3 3 2- 2 3+

2+ 2- 2- 2- 3+ 2-

2- 2 2- 3+ 2- 2-

ja

7.

Maxxis

All Season MA-AS 01 95 H

approx 55 Euro

2+ 2+ 2- 2- 2

2 2- 4 3- 4 3-

3+ 3 3 2+ 2- 3+

ja

Strength: Excellent comfort of ride at snowy roads, and well prepared against hydroplaning Weakness: Unbalanced comfort of ride due to the inferior control power, long braking distance and inferior directional control power at wet roads

8.

Colors for each rating (point)

1+ 1 1- 2+ 2 2- 3+ 3 3- 4+ 4 4- 5+ 5 5-

Next Edition:
Best winter tires for the C class
What is a winter tire?
According to the regulations, only the tires which have a snow crystal mark on a mountain-like ground guarantee safety at snowy roads. Besides, tires made by manufacturers which do not make series production or SUV tires, even in summer tires, often have a M+S mark which is the abbreviation of Melted snow + Snow.

CON- It has been concluded that almost all the four-season tires tested are winter CLUSION suitable for theeach hasroad surface, although different
strengths and weaknesses at snowy or icy winter roads. Of course, four-season tires have fallen behind of winter tires in performance. All the fourseason tires have shown excellent scores at both wet and dry road surfaces and Goodyear and Hankook recorded better scores than excellent summer tires. On the other hand, cheap Chinese tires have not shown good results. The use of excellent four-season tires will not only decrease the cumbersomeness of replacing tires seasonally and also guarantee the safety in winter conditions. Particularly, it is a good news to small car owners.
Colors for each rating

fotos: u. sonntag, m. hembach

Great difference in the tire surface

At first sight, summer and winter tires have great difference. Summer tires have smooth and hard surface while winter tires have small cut sections. Summer tires, due to this characteristics,

SUMMER TIRE
Control and traction are maximized due to the wide tire rubber area which contacts the road surface.

WINTER TIRE
Cut sections of the surface contribute to preventing slip at icy and snowy roads.
Winter tire (Reference) Somme tire (Reference)

n too. The in the nex t editio le for winter roads respond wh ich tire is suitab on tires wh ich cor We wil l tal k abo ut s and 2 fou r-seas tire prise med for 10 winter ap tires wil l also sur test results per for o introduced. Che l be als 45 of 225/ R17 wil to the dimens ion tio n. results of nex t edi the readers in the
Winter tire (Reference)

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Colors for each rating

www.autobild.de Nr. 38 19. September 2008

Somme tire (Reference)

RANK
Point

TIRE TEST FOUR-SEASON TIRE

Barum
Quartaris 91 T

Dunlop

SP 4 All Seasons 91 H

Goodyear

Vector 4Seasons 91 V

Hankook
Optimo 4S 91 H

All Season, Optimum Performance Technology Ensemble going ahead of season

Kumho

Solus Vier KH 21 95 V

Maxxis
All Season 95 H

Pirelli

P 2500 Euro 4S 91 H

Vredestein
Quatrac 3 91 H

3-Weather-Guarantee
Four-season tires promise safety in all the weather and seasons. We have checked if this is true through the test.
PHOTOS: D. mLLEr-SOnnTAg, L. bArTHELmESS, j. FETS, m. HEImbACH, m. mEInErS, HErSTELLEr

Kontrol Technology is Hankook Tires technology philosophy which reflects how the tire should perfectly control the interaction between the driver, the car and the road while in motion. It is implemented to ensure Hankook Tire provides the greatest benefits and driving experiences to customers in terms of safety, driving comfort, handling, performance and environmental friendliness. OPTIMO 4S is an example of a tire embodies Kontrol Technology.

scct Profile
Deformation Chart

Applied SCCT Profile enhancing its handling performance by increasing the tension of Carcass Line, and simultaneously enhancing durability by minimizing the deformation of Carcass Line under internal pressure.
with a OPTIMO 4S Car with a Firm A Product

Non-SCCT Profile

SCCT Profile

Simulation

Rome. the sun is hot. no concern for a hairstyle. hamburg. it rains again. no anxiety about a sty le... Do you remember this copy which was a great success? the advertisement already made a bold promise at that time, although it was a long time ago.

which developed four-season tires are making great money. it is because four-season tires do not only reduce the tire purchase and replacement costs, but also save consumers the space for piling up them. however, isnt it that consumers is it really possible? it doesnt will not only save the money and matter. We are only interested in space but also their safty? We pertires. Rubber specialists also pro- formed a test where four-season mise a perfect style and figure re- tires are compared with summer gardlesss of weather. besides, th- and winter tires in order to answer ey say there is no need to replace this question to readers. tires cumbersomely. companies We did spare no money in order

for a perfect test. We tested 8 fourseason tires at wet and dry road surfaces under the hot sunlight of the mediterranean and have gone to new Zealand in order to check the winter safety. tires have experienced a snowy road test and other winter road tests under the weather of 5 degrees below zero. the copy of an unscattered hairstyle even for the snow does not correspond to all the tires. compare the characteristics of each product through the test results. D. Mller-Sonntag, H. Klipp

Tension

Tension

Experiment

Rolling Resistance
107.3
Existing products OPTIMO 4S

Performance Map

Speed(90km/h)

Rolling Resistance

100

101.6

Summer Tire

OPTIMO 4S

Winter Ti re

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