The mission of the German automobile club ADAC is to ensure safety in road traffic, also by recommending the best quality products. Every year, the organization tests tyres in popular sizes, indicating those models that meet the highest standards. This time 175/65 tyres were put under the microscope.
For over 100 years, the organization has worked on the trust of drivers and a reputation in the automotive industry. ADAC currently has over 20 million members, and the research association is widely recognized as the most authoritative in regards to verifying marketing promises of the producers.
ADAC is one of the most prestigious automotive organizations in the world.
Test results of tyre size 175/65 R14 should be of interest to owners of compact passenger cars, such as Honda Civic, VW Golf, VW Polo, Opel Astra, Corsa, Peugeot 206 or Ford Fiesta. Cars of this type most often serve entire families, which is why their owners should approach the purchase of new winter cars with particular care.
Remember that the choice of tyre size depends not only on the car model but also on factors such as year of production or engine capacity. The choice will be made easier by the configurator prepared by our specialists.
The best tyres for the upcoming winter season
12 models in 175/65 R14 size participated in this year's survey. Among them are representatives of:
premium class: Continental, Dunlop, Nokian, Goodyear, Vredestein, Pirelli;
middle class: Firestone, Semperit,
budget class: Dębica, Esa+ Tecar, Sava, Nankang.
The basic condition required for participation in the test was to have grade "C" minimum in the European labeling system of wet surface braking. The application of this criterion allowed to focus on those products that can actually strive for the title of the best.
Winter tyres must cope with extreme winter conditions.
The consortium, selecting the models to be tested and deciding on the methodology, included representatives of automotive organizations and institutions protecting consumer rights. There were no producers among them.
The tyres were analyzed for dry, wet, snowy and icy surfaces, noise and comfort of driving, as well as fuel efficiency and longevity. In each category, grades were awarded on a scale of 1 to 5, where the lower score - the better.
ADAC classifies tyres as very good, good, satisfactory, sufficient or insufficient.
In this year's ranking, two models were considered good and eight were satisfactory. In the ADAC test history, no product has yet received a very good note - it is reserved for innovative solutions from the future. The highest rated tyres can be considered one of the best available on the market today.
King Continental
Continental released the successor of the WinterContact TS850 - one of the best-rated tyres in the company's history. It announced that the engineers managed to create something even better. For the moment, all indicates that the Continental WinterContact TS860 is at least as good as its predecessor.
The tyre has been verified by prestigious automotive organizations since 2016, which constantly put it on the highest steps of the podium. Out of the 18 tests of the model in various sizes, it got awarded the first place 17 times and only once appeared on the position lower by one spot.
The Continental TS860 tyres are appreciated not only by experts, but also by 99% of our customers who, after the purchase, stated that they would recommend them to other drivers. Therefore, the fact that this tyre got awarded first place by the prestigious German automobile club does not come as a surprise.
According to ADAC specialists, this is an extremely balanced model that works well on any surface. Unbeatable in driving on snow (note 1.8). The 3D grooves on the entire tread area and the optimal mixture of Cool Chili with a large amount of silica in the composition are responsible for the high performance.
Very good note goes to Goodyear!
Although the Goodyear Ultra Grip 9 was only fifth in the ADAC ranking, it definitely stood out in terms of durability. As the only one of the tested models, it received a very good note, rarely awarded for individual parameters.
Perfect Dunlop
Dunlop Winter Response 2 got awarded second place, recognized by German experts as good. During tests, the tyres achieved only slightly worse marks than the winning Continental. The exception are the criteria of driving comfort and noise emission, in which the American proposal turned out to be better, despite the lower position in the overall classification.
This year, ADAC awarded Dunlop 175/65 R14 in the wet driving category (note 2.4) and dry surface (note 1.8), which is a huge achievement. The secret of success lies in the directional tread with numerous blades arranged at an angle of 45 degrees, perfectly draining water.
Positive opinions of specialists in this case coincide with the opinions of Oponeo customers, who hailed this model as sensational.
Tyres tailored to your needs will allow you to get out of every situation.
Satisfactory also means good!
ADAC considered as many as 8 tyres to be satisfactory. Although in general they deviate from the proposals of Continental and Dunlop, they are worth to be mentioned. The choice of tyres should depend on individual preferences, so it is worth paying attention to how the other models dealt with different surfaces or how durable they are.
The proof of this is the tyre Firestone Winterhawk 3, which tempts the podium with a "satisfactory" note. An American production, from medium range of prices, compared to two first places in the rank, ensures much better comfort and generates less noise (3.3). It also proved to be the most effective when driving on dry surface (note 2.0).
The best models in each of the categories*
Category | Best models | Rating |
|---|
Dry surface | Firestone Winterhawk 3 Continental WinterContact TS860 Vredestein Snowtrac 5 | 2.0 2.3 2.3 |
Wet surface | Continental WinterContact TS860 Dunlop Winter Response 2 Goodyear UltraGrip 9 | 1.7 1.8 2.2 |
Snow-covered surface | Continental WinterContact TS860 Dunlop Winter Response 2 Semperit Master-Grip 2 | 1.8 1.9 2.0 |
Ice-covered surface | Continental WinterContact TS860 Dunlop Winter Response 2 Firestone Winterhawk 3 | 2,5 2,5 2,5 |
Noise / comfort | Pirelli Cinturato Winter Firestone Winterhawk 3 Vredestein Sportrac 5 | 3.2 3.3 3.3 |
Fuel efficiency | Esa+Tecar Super Grip 9 Dunlop Winter Response 2 Firestone Winterhawk 3 | 1.6 1.7 1.8 |
Livespan | Goodyear UltraGrip 9 Continental WinterContact TS860 Dunlop Winter Response 2 | 1.5 2.0 2.0 |
*The lower the score, the better
What to consider when choosing new tyres
ADAC, not without reason, regularly examines the quality of tyres available on the market. The right set is the basis for safe driving, especially during winter. Therefore, it's worth spending some time choosing the perfect model for you.
After deciding what size of tyre fits your car, consult experts - such as the German automobile club as well as other drivers. The rankings prepared by us will help you, as it is based on the ratings and opinions of those buying on Oponeo. Our clients had the opportunity to try the wheels in many different, sometimes even extreme, situations and decided to share their insights with others.
Also pay attention to aspects related to your individual preferences. If you have a bigger budget or cover large distances during the year, check out the premium class offer. In a situation where you want to save a bit, but still care about the best performance, take a look at the middle and economy models. You do not have time to change tyres every season? All-year tyres may interest you.
A very important, technical issue is the selection of the right tread, tailored to your driving style. In winter wheels, the most frequently used is the directional and asymmetrical sculpture. This year, among the best tyres in the 175/65 R14 size, only the first one, characterized by the shape of the letter V, was found. It drains water very well and reacts perfectly to acceleration. The second option, however, is considered more comfortable and stable, especially when driving on bends.
It's only up to you what tyres you choose. Remember, however, that by taking being cautious on the road, you also take care of others.