15 best summer tires 2020

Everyone knows that there are summer and winter tires, but most will not be able to explain what the difference is. But without this knowledge, it is impossible to make the right choice of tires. In fact, the main difference between the two is their chemical composition. In summer tires, it is selected in such a way as to maintain excellent grip even at rather high temperatures, typical of summer heat. For this, they are made more rigid. To avoid the effect of aquaplaning, the tires are equipped with a special tread pattern, which helps to efficiently drain water from the contact patch between the road and the wheels. With today's variety of manufacturers and models, choosing the best summer tires is a challenge. Therefore, you can use this review as a guide in finding the right "shoes" for the wheels of your car.

Which tires to buy

Today, the products of the following tire manufacturers are considered one of the best:

• Italian company Pirelli has chosen the production of racing tires as its main activity. However, among its products there are many models that have proven themselves well on public roads. The tires of this manufacturer are characterized by stability at high speeds and high handling characteristics.
• Tires Continental are premium products. Not every car owner can afford to buy this rubber. However, buying Continental products you can be sure of their impeccable quality, impressive traction and coupling properties and a decent level of ride comfort.
• Concern Michelin is the second largest tire manufacturer in the world. The products of this brand have earned a lot of good reviews. It provides a high level of comfort when traveling on any road. An excellent advertisement can be the fact that the products of this concern have participated in many racing events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• Japanese company Bridgestone since 2007 it has been a leader in tire production. However, it is not limited to products only for light vehicles. Among its products are tires for trucks, light trucks and SUVs. Distinctive features of the tires of this brand include damage resistance, handling and high quality workmanship.
• Company Goodyear is a multinational holding producing tires for all seasons and for all types of wheeled vehicles. These tires are distinguished by their endurance and performance. The quality of Goodyear tires is highly dependent on the country of manufacture. Products made in Western Europe are considered to be of the highest quality. The tires produced in the Baltic States are quite good, but already worse. The most unpopular are products manufactured in the Russian Federation.

Best Budget Summer Tires

In the conditions of the CIS countries, the most popular rubber is this price range. Despite the fact that many believe that cheap products will not provide the required grip and handling, reviews say that even among inexpensive tires, you can find good models that provide a sufficiently high level of safety.

In order not to be mistaken with the choice, it is necessary to focus both on the brand itself and on the characteristics of a particular product. First of all, you need to decide on the size of the tire.This parameter is indicated by the manufacturer and implies a combination of the diameter, width and height of the product. The wrong choice can lead to the following consequences:

1. If the profile height is less than recommended, then the ride will be stiffer, and the suspension will fail faster. Management will also deteriorate significantly.
2. Exceeding the recommended width will result in periodic wheel clinging to the body elements when cornering.
3. Exceeding the recommended diameter can lead to the wheel clinging to the wheel arches. This can lead to an accident due to tire damage.

1. Nokian Tires Hakka Green 2

This series of summer tires makes it easy to control maneuvers such as lane-to-lane changes, even in the presence of uneven road surfaces. Despite the seeming softness when felt, the side parts are reinforced with reinforced fiber, which increases the strength characteristics.

This model can be recommended to car owners who drive mainly in the city, sometimes driving outside of it. Rubber can handle even high speeds.

Advantages:

• excellent grip;
• low noise level;
• acceptable cost;
• comfort.

Disadvantages:

• rapid wear;
• with small steering, several rolls behave.

2. KAMA Kama-Euro LCV-131

This the model is produced by the Nizhnekamsk Tire Plant and is designed for imported vans and light trucks. Its main purpose is the Fiat Ducato, which is assembled in the city of Elabuga. Tests carried out in Italy in the city of Balocco have proven that these tires meet all European requirements.

Advantages:

• low price;
• predictable behavior;
• lends itself well to balancing;
• good grip.

Disadvantages:

• low wear resistance;
• tendency to form "bumps".

3. Viatti Strada Asimmetrico V-130

This series is one of the best low cost tires designed for all types of light vehicles. Independent testing has demonstrated excellent stability and handling characteristics during emergency braking and high-speed maneuvering.

Recommended for everyone who wants to get decent quality at a fairly low price.

Advantages:

• high dynamic characteristics;
• good directional stability;
• endurance;
• excellent combination of price and quality;
• excellent drainage of water from the contact patch of the tire with the road.

Disadvantages:

• relatively high noise level.

4. Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50

The tires in this series belong to the middle class of similar products and are perhaps the best inexpensive summer tires. They are designed for use in large, medium and compact passenger cars. Back in 2016, German experts from Auto Bild tested these products against 14 mid-range, budget and premium tires. According to their results, the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 received an overall rating of "Satisfactory". At the same time, they showed the lowest noise, high wear resistance and good handling on dry surfaces.

Advantages:

• low noise level;
• high-quality grip on asphalt;
• good handling on dry roads;
• high strength.

Disadvantages:

• not very good wet behavior.

The best summer tires price-quality combination

This price category is the "golden mean". It is these products that are able to provide sufficient safety and comfort while driving at a very humane price. The choice of high-quality rubber in this category is much greater than in the previous one, which means that the car owner has plenty to choose from.

When buying a set of summer tires, you need to pay attention not only to its geometry and manufacturer, but also to the tread pattern. There are three types of them to be read, each of which has its own characteristics. They are as follows:

1. Symmetrical pattern... Typical for inexpensive tires. Differs in quite good indicators of comfort, handling and traction. Is the best option in terms of price and quality ratio. It will be a good choice for lovers of measured driving.
2. Directional drawing... Provides even greater grip, comfort and handling. At the same time, it provides a stable ride even in heavy rain conditions with a large accumulation of water. A feature of these products is the impossibility of rearranging them from one side to the other without impairing driving safety.
3. Asymmetric pattern... Allows you to adapt to a variety of road conditions. Significantly increases directional stability and provides more predictable handling.

1. Bridgestone Turanza T001

This series is an asymmetric tire that combines safety, comfort and environmental friendliness. It first saw the light of day in 2012 and incorporates all the advantages of its predecessor, the ER300, as well as the innovative developments of the company's engineers.

These durable tires are recommended for all drivers, regardless of their preferred driving style.

Advantages:

• low noise level;
• keep the road perfectly;
• excellent grip on wet surfaces;
• uniform tread wear.

Disadvantages:

• Russian-made products may have other performance characteristics.

2. Continental ContiPremiumContact 5

The grippy and reliable rubber has an asymmetric tread pattern and is intended for installation on cars of both medium and sports classes. It is positioned as a one-stop solution for maximum safety and performance in all weather conditions. Overall, this is the best summer tire in the roundup, especially when you consider the cost.

These excellent quiet summer tires can be recommended for those who love safe and comfortable riding.

Advantages:

• excellent grip on dry and wet surfaces;
• resistance to aquaplaning;
• ride comfort;
• wear resistance.

Disadvantages:

• slightly increased fuel consumption.

3. MICHELIN Primacy 4

This model is one of the best summer tires for the wet, because even when worn, it can provide excellent grip during and after rain. This model is recommended for use in countries with frequent heavy rainfall.

Advantages:

• excellent handling on wet surfaces;
• good grip on dry roads;
• low noise levels.

Disadvantages:

• the cost is slightly overpriced;
• on dry asphalt it keeps turns worse.

4. Hankook Tire Ventus Prime3 K125

This model has a very wide range of applications: from the middle class to family cars and luxury vehicles. Many car owners regard them as ideal tires in terms of value for money, because they provide equally efficient and safe driving on both dry and wet asphalt. The latest technology has resulted in excellent handling and ride comfort. This quiet and comfortable tire is the best summer tire according to car owners.

Advantages:

• versatility;
• stable movement in a straight line and excellent controllability at speed;
• effective drainage;
• low noise level;
• excellent traction characteristics.

Disadvantages:

• low indicators of aquaplaning when turning.

The best premium summer tires

Choosing good summer tires is not an easy task these days. A large number of models from various manufacturers baffle even a person who is more or less versed in the topic. However, the choice of tires will be much easier if the following criteria are followed:

1. Reputable manufacturer... The importance of this parameter is quite large, although not decisive.Sometimes even not too popular brands are able to offer products of a sufficiently high quality.
2. The composition of the rubber compound... The composition for summer tires should be designed with the assumption that its operation will take place in conditions of elevated temperatures. Therefore, they must have optimum rigidity and resilience.
3. By marking... It contains important characteristics such as size, load index and permissible speed limits.
4. Tread pattern... It should be as thoughtful and functional as possible. It is also worth considering the driving style, the specifics of weather conditions and the road surface.
5. Acoustic performance... Driving comfort depends on this. After all, not everyone likes to listen to the noise from their tires while traveling.
6. Durability... Resistance of rubber to external factors determines wear resistance and long service life.

1. Toyo Proxes Sport

These asymmetrical tires are produced by the flagship sub-brand of one of the leading Japanese tire manufacturers. They are characterized by maximum stability, efficient braking, excellent grip on wet and dry surfaces, as well as sporty handling in all weather conditions. Therefore, this rubber for the summer will be a good choice for those who have enough money or do not save on safety.

Advantages:

• low fuel consumption;
• high quality materials;
• good handling and braking performance on any surface.

Disadvantages:

• uncertain behavior during extreme maneuvering.

2.Pirelli P Zero Nero GT

Made by an Italian company, this summer tire is good in many ways because it combines the racing experience of the engineers with the knowledge of what is required of tires on normal roads. The use of the latest technology has significantly improved handling and low rolling resistance. Also, an improved tread pattern has increased aquaplaning resistance.

Advantages:

• good handling;
• acceptable noise;
• high carrying capacity;
• excellent water drainage.

Disadvantages:

• relatively fast wear.

3. MICHELIN CrossClimate +

This model belongs to the class of directional tires. It differs in that it is suitable for use both in summer and in winter. True, for such an all-season performance, the manufacturer had to sacrifice some summer characteristics, which, however, did not worsen them so much.

Advantages:

• wide range of operating temperatures;
• the ability to use on snow with a tread depth of less than 4 mm;
• strength and passability;
• high resistance to side sliding.

Disadvantages:

• the all-season orientation reduced the performance for the hot season.

4. Bridgestone Ecopia EP850

This rubber is designed for cars with large wheel diameter. To improve performance, a special protector was developed for it, which has a directional and asymmetric pattern. Also, these safety tires respond well to road irregularities and changing weather conditions.

Advantages:

• good stability;
• safety when driving on a wet road;
• reliability;
• low noise level.

Disadvantages:

• relatively fast tread wear.

The best summer tires for SUVs

Crossover and SUV tires are a separate class of tires that have more specific requirements than similar products for light vehicles. This is due to the fact that SUVs are used not only for driving on asphalt roads, but also in off-road conditions. In order not to get stuck in mud, tires must have a deep tread with the function of self-cleaning from small particles and dirt.

However, this does not exempt them from characteristics such as good grip, ride comfort and low noise. Therefore, all manufacturers are looking for a compromise between cross-country ability and comfort.When buying a crossover rubber, you need to decide exactly how it will be used. If you will be driving more often on public roads, you can choose tires that provide more comfort. Otherwise, you need to select high-quality off-road tires.

1. MAXXIS AT-980 Bravo

This series is intended for use in SUVs or crossovers. It offers high performance on any surface, both unpaved and asphalt. For off-road tires, these tires are equipped with a more aggressive tread pattern, consisting of numerous blocks, which are located in the most optimal way.

Advantages:

• the same reliability on any type of surface;
• reinforced frame construction;
• self-cleaning function;
• high wear resistance.

Disadvantages:

• all-seasonality, impairing summer characteristics.

2. MICHELIN Latitude Cross

These tires are recommended for owners of crossovers and SUVs who never refuse to leave the asphalt pavement and drive off-road, but are not ready to sacrifice comfort for this.

Advantages:

• self-cleaning function;
• excellent cross-country ability;
• decent quality materials;
• excellent off-road grip.

Disadvantages:

• makes noise at high speed.

3. Bridgestone Dueler M / T 674

They are premium all-season mud tires. They are designed exclusively for four-wheel drive vehicles and are characterized by high strength and resistance to mechanical damage. Thanks to the symmetrical tread, they perform well on dry and wet surfaces as well as off-road conditions.

Advantages:

• low noise level;
• relatively low rolling resistance;
• good grip on any surface;
• improved maneuverability and handling on any type of surface.

Disadvantages:

• quite a considerable cost.

Which summer tires are better to choose

When choosing summer tires, you can be guided by both your own needs or preferences, and this rating. It is also recommended to read the reviews of people who have already bought tires and can express a more or less objective opinion about them. Based on this information, it will be possible to select the model that is suitable for a particular case. Even domestic summer tires may be suitable for particularly economical ones, but, unfortunately, there are not so many quality options among these products.