Car tyres 205/65 R15 review and compare

We tested tyres for a range of family cars, for cornering, braking and noise.
 
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  • Updated:6 Apr 2008
 

02.Results

What to buy

Brand / model Price

  • # CONTINENTAL Conti Premium Contact 2 $169
  • # GOODYEAR Ducaro GA $109
  • # MICHELIN Energy XM1 $128
  • # DUNLOP LeMans LM600 $125
  • # FIRESTONE Firehawk TZ100 $133
  • # HANKOOK Optimo K406 $103
  • # PIRELLI P6 $109

Prices are recommended retail, based on manufacturer information in December 2008. Tyre prices can vary widely, so shop around for the model you're interested in - you may be able to find it well below the recommended retail price.
# Discontinued.

 

 
Performance Specifications
Brand / model (in rank order) Overall
score1
(%)		 Cornering
score2
(%)		 Braking
score3
(%)		 Tread wear
rating4		 Origin Manufacturer /
distributor		 Price
($)*
# CONTINENTAL Conti Premium Contact 2 78 80 75 280 Europe Tyres4U 169
# GOODYEAR Ducaro GA 78 73 85 ns Australia South Pacific Tyres 109
# MICHELIN Energy XM1 77 72 85 320 Thailand Michelin 128
# DUNLOP LeMans LM600 76 70 85 ns Australia South Pacific Tyres 125
# FIRESTONE Firehawk TZ100 76 70 85 ns NZ Bridgestone 133
# HANKOOK Optimo K406 76 70 85 360 Korea Hankook 103
# PIRELLI P6 76 70 85 260 Italy Pirelli 109
# FULDA Sport 74 70 80 ns NZ South Pacific Tyres 133
# KELLY Ritmo HP 74 67 85 ns Australia South Pacific Tyres 90
GT RADIAL Champiro 128 72 70 75 460 China Tyres 4U 119
# SONAR SA-603 72 67 80 480 Taiwan Kmart Auto 79
# TOYO Transas TEO (A) 72 67 80 ns Japan Toyo 120
BRIDGESTONE RE92 71 68 75 ns Australia Bridgestone 139
# SIAMTYRE Ultrax 624400 71 65 80 280 Thailand Michelin 89
# MARSHALL Power Racer-II 719 70 67 75 340 Korea Kumho 99
SAVA Intensa 68 67 70 ns NZ South Pacific Tyres 99
# YOKOHAMA S760 68 67 70 ns Philippines Yokohama 109
 

Table notes

# Discontinued.
* Recommended retail, based on manufacturer information in December 2008. Tyre prices can vary widely, so shop around for the model you’re interested in — you may be able to find it well below the recommended retail price.
ns Not stated. The tread wear rating is a requirement for the US market only.

(A) New name: Toyo TEO plus.

1 Overall score
This is a combination of cornering (60%) and braking (40%).
2 Cornering score
We assessed how well the tyres managed to keep the car on the path within the lane chosen by our test driver, at speeds of 75 km/h, 80 km/h and 85 km/h (dry conditions), and 65 km/h, 70 km/h and 75 km/h (wet conditions), using a right-hand corner with about 40 m radius.
3 Braking score
We measured the distance to a complete standstill in emergency braking tests from 50 km/h and 80 km/h, in both dry and wet conditions.
Note: We also carried out rolling noise measurements at the driver’s left ear at 50 km/h and 80 km/h. At each speed, there was a difference of less than 2 dB between the models — you wouldn’t be able to notice that difference.
4 Tread wear rating 
Click here for an explanation of this. Essentially, the higher the rating, the longer you can expect the tyre to last (compared with other tyres under the same conditions).

This article last reviewed December 2008.

 

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