When developing new tires, engineers pay close attention to how they behave at a specific size, and the tests for these tires carry significant weight in the final assessment.
Of course, drivers weigh many factors when choosing tires. Some focus on price, others on brand reputation, and many prioritize comfort above all. With that in mind, this review highlights tire sets that remind experts of that comfort parametric quality.
Tire test participants
These are the tires included in the evaluation:
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Cordian Comfort 2
- Hankook Ventus Prime³ K125
- Kumho Ecsta HS51
- Nexen Nblue HD Plus
- Nokian Hakka Blue 3
- Nordman SZ2
- Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2
- Tiger High Performance
- Viatti Strada 2 V-134
- Yokohama BluEarth-GT AE51
Is comfort expensive? Not always!
That delightful feeling of smooth, quiet driving often favors Cordiant and Hankook offerings. Their ride is noticeably soft, and cabin noise is almost imperceptible. Yet Continental, Nexen, Nokian, and Yokohama deliver impressively quiet performance as well, even if they aren’t quite at the absolute top for smoothness.
But comfort isn’t the only criterion. Here is how each kit fared in the broader test results.
Hankook Ventus Prime³ K125
The tires showed respectable braking on cold surfaces and decent aquaplaning resistance. They also offered solid longitudinal handling and, without a doubt, the foremost comfort in the lineup — Cordiant edges them slightly on softness, but Hankook remains a strong, comfortable choice.
Cordian Comfort 2
This set demonstrates higher rolling resistance and weaker longitudinal aquaplaning resistance. Wet braking sits in the average range. However, when comfort is the benchmark, this pair leads the field by a noticeable margin.
Nokian Hakka Blue 3
Nokian demonstrates only modest resistance to transverse aquaplaning, with rolling resistance streaking toward the higher end. Yet the strengths are widespread: outstanding steering precision and stability, excellent wet braking, and cabin noise levels that sit among the leaders even when the road is challenging.
Continental Premium Contact 6
Their weaknesses mirror Nokian’s in some areas like lateral aquaplaning and rolling resistance, but the positives are equally pronounced: confident wet braking, strong road grip, and very good overall comfort—nearly on par with the best in the class.
Nexen Nblue HD Plus
Wet and cold conditions are not Nexen’s friends, with weaker lateral grip and slower braking on cold roads. On the flip side, comfort is a strong suit. They also show solid transverse aquaplaning resistance and responsive steering in varied weather.
Yokohama BluEarth-GT AE51
This option represents a balanced compromise. On wet surfaces, aquaplaning can be a consideration, but braking remains dependable. They also demonstrate better resistance to rolling and are notably quiet compared with some peers.
Two models, Cordiant and Nexen, stand out for affordability in the European and broader markets. Still, even among the higher-priced contenders, comfort and quietness remain achievable, while a few premium options don’t always deliver on softness and hush in daily use.
However, noise and smoothness are not the sole criteria. Additional performance facets matter too. A general classification summary can be found through this linked overview, which also includes a compact table with other tested parameters.
- In unforeseen road situations, non-slip considerations can help in maintaining control.
- Driving implications and demonstrations of tire behavior are available in video review sources.