Best Summer Eco-Friendly Tires 205/55 R16

The economical summer tire Falken Sincera SN-100 Ecorun has been produced since 2020 under the supervision of the parent tire company Goodyear.

The eco-friendliness of the model is due to its low rolling resistance. The less energy spent on wheel rotation, the more economical the fuel consumption and the fewer harmful emissions are produced into the atmosphere. The tire compound is made using the proprietary 4D-Nano Design recipe with reinforced polymer-silica nanoparticle bonds. In practice, this provides increased adhesion to dry and wet road surfaces.

The tire tread has an asymmetric design with distinct zones of responsibility. Its outer side is responsible for the stability of the car's behavior in turns and "dry" driving characteristics. The inner part of the tread is responsible for effective water drainage in wet driving conditions. The central ridge of the tire's tread is formed by two wide stiffening ribs, with circumferential water evacuation channels on both sides.

Even pressure distribution across the entire contact patch leads to slow and even tread wear. Another strong point of the model is its low rolling noise (about 69 dB). As a result, a high level of acoustic comfort will be maintained in the vehicle's cabin.

The high-performance summer tires Fulda EcoControl HP2 are made using high-dispersion silica with the addition of natural rubber and natural oils. As a result, the tire retains its inherent softness and elasticity over a wide temperature range.

The surface of the tire's asymmetric tread is made as smooth as possible, which positively affects rolling resistance and allows for reduced fuel consumption. In the central area of the tread, there is a trio of monolithic stiffening ribs, providing excellent directional stability and reliable grip on the road surface.

Stability in turns and during active maneuvering in traffic is due to the reinforced sidewalls combined with wide shoulder zones. Moreover, the strong sidewalls protect the tire from various mechanical damages. They also maintain the constancy of the contact patch, ensuring reliable grip and a short braking distance.

The tire uses the Aquaflow water drainage system, consisting of four circumferential drainage channels and grooves in the shoulder zones. Fulda EcoControl HP2 effectively resists aquaplaning even during heavy rain outside the car. However, in terms of mileage, the model demonstrates moderate wear resistance, although its service life has been increased by about 12% compared to the previous generation tire Fulda EcoControl HP.

The eco-friendly tire Hankook Kinergy Eco K425, launched on the conveyor in 2011, became a "popular" option for summer car tires for passenger cars. A replacement was rolled out 6 years later. The production of the second generation model is established at Hankook factories in South Korea and Hungary (depending on the size).

The tire's tread pattern retained its asymmetric structure and acquired additional grooves on the central rib of the inner segment. They are designed to improve the stability of the tire's behavior and the precision of vehicle control. Overall, the asymmetric "drawing" of the tread creates an optimal balance of driving qualities on dry and wet road surfaces.

The "green" roots of Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 K435 are revealed by the rubber compound with an increased silica content. It reduces heat generation and rolling resistance, which leads to increased fuel economy. As a result, we get budget savings and fewer harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

The model's drainage system consists of three ring channels and three-stage lateral grooves, which accelerate the evacuation of excess water masses. The high braking efficiency of the tire on wet roads was noted during tests. In particular, the Hungarian magazine Autonavigator awarded the tire one of the highest scores in the "Braking distance on wet asphalt" category. However, in terms of dry braking, the tire slightly lags behind its competitors in the class. But not critically, which pales in comparison to the model's affordable price tag.

At the end of 2020, the portfolio of the French tire giant Michelin was replenished with the eco-friendly summer tire model e.Primacy. It is intended to be fitted on both electric cars and traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines.

The focus of the tire was on minimizing rolling resistance. Indeed, in this parameter, the tire received the highest grade "A" — it completely outperforms its closest competitors in the premium summer tire class. Reducing friction losses decreases the consumption of fuel or electricity needed for vehicle movement. As a result, resource savings are ensured, and emissions of exhaust gases into the atmosphere are minimized.

The model is equipped with an asymmetric tread with a special U-shaped design of drainage channels (using Evergrip technology). This design innovation allows maintaining excellent adhesion properties on wet surfaces even with significant tread wear. New and worn Michelin e.Primacy tires are equally safe. Water is removed from their contact patch as quickly as possible and without the slightest residue.

Another technological feature of the tire is the MaxTouch pressure distribution, which increases the contact area with the road and prevents disproportionate wear. Finally, the model belongs to the category of high-performance tires with the highest level of driving comfort. Michelin e.Primacy sets a high bar in the eco-tire segment and is one of the most advanced models in the "green" arena of automotive tires.

Since 2019, the production facilities of the tire giant Continental have been producing the "green" summer car tire EcoContact 6, which is suitable for vehicles of all sizes.

The model is available in 112 sizes for wheel rim diameters from 13 to R22. Depending on the size, the tread structure of the tire varies — it can have from three to five longitudinal stiffening ribs. A common feature for all tire sizes is the asymmetric structure of the tread pattern. Special curved sipes in the central plane of the tread are aimed at blocking tire slippage on wet roads.

The balanced ratio between longitudinal ribs and drainage channels allows the tire to effectively self-clean from water masses and quickly dry the contact patch during rainy weather trips. The rubber compound of the model is "prepared" using the proprietary Green Chilli 2.0 recipe. The compound contains chemical components to reduce rolling resistance and additives that help the tire better adapt to road surface irregularities. The special formula of the rubber "cocktail" also improves the transmission of traction and braking forces.

To ensure good "dry" grip, the tire borrowed design solutions from the Continental SportContact tire line. In particular, the asymmetric geometry of the tread with rounded corners adds stability to individual elements, promoting reliable grip and ensuring predictable vehicle behavior during dynamic maneuvering in traffic. Finally, the "green" class of car tires helps minimize harmful emissions. Continental EcoContact 6 is a premium-level summer tire, produced to the highest standards of quality and safety.