TOP-5: summer tyres for 4x4 from the premium segment

Bridgestone Dueler H/P 680 245/70 R16 107H

Made in Japan, the Bridgestone Dueler H/P 680 summer tyre is highly sought after by consumers who travel "on the other side of the pavement". It is most likely chosen due to a rather aggressive tread. The list of offered sizes is sparse — the tyre can be installed on cars with 16-inch wheels, other options are not offered.

The manufacturer positions the tyre as an off-road tyre, so you should not expect high driving performance when driving fast on asphalt. It should provide a comfortable trip on country roads and, most importantly, guarantee good traction on slippery areas or loose surfaces. One of its main advantages is increased wear resistance even with constant driving on asphalt.

According to professional tests and user reviews, the Bridgestone Dueler H/P 680 behaves quite predictably on asphalt and does not show excessive noise. Subject to speed limits, it guarantees safety and does not show significant flaws. At the same time, all its positive aspects are maximally revealed on the roads. There is good self-cleaning and excellent grip.

Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV 265/65 R17 112H

With a wide range of options available from 16" to 20", the Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV tyre will fit most of today's 4x4s. This allows a tyre made in Germany to always remain popular with consumers. The specialization of the model is indicated not only by the prefix SUV in the name, but also by the characteristic pattern of its tread.

The manufacturer has long been known for its innovative solutions and put in the Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV a high level of grip, combining them with low rolling resistance. Due to this, the model should provide good ride comfort and economy. Among its main advantages, it is worth highlighting short braking distances on dry and wet asphalt, as well as increased mileage.

This model has been on the market for more than a year (since 2012) and has managed to earn a certain reputation. Most of those who have tried the tyre on their cars unanimously agree on good reviews about handling, safety and economy. But as counterarguments, they cite a lack of grip on dirt roads and gravel areas. Therefore, the Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV should be recommended primarily as a road bike for fast and comfortable driving.

Michelin Latitude Sport 3 285/45 R19 111W Price from 8 726 up to 14 517 ₴ →

The French company Michelin offers the Latitude Sport 3 tyre for the summer season. Due to the wide size range (17-21”), this model is suitable for medium and full-size SUVs. Its sports orientation is indicated not only by the name, but also by the tread pattern, which should perform well precisely on high-speed highways. The cost of this model is in the middle range of the upper price segment.

When developing the Latitude Sport 3 model, the manufacturer focused on the balance of driving properties on different surfaces and relied on increased mileage in combination with low rolling resistance. Given the positioning for large and powerful SUVs, this tyre should provide short braking distances. High resistance to hydroplaning and first-class handling on dry pavement are also claimed.

With very good performance on dry or wet pavement, the Michelin Latitude Sport 3 has flaws in handling and traction on dirt and loose surfaces. This behavior has been noted by many professional reviewers and casual users. But if you take into account her athletic inclinations, then this is quite justified.

Continental ContiSportContact 3 265/40 R20 104Y Price from 11 242 up to 15 567 ₴ →

Offered in sizes from 16 to 20", German manufacturer Continental 's ContiSportContact 3 can be fitted to most modern compact and full-size SUVs. Despite the fact that this tyre has a new generation, ContiSportContact 3 is in high demand among consumers and is offered on our market from the manufacturer's factory in Portugal.

Continental has always offered high-end tyres and even many of the world's automakers have adopted it as an assembly line option. The ContiSportContact 3 uses technologies that have been proven over the years, so that even at a venerable age (on the market since 2003), it can still compete with younger competitors.

In the context of user reviews, one can definitely say that this is one of the best tyres in its class. Over the years, it has been subjected to hundreds of tests, and consumers have already skated many kits. The balance of properties on different surfaces is at a high level, the safety performance is very good. And even if we consider that ContiSportContact 3 cannot boast of the most advanced technologies, it still deserves the attention of most drivers of modern cars.

Pirelli PZero 295/35 R21 107Y Price from 9 438 up to 13 015 ₴ →

The largest R21 summer tyre in this review is from the Italian premium manufacturer Pirelli. Coming from the UK, the P Zero comes in a wide range of sizes from 17 to a hefty 22" and features a designer asymmetric tread pattern that not only looks good, but should also guarantee excellent driving performance.

When developing the Pirelli P Zero, the manufacturer was guided primarily by positioning on cars with powerful engines. This model should provide good driving performance on sports cars and large all-wheel drive vehicles. An enlarged contact patch guarantees traction, and a specific pattern is designed to provide controllability at high speeds. Reserves for hydroplaning and economy are incorporated in P Zero.

Consumers who have already installed this model on their cars note excellent behavior on dry surfaces. At the same time, small flaws appear on wet asphalt. Many complain about rutting, which can be considered a significant disadvantage for a premium segment tyre. Nevertheless, the Pirelli P Zero has good mileage and economy, which allows us to recommend it as a decent urban "shoe" for your 4x4.