Royal Black Explorer II review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners Provisional
Owners 83 · 5 reviews analysed Road tests 41 · 1 test
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Royal Black Explorer II has a Relative Score of 66 out of 100 among summer tires. 5 owner reviews rate it 83 out of 100. 100% would buy it again.
- Weak point: Dry 44 — 50th of 52 (2025 Summer tire Test Shootout)
- Weak point: Wet 38 — 51st of 52 (2025 Summer tire Test Shootout)
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
How scores work
- Relative score
- 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
- Road tests
- 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
- Owner reviews
- 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.
By owner reviews
83/100From 5 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
By road tests
41/100Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 5 owner reviews found online.
The Royal Black Explorer II generally receives positive feedback from users who praise its reliability, impressive longevity, and excellent value for money across various driving conditions. While dry grip is considered dependable and wet performance is deemed adequate with cautious driving, the tire proves surprisingly durable over high mileage.
Pros
- High value and affordable price point
- Impressive tread wear and longevity over high mileage
- Reliable dry grip and generally stable performance in wet conditions
- Overall high satisfaction reported across daily commuting and mixed terrain
Cons
- Wet grip requires extra caution, particularly on heavier vehicles
- Limited feedback regarding aggressive handling or high-performance steering feedback
Worth knowing
- Drivers of heavier SUVs on 19-inch (235/50/19 XL) sizes note that while performance is adequate, extra care should be taken in wet conditions due to vehicle weight.
1 published test appearance
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2025 Summer tire Test Shootout · 225/40 R18
51st of 52
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 51st of 52 | |
| Dry Braking | 50th of 52 |
Source: Auto Bild
Reviews from our readers
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