| Test Summary | |
| Wet Braking | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R |
| Dry Braking | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
| Rolling Resistance | Kumho Ecsta PS71 |
| Noise | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 |
| Snow Handling | Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R Continental Sport Contact 6 Nankang Noble Sport NS20 |
For this investigation, Auto Bild have bought eight 245/30 R20 tire patterns and placed them through the usual array of wet and dry tests using a Mercedes E Class.
While the internet favourite Michelin Pilot Sport 4S takes its traditional top spot, there is a strange result for the Continental Sport Contact 6, a great result for the ten year old Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 (not 3!), and Bridgestone make a return to tests with the old Potenza S001.
Read on for the full results!
Dry
In the dry the Michelin and Vredestein duke it out for the top spot. The Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R often proves to be an excellent dry weather tire, with good grip and excellent feedback, and it proves that again here, fastest over dry handling and second best during dry braking. The Michelin has a 0.7 metre lead in dry braking, which is comparatively large when you consider only a metre covers the next four places.
The Nankang finishes last in both tests, a huge four metres behind the Michelin during dry braking, which when braking down from 62 mph would be the difference between stopping, and a 25 mph crash!
Wet
The wet testing shows the strength of the Michelins all round ability, with the Pilot Sport 4 S winning both the wet braking and wet handling tests. Its dry weather rival, the Vorti R manages a strong wet lap, but slips in the wet braking testes to fifth. The Nankang again finishes both tests last.
Aquaplaning testing as very different test, with the Nankang winning the test by a considerable margin, the Michelin only managing third place and the Vredestein finishing second to last.
Environmental
The Continental proved to be the quietest tire on test, but it also used the most fuel. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S was the nosiest.
Results
Full details below, and as always check out the Auto Bild website for all the glorious details (in German)
1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | |
| Test winner with a very balance result. Excellent handling in the wet and dry, precise steering with good feedback, short wet and dry braking distances. Average comfort, high price. Read Reviews Buy from £252.44 |
2nd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 | |
| Sporty handling with stable cornering and a good steering response, short wet and dry braking, good levels of comfort. Average dry handling. Read Reviews Buy from £209.40 |
3rd: Hankook Ventus S1 evo | |
| Short braking distances in any weather, good steering response and car balance, good price / performance ratio. Average aquaplaning. Read Reviews |
4th: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R | |
| Excellent dry performance, sporty handling with good steering response. Quiet. Average aquaplaning. Read Reviews |
5th: Continental Sport Contact 6 | |
| Good handling and balance in the wet or dry, very quiet. Average comfort, high rolling resistance. Read Reviews Buy from £244.99 |
6th: Bridgestone Potenza S001 | |
| Good steering and performance in the dry. Poor wet handling with slow steering and long wet braking distances. Read Reviews |
7th: Kumho Ecsta PS71 | |
| Good aquaplaning result, short dry braking, cheap to buy. Poor wet handling with slow steering and long wet braking distances. Read Reviews Buy from £172.15 |
8th: Nankang Noble Sport NS20 | |
| Quiet, low price. Poor wet handling, long wet braking, spongy handling. Read Reviews Buy from £132.67 |
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