This year's Sport Auto performance tire test chose ten 18 inch tires in 225/40 R18. The usual array of wet and dry tests were performed on a Mercedes A 250, with a focus on the tires dynamic qualities.
As the quality of tires improve, the gap between the top brands gets smaller and smaller, with just ten points covering the top six tires.
The Results
1st: Dunlop SportMaxx RT | |
| Dry:83.2 seconds Wet:69.1 seconds The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT is a very well balanced tire. While not the fastest in any test, the steering precision and agility of the tire makes it a pleasure to drive. Excellent braking and no overheating on the long dry runs. Read Reviews Buy from £89.99 |
2nd: Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 | |
| Dry:82.6 seconds Wet:69.2 seconds The Michelin Pilot Sport 3 is one of the best in the dry, with a high level of grip and good high speed stability. When wet, the steering feel is still excellent but it lacks some of the ultimate grip of the top wet runners. Read Reviews Buy from £143.99 |
3rd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 | |
| Dry:83.2 seconds Wet:68.2 seconds Great aquaplaning results, very good wet braking and a good wet laptime making the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 a wet specialist. Slightly softer than the Dunlop, the Goodyear understeers a little earlier than the Dunlop in the dry. Read Reviews Buy from £112.50 |
4th: Continental Sport Contact 5 | |
| Dry:82.9 seconds Wet:67.6 seconds The Continental Sport Contact 5 is the strongest tire in the test for wet performance. Unfortunately, in the dry tests the Sport Contact 5 overheated fairly quickly, with dry laptimes degrading and the tire wearing quickly. Read Reviews Buy from £97.62 |
5th: Nokian zLine | |
| Dry:82.3 seconds Wet:68.7 seconds Second best in the dry, the Nokian Z Line takes abuse well with no signs of overheating. Good grip in the wet, but load changes are fairly snappy and the wet braking and aquaplaning performance was a little behind the top 4. Read Reviews |
6th: Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 | |
| Dry:82.8 seconds Wet:69.3 seconds Excellent dry handling with good steering precision and an agile response. Sporty too in the wet, with a good balance. Average aquaplaning properties knock the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 2 down to 6th. Read Reviews Buy from £115.09 |
7th: Pirelli P Zero | |
| Dry:83.6 seconds Wet:69.0 seconds While the P Zero pattern is starting to show its age, it's still an excellent wet weather tire. Quick steering with lots of feedback in the dry leaves the Mercedes a little twitchy at the limit. Average aquaplaning result. Read Reviews Buy from £113.87 |
8th: Bridgestone Potenza S001 | |
| Dry:83.7 seconds Wet:69.9 seconds Like the Pirelli, the S001 is starting to show its age and scores mid table in all tests. Read Reviews Buy from £97.68 |
9th: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti | |
| Dry:81.6 seconds Wet:69.6 seconds Fastest tire in the dry with good steering precision but the wet performance keeps the Vorti out of the top group as it drops a few points in aquaplaning and braking. Read Reviews |
10th: Falken FK453 | |
| Dry:83.8 seconds Wet:72.5 seconds Good in the dry tests, but falls behind in the wet tests with a lack of grip and sharp twitchy handling. Read Reviews |
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