Test Summary
Wet Braking	Continental Sport Contact 6
Dry Braking	Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
Rolling Resistance	Pirelli P Zero PZ4 Firestone Firehawk SZ90 Rotalla RU01 S Pace
Noise	Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
Snow Handling	Rotalla RU01 S Pace

The Auto Bild sports cars test is usually one of our favourite tests of the year, and this year looks to be no different.

Testing nine 235/35 R19 maximum performance tires using a Focus ST, Auto Bild have focused on the raw performance of these tires, weighting the score heavily in favour of wet and dry handling.

The Top Three

Sadly, the new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is missing from this test, which means it was a fairly easy win for the Continental Sport Contact 6. The Continental dominated in both dry braking and dry handling, won the wet handling test, but could only manage mid pack for wet braking. The testers also noted the Continental gave them the most driving pleasure from all tires on test, something which is important from a performance tire.

Second place was awarded to the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 K117. Like the Continental, it proves to be a very balanced tire, with just a little understeer in the wet the only negative point. The top three were rounded out by the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 which is again a very balanced tire, with a hint of understeer in the wet.

The Rest

Falken will be pleased with fourth place, beating the more expensive Dunlop tire in fifth. The Falken FK510 proved to have short wet braking and good dry braking and handling characteristics, but when compared to the best on test the rolling resistance was high, comfort low and the steering was slightly sluggish. The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 won the aquaplaning tests, which were combined with excellent wet and dry braking results, but had a poor dry handling score leaving it in fifth overall.

Sixth to last place all had their individual issues which can be seen in the full results below. Only two tires on test, the mid-range Firestone and budget Rotalla were deemed to be "not recommended", both due to poor wet performances.

The Results

Dry score weighting - 60% dry handling, 40% dry braking.

Wet score weighting - 15% longitudinal aquaplaning, 5% cross aquaplaning, 40% wet handling, 10% lateral stability, 30% wet braking

1st: Continental Sport Contact 6
235/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Total: 34 Dry: 9 Wet: 7 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 6 Outstanding handling on dry and wet surfaces, fast, accurate steering response, pleasurable fun driving experience High rolling resistance Exemplary / Test Winner Read Reviews    Buy from £142.99
2nd: Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
235/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Total: 31 Dry: 7 Wet: 6 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 6 Good handling on dry surfaces, well priced A tendency to understeer on wet surfaces Exemplary Read Reviews
3rd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
235/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Total: 31 Dry: 7 Wet: 6 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 6 Good controllability, precise steering response and short braking distances on dry roads, high resistance to aquaplaning Understeer on wet roads Exemplary Read Reviews
4th: Falken Azenis FK510
235/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Total: 28 Dry: 7 Wet: 7 Comfort: 4 Rolling Resistance: 4 Noise: 6 Short braking distances on wet surfaces, good handling and steering feel in the dry and wet, attractive price Slightly slower steering than the best on test, low level of comfort, high rolling resistance Recommended Read Reviews
5th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
235/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Total: 33 Dry: 6 Wet: 8 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 6 The highest resistance to aquaplaning, good handling on wet surfaces, short braking distances on dry and wet roads Slow response to steering and relatively poor grip on dry roads Satisfactory Read Reviews    Buy from £129.60
6th: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
235/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Total: 32 Dry: 7 Wet: 6 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 6 High lateral stability and good handling on wet surfaces, good steering feel and short braking distances on dry roads, low rolling resistance Relatively long braking distance on wet surfaces, low resistance to aquaplaning Satisfactory Read Reviews    Buy from £174.32
7th: Kumho Ecsta PS91
235/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Total: 25 Dry: 5 Wet: 6 Comfort: 4 Rolling Resistance: 4 Noise: 6 Good resistance to aquaplaning, short braking distances on dry roads, well priced Low lateral stability and strong understeer on wet roads, slow response to steering and relatively poor grip on dry surfaces, increased rolling resistance Satisfactory Read Reviews    Buy from £129.37
8th: Firestone Firehawk SZ90
235/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Total: 24 Dry: 5 Wet: 3 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 3 Good resistance to aquaplaning, low rolling resistance, cheap Low lateral stability, strong understeer and long braking distances on wet surfaces, slow response to steering and unbalanced behavior on dry surfaces Not recommended Read Reviews
9th: Rotalla RU01 S Pace
235/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Total: 25 Dry: 4 Wet: 1 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 7 Low rolling resistance, low noise level, very low price Dangerously long wet braking distances, strong understeer and unbalanced behavior on wet surfaces, weak grip and sluggish steering response on dry surfaces Not recommended Read Reviews