2018 AMS Summer UHP Tire Test

Test Summary
Wet Braking	Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Dry Braking	Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Wear	Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Rolling Resistance	Giti GitiSport S1 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
Noise	Nankang AS2
Snow Handling	Pirelli P Zero PZ4
Snow Handling	Toyo Proxes Sport Falken Azenis FK510 Nankang AS2 Giti GitiSport S1
Ice Handling	Michelin Pilot Sport 4 Pirelli P Zero PZ4

The 2018 Auto Motor Und Sport (AMS) summer tire test uses an Audi A3 to test eleven 225/45 R17 tire patterns.

As in previous years, AMS have included subjective handling data in their testing, which is important to help us understand how a tire feels. Even with this extra element of testing, the winning tire was no surprise - the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 takes its eighth win out of eight tests thanks to a dominant performance in the dry and wet.

Second place was tied between the new Continental Premium Contact 6 and Falken FK510, which both had very balanced results.

Full data and details below.

Dry

The test winning Michelin had a significant advantage during dry braking, with the rival Continental tire excelling during dry handling. Interestingly, the budget Giti tire managed the second fastest dry lap time, which impressive for the cheapest tire on test.

Subjectively, Pirelli led the pack, with Continental a close second place.

Wet

During the wet testing, the Michelin once again asserted its dominance, winning both wet braking and handling testing, and finishing third in the straight aquaplaning tests.

Subjectively, the Michelin was again the best on test.

Environment

The rolling resistance testing was close between the top six tires on test, with only the Nankang having a standout poor result.

Surprisingly, the Continental Premium Contact 6 was the loudest tire on test.

Results

Full results below, as always check out the AMS website for all the extra details.

Click here to view Results as a single table and adjust the score weighting based on your own driving needs!

1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 82.5 Dry: 9.3 Wet: 9.8 Subjective: 18 Wet Subjective: 10 Comfort: 9 Rolling Resistance: 8 Noise: 9 Overall: 9.4 A very balanced tire with excellent dry and wet braking. None mentioned. Highly recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £102.36
2nd: Continental Premium Contact 6
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 76.7 Dry: 8.7 Wet: 8.5 Subjective: 19 Wet Subjective: 9 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 8 Noise: 8 Overall: 8.5 Good handling in the wet, precise reaction to steering and good grip in the dry. Average ride comfort. Recommended Read Reviews Buy from £89.17
2nd: Falken Azenis FK510
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 71.2 Dry: 7.5 Wet: 9.2 Subjective: 14 Wet Subjective: 8 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 8 Noise: 10 Overall: 8.5 Good handling in the wet, short braking distances in the wet and dry. Slower steering response in the dry. Recommended. Read Reviews
4th: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 76.4 Dry: 8.6 Wet: 8.5 Subjective: 20 Wet Subjective: 10 Comfort: 8 Rolling Resistance: 5 Noise: 8 Overall: 8.3 Good grip in the dry and wet, accurate steering and good balance. Nervous at the limit during weight transfer, relatively weak resistance to aquaplaning, high rolling resistance. Recommended. Read Reviews
5th: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 75.9 Dry: 8.3 Wet: 7.6 Subjective: 18 Wet Subjective: 8 Comfort: 8 Rolling Resistance: 10 Noise: 8 Overall: 8 Good handling in the dry and wet, very safe handling balance. Relatively long wet braking. Recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £80.10
6th: Nokian Line
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 68.1 Dry: 7.3 Wet: 8 Subjective: 13 Wet Subjective: 8 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 9 Noise: 9 Overall: 7.8 Good in the wet. High levels of understeer in the dry, low comfort and high noise. Conditionally recommended. Read Reviews
7th: Giti GitiSport S1
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 72.1 Dry: 7.6 Wet: 6.3 Subjective: 16 Wet Subjective: 7 Comfort: 8 Rolling Resistance: 10 Noise: 10 Overall: 7.2 Very good stability and handling in the dry, low rolling resistance, good levels of comfort, low noise level. Weak wet grip, understeer and oversteer. Conditionally recommended. Read Reviews
8th: Cooper Zeon CS8
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 65.4 Dry: 7.2 Wet: 7.1 Subjective: 14 Wet Subjective: 7 Comfort: 8 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 9 Overall: 7.1 Predictable handling, good comfort. Understeer in the dry and wet. Conditionally recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £109.20
8th: Nankang AS2
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 65.8 Dry: 7.2 Wet: 7.5 Subjective: 15 Wet Subjective: 7 Comfort: 10 Rolling Resistance: 2 Noise: 10 Overall: 7.1 Best resistance to aquaplaning, good comfort, acceptable in the dry. Long braking distances and poor handling in the wet, very high rolling resistance. Conditionally recommended. Read Reviews
8th: Toyo Proxes Sport
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 67.7 Dry: 7 Wet: 7.6 Subjective: 16 Wet Subjective: 8 Comfort: 8 Rolling Resistance: 4 Noise: 10 Overall: 7.1 Acceptable in the dry and wet. Very high rolling resistance, strong understeer in the wet, poor steering response. Conditionally recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £87.99
11th: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
225/45 R17 3PMSF: no	Total: 65.2 Dry: 7.7 Wet: 6.6 Subjective: 17 Wet Subjective: 7 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 4 Noise: 9 Overall: 6.9 In general a predictable balance. Long braking distances in the wet, weak resistance to aquaplaning, high rolling resistance, low ride comfort. Conditionally recommended. Read Reviews