Ultra high performance tire tests always make us happy, and Auto Bild do some of the best. For 2020, AutoBild have tested nine sports tires in the staggered 245/35 R19 and 265/35 R19 sizes using a Mercedes Benz C63 AMG.

Like our UHP tire test in 2019, Auto Bild have tested the very three best UHP tires on the market, the Continental SportContact 6, Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, along with some of the other well know UHP tires from Hankook, Vredestein, Falken and other brands.

The end results are very close, so instead of spoiling the surprise, read on below for all the geeky data! It's particularly important to read the testers notes at the bottom of the page, as these give a small insight into the subjective feel of the tires along side the numbers, but if you'd like to learn more about how these tires differ subjectively, go and watch our video of a very similar test!

One addition Auto Bild have made is the inclusion of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 semi slick track day tire. Unsurprisingly this tire dominated the dry testing, with a significant advantage over even the best UHP tires, but couldn't match the best in the wet, especially during the aquaplaning testing where the lack of tread grooves really impacted the tires performance.

Dry

Continental proved to be the best in the dry, offering the shortest braking distance and the fastest lap time. Michelin was close behind, and while the Falken Azenis FK510 placed third in the braking tests, it struggled more during handling.

Goodyear, Vredestein and Hankook were also all very close in the dry, but when looking at the testing notes it was the Goodyear that offered the best steering feel and feedback.

Wet

As we've seen before in the wet, a tire which works well in braking doesn't always work as well in handling.

In this test, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S offered the best wet braking performance, but could only manage seventh fastest lap time, while the Goodyear was the fastest in the wet, but took 4.4 meters longer to stop the car than the Michelin!

The only tire with a balanced performance between braking and handling was the Falken, which finished second in both tests meaning it was the best tire overall.

Nankang had a significant advantage during aquaplaning testing, however this doesn't make up for the long wet braking and poor wet handling in the other wet tests.

The rest of the tires were extremely close.

Environment

Hankook had the lowest rolling resistance on test, with Yokohama having the highest fuel use.

Only the Goodyear and Yokohama tires were significantly louder than the others on test.

As usual, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S was the most expensive tire on test. Sadly no wear testing was done, however in previous testing Michelin, Goodyear and Continental all seem to have similar, best in class tread life.

Results

1st: Continental Sport Contact 6
265/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 34.8 M 34.2 M +0.6 M 98.28% Dry Handling 2nd 123 Km/H 124.5 Km/H -1.5 Km/H 98.8% Wet Braking 4th 60.4 M 56 M +4.4 M 92.72% Wet Handling 5th 81.8 Km/H 83.1 Km/H -1.3 Km/H 98.44% Straight Aqua 5th 88.5 Km/H 94 Km/H -5.5 Km/H 94.15% Noise 2nd 73 dB 72.9 dB +0.1 dB 99.86% Price 7th 855 420 +435 49.12% Rolling Resistance 6th 9.39 kg / t 8.31 kg / t +1.08 kg / t 88.5% Top class sports tires with precise steering, sporty handling and short braking distances in the dry. Stable cornering in the wet with good aquaplaning resistance. Average driving comfort, high price. Highly Recommended. Read Reviews    Buy from £258.40
1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
265/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 34.9 M 34.2 M +0.7 M 97.99% Dry Handling 3rd 122.9 Km/H 124.5 Km/H -1.6 Km/H 98.71% Wet Braking 1st 56 M 100% Wet Handling 7th 81 Km/H 83.1 Km/H -2.1 Km/H 97.47% Straight Aqua 6th 88.4 Km/H 94 Km/H -5.6 Km/H 94.04% Noise 2nd 73 dB 72.9 dB +0.1 dB 99.86% Price 9th 930 420 +510 45.16% Rolling Resistance 3rd 8.97 kg / t 8.31 kg / t +0.66 kg / t 92.64% All round ability with best driving characteristics on wet and dry roads. Shortest braking distances, precise steering with excellent feedback, good aquaplaning properties, low noise. Most expensive tires on test. Highly Recommended. Read Reviews    Buy from £294.99
2nd: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
265/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 34.2 M 100% Dry Handling 1st 124.5 Km/H 100% Wet Braking 9th 68.5 M 56 M +12.5 M 81.75% Wet Handling 9th 77.5 Km/H 83.1 Km/H -5.6 Km/H 93.26% Straight Aqua 10th 82.8 Km/H 94 Km/H -11.2 Km/H 88.09% Noise 2nd 73 dB 72.9 dB +0.1 dB 99.86% Price 10th 1085 420 +665 38.71% Rolling Resistance 7th 9.41 kg / t 8.31 kg / t +1.1 kg / t 88.31% The dry specialists, precise steering, exemplary feedback and excellent grip. Average wet performance, low aquaplaning reserves. Conditionally Recommended. Read Reviews    Buy from £320.50
3rd: Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
265/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 36.2 M 34.2 M +2 M 94.48% Dry Handling 4th 122.3 Km/H 124.5 Km/H -2.2 Km/H 98.23% Wet Braking 4th 60.4 M 56 M +4.4 M 92.72% Wet Handling 1st 83.1 Km/H 100% Straight Aqua 9th 87.8 Km/H 94 Km/H -6.2 Km/H 93.4% Noise 10th 75 dB 72.9 dB +2.1 dB 97.2% Price 8th 890 420 +470 47.19% Rolling Resistance 4th 8.98 kg / t 8.31 kg / t +0.67 kg / t 92.54% Sporty summer tire with best cornering and handling in the wet, good steering precision, short wet and dry braking distances, balanced comfort. Noise, increased rolling resistance. Recommended. Read Reviews    Buy from £228.05
4th: Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
265/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 36.2 M 34.2 M +2 M 94.48% Dry Handling 7th 120.4 Km/H 124.5 Km/H -4.1 Km/H 96.71% Wet Braking 3rd 60.3 M 56 M +4.3 M 92.87% Wet Handling 6th 81.2 Km/H 83.1 Km/H -1.9 Km/H 97.71% Straight Aqua 2nd 89.3 Km/H 94 Km/H -4.7 Km/H 95% Noise 1st 72.9 dB 100% Price 4th 650 420 +230 64.62% Rolling Resistance 1st 8.31 kg / t 100% Excellent tire with a balanced performance in all tests, stable in the dry and wet, low noise, low fuel use, good price to performance ratio. Slightly slow steering response. Recommended. Read Reviews
4th: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
265/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 36.1 M 34.2 M +1.9 M 94.74% Dry Handling 6th 121.8 Km/H 124.5 Km/H -2.7 Km/H 97.83% Wet Braking 6th 62.2 M 56 M +6.2 M 90.03% Wet Handling 3rd 82.4 Km/H 83.1 Km/H -0.7 Km/H 99.16% Straight Aqua 8th 88.1 Km/H 94 Km/H -5.9 Km/H 93.72% Noise 7th 73.9 dB 72.9 dB +1 dB 98.65% Price 5th 710 420 +290 59.15% Rolling Resistance 7th 9.41 kg / t 8.31 kg / t +1.1 kg / t 88.31% Dynamic wet handling with stable cornering and precise steering, balanced and safe dry handling, short dry braking distances, good aquaplaning properties, good price to performance ratio. High rolling resistance. Read Reviews
6th: Falken Azenis FK510
265/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 36 M 34.2 M +1.8 M 95% Dry Handling 8th 119.6 Km/H 124.5 Km/H -4.9 Km/H 96.06% Wet Braking 2nd 56.3 M 56 M +0.3 M 99.47% Wet Handling 2nd 82.9 Km/H 83.1 Km/H -0.2 Km/H 99.76% Straight Aqua 7th 88.3 Km/H 94 Km/H -5.7 Km/H 93.94% Noise 8th 74 dB 72.9 dB +1.1 dB 98.51% Price 2nd 565 420 +145 74.34% Rolling Resistance 5th 9.24 kg / t 8.31 kg / t +0.93 kg / t 89.94% Wet specialist with sporty handling and precise steering behavior, short wet and dry braking distances, good comfort, low price. Understeering in the dry, slow steering response, high rolling resistance. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £178.80
7th: Yokohama Advan Sport V105
265/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 37.2 M 34.2 M +3 M 91.94% Dry Handling 5th 122.2 Km/H 124.5 Km/H -2.3 Km/H 98.15% Wet Braking 8th 63.5 M 56 M +7.5 M 88.19% Wet Handling 4th 81.9 Km/H 83.1 Km/H -1.2 Km/H 98.56% Straight Aqua 3rd 88.7 Km/H 94 Km/H -5.3 Km/H 94.36% Noise 9th 74.9 dB 72.9 dB +2 dB 97.33% Price 6th 740 420 +320 56.76% Rolling Resistance 10th 9.82 kg / t 8.31 kg / t +1.51 kg / t 84.62% Sporty handling and balance behaviour in the dry, safe wet handling, short dry braking. Long wet braking, high rolling resistance, average driving comfort, high price. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £192.49
8th: Toyo Proxes T1 Sport
265/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 9th 37.4 M 34.2 M +3.2 M 91.44% Dry Handling 9th 119 Km/H 124.5 Km/H -5.5 Km/H 95.58% Wet Braking 7th 62.8 M 56 M +6.8 M 89.17% Wet Handling 8th 79.6 Km/H 83.1 Km/H -3.5 Km/H 95.79% Straight Aqua 3rd 88.7 Km/H 94 Km/H -5.3 Km/H 94.36% Noise 5th 73.5 dB 72.9 dB +0.6 dB 99.18% Price 3rd 595 420 +175 70.59% Rolling Resistance 2nd 8.81 kg / t 8.31 kg / t +0.5 kg / t 94.32% High aquaplaning resistance, short dry braking, well priced. Understeer and average grip in the dry and wet, slow steering, average comfort. Good. Read Reviews
9th: Nankang Noble Sport NS20
265/35 R19 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 10th 39.7 M 34.2 M +5.5 M 86.15% Dry Handling 10th 116.4 Km/H 124.5 Km/H -8.1 Km/H 93.49% Wet Braking 10th 72.2 M 56 M +16.2 M 77.56% Wet Handling 10th 75.8 Km/H 83.1 Km/H -7.3 Km/H 91.22% Straight Aqua 1st 94 Km/H 100% Noise 5th 73.5 dB 72.9 dB +0.6 dB 99.18% Price 1st 420 100% Rolling Resistance 9th 9.65 kg / t 8.31 kg / t +1.34 kg / t 86.11% High aquaplaning resistance, low price. Dangerously long wet and dry braking, poor handling and spongy steering feel on both dry and wet surfaces, high rolling resistance. Not Recommended. Read Reviews