4 categories (9 tests)
Test Category | Best Performer | Worst Performer | Difference |
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Dry (2 tests) | |||
Dry Braking | ▲ Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S: 33.5 M | ▼ Berlin-Tires Summer UHP 1: 39 M | 5.5 M (14.1%) |
Dry Handling | ▲ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 119.7 Km/H | ▼ Berlin-Tires Summer UHP 1: 113.7 Km/H | 6.0 Km/H (5.3%) |
Wet (4 tests) | |||
Wet Braking | ▲ Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S: 45.5 M | ▼ Syron Premium Performance: 63.2 M | 17.7 M (28.0%) |
Wet Handling | ▲ Pirelli P Zero PZ4: 77.2 Km/H | ▼ Syron Premium Performance: 64.3 Km/H | 12.9 Km/H (20.1%) |
Straight Aqua | ▲ Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2: 75.3 Km/H | ▼ Berlin-Tires Summer UHP 1: 64.7 Km/H | 10.6 Km/H (16.4%) |
Curved Aquaplaning | ▲ Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2: 2.79 m/sec2 | ▼ Berlin-Tires Summer UHP 1: 1.84 m/sec2 | 1.0 m/sec2 (51.6%) |
Comfort (1 tests) | |||
Noise | ▲ Continental Sport Contact 6: 71.5 dB | ▼ Barum Bravuris 5HM: 74.4 dB | 2.9 dB (3.9%) |
Value (2 tests) | |||
Price | ▲ Berlin-Tires Summer UHP 1: 340 | ▼ Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S: 720 | 380.0 (52.8%) |
Rolling Resistance | ▲ Syron Premium Performance: 7.91 kg / t | ▼ Pirelli P Zero PZ4: 9.9 kg / t | 2.0 kg / t (20.1%) |
As always, things are close at the top, with Michelin taking a narrow victory, just ahead of Bridgestone and Continental in joint second place.
Read on below for the gritty details, and testers notes on each tire, and be sure to check out the full test on the Auto Bild website.
Dry
Dry braking was led by the often dominant Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, with the Continental SportContact 6 close behind.
A rather large 5.5 meters separated the best and worst tires on test.
While the new Bridgestone Potenza Sport could only manage fourth in dry braking, it was the fastest around the dry handling lap by a significant margin.
Wet
Wet braking was again led by the impressive Michelin, in a sequence of results extremely similar to the dry braking.
Auto Bild actually tested braking on a high and low grip surface, below is the results of the low grip, you can find the results of the high grip surface on the Auto Bild website.
The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 was the fastest around the wet handling lap, with an impressive lead ahead of Michelin and Continental.
The now aging Dunlop SportMaxx RT2 led the way in both aquaplaning tests.
Environment
The external noise test bumped the budget "Berlin Tires" to the top of the group.
The cheapest tires in the group happened to have the lowest rolling resistance, which is a little unusual for such a test.
As usual, the Michelin was the most expensive tire on test, over twice the price of the cheapest tires.
Results
1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Top performer with precise steering and dynamic handling, shortest wet braking distance, shortest dry braking, good comfort, low rolling resistance. High Price. Highly Recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £165.68 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd: Bridgestone Potenza Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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New sports pattern with direct steering and balanced handling, excellent dry handling, short wet and dry braking distances. Slightly higher noise. Highly Recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £134.50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd: Continental Sport Contact 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Balanced sports tire with secure handling characteristics and precise steering, short wet and dry braking distances, low noises. Higher price level. Highly Recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £142.99 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th: Pirelli P Zero PZ4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Convincing handling qualities on wet and dry roads, high grip, precise steering behavior, short dry braking distances. Higher rolling resistance. Highly Recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £174.32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Balanced sports tire with safe handling qualities, precise steering response, good aquaplaning safety, short dry braking distances, well priced. Slightly extended wet braking. Recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £143.93 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5th: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A well balanced tire with precise handling qualities on wet roads, stable cornering, short dry braking distances, good value for money. High rolling resistance. Recommended. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th: Maxxis Victra Sport 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Well priced with good aquaplaning resistance and safe handling, short dry braking distances, good comfort. Extended wet braking distances. Recommended. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Good aquaplaning resistance, short wet and dry braking distances, good grip and balanced handling behavior in the wet. Slight understeer balance in the dry. Recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £154.99 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sports tires with high performance potential, stable wet and dry handling, good aquaplaning safety, short dry braking distances. Slightly longer wet braking distances. Recommended. Read Reviews Buy from £129.60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10th: Kleber Dynaxer UHP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Short dry braking distances, low rolling resistance, well priced. Only average wet performance, understeer in the dry. Satisfactory. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11th: Toyo Proxes Sport A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dynamic precise wet handling, short dry braking distances, well priced. Very long wet braking distances, understeer in the dry. Conditionally Recommended. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12th: Nokian PowerProof | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stable cornering in the wet,short dry braking distances, well priced. Long wet braking distances, strong understeer in the wet and dry. Conditionally Recommended. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13th: Barum Bravuris 5HM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Low rolling resistance, low price. Long wet and dry braking distances, limited lateral grip, spongy steering response. Conditionally Recommended. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14th: Syron Premium Performance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Low price, low rolling resistance. Low grip in the wet, high levels of understeer with spongy handling, loud noise. Not Recommended. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15th: Berlin Tires Summer UHP 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Low noise. Critical driving characteristics, very long braking distance, poor aquaplaning resistance. Not Recommended. Read Reviews |