We're a little bit late publishing the 2021 EVO summer tire test, but as we like to  have the database on Tire Reviews as complete as possible, here's a brief summary. For the full details, including all the glorious subjective commentary, head over to the EVO website here: https://www.evo.co.uk/tire-reviews/18309/best-car-tires-evo-performance-tire-test .

For 2021 EVO magazine tested nine sets of UHP / UUHP tires in the popular 225/40 R18 size. That size in particular offers some interesting issues as companies like Bridgestone and Goodyear offer their UUHP products in that size, but companies like Continental and Michelin do not.  

Test Publication:

https://www.evo.co.uk/technology

Test Size: 225/40 R18

Tires Tested: 9 tires

Test Categories:
3 categories (10 tests)

View Test Summary

Similar Tests

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Test Category	Best Performer	Worst Performer	Difference
Dry (3 tests)
Dry Braking	▲ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 33.9 M	▼ Triangle SporteX TH201: 41.2 M	7.3 M (17.7%)
Dry Handling	▲ Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport: 66.1 s	▼ Triangle SporteX TH201: 69 s	2.9 s (4.2%)
Subj. Dry Handling	▲ Pirelli P Zero PZ4: 57 Points	▼ Triangle SporteX TH201: 46 Points	11.0 Points (23.9%)
Wet (6 tests)
Wet Braking	▲ Pirelli P Zero PZ4: 27 M	▼ Triangle SporteX TH201: 42.9 M	15.9 M (37.1%)
Wet Handling	▲ Pirelli P Zero PZ4: 66.3 s	▼ Triangle SporteX TH201: 73.4 s	7.1 s (9.7%)
Subj. Wet Handling	▲ Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport: 60 Points	▼ Triangle SporteX TH201: 36 Points	24.0 Points (66.7%)
Wet Circle	▲ Pirelli P Zero PZ4: 14.9 s	▼ Triangle SporteX TH201: 17.7 s	2.8 s (15.8%)
Straight Aqua	▲ Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2: 73.2 Km/H	▼ Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3: 65.2 Km/H	8.0 Km/H (12.3%)
Curved Aquaplaning	▲ GT-Radial SportActive 2: 21.1 m/sec2	▼ Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3: 12 m/sec2	9.1 m/sec2 (75.8%)
Value (1 tests)
Rolling Resistance	▲ Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3: 8.4 kg / t	▼ Pirelli P Zero PZ4: 9.9 kg / t	1.5 kg / t (15.2%)

The test was conducted using an Audi S3 which has a haldex type based four wheel drive system, which is fairly uncommon in tire testing. EVO spend a lot of time rating the subjective handling, noise and comfort of  the tires on the road and track, which means they put more score weighting on subjective data than any other publication. This makes the results really interesting for those of us who enjoy driving.

Notes from the Test

Some interesting notes from the test compared to Tire Reviews experience with the tires.

• EVO found the Continental PremiumContact 6 slow to steer, and the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 dynamic on the road route. We've had both of these tires in this size on the Tire Reviews Octavia VRS and in many tests and have found the opposite. We can't explain this one.
• EVO found the Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport to be excellent in the wet, one of the fastest overall. The tire was mid pack in wet braking which is similar to Tire Reviews tests, so maybe the AWD system and the excellent subjective nature helped this tire perform.
• The GT Radial performed very well for the price point, finishing relatively close to the Pilot Sport 4!
• The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 performed well again, which we found in our 2021 UHP test, but this time it won overall! The Pirelli shone dynamically, which is important for driving enthusiasts.

Below is the key data from the test, we haven't databased the road route subjective scores, so be sure to read those on the EVO website!

Dry

Wet

Environment

Results

1st: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 34.3 M 33.9 M +0.4 M 98.83% Dry Handling 6th 67.2 s 66.1 s +1.1 s 98.36% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 57 Points 100% Wet Braking 1st 27 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 66.3 s 100% Subj. Wet Handling 2nd 57.5 Points 60 Points -2.5 Points 95.83% Wet Circle 1st 14.9 s 100% Straight Aqua 7th 66.3 Km/H 73.2 Km/H -6.9 Km/H 90.57% Curved Aquaplaning 5th 17.3 m/sec2 21.1 m/sec2 -3.8 m/sec2 81.99% Rolling Resistance 9th 9.9 kg / t 8.4 kg / t +1.5 kg / t 84.85% The PZ4 is a tire that offers (almost) everything, being top ranked subjectively in the dry and wet and offering excellent grip. Read Reviews
2nd: Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 34.8 M 33.9 M +0.9 M 97.41% Dry Handling 1st 66.1 s 100% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 56.5 Points 57 Points -0.5 Points 99.12% Wet Braking 5th 30.4 M 27 M +3.4 M 88.82% Wet Handling 2nd 66.6 s 66.3 s +0.3 s 99.55% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 60 Points 100% Wet Circle 3rd 15.2 s 14.9 s +0.3 s 98.03% Straight Aqua 4th 69.1 Km/H 73.2 Km/H -4.1 Km/H 94.4% Curved Aquaplaning 6th 15.8 m/sec2 21.1 m/sec2 -5.3 m/sec2 74.88% Rolling Resistance 8th 9.7 kg / t 8.4 kg / t +1.3 kg / t 86.6% The Eagle F1 SuperSport was excellent in both wet and dry handling with good steering and high levels of grip. A bit noisy on some surfaces but an outstanding performance tire. Read Reviews    Buy from £96.98
3rd: Bridgestone Potenza Sport
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 33.9 M 100% Dry Handling 4th 67 s 66.1 s +0.9 s 98.66% Subj. Dry Handling 4th 49.5 Points 57 Points -7.5 Points 86.84% Wet Braking 2nd 28.3 M 27 M +1.3 M 95.41% Wet Handling 2nd 66.6 s 66.3 s +0.3 s 99.55% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 57 Points 60 Points -3 Points 95% Wet Circle 2nd 15 s 14.9 s +0.1 s 99.33% Straight Aqua 3rd 69.7 Km/H 73.2 Km/H -3.5 Km/H 95.22% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd 18.7 m/sec2 21.1 m/sec2 -2.4 m/sec2 88.63% Rolling Resistance 7th 9.5 kg / t 8.4 kg / t +1.1 kg / t 88.42% The Potenza Sport finished in the top 3 places in most grip tests and was solid in the wet and dry. The ride quality was firm and there was higher levels of noise in the cabin. Read Reviews    Buy from £88.00
4th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 36.7 M 33.9 M +2.8 M 92.37% Dry Handling 2nd 66.8 s 66.1 s +0.7 s 98.95% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 50 Points 57 Points -7 Points 87.72% Wet Braking 8th 32.3 M 27 M +5.3 M 83.59% Wet Handling 5th 67.8 s 66.3 s +1.5 s 97.79% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 57 Points 60 Points -3 Points 95% Wet Circle 5th 15.4 s 14.9 s +0.5 s 96.75% Straight Aqua 1st 73.2 Km/H 100% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd 20.5 m/sec2 21.1 m/sec2 -0.6 m/sec2 97.16% Rolling Resistance 6th 9.1 kg / t 8.4 kg / t +0.7 kg / t 92.31% The RT2 had excellent aquaplaning resistance, was agile in the dry and was great on the road route with balanced steering and good comfort. Read Reviews    Buy from £88.32
5th: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 34.5 M 33.9 M +0.6 M 98.26% Dry Handling 2nd 66.8 s 66.1 s +0.7 s 98.95% Subj. Dry Handling 4th 49.5 Points 57 Points -7.5 Points 86.84% Wet Braking 3rd 29.2 M 27 M +2.2 M 92.47% Wet Handling 6th 68.1 s 66.3 s +1.8 s 97.36% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 54.5 Points 60 Points -5.5 Points 90.83% Wet Circle 4th 15.3 s 14.9 s +0.4 s 97.39% Straight Aqua 5th 67.2 Km/H 73.2 Km/H -6 Km/H 91.8% Curved Aquaplaning 4th 17.7 m/sec2 21.1 m/sec2 -3.4 m/sec2 83.89% Rolling Resistance 2nd 8.5 kg / t 8.4 kg / t +0.1 kg / t 98.82% The PS4 had direct steering and a good balance, but the detail sometimes lacked. A solid performer but not inspiring. Read Reviews    Buy from £107.62
6th: GT Radial SportActive 2
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 37.9 M 33.9 M +4 M 89.45% Dry Handling 7th 67.9 s 66.1 s +1.8 s 97.35% Subj. Dry Handling 6th 49 Points 57 Points -8 Points 85.96% Wet Braking 7th 32.1 M 27 M +5.1 M 84.11% Wet Handling 4th 67.4 s 66.3 s +1.1 s 98.37% Subj. Wet Handling 5th 55 Points 60 Points -5 Points 91.67% Wet Circle 6th 15.6 s 14.9 s +0.7 s 95.51% Straight Aqua 1st 73.2 Km/H 100% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 21.1 m/sec2 100% Rolling Resistance 4th 8.7 kg / t 8.4 kg / t +0.3 kg / t 96.55% The SportActive 2 had very high aquaplaning resistance and performed well during wet handling. It was less dynamic in the dry but it scored well on the road route for the good combination of steering and ride quality. A good tire. Read Reviews
7th: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 35.8 M 33.9 M +1.9 M 94.69% Dry Handling 8th 68 s 66.1 s +1.9 s 97.21% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 48.5 Points 57 Points -8.5 Points 85.09% Wet Braking 4th 30.3 M 27 M +3.3 M 89.11% Wet Handling 7th 69.2 s 66.3 s +2.9 s 95.81% Subj. Wet Handling 7th 53 Points 60 Points -7 Points 88.33% Wet Circle 8th 15.9 s 14.9 s +1 s 93.71% Straight Aqua 9th 65.2 Km/H 73.2 Km/H -8 Km/H 89.07% Curved Aquaplaning 9th 12 m/sec2 21.1 m/sec2 -9.1 m/sec2 56.87% Rolling Resistance 1st 8.4 kg / t 100% The S1 Evo 3 (K127) was strong in wet and dry braking but struggled in the aquaplaning tests and never shone on track. It did offer a fair compromise on the road. Read Reviews    Buy from £103.25
8th: Continental Premium Contact 6
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 35.9 M 33.9 M +2 M 94.43% Dry Handling 5th 67.1 s 66.1 s +1 s 98.51% Subj. Dry Handling 8th 46.5 Points 57 Points -10.5 Points 81.58% Wet Braking 6th 30.6 M 27 M +3.6 M 88.24% Wet Handling 8th 72.3 s 66.3 s +6 s 91.7% Subj. Wet Handling 8th 47.5 Points 60 Points -12.5 Points 79.17% Wet Circle 7th 15.8 s 14.9 s +0.9 s 94.3% Straight Aqua 5th 67.2 Km/H 73.2 Km/H -6 Km/H 91.8% Curved Aquaplaning 6th 15.8 m/sec2 21.1 m/sec2 -5.3 m/sec2 74.88% Rolling Resistance 3rd 8.6 kg / t 8.4 kg / t +0.2 kg / t 97.67% The PremiumContact 6 felt a lot like a comfort biased tire, very refined and comfortable but at the expense of dynamic sharpness. Read Reviews    Buy from £97.62
9th: Triangle SporteX TH201
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 9th 41.2 M 33.9 M +7.3 M 82.28% Dry Handling 9th 69 s 66.1 s +2.9 s 95.8% Subj. Dry Handling 9th 46 Points 57 Points -11 Points 80.7% Wet Braking 9th 42.9 M 27 M +15.9 M 62.94% Wet Handling 9th 73.4 s 66.3 s +7.1 s 90.33% Subj. Wet Handling 9th 36 Points 60 Points -24 Points 60% Wet Circle 9th 17.7 s 14.9 s +2.8 s 84.18% Straight Aqua 8th 66.1 Km/H 73.2 Km/H -7.1 Km/H 90.3% Curved Aquaplaning 6th 15.8 m/sec2 21.1 m/sec2 -5.3 m/sec2 74.88% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.9 kg / t 8.4 kg / t +0.5 kg / t 94.38% The Sportex TH201 might be well priced but if you fit this after a good tire your car will feel worse. It also had long wet braking. Read Reviews