It's the second time in history the new Bridgestone Potenza Sport has been tested in a tire test, and it's super exciting to see whether it can it match the first place from the Auto Bild Sportscars test!

There are some small differences between the two tests. Firstly, Auto Bild tested 20" tires using a Ford Mustang, where for this test Sport Auto have used the Toyota Supra / BMW Z4 platform which wears 255/35 R19 front and 275/35 R19 rear tires.

Sport Auto have also added a little depth to the test by including both UUHP (or Maximum Performance) and UHP tires, which means we get the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 up against the best from Michelin and Bridgestone, not the Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport.

Sport Auto have also provided lots of data about the tires on test, which you'll see in the results below underneath the images, and it's interesting to see Bridgestone have been punchy with a starting tread depth of just 6.7mm on the front tire, way lower than the 7.4mm of the Michelin and 8mm of the Goodyear. Please note, the information listed below is for the rear 275/35 R19 size, if you'd like the data for the front size please head over to the Sport Auto website. 

UUHP vs UHP

Analyzing the differences between the best UUHP and best UHP tires brings up some interesting data.

In the dry, the UUHP tires from Michelin and Bridgestone were unrivaled in both braking and handling, with the testers also noting they had the sportiest handling on test.

The wet testing muddied the water a little. The UUHP Michelin had the shortest wet braking, but Falken managed to beat the Bridgestone to second place. Falken also dominated the wet handling test, ahead of second placed UHP Goodyear with the Bridgestone having to settle for third and the Michelin down in seventh! Somewhat strangely, the wet circle test brought the advantage back to the UUHP tires, with Michelin leading Bridgestone, which could mean the water depth on the wet handling circuit was too much for the UUHP tires at points, as the UHP tires were the clear leaders in the aquaplaning tests.

Dry

The new Potenza Sport led the way in dry braking with a small advantage over the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. 

Dry handling matched the first two  positions of dry braking, with the Continental SportContact 6 taking an impressive third place.

Unsurprisingly the two fastest tires on test also had the best subjectively handling, with the Continental and Goodyear the best of the UHP tires.

Wet

The top three positions in wet braking were covered by just 0.3 meters, with the updated Toyo Proxes Sport A still struggling in the wet.

The Falken FK510 again proved its wet mastery, edging out the Goodyear for the fastest average speed around the lap. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S seemed to unusually struggle, posting the second slowest time.

The three fastest tires also had the best subjective handling.

Michelin improved its wet weather performance by producing the highest lateral G around the wet circle.

The Nankang AS2+ was impressively ahead in straight aquaplaning tests, however that didn't make up for the otherwise low grip.

Environment

The spread of external noise was covered by just 1.9db.

The Continental SportContact 6 had the lowest rolling resistance on test, with the new Bridgestone posting it's first test loss.

Unsurprisingly the Nankang was cheapest, but surprisingly the Bridgestone was actually more expensive than the Michelin, at over 1000 Euros for a set.

Results

1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
275/35 R19 100Y EU Label: C/A/71 Origin: Germany Weight: 12.5kgs Tread: 7.4mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 33.3 M 33.1 M +0.2 M 99.4% Dry Handling 2nd 129.2 Km/H 129.3 Km/H -0.1 Km/H 99.92% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Wet Braking 1st 34.1 M 100% Wet Handling 7th 69.7 Km/H 72.8 Km/H -3.1 Km/H 95.74% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 7 Points 9 Points -2 Points 77.78% Wet Circle 1st 9.23 m/s 100% Straight Aqua 4th 89.2 Km/H 91.8 Km/H -2.6 Km/H 97.17% Noise 3rd 72 dB 71.2 dB +0.8 dB 98.89% Price 7th 259 139 +120 53.67% Rolling Resistance 3rd 8.8 kg / t 8.3 kg / t +0.5 kg / t 94.32% Very short braking distances in the wet and dry, high levels of grip, very direct steering response and very high steering prevision in the dry, low rolling resistance. Very narrow grip limit with tendency to oversteer in the wet, slight restrictions in ride comfort. The Pilot Sport 4S delivers precise, reliable steering and top grip in the dry and wet. Read Reviews    Buy from £242.70
2nd: Bridgestone Potenza Sport
275/35 R19 100Y EU Label: E/A/72 Origin: Poland Weight: 12.6kgs Tread: 6.8mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 33.1 M 100% Dry Handling 1st 129.3 Km/H 100% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Wet Braking 3rd 34.3 M 34.1 M +0.2 M 99.42% Wet Handling 3rd 72 Km/H 72.8 Km/H -0.8 Km/H 98.9% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 9 Points 100% Wet Circle 2nd 9.16 m/s 9.23 m/s -0.07 m/s 99.24% Straight Aqua 7th 88.1 Km/H 91.8 Km/H -3.7 Km/H 95.97% Noise 7th 73.1 dB 71.2 dB +1.9 dB 97.4% Price 8th 267 139 +128 52.06% Rolling Resistance 7th 9.7 kg / t 8.3 kg / t +1.4 kg / t 85.57% Very high level of grip in the wet and in particular the dry. Direct steering response and high steering precision during dry handling. Somewhat sensitive to load changes in the wet, increased aquaplaning risks in curves, increased rolling resistance. The new Potenza Sport excels in the dry, with a slight aquaplaning weakness. Read Reviews    Buy from £182.72
3rd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
275/35 R19 100Y EU Label: C/A/73 Origin: Germany Weight: 11.5kgs Tread: 8.1mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 34 M 33.1 M +0.9 M 97.35% Dry Handling 4th 128.3 Km/H 129.3 Km/H -1 Km/H 99.23% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Wet Braking 4th 34.6 M 34.1 M +0.5 M 98.55% Wet Handling 2nd 72.6 Km/H 72.8 Km/H -0.2 Km/H 99.73% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 9 Points 100% Wet Circle 4th 9.13 m/s 9.23 m/s -0.1 m/s 98.92% Straight Aqua 5th 89.1 Km/H 91.8 Km/H -2.7 Km/H 97.06% Noise 5th 72.7 dB 71.2 dB +1.5 dB 97.94% Price 6th 240 139 +101 57.92% Rolling Resistance 2nd 8.7 kg / t 8.3 kg / t +0.4 kg / t 95.4% A very wall balanced tire with excellent handling in the dry, forgiving and still sporty in the dry, low rolling resistance, high driving stability and good comfort. Not a very dynamic steering response, higher noise levels. The Asymmetric 5 is sporty and comfortable for every day safety in any weather. Read Reviews
4th: Continental Sport Contact 6
275/35 R19 100Y EU Label: E/A/73 Origin: Germany Weight: 12.6kgs Tread: 7.1mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 34.3 M 33.1 M +1.2 M 96.5% Dry Handling 3rd 129 Km/H 129.3 Km/H -0.3 Km/H 99.77% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Wet Braking 7th 36.7 M 34.1 M +2.6 M 92.92% Wet Handling 4th 71.7 Km/H 72.8 Km/H -1.1 Km/H 98.49% Subj. Wet Handling 4th 8 Points 9 Points -1 Points 88.89% Wet Circle 5th 9.08 m/s 9.23 m/s -0.15 m/s 98.37% Straight Aqua 2nd 89.8 Km/H 91.8 Km/H -2 Km/H 97.82% Noise 2nd 71.9 dB 71.2 dB +0.7 dB 99.03% Price 5th 211 139 +72 65.88% Rolling Resistance 1st 8.3 kg / t 100% A well balanced tire, very low rolling resistance, good ride comfort. Small deficits in wet braking. The aging Sport Contact 6 is still an excellent tire. Read Reviews    Buy from £217.09
5th: Falken Azenis FK510
275/35 R19 100Y EU Label: E/A/70 Origin: Japan Weight: 12.5kgs Tread: 7.4mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 34.3 M 33.1 M +1.2 M 96.5% Dry Handling 5th 127.2 Km/H 129.3 Km/H -2.1 Km/H 98.38% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Wet Braking 2nd 34.2 M 34.1 M +0.1 M 99.71% Wet Handling 1st 72.8 Km/H 100% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 9 Points 100% Wet Circle 6th 9.05 m/s 9.23 m/s -0.18 m/s 98.05% Straight Aqua 6th 88.5 Km/H 91.8 Km/H -3.3 Km/H 96.41% Noise 4th 72.2 dB 71.2 dB +1 dB 98.61% Price 3rd 161 139 +22 86.34% Rolling Resistance 6th 9.5 kg / t 8.3 kg / t +1.2 kg / t 87.37% Very good in all wet tests. Sluggish steering reactions and reduced corning grip in the dry, average ride comfort, somewhat increased rolling resistance. The FK510 is excellent in the wet, but limited in the dry. Read Reviews    Buy from £202.96
6th: Maxxis Victra Sport 5
275/35 R19 100Y EU Label: E/A/72 Origin: China Weight: 11.8kgs Tread: 6.5mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 33.9 M 33.1 M +0.8 M 97.64% Dry Handling 6th 127 Km/H 129.3 Km/H -2.3 Km/H 98.22% Subj. Dry Handling 6th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% Wet Braking 5th 35.1 M 34.1 M +1 M 97.15% Wet Handling 5th 71.2 Km/H 72.8 Km/H -1.6 Km/H 97.8% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 7 Points 9 Points -2 Points 77.78% Wet Circle 3rd 9.14 m/s 9.23 m/s -0.09 m/s 99.02% Straight Aqua 8th 87.6 Km/H 91.8 Km/H -4.2 Km/H 95.42% Noise 7th 73.1 dB 71.2 dB +1.9 dB 97.4% Price 2nd 150 139 +11 92.67% Rolling Resistance 4th 9 kg / t 8.3 kg / t +0.7 kg / t 92.22% Good braking performance in the wet and dry, easily manageable understeer in the dry. Weaker aquaplaning resistance. The Victra Sport 5 is a mostly safe entry level tire with no racing ambition. Read Reviews
7th: Nankang Sportnex AS2+
275/35 R19 96Y EU Label: E/A/71 Origin: China Weight: 12.2kgs Tread: 7.7mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 37.5 M 33.1 M +4.4 M 88.27% Dry Handling 8th 125.2 Km/H 129.3 Km/H -4.1 Km/H 96.83% Subj. Dry Handling 8th 5 Points 10 Points -5 Points 50% Wet Braking 6th 36.5 M 34.1 M +2.4 M 93.42% Wet Handling 6th 71.1 Km/H 72.8 Km/H -1.7 Km/H 97.66% Subj. Wet Handling 4th 8 Points 9 Points -1 Points 88.89% Wet Circle 7th 8.68 m/s 9.23 m/s -0.55 m/s 94.04% Straight Aqua 1st 91.8 Km/H 100% Noise 1st 71.2 dB 100% Price 1st 139 100% Rolling Resistance 4th 9 kg / t 8.3 kg / t +0.7 kg / t 92.22% Mostly safe in the wet, with an understeer balance, excellent aquaplaning resistance. No sporty driving with sluggish inaccurate steering and poor grip. Relatively long braking distances and weak cornering grip in the wet. The low cost SportNex AS2+ just shines in aquaplaning resistance. Read Reviews    Buy from £146.83
8th: Toyo Proxes Sport
275/35 R19 100Y EU Label: E/A/70 Origin: Japan Weight: 11.8kgs Tread: 7.2mm 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 35.8 M 33.1 M +2.7 M 92.46% Dry Handling 7th 126.7 Km/H 129.3 Km/H -2.6 Km/H 97.99% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Wet Braking 8th 41.5 M 34.1 M +7.4 M 82.17% Wet Handling 8th 68.6 Km/H 72.8 Km/H -4.2 Km/H 94.23% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 7 Points 9 Points -2 Points 77.78% Wet Circle 8th 8.41 m/s 9.23 m/s -0.82 m/s 91.12% Straight Aqua 3rd 89.7 Km/H 91.8 Km/H -2.1 Km/H 97.71% Noise 6th 72.9 dB 71.2 dB +1.7 dB 97.67% Price 4th 192 139 +53 72.4% Rolling Resistance 7th 9.7 kg / t 8.3 kg / t +1.4 kg / t 85.57% Well balanced handling. Limited steering precision and oversteering the dry, very long wet and dry braking distances. The new Proxes Sport A still has grip problems. Read Reviews