Ten performance tyres tested

The number of motoring publications available in Germany means we are never short of tyre test results. On 17 April, sport auto (issue 5/2014) published the results of its summer tyre comparative test; ten tyres in the popular dimension 225/40 R18 were tested, with sport auto selecting a mixture of UHP and comfort-oriented tyres for evaluation in 14 criteria, including six dry condition criteria (worth 50 per cent of the final result), six wet condition criteria (40 per cent of final result) and two environmental criteria (ten per cent of final result). The tyres were tested fitted to a VW Golf GTI.

Test winner was Pirelli’s latest-generation P Zero. Sport auto declared that the Italian tyre maker’s UHP tyre “triumphed in the wet and dry with inspirational handling” and rated it as “particularly recommended”. The testers singled out a number of characteristics as strengths: Lateral grip and handling on wet road surfaces, dry braking, lightweight. On the negative side of the equation, the P Zero was said to perform not quite as good as the best in the test during aquaplaning situations, and the tyre’s high performance comes with a price tag to match.

Six tyres were rated as “recommended” – the Dunlop Sportmaxx RT, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2, Hankook Ventus V12 evo², Nokian zLine, Conti SportContact 5 and Michelin Pilot Sport 3. A further three – the Bridgestone Potenza S001, Avon ZZ5 and Toyo Proxes T1 Sport – were “conditionally recommended”.

Test results:

Pirelli P Zero E/A
Result: “Particularly recommended“ – Strengths: Lateral grip and handling on wet road surfaces, dry braking, lightweight – Weaknesses: Doesn’t quite match the best in aquaplaning situations, expensive
Test winner

Dunlop Sportmaxx RT C/A
Result: “Recommended” – Strengths: All-round performer, dry braking, rolling resistance – Weaknesses: Doesn’t quite match the best for rolling comfort and interior noise

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 C/A
Result: “Recommended” – Strengths: Dry braking, rolling resistance, tyre-road noise – Weaknesses: Doesn’t match the best in aquaplaning situations

Hankook Ventus V12 evo² E/A
Result: “Recommended” – Strengths: Wet and dry braking – Weaknesses: In aquaplaning situations, rolling comfort and interior noise

Nokian zLine E/A
Result: “Recommended” – Strengths: Braking, lateral grip and handling in the wet, rolling comfort and interior noise – Weaknesses: Doesn’t match the best in aquaplaning situations, overall dry performance, expensive

Conti SportContact 5 F/A
Result: “Recommended” – Strengths: In aquaplaning situations, later grip in the wet – Weaknesses: Rolling resistance, tyre-road noise, Doesn’t match the best in dry disciplines, expensive

Michelin Pilot Sport 3 E/A
Result: “Recommended” – Strengths: Tyre-road noise, rolling comfort and interior noise – Weaknesses: Doesn’t match the best in dry and wet disciplines, expensive

Bridgestone Potenza S001 E/C
Result: “Conditionally recommended” – Strengths: Steering response on dry road surfaces – Weaknesses: Doesn’t match the best in wet disciplines, rolling resistance

Avon ZZ5 E/B
Result: “Conditionally recommended” – Strengths: Tyre-road noise, rolling comfort and interior noise, affordable price – Weaknesses: Primarily cannot match the best in the wet disciplines, very heavy

Toyo Proxes T1 Sport E/B
Result : “Conditionally recommended” – Strengths: Dynamic on dry road surfaces – Weaknesses: Primarily cannot match the best in the wet disciplines, rolling resistance