As usual, the Russian magazine Auto Review have delivered a wealth of information with their summer 2013 tyre test.
Testing nine 225/45 R17 tyres on an Audi A3, Auto Review put the tyres through the usual wet and dry tests, but also covered detail such as tyre weight and kerb protector size.
While results were extremely close, each tyre had its own subjective differences, so be sure to read the whole test rather than just looking at the final position.
The Results
1st: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 | |
| Grip on wet and dry roads, high resistance to aquaplaning, comfortable, quiet Average handling on wet roads The main advantage the Goodyear has is a combination of high-traction and an enviable level of comfort.
The car rolled silently down the road, and glided over joints of asphalt. When combined with the shortest braking distance on wet roads, and excellent resistance to aquaplaning you have a winner.
Auto Review recommends the F1 A2 to everyone: to those who wish to increase the limiting capabilities of the car, and those who, moving to larger diameter wheels exclusively for aesthetic motives, wants to maintain an acceptable level of comfort. Misc:10.1kgs, 7mm kerb protector Read Reviews |
2nd: Dunlop SportMaxx RT | |
| Low rolling resistance, grip on wet and dry roads, quiet Average handling on wet roads, insufficient resistance to aquaplaning The lightest tyres on test, when compared to the heaviest they save 11.6kgs of unsprung weight! Almost as comfortable as the Goodyears, with excellent rolling resistance, these tyres show a good sporting character. Excellent tyres for the sportier driver. Misc:8.4kgs, 6mm kerb protector Read Reviews Buy from £81.38 |
3rd: Continental Sport Contact 5 | |
| Grip and control on wet roads, quiet Grip on dry roads, handling on dry roads Not as sporty as the big brother Sport Contact 5P, the Sport Contact 5 still proved an excellent tyre on a wet track with a nice balanced behavior. Unfortunately in the dry the Continental isn't as strong, losing 3 meters to the leader in dry braking and feeling inaccurate over a lap. Very comfortable. Misc:8.8kgs, 6mm kerb protector Read Reviews Buy from £90.62 |
4th: Fulda SportControl | |
| High resistance to aquaplaning, quiet Average handling on dry and wet roads, price Excellent aquaplaning results and good braking in the wet. Slightly less grip on a wet lap, but the tyre is easy to manage past the limit. Similar behavior in the dry, the price is just a little too high for a "mid range" brand. Excellent result. Misc:10.1kgs, 8mm kerb protector Read Reviews |
5th: Hankook Ventus V12 evo k110 | |
| High resistance to aquaplaning, grip on wet roads, comfort Snappy handling on wet roads Good grip in the wet, with high resistance to aquaplaning. Quick steering left the car nervous, causing early slip. A good level of comfort and good in the dry, the Hankook is a good mid range tyre offered in a wide range of sizes. Misc:9.7kgs, 7mm kerb protector Read Reviews |
6th: Pirelli PZero Rosso | |
| Handling on wet and dry roads, grip on wet roads, quiet Braking performance on dry roads, high rolling resistance High wet grip and good resistance to aquaplaning, these tyres give the vehicle a sporty feel. Long dry braking, but good lateral grip and fairly quiet for a sports tyre. Misc:11kgs, 4mm kerb protector Read Reviews Buy from £146.34 |
7th: Bridgestone Potenza S001 | |
| Grip on wet and dry roads, reliability of control on wet and dry roads Low level of comfort, high rolling resistance An extremely sturdy tyre which gives s sporty steering feel, but reduced comfort and a high tyre weight. Much better than the previous generation Potenza RE050A in the wet, the Bridgestone is a good all round tyre but a little off the pace of the leaders. Misc:11.3kgs, 8mm kerb protector Read Reviews Buy from £102.50 |
8th: Nokian Hakka Black | |
| Grip on wet and dry roads, handling on wet and dry roads, comfort Low resistance to aquaplaning Average aquaplaning results, but otherwise the Nokian Hakka Black is little inferior to the leaders of the test. On wet roads the car starts to slide smoothly and always predictable. The same can be said about the handling on dry roads. Good tyres, but better to avoid deep puddles. Misc:9.8kgs, 2.5mm kerb protector Read Reviews |
9th: Kumho Ecsta LE Sport | |
| High resistance to aquaplaning, low rolling resistance, price Grip on wet and dry roads, handling on wet and dry roads The Kumho Ecsta LE Sport is most disappointing on wet roads. This applies to the braking, and the reactions to the actions of the wheel. Dry running isn't much better, with poor high speed stability. Good resistance to aquaplaning gives the Kumho some plus points. Misc:10.8kgs, 3.5mm kerb protector Read Reviews |
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