The excellent UK automotive magazine EVO always seems to publish their summer tyre test late in the season, but it shouldn't be ignored as it's one of the best in Europe if you care as much about steering feel and feedback as you do ultimate grip.

This year, EVO have tested seven 225/40 R18 UHP tyres using a VW Golf GTI at the Pirelli test facility in Vizzola, Italy, and while the volume of tyres is surprisingly small for such a common size, the breath of testing was as vast as any European tyre test.

Dry

As ever, the dry testing was close, but this test showed a return to form by Pirelli.

During dry handling the P Zero had a huge advantage, finishing nearly a second over the second placed Michelin Pilot Sport 4, with both tyres scoring well subjectively by demonstrating quick, accurate steering, and good feedback.

The Michelin also had nearly a second advantage over the third place Dunlop SportMaxx RT2, with the older Dunlop lacking the traction and steering feel of the best on test. Fourth place was joint awarded to the Continental PremiumContact 6 and Falken FK510. While they finished with matching lap times, subjectively the Continental was much better around the lap, with the Falken feeling light and inaccurate. The Nokian PowerProof and new Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 rounded out the results, with the Goodyear scoring slightly better subjectively.

 

Dry braking had a similar overall result, this time with Continental leading Michelin and Pirelli.

Wet

Once again, Pirelli dominated wet testing at their home track, with an unusually large 1.2 second advantage over just 1.8km. Michelin and Continental finished second and third place for both the timed lap, and subjective handling scores.

Dunlop and Falken placed fourth and fifth respectively in both timed and subjective handling, and the new Goodyear had another poor result finishing sixth in time, and last subjectively. This isn't something that's been shown in other testing.

Wet braking again showed the dominance of the Pirelli, finishing a meter ahead of the Falken and 1.5 meters ahead of third placed Michelin.

Aquaplaning resulted in a rest bite for Goodyear, winning the straight aquaplaning test.

Environment

EVO Magazine doesn't test NVH in a normal way, instead they run a road route on the tyre which looks at noise and comfort levels, along with steering weight, feel and feedback on the road.

In this testing, the Continental proved to be the best on the road tyre, largely thanks to its excellent refinement over all types of road surface.

If you'd prefer a little more steering feel over comfort, the Pirelli and Michelin both offered more feedback, with the Michelin doing a better job than the Pirelli of combining comfort and steering feel.

Surprisingly the Falken, which is often rated in other testing as having excellent levels of comfort at the expense of subjectively handling, was last in this test.

Rolling resistance was the weak point of the Pirelli, finishing last.

 

Results

Don't forget to go and pick up the magazine or check out www.evo.co.uk for the full test details!

1st: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 35.5 M 35.2 M +0.3 M 99.15% Dry Handling 1st 87.3 s 100% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 63 Points 100% Wet Braking 1st 37.5 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 82.1 s 100% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 59 Points 100% Straight Aqua 4th 75.7 Km/H 77.5 Km/H -1.8 Km/H 97.68% Subj. Comfort 2nd 23.5 Points 24 Points -0.5 Points 97.92% Rolling Resistance 7th 10.16 kg / t 8.58 kg / t +1.58 kg / t 84.45% There may be a slight home advantage in tyre testing, but with no fewer than six top spots, the PZ4 P Zero totally dominated this test. The tyre dominated in both wet and dry testing, objectively and subjectively. Read Reviews    Buy from £132.91
2nd: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 35.4 M 35.2 M +0.2 M 99.44% Dry Handling 2nd 88.1 s 87.3 s +0.8 s 99.09% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 57.5 Points 63 Points -5.5 Points 91.27% Wet Braking 3rd 39 M 37.5 M +1.5 M 96.15% Wet Handling 2nd 83.3 s 82.1 s +1.2 s 98.56% Subj. Wet Handling 2nd 56.5 Points 59 Points -2.5 Points 95.76% Straight Aqua 3rd 76.7 Km/H 77.5 Km/H -0.8 Km/H 98.97% Subj. Comfort 2nd 23.5 Points 24 Points -0.5 Points 97.92% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.88 kg / t 8.58 kg / t +0.3 kg / t 96.62% While the Pilot Sport 4 didn't win any test, it was almost always in the top three, having a very rounded balance of performances, and great steering feel in the wet and dry. Read Reviews    Buy from £107.84
3rd: Continental Premium Contact 6
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 35.2 M 100% Dry Handling 4th 89.1 s 87.3 s +1.8 s 97.98% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 51 Points 63 Points -12 Points 80.95% Wet Braking 5th 39.7 M 37.5 M +2.2 M 94.46% Wet Handling 3rd 84.1 s 82.1 s +2 s 97.62% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 55.5 Points 59 Points -3.5 Points 94.07% Straight Aqua 7th 75.3 Km/H 77.5 Km/H -2.2 Km/H 97.16% Subj. Comfort 1st 24 Points 100% Rolling Resistance 4th 8.84 kg / t 8.58 kg / t +0.26 kg / t 97.06% The best tyre on the road route, offering low noise and high comfort, and strong in the wet. Read Reviews    Buy from £97.62
4th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 36.9 M 35.2 M +1.7 M 95.39% Dry Handling 3rd 89 s 87.3 s +1.7 s 98.09% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 52 Points 63 Points -11 Points 82.54% Wet Braking 7th 40.8 M 37.5 M +3.3 M 91.91% Wet Handling 4th 84.3 s 82.1 s +2.2 s 97.39% Subj. Wet Handling 4th 53 Points 59 Points -6 Points 89.83% Straight Aqua 2nd 76.9 Km/H 77.5 Km/H -0.6 Km/H 99.23% Subj. Comfort 6th 21 Points 24 Points -3 Points 87.5% Rolling Resistance 1st 8.58 kg / t 100% Lowest rolling resistance and best curved aquaplaning result, the Dunlop had mild traction issues in the dry and wet. Read Reviews    Buy from £88.32
4th: Nokian PowerProof
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 36.2 M 35.2 M +1 M 97.24% Dry Handling 6th 89.2 s 87.3 s +1.9 s 97.87% Subj. Dry Handling 6th 50.5 Points 63 Points -12.5 Points 80.16% Wet Braking 4th 39.1 M 37.5 M +1.6 M 95.91% Wet Handling 5th 84.4 s 82.1 s +2.3 s 97.27% Subj. Wet Handling 5th 51 Points 59 Points -8 Points 86.44% Straight Aqua 5th 75.6 Km/H 77.5 Km/H -1.9 Km/H 97.55% Subj. Comfort 4th 23 Points 24 Points -1 Points 95.83% Rolling Resistance 3rd 8.77 kg / t 8.58 kg / t +0.19 kg / t 97.83% A solid balance of results for the Nokian resulted in joint fourth. "Agile and willing" in the dry, but a little skittish in the wet. Read Reviews
6th: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 36.6 M 35.2 M +1.4 M 96.17% Dry Handling 7th 89.3 s 87.3 s +2 s 97.76% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 52 Points 63 Points -11 Points 82.54% Wet Braking 6th 39.9 M 37.5 M +2.4 M 93.98% Wet Handling 5th 84.4 s 82.1 s +2.3 s 97.27% Subj. Wet Handling 7th 49 Points 59 Points -10 Points 83.05% Straight Aqua 1st 77.5 Km/H 100% Subj. Comfort 5th 22.5 Points 24 Points -1.5 Points 93.75% Rolling Resistance 2nd 8.59 kg / t 8.58 kg / t +0.01 kg / t 99.88% An unusually poor result for the Asym5, with a lack of steering feel and grip in the dry and wet testing. Read Reviews    Buy from £90.10
7th: Falken Azenis FK510
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 37.3 M 35.2 M +2.1 M 94.37% Dry Handling 4th 89.1 s 87.3 s +1.8 s 97.98% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 47 Points 63 Points -16 Points 74.6% Wet Braking 2nd 38.5 M 37.5 M +1 M 97.4% Wet Handling 5th 84.4 s 82.1 s +2.3 s 97.27% Subj. Wet Handling 5th 51 Points 59 Points -8 Points 86.44% Straight Aqua 6th 75.4 Km/H 77.5 Km/H -2.1 Km/H 97.29% Subj. Comfort 7th 18.5 Points 24 Points -5.5 Points 77.08% Rolling Resistance 6th 9.08 kg / t 8.58 kg / t +0.5 kg / t 94.49% Scored well in the wet tests, however it lacked subjective steering feel and refinement on the road route. Read Reviews