The 2021 summer tyre test season is kicking off early, with the excellent team at Auto Zeitung publishing their 10 set 225/40 R18 summer tyre test during February!

As this test is out so early in the season, it means the testing would have been completed in late 2020, which means it's missing the new Bridgestone Potenza Sport, but it's still an excellent start to the year as AZ always dig into the subjectiveness of the tyres, covering dry handling, wet handling and comfort!

All testing was carried out using a Seat Leon FR, and the popular 225/40 R18 UHP tyre size should cover many mid-sized sporty cars, including the ever popular VW Golf, the front of a BMW 1 Series, the Audi TT and many other vehicles.

Dry

It might be a new year, but it's not a new result for dry braking testing, with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 once again taking the top spot by a significant margin, over the Continental PremiumContact 6. Maxxis also had an impressive showing with the ever impressive Maxxis Victra Sport 5.

Dry handling played to the Continentals sharp steering, giving the German tyre an impressive win during dry handling. Michelin, Maxxis, Goodyear and Hankook all followed closely in a tight group.

Subjective handling was also very close, with only Continental ahead of the tyres that impressed during dry handling.

Wet

Goodyear and Continental lead the way during wet braking testing, with the Goodyear Asymmetric 5 taking its first win. Falken again impressed with the FK510.

Wet handling brought another new winner, this time Pirelli with the Pirelli P Zero PZ4. Goodyear and Continental, which did so well during wet braking, dropped down the order during wet handling.

Pirelli also proved to have the best subjective wet handling, with the testers reporting a neutral balance and impressive feedback.

Dunlop, which struggled in the dry, had the best aquaplaning resistance by a large margin.

Environment

Nexen was the standout of subjective comfort scoring with the N Fera Sport SU2.

The Nexen also proved to have the lowest external drive by noise.

The Dunlop won its second test, having the lowest rolling resistance on test. Falken, Nexen and in particular, Pirelli had significantly higher rolling resistance than the group.

Below is the price for a full set of tyres in the local currency (Euros)

Results

1st: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: E/A/71 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 35.1 M 34.3 M +0.8 M 97.72% Dry Handling 4th 69.1 s 68.8 s +0.3 s 99.57% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Wet Braking 1st 41.9 M 100% Wet Handling 7th 63.4 s 62.6 s +0.8 s 98.74% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Straight Aqua 3rd 71.5 Km/H 73.3 Km/H -1.8 Km/H 97.54% Subj. Comfort 2nd 8 Points 9 Points -1 Points 88.89% Noise 5th 71 dB 69.1 dB +1.9 dB 97.32% Price 7th 390 300 +90 76.92% Rolling Resistance 3rd 8.6 kg / t 8.38 kg / t +0.22 kg / t 97.44% Top marks in the wet and dry, plus low rolling resistance means the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 wins this test. Read Reviews    Buy from £90.10
2nd: Continental Premium Contact 6
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/72 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 34.7 M 34.3 M +0.4 M 98.85% Dry Handling 1st 68.8 s 100% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Wet Braking 2nd 42.1 M 41.9 M +0.2 M 99.52% Wet Handling 9th 63.7 s 62.6 s +1.1 s 98.27% Subj. Wet Handling 9th 5 Points 10 Points -5 Points 50% Straight Aqua 2nd 71.7 Km/H 73.3 Km/H -1.6 Km/H 97.82% Subj. Comfort 2nd 8 Points 9 Points -1 Points 88.89% Noise 9th 71.4 dB 69.1 dB +2.3 dB 96.78% Price 9th 410 300 +110 73.17% Rolling Resistance 7th 8.88 kg / t 8.38 kg / t +0.5 kg / t 94.37% The PremiumContact 6 is strong in the dry, but not quite up to the best in the wet. Read Reviews    Buy from £97.62
3rd: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: E/A/68 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 35.2 M 34.3 M +0.9 M 97.44% Dry Handling 6th 69.2 s 68.8 s +0.4 s 99.42% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Wet Braking 5th 45.1 M 41.9 M +3.2 M 92.9% Wet Handling 1st 62.6 s 100% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 10 Points 100% Straight Aqua 10th 68.2 Km/H 73.3 Km/H -5.1 Km/H 93.04% Subj. Comfort 5th 7 Points 9 Points -2 Points 77.78% Noise 2nd 69.8 dB 69.1 dB +0.7 dB 99% Price 5th 360 300 +60 83.33% Rolling Resistance 10th 9.99 kg / t 8.38 kg / t +1.61 kg / t 83.88% The Pirelli PZero PZ4 has a strong balance wet handling performance, propelling it to third overall. Read Reviews    Buy from £127.60
4th: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/71 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 34.3 M 100% Dry Handling 2nd 69 s 68.8 s +0.2 s 99.71% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Wet Braking 4th 44.8 M 41.9 M +2.9 M 93.53% Wet Handling 3rd 63.1 s 62.6 s +0.5 s 99.21% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Straight Aqua 5th 70.4 Km/H 73.3 Km/H -2.9 Km/H 96.04% Subj. Comfort 5th 7 Points 9 Points -2 Points 77.78% Noise 7th 71.1 dB 69.1 dB +2 dB 97.19% Price 10th 440 300 +140 68.18% Rolling Resistance 4th 8.64 kg / t 8.38 kg / t +0.26 kg / t 96.99% Read Reviews    Buy from £107.62
5th: Falken Azenis FK510
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: E/A/69 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 35.4 M 34.3 M +1.1 M 96.89% Dry Handling 9th 69.6 s 68.8 s +0.8 s 98.85% Subj. Dry Handling 9th 5 Points 10 Points -5 Points 50% Wet Braking 3rd 42.8 M 41.9 M +0.9 M 97.9% Wet Handling 8th 63.5 s 62.6 s +0.9 s 98.58% Subj. Wet Handling 5th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% Straight Aqua 4th 70.6 Km/H 73.3 Km/H -2.7 Km/H 96.32% Subj. Comfort 5th 7 Points 9 Points -2 Points 77.78% Noise 4th 70.4 dB 69.1 dB +1.3 dB 98.15% Price 3rd 340 300 +40 88.24% Rolling Resistance 8th 9.23 kg / t 8.38 kg / t +0.85 kg / t 90.79% Read Reviews
6th: Nokian PowerProof
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/69 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 35.4 M 34.3 M +1.1 M 96.89% Dry Handling 6th 69.2 s 68.8 s +0.4 s 99.42% Subj. Dry Handling 6th 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Wet Braking 6th 46.6 M 41.9 M +4.7 M 89.91% Wet Handling 2nd 62.9 s 62.6 s +0.3 s 99.52% Subj. Wet Handling 2nd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Straight Aqua 6th 69.9 Km/H 73.3 Km/H -3.4 Km/H 95.36% Subj. Comfort 5th 7 Points 9 Points -2 Points 77.78% Noise 10th 71.9 dB 69.1 dB +2.8 dB 96.11% Price 2nd 310 300 +10 96.77% Rolling Resistance 5th 8.66 kg / t 8.38 kg / t +0.28 kg / t 96.77% Read Reviews
7th: Maxxis Victra Sport 5
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/72 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 34.8 M 34.3 M +0.5 M 98.56% Dry Handling 2nd 69 s 68.8 s +0.2 s 99.71% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 9 Points 10 Points -1 Points 90% Wet Braking 8th 49.7 M 41.9 M +7.8 M 84.31% Wet Handling 4th 63.2 s 62.6 s +0.6 s 99.05% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 8 Points 10 Points -2 Points 80% Straight Aqua 9th 69.5 Km/H 73.3 Km/H -3.8 Km/H 94.82% Subj. Comfort 5th 7 Points 9 Points -2 Points 77.78% Noise 5th 71 dB 69.1 dB +1.9 dB 97.32% Price 6th 370 300 +70 81.08% Rolling Resistance 6th 8.78 kg / t 8.38 kg / t +0.4 kg / t 95.44% Read Reviews
8th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/68 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 10th 36.2 M 34.3 M +1.9 M 94.75% Dry Handling 10th 69.7 s 68.8 s +0.9 s 98.71% Subj. Dry Handling 10th 4 Points 10 Points -6 Points 40% Wet Braking 7th 48.7 M 41.9 M +6.8 M 86.04% Wet Handling 5th 63.3 s 62.6 s +0.7 s 98.89% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Straight Aqua 1st 73.3 Km/H 100% Subj. Comfort 2nd 8 Points 9 Points -1 Points 88.89% Noise 2nd 69.8 dB 69.1 dB +0.7 dB 99% Price 8th 400 300 +100 75% Rolling Resistance 1st 8.38 kg / t 100% Read Reviews    Buy from £88.32
9th: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: E/A/72 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 35.5 M 34.3 M +1.2 M 96.62% Dry Handling 4th 69.1 s 68.8 s +0.3 s 99.57% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 7 Points 10 Points -3 Points 70% Wet Braking 10th 50.6 M 41.9 M +8.7 M 82.81% Wet Handling 5th 63.3 s 62.6 s +0.7 s 98.89% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Straight Aqua 7th 69.8 Km/H 73.3 Km/H -3.5 Km/H 95.23% Subj. Comfort 10th 6 Points 9 Points -3 Points 66.67% Noise 8th 71.2 dB 69.1 dB +2.1 dB 97.05% Price 4th 350 300 +50 85.71% Rolling Resistance 2nd 8.5 kg / t 8.38 kg / t +0.12 kg / t 98.59% Read Reviews    Buy from £97.26
10th: Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: E/A/71 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 8th 35.5 M 34.3 M +1.2 M 96.62% Dry Handling 8th 69.4 s 68.8 s +0.6 s 99.14% Subj. Dry Handling 8th 6 Points 10 Points -4 Points 60% Wet Braking 9th 50.1 M 41.9 M +8.2 M 83.63% Wet Handling 10th 64.9 s 62.6 s +2.3 s 96.46% Subj. Wet Handling 10th 3 Points 10 Points -7 Points 30% Straight Aqua 8th 69.7 Km/H 73.3 Km/H -3.6 Km/H 95.09% Subj. Comfort 1st 9 Points 100% Noise 1st 69.1 dB 100% Price 1st 300 100% Rolling Resistance 9th 9.27 kg / t 8.38 kg / t +0.89 kg / t 90.4% Read Reviews