Following on from the 52 set braking shootout, the full Autobild summer tyre test has taken the best twenty tyres to the full set of testing, with some interesting highlights!
Test Size:
225/40 R18
Tyres Tested:
20 tyres
Test Categories:
4 categories (12 tests)
4 categories (12 tests)
| Test Category | Best Performer | Worst Performer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (2 tests) | |||
| Dry Braking | ▲ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 32.6 M | ▼ Autogreen Smart Chaser SC1: 38.3 M | 5.7 M (14.9%) |
| Dry Handling | ▲ Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6: 120.9 Km/H | ▼ Nexen N Fera Sport SU2: 114.7 Km/H | 6.2 Km/H (5.4%) |
| Wet (5 tests) | |||
| Wet Braking | ▲ Hankook Ventus Evo: 42.7 M | ▼ Autogreen Smart Chaser SC1: 68.1 M | 25.4 M (37.3%) |
| Wet Handling | ▲ Falken ZIEX ZE320: 73.9 Km/H | ▼ Autogreen Smart Chaser SC1: 63.7 Km/H | 10.2 Km/H (16.0%) |
| Wet Circle | ▲ Bridgestone Potenza Sport: 14.55 s | ▼ Autogreen Smart Chaser SC1: 16.81 s | 2.3 s (13.4%) |
| Straight Aqua | ▲ Giti GitiSportS2: 81.4 Km/H | ▼ Yokohama Advan Sport V107: 78.8 Km/H | 2.6 Km/H (3.3%) |
| Curved Aquaplaning | ▲ Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2: 3.45 m/sec2 | ▼ Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus: 2.65 m/sec2 | 0.8 m/sec2 (30.2%) |
| Comfort (2 tests) | |||
| Subj. Comfort | ▲ Hankook Ventus Evo: 5 Points | ▼ Maxxis Victra Sport 5: 3.9 Points | 1.1 Points (28.2%) |
| Noise | ▲ Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6: 71.3 dB | ▼ Kumho Ecsta PS71: 75.4 dB | 4.1 dB (5.4%) |
| Value (3 tests) | |||
| Wear | ▲ Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6: 54020 KM | ▼ Linglong Sport Master: 22570 KM | 31,450.0 KM (139.3%) |
| Value | ▲ Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6: 6.66 Price/1000 | ▼ Pirelli P Zero PZ4: 15.93 Price/1000 | 9.3 Price/1000 (58.2%) |
| Rolling Resistance | ▲ Firestone Firehawk Sport: 7.62 kg / t | ▼ Yokohama Advan Sport V107: 10.62 kg / t | 3.0 kg / t (28.2%) |
There are two interesting stories. Firstly, is the rise of the Chinese tyres, with both Linglong and Sailun performing really well in the grip tests. Does this mean Chinese tyres are now fighting with the premium manufacturers? Well, sort of.
In terms of grip, both the Chinese tyres performed extremely well, performing above average in both the braking tests. However, it is quite clear they have traded grip for tread life, as both the Chinese brands finished at the bottom of the wear test.
This means, despite their cheaper purchase price, their total cost of ownership, measured in euros per 1000km driven, was around double the test winning Goodyear. Yes, the Chinese companies can now make a tyre that grips really well, but no, they can't yet seem to make one that also lasts.
The second story is regarding the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 AO. It was mentioned in the shootout, the Pirelli was the Audi specific version of the PZ4, which is unusual as OE tyres are quite different from the aftermarket version. In this case it seems Audi focused on dry grip as the PZ4 under delivered in the wet.
The final surprise is the Bridgestone Potenza Sport performing very well in the wear test, which is unusual for the Japanese tyre. They did still note in the full article that the tyre had it's usual very high wear on track.
Dry
Bridgestone Potenza Sport achieved the shortest braking distance of 32.6 meters, followed closely by Falken ZIEX ZE320 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5, while the budget Autogreen tyre trailed by nearly 6 meters.
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 and Hankook Ventus Evo shared the fastest lap speed at 120.9 km/h, with Bridgestone Potenza Sport and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 right behind, while Nexen N Fera Sport performed the worst.
Wet
Hankook Ventus Evo led with the shortest wet braking distance of 42.7 meters, with Kumho Ecsta PS71 and Linglong Sport Master just 0.1 meters behind, while the Autogreen tyre showed dangerous performance, needing 25.4 meters more to stop.
Falken ZIEX ZE320 achieved the highest average speed in wet handling at 73.9 km/h, followed by Kumho Ecsta PS71 and Bridgestone/Hankook tied for third, demonstrating the Falken's exceptional wet grip despite its mid-tier price.
Bridgestone Potenza Sport recorded the fastest wet circle time at 14.55 seconds, with Hankook Ventus Evo and Linglong Sport Master completing the top three, while the Autogreen reference tyre was over 2 seconds slower.
Giti GitiSportS2 surprisingly led the straight aquaplaning test with the highest float speed of 81.4 km/h, followed by Kumho Ecsta PS71 and Continental PremiumContact 7, showing strong water evacuation capabilities.
Dunlop SportMaxx RT2 achieved the best curved aquaplaning performance with 3.45 m/s² of lateral acceleration, followed by Continental PremiumContact 7 and Vredestein Ultrac Pro, demonstrating exceptional directional stability in standing water.
Comfort
Eight tyres tied for top comfort rating with perfect 5-point scores, including Dunlop, Falken, Vredestein, Continental, Michelin, Hankook, Pirelli and Laufenn, while Yokohama and Maxxis scored lowest with 3.9 points.
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 was the quietest tyre at 71.3 dB, with Falken and Nexen close behind, while Kumho Ecsta PS71 generated the most road noise at 75.4 dB despite its excellent wet performance.
Value
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 showed exceptional durability with a projected 54,020 km lifespan, followed by Michelin Pilot Sport 5 at 52,170 km, while the Chinese tyres Linglong Sport Master and Sailun Atrezzo ZSR2 wore out fastest.
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 offered the best cost per 1,000 km at €6.66, followed by Kumho Ecsta PS71 and Toyo Proxes Comfort, while the premium-priced Pirelli P Zero PZ4 delivered the worst value at €15.93 per 1,000 km.
Firestone Firehawk Sport led with the lowest rolling resistance of 7.62 kg/t, potentially offering the best fuel economy, followed by Continental PremiumContact 7 and Nexen N Fera Sport SU2, while Yokohama Advan Sport V107 had the highest resistance at 10.62 kg/t.
Results
1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 offered excellent dynamic handling characteristics and consistently short braking distances on both wet and dry surfaces. Despite being the most expensive tyre in the test at €456, it justified its premium price with very good mileage of over 52,000 kilometers and excellent overall cost performance. The Michelin delivered balanced performance across all test categories with particularly strong results in wet performance tests. Its precise steering feedback and stable cornering behavior added to driver confidence in all conditions, earning it an "exemplary" rating. Read Reviews Buy from £110.24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1st: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 demonstrated excellent safety reserves with impressive lateral grip and consistently short braking distances in wet conditions. Its handling on dry surfaces was equally impressive with dynamic characteristics and responsive steering. The standout feature was its outstanding mileage of over 54,000 kilometers, the best in the test, making it the "Eco-Master" with the best cost performance at €6.66 per 1000 kilometers. It also scored well for comfort with relatively quiet operation, creating a well-rounded premium tyre that excelled across all test categories and earned an "exemplary" rating. Read Reviews Buy from £101.38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd: Bridgestone Potenza Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Bridgestone Potenza Sport convinced testers with excellent grip, notably short braking distances (best in dry conditions at 32.6 meters from 100 km/h), and dynamic handling characteristics. It performed exceptionally well in the wet circle test with the fastest time and showed excellent stability during aquaplaning. Its only weakness was showing some shoulder wear after fast cornering sessions. The tyre performed strongly in both wet and dry conditions with superb safety reserves, offering drivers a sporty yet secure experience that earned an "exemplary" rating. Read Reviews Buy from £88.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th: Continental PremiumContact 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Continental PremiumContact 7 offered very good aquaplaning reserves and short braking distances in all conditions. It delivered dynamic handling characteristics with responsive steering and excellent stability at high speeds. The tyre achieved impressive mileage of over 46,000 kilometers, resulting in very good cost performance at €8.22 per 1000 kilometers. Continental's balanced performance across all test categories with no significant weaknesses demonstrated the brand's consistent quality, earning an "exemplary" rating for this well-engineered product. Read Reviews Buy from £104.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th: Kumho Ecsta PS71 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Kumho Ecsta PS71 impressed with excellent aquaplaning reserves (scoring best in the straight aquaplaning test), convincing driving dynamics, secure handling and short braking distances in all conditions. Its wet handling performance was particularly noteworthy, achieving some of the best times in the wet handling course. The tyre offered good mileage of over 42,000 kilometers and excellent cost performance at just €7.49 per 1000 kilometers, making it a value choice among the premium performers. Its balanced abilities and excellent price-performance ratio earned it an "exemplary" rating. Read Reviews Buy from £82.99 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4th: Hankook Ventus Evo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Hankook Ventus Evo K137 delivered convincing driving dynamics with secure handling and the shortest braking distances in wet conditions at 42.7 meters from 100 km/h. It performed excellently in dry handling tests with the highest average speed of 120.9 km/h around the test track. The tyre showed good mileage at over 41,000 kilometers and reasonable rolling resistance, offering good all-round cost performance. This consistent performance across all test criteria, particularly its outstanding wet and dry handling, earned it an "exemplary" rating. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7th: Falken ZIEX ZE320 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Falken Ziex ZE320 delivered outstanding driving dynamics and the shortest braking distances on dry surfaces besides Bridgestone. It performed exceptionally well in wet conditions with excellent agility and good grip, achieving the fastest speed in the wet handling test at 73.9 km/h. Its quiet rolling noise (72.1 dB) added to overall comfort, though its more limited mileage of 35,520 kilometers was the main weakness holding it back from the top tier. Still, the Falken impressed with its balanced performance and sporty character, earning a solid "good" rating. Read Reviews Buy from £92.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8th: Toyo Proxes Comfort | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Toyo Proxes Comfort offered solid aquaplaning reserves, short braking distances, and good value at €304 per set. It performed respectably in wet conditions despite slightly limited lateral grip on wet surfaces. With a decent mileage of over 38,000 kilometers and good rolling resistance, it achieved excellent cost performance at just €7.98 per 1000 kilometers. The tyre was also one of the quieter options in the test, living up to its "Comfort" name. Its good all-round performance without any major weaknesses earned it a "good" rating. Read Reviews Buy from £93.14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 achieved the best aquaplaning reserves in the test, particularly excelling in the curved aquaplaning test with 3.45 m/s² lateral acceleration. It offered decent mileage of nearly 40,000 kilometers and good comfort with reasonable noise levels. Its main weakness was slight understeer behavior on wet surfaces, though it maintained good overall stability. The tyre performed well in dry conditions with responsive handling and secure braking, offering a balanced performance that earned a "good" rating for this sportier-oriented option. Read Reviews Buy from £88.32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10th: Sailun Atrezzo ZSR2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Sailun Atrezzo ZSR2 from China surprised testers with good aquaplaning reserves, short braking distances, secure handling, and pleasantly quiet rolling noise. It performed admirably in the wet handling test, achieving better times than some established premium brands. The main drawback was significantly restricted mileage of just 25,500 kilometers, which impacted its overall cost-effectiveness despite the low purchase price of €288. Despite this limitation, its surprisingly good performance in safety-related tests earned it a "satisfactory" rating. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11th: Linglong Sport Master | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Linglong Sport Master, another Chinese brand, performed well with short braking distances, dynamic and secure handling characteristics in all weather conditions, and good lateral grip. It achieved commendable results in wet braking tests and showed good stability during aquaplaning tests. Like other Chinese tyres, its major weakness was severely limited mileage of just 22,570 kilometers and higher rolling resistance, resulting in poorer long-term economy despite the low initial cost of €296. Its balanced performance in handling and braking earned a "satisfactory" rating. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12th: Maxxis Victra Sport 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Maxxis Victra Sport 5 delivered short braking distances with secure handling behavior on both wet and dry surfaces. It performed particularly well in the wet braking test and offered a quiet operation at just 72.2 dB during the pass-by noise test. The tyre suffered from restricted mileage of around 28,490 kilometers which affected its overall cost performance despite the reasonable purchase price of €304. While not outstanding in any particular area, its balanced performance without major weaknesses earned a "satisfactory" rating. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13th: Vredestein Ultrac Pro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Vredestein Ultrac Pro showed secure driving characteristics with short braking distances on wet and dry surfaces, and quiet rolling noise for good comfort. It performed well in the aquaplaning tests with good resistance to hydroplaning. Its main limitations were delayed turn-in response during handling tests and restricted mileage of about 32,930 kilometers, which combined with its higher price point of €368 limited its cost-effectiveness. Despite these drawbacks, the tyre's overall balanced performance earned it a "satisfactory" rating. Read Reviews Buy from £101.60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14th: Pirelli P Zero PZ4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 AO (Audi OE version which means it shouldn't have really been in this test) offered good driving dynamics with short braking distances and secure handling on dry surfaces, showing its sporty heritage. However, it disappointed somewhat in wet conditions with less grip and weaker aquaplaning performance than expected from a premium tyre, especially considering its high price of €448. Its significantly restricted mileage of just 28,120 kilometers and high purchase price resulted in the poorest cost performance in the test at €15.93 per 1000 kilometers. Despite these limitations, its dry performance and brand reputation earned it a "satisfactory" rating. Read Reviews Buy from £106.99 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14th: Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Nexen N'Fera Sport provided good aquaplaning reserves, short braking distances, and very low rolling resistance which helps with fuel economy. Its main weaknesses were delayed turn-in response during wet handling tests and slightly limited mileage of 34,780 kilometers. The tyre performed better in dry conditions than wet, though it maintained acceptable safety margins in all situations. With a purchase price of €320, it offered reasonable cost performance at €9.20 per 1000 kilometers, delivering solid performance for its price point and earning a "satisfactory" rating. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14th: Laufenn S Fit EQ+ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Laufenn S Fit EQ+ offered good aquaplaning reserves, balanced handling behavior, quiet rolling noise at 74.0 dB, and good overall comfort. With one of the lowest purchase prices in the test at €288, it represents good value for budget-conscious drivers. Its slightly restricted mileage of 31,080 kilometers was its main drawback, though its low purchase price helped maintain reasonable cost performance at €9.27 per 1000 kilometers. The tyre delivered particularly good dry handling for its price point, achieving a "satisfactory" rating. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17th: Giti GitiSportS2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Giti Sport S2 delivered good aquaplaning reserves and balanced driving dynamics with a low rolling resistance that helps with fuel efficiency. It performed adequately in most test categories without excelling in any particular area. Its downsides included mediocre lateral grip in wet conditions and restricted mileage of 31,080 kilometers, which affected its long-term value despite a mid-range price of €352. The tyre's reasonable all-round performance without any dangerous weaknesses secured it a "satisfactory" overall rating. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17th: Nokian Powerproof 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Nokian Powerproof 1 offered good aquaplaning reserves, short braking distances, and quiet rolling noise of 72.7 dB combined with low rolling resistance of 8.93 kg/t. It performed well in straight-line aquaplaning tests though less impressively in curved aquaplaning situations. Its major limitations were restricted mileage of 31,820 kilometers and strong understeer tendencies in wet conditions, making it less predictable at the limit. With a reasonable price of €296, it achieved acceptable cost performance at €9.30 per 1000 kilometers, earning a "satisfactory" rating. Read Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19th: Yokohama Advan Sport V107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Yokohama Advan Sport V107 showed good driving dynamics and short braking distances on dry surfaces, with particularly good dry braking performance at 33.8 meters from 100 km/h. It struggled with grip in wet conditions, showing weaker performance in wet handling tests and aquaplaning resistance than many competitors. Its limited mileage of 35,890 kilometers and high rolling resistance of 10.62 kg/t (the highest in the test) further impacted its overall performance. Despite a decent price of €356, its mixed results earned it a "satisfactory" rating overall. Read Reviews Buy from £112.26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20th: Firestone Firehawk Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Firestone Firehawk Sport provided good aquaplaning safety reserves and the lowest rolling resistance in the test at just 7.62 kg/t, helping optimize fuel economy. It performed reasonably well in dry conditions with acceptable braking and handling characteristics. However, it struggled with grip on wet surfaces, showing limited lateral grip in wet handling tests. The tyre's significantly restricted mileage of 28,860 kilometers impacted its long-term value despite the moderate purchase price of €336. These mixed results placed it at the lower end of the "satisfactory" rated tyres in the final assessment. Read Reviews Buy from £90.35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reference Tyre: Autogreen Smart Chaser SC1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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