The 2020 Auto Motor und Sport summer tyre test tested eleven 225/45 R18 ultra high performance tyres using a BMW 3 Series.
While the group overall was extremely close, the winning Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 and second placed Michelin Pilot Sport 4 were almost inseparable overall, with the Goodyear narrowly taking the overall win.
The third and fourth placed Continental PremiumContact 6 and Pirelli P Zero PZ4 also finished with nearly the same overall score. This should be reassuring for Pirelli, whose PZ4 P Zero has seemed to be rather inconsistent since launch.
It was another good result for fifth placed Maxxis, with the Victra Sport 5 having a great all round performance, and the updated Bridgestone Turanza T005 performing well, but struggling a little in the wet.
The seventh placed Nokian PowerProof scored well in the dry, but struggled a little in the wet, while the Falken FK510 had its worth test result in a while thanks to poor wet grip.
The final three tyres in test were all from the cheaper end of the market, with Nexen proving to have a good dry performance and the lowest price on test, while Toyo and Giti struggled a little more in the wet.
Dry
As usual, Michelin had a dry braking advantage, stopping the BMW 3 Series 0.4m shorter than the next nearest rival.
Dry Braking
Spread: 2.40 M (7.1%)|Avg: 35.11 M
Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)
Dry Braking: Safety Impact: Best vs Worst Tyre
The Continental PremiumContact 6 is often one of the best tyres in dry handling, largely thanks to its excellent subjective feel. In this test, it wins both the dry handling test by a significant margin, and is subjectively one of the best tyres on test.
Dry Handling
Spread: 2.30 Km/H (1.8%)|Avg: 125.53 Km/H
Dry Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)
Continental Premium Contact 6
126.90 Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
126.20 Km/H
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
126.20 Km/H
Giti GitiSport S1
126.10 Km/H
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
125.80 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
125.30 Km/H
Nokian PowerProof
125.20 Km/H
Bridgestone Turanza T005
125.00 Km/H
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
124.90 Km/H
Falken Azenis FK510
124.60 Km/H
Toyo Proxes Sport
124.60 Km/H
Subj. Dry Handling
Spread: 2.00 Points (22.2%)|Avg: 8.00 Points
Subjective Dry Handling Score (Higher is better)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
9.00 Points
Giti GitiSport S1
9.00 Points
Continental Premium Contact 6
9.00 Points
Toyo Proxes Sport
8.00 Points
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
8.00 Points
Bridgestone Turanza T005
8.00 Points
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
8.00 Points
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
8.00 Points
Falken Azenis FK510
7.00 Points
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
7.00 Points
Nokian PowerProof
7.00 Points
Wet
The test winning Goodyear has a small advantage during wet braking, with Michelin a close second place.
Wet Braking
Spread: 3.20 M (10.5%)|Avg: 31.86 M
Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)
Wet Braking: Safety Impact: Best vs Worst Tyre
The top two results from wet braking swap places during wet handling, with the Michelin narrowly beating Goodyear.
Wet Handling
Spread: 4.70 Km/H (5.6%)|Avg: 81.99 Km/H
Wet Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
83.60 Km/H
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
83.10 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
83.10 Km/H
Continental Premium Contact 6
83.00 Km/H
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
82.90 Km/H
Bridgestone Turanza T005
82.80 Km/H
Nokian PowerProof
82.40 Km/H
Falken Azenis FK510
81.30 Km/H
Toyo Proxes Sport
80.90 Km/H
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
79.90 Km/H
Giti GitiSport S1
78.90 Km/H
Subjectively the Michelin has an advantage during wet handling, with the Goodyear and Continental close behind.
Subj. Wet Handling
Spread: 4.00 Points (40%)|Avg: 7.82 Points
Subjective Wet Handling Score (Higher is better)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
10.00 Points
Continental Premium Contact 6
9.00 Points
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
9.00 Points
Toyo Proxes Sport
8.00 Points
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
8.00 Points
Bridgestone Turanza T005
8.00 Points
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
8.00 Points
Falken Azenis FK510
7.00 Points
Nokian PowerProof
7.00 Points
Giti GitiSport S1
6.00 Points
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
6.00 Points
Michelin manages to keep this advantage during the aquaplaning testing.
Straight Aqua
Spread: 6.50 Km/H (7.3%)|Avg: 85.15 Km/H
Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
88.70 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
88.30 Km/H
Toyo Proxes Sport
87.60 Km/H
Continental Premium Contact 6
86.00 Km/H
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
85.90 Km/H
Falken Azenis FK510
84.60 Km/H
Bridgestone Turanza T005
83.90 Km/H
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
83.60 Km/H
Giti GitiSport S1
83.40 Km/H
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
82.40 Km/H
Nokian PowerProof
82.20 Km/H
Environment
The Goodyear scored the best result during the subjective comfort grading. This score assesses how the tyre feels and sounds inside the cabin.
Subj. Comfort
Spread: 4.00 Points (40%)|Avg: 8.00 Points
Subjective Comfort Score (Higher is better)
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
10.00 Points
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
10.00 Points
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
9.00 Points
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
9.00 Points
Giti GitiSport S1
8.00 Points
Bridgestone Turanza T005
8.00 Points
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
8.00 Points
Falken Azenis FK510
7.00 Points
Continental Premium Contact 6
7.00 Points
Toyo Proxes Sport
6.00 Points
Nokian PowerProof
6.00 Points
The noise testing is the external drive by noise.
Noise
Spread: 3.10 dB (4.5%)|Avg: 70.61 dB
External noise in dB (Lower is better)
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
69.30 dB
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
69.50 dB
Giti GitiSport S1
69.60 dB
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
70.00 dB
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
70.10 dB
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
70.10 dB
Falken Azenis FK510
71.00 dB
Toyo Proxes Sport
71.10 dB
Nokian PowerProof
71.30 dB
Continental Premium Contact 6
72.30 dB
Bridgestone Turanza T005
72.40 dB
The Bridgestone Turanza T005 had a significant advantage in rolling resistance, meaning it will use the least fuel at the pumps.
Rolling Resistance
Spread: 2.30 kg / t (32.4%)|Avg: 8.54 kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)
Bridgestone Turanza T005
7.10 kg / t
Nokian PowerProof
7.90 kg / t
Continental Premium Contact 6
8.20 kg / t
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
8.40 kg / t
Falken Azenis FK510
8.50 kg / t
Giti GitiSport S1
8.50 kg / t
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
8.90 kg / t
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
8.90 kg / t
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
9.00 kg / t
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
9.10 kg / t
Toyo Proxes Sport
9.40 kg / t
19,000 km
£1.45/L
8.0 L/100km
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Annual Difference
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Lifetime Savings
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Extra Fuel/Energy
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Extra CO2
Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tyre age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.
As always, the Michelin was the most expensive tyre per set, with Goodyear looking to offer the best price / performance ratio.
Good balance and easy to control with high levels of grip in the wet. Good aquaplaning resistance. Short dry braking distances, low noise and good comfort.
Slightly reduced dry traction, slightly reduced dry handling.
I agree that it's very close between the two, if nothing else they should have been marked as tied for first, but that's not how Auto Motor Und Sport presented the data.
We didn't cover curved aquaplaning, where the goodyear had a 2 point advantage which probably tipped the balance in its favour. AMS rated the Goodyear 9.1 and Michelin 9.0 overall.
Here in Greece, Michelin is the most expensive but there are always coupons either for gas or discount worth 40€. So they end up with same price or lower compared to Continental and Goodyear.
I´m also take a look at someshops and the Michelin-prices are much diffrent to the prices in the magazine. But with big tyres the rebates don´t make is cheaper than some other brands (which sometimes make similar offers)
Michelin driver for one season here - totally disappointed from the performance of the tyre, comming from Continental SportContact 5. I sold the tyres after the season ended and now I'm looking to buy either Pirelli or Goodyear (looking at all the tests). SportContact5 only disadvantage was the high wear - lasted two seasons on my BMW 5er. Also the price difference between Michelin and Goodyear here in Bulgaria is 15euro. SportContact5 on other hand is much expensive - 50eur more than Michelin for some reason.
What was so disappointing? Personally I really don’t like the SC5, it’s harsh and noisy and while the grip is very good, it’s not the best. Then some driver love that very firm “German” road feal. I hate it :D
Well, my experience on two different vehicles/size is pretty consistent with how the PC6 is rated for comfort in this test. And how Continental tyres are usually rated for comfort in multiple test.
EDIT: just looked at the SC5 page on the site, “poor comfort” is noted as a negative in multiple test for it.
Hey guys, I wanna buy tyres for my crossover (255/45/R20) and have three options:
Nexen nfera Supreme (N5000 Platinum) : $175 each,
Nankang SP-9 Cross-Sport : $115,
Giti Sport S2 SUV :$125
which will provide more comfort?
Obviously the Michelin PS4 was the best tyre in test!
Objectively, excluding price, there is surely only one winner being the Michelin PS4?
Even the price might be mitigated if wear and performance throughout a tyres life was taken into account?
I agree that it's very close between the two, if nothing else they should have been marked as tied for first, but that's not how Auto Motor Und Sport presented the data.
We didn't cover curved aquaplaning, where the goodyear had a 2 point advantage which probably tipped the balance in its favour. AMS rated the Goodyear 9.1 and Michelin 9.0 overall.
What would you recommend for a staggered fit for a Lexus IS250 - 225/40/18 and 255/40/18?
If the prices are correct the Michelin costs 50% more than the Goodyear. And it´s only 225/45R18.
In other tests the Goodyear also have better wear.
I don´t have a problem with pay more for the best things but in this case I doubt the PS4 is worth this extreme higher price.
Having just quickly looked at the current price differential I would most probably go for the Goodyear myself.
Hadn't realised it was about 30% - that's quite some difference for premium brands
The Goodyear is cheap for a premium, it´s cheaper than the 2nd class from Goodyear, Fulda. Dunno why.
But Michelin is mostly the most expensive.
Here in Greece, Michelin is the most expensive but there are always coupons either for gas or discount worth 40€. So they end up with same price or lower compared to Continental and Goodyear.
I´m also take a look at someshops and the Michelin-prices are much diffrent to the prices in the magazine. But with big tyres the rebates don´t make is cheaper than some other brands (which sometimes make similar offers)
Michelin driver for one season here - totally disappointed from the performance of the tyre, comming from Continental SportContact 5. I sold the tyres after the season ended and now I'm looking to buy either Pirelli or Goodyear (looking at all the tests). SportContact5 only disadvantage was the high wear - lasted two seasons on my BMW 5er.
Also the price difference between Michelin and Goodyear here in Bulgaria is 15euro. SportContact5 on other hand is much expensive - 50eur more than Michelin for some reason.
What was so disappointing? Personally I really don’t like the SC5, it’s harsh and noisy and while the grip is very good, it’s not the best. Then some driver love that very firm “German” road feal.
I hate it :D
Funny you say that, my experience of the SC5 was it was quite soft with bad handling! It can vary by size and fitment, it's a bit of a minefield!
Well, my experience on two different vehicles/size is pretty consistent with how the PC6 is rated for comfort in this test. And how Continental tyres are usually rated for comfort in multiple test.
EDIT: just looked at the SC5 page on the site, “poor comfort” is noted as a negative in multiple test for it.