Every tyre is tested using calibrated instrumented measurement and structured subjective assessment. Reference tyres are retested throughout each session to correct for changing conditions, ensuring fair, repeatable comparisons. Multiple reference sets are used where needed so that control tyre wear does not affect accuracy.
We use professional-grade testing equipment including GPS data loggers, accelerometers, and calibrated microphones. All tyres are broken in and conditioned before testing begins. For full details on our equipment, preparation process, and calibration procedures, see our complete testing methodology.
Categories Tested
Dry Braking
For dry braking, I drive the test vehicle at an entry speed of 110 km/h and apply full braking effort to a standstill with ABS active on clean, dry asphalt. I typically use an 100–5 km/h measurement window. My standard programme is five runs per tyre set where possible, although the sequence can extend to as many as fifteen runs if conditions and tyre category justify it. I analyse the full set of runs and discard statistical outliers before averaging. Reference tyres are run repeatedly throughout the session to correct for changing conditions.
Dry Handling
For dry handling, I drive at the limit of adhesion around a dedicated handling circuit with ESC disabled where possible so I can assess the tyre's natural balance, transient response, and limit behaviour without electronic intervention masking the result. I usually complete between two and five timed laps per tyre set, depending on the circuit, tyre type, and consistency of conditions. I exclude laps affected by clear driver error or obvious environmental inconsistency. Control runs are carried out frequently throughout the session, and I often use multiple sets of control tyres so that wear on the references does not become a meaningful variable. For more track-focused products, I also do endurance testing, which is a set number of laps at race pace to determine tire wear patterns and heat resistance over longer driving.
Wet Braking
For wet braking, I drive the test vehicle at an entry speed of 88 km/h and apply full braking effort to a standstill with ABS active on an asphalt surface with a controlled water film. I typically use an 80–5 km/h measurement window to isolate tyre performance from variability in the initial brake application. My standard programme is eight runs per tyre set where possible, although the sequence can extend to as many as fifteen runs if conditions and tyre category justify it. I analyse the full set of runs and discard statistical outliers before averaging. To correct for changing conditions, I run reference tyres repeatedly throughout the session — in wet testing, typically every three candidate test sets.
Wet Handling
For wet handling, I drive at the limit of adhesion around a dedicated handling circuit. I generally use specialist wet circuits with kerb-watering systems designed to maintain a consistent surface condition. ESC is disabled where possible so I can assess the tyre's natural balance, transient response, and limit behaviour without electronic intervention masking the result. I usually complete between two and five timed laps per tyre set, depending on the circuit, tyre type, and consistency of conditions. I exclude laps affected by clear driver error or obvious environmental inconsistency. Control runs are carried out frequently throughout the session, and I often use multiple sets of control tyres so that wear on the references does not become a meaningful variable.
Straight Aqua
To measure straight-line aquaplaning resistance, I drive one side of the vehicle through a water trough of controlled depth, typically around 7 mm, while the opposite side remains on dry pavement. I enter at a fixed speed and then accelerate progressively. I define aquaplaning onset as the point at which the wheel travelling through the water exceeds a specified slip threshold relative to the dry-side reference wheel. I usually perform four runs per tyre set and average the valid results.
Curved Aquaplaning
For curved aquaplaning, I use a circular track, typically around 100 metres in diameter, with a flooded arc of controlled water depth, usually about 7 mm. The vehicle is instrumented with GPS telemetry and a tri-axial accelerometer. I drive through the flooded section at progressively increasing speed, typically in 5 km/h increments, and record the minimum sustained lateral acceleration at each step. The test continues until lateral acceleration collapses, indicating complete aquaplaning. The result is expressed as remaining lateral acceleration in m/s² as speed rises.
Noise
I measure external pass-by noise in accordance with UNECE Regulation 117 and ISO 13325 using the coast-by method on a compliant test surface. Calibrated microphones are positioned beside the test lane, and the vehicle coasts through the measurement zone under controlled conditions. I record the maximum A-weighted sound pressure level in dB(A), complete multiple runs over the relevant speed range, and normalise the result to the reference speed required by the procedure.
Rolling Resistance
Rolling resistance is measured under controlled laboratory conditions in accordance with ISO 28580 and UNECE Regulation 117 Annex 6. The tyre is mounted on a test wheel and loaded against a large-diameter steel drum. After thermal stabilisation at the prescribed test speed, rolling resistance force is measured at the spindle and corrected according to the relevant procedure. The result is expressed as rolling resistance coefficient, typically in kg/tonne.
How each category is weighted in the overall score:
Dry35%
Dry Braking50%
Dry Handling50%
Wet50%
Wet Braking35%
Wet Handling35%
Straight Aqua15%
Curved Aquaplaning15%
Comfort5%
Noise100%
Value10%
Price33%
Rolling Resistance67%
Update 21st May 2021: Amended the rolling resistance data to be more accurate.
We've taken 14 of the best ultra high performance summer tyres in the very popular 225/40 R18 tyre size, and we've tested the dry and wet handling, the dry and wet braking ability, aquaplaning resistance, the noise levels and the rolling resistance of these tyres, to work out exactly what tyre is best at what!
On test are some of the very best tyres on market, and where possible we've included both the UHP and UUHP segment. This means we have the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 AND Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 AND the F1 SuperSport, plus it's the first time we're is testing the Pirelli P Zero PZ4, and, amongst all the other tyres on test, the brand new Bridgestone Potenza Sport.
The test vehicle is a trusty VW Golf GTI, which while is a little generic, is a really good platform to run this program on.
Dry
The only tyres in the 97 seconds range were the as Altenzo and Avon. Both these tyres felt fine on the warm up laps, but as the tyres got warm the grip dropped off quite quickly which resulted in a lot of understeer. Neither felt particularly sporty, but neither had bad handling, just a lack of grip.
Next up in the 96 second range were GT Radial, Nokian and Hankook. The GT Radial was an enjoyable tyre to drive, it felt rounded and had the best steering of the three, it just didn't have the grip, where as the Nokian and Hankook both felt a little vague through the front of the car, gave you understeer, and didn't enjoy being hot.
The 95s is where it gets really competitive, with Falken, Goodyear, Vredestein and Pirelli all within a second of each other! The Falken was a very pleasant tyre, good steering response and well balanced, just, lacking a bit of feedback through the wheel.
The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 subjectively felt quite sporty, had a stable balance and good braking and turning, however it did feel a little traction limited out of the slower corners, robbing it of a few precious tenths.
The Vredestein was another tyre to have direct precise steering with good grip, and felt sporty right up until the limit where it would leave you wanting a bit more information. It was one of the most stable tyres in the test in terms of heat, and while track wear doesn't really correlate with road wear, it was also one of the freshest looking tyres when it came off the car at the end of the test.
The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 was a fast, direct steering, well weighted, and felt really good when cornering. It did seem to struggle with the heat a little more than some, but it was a really impressive handling tyre.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and Continental PremiumContact 6 placed fourth and third. There was no denying the Michelins grip, but it felt a little numb compared to the Goodyear, Pirelli and Continental, however it was stable in it's lap time and gave you lots of confidence to push on.
The Continental was the fastest of the UHP tyres, and exceptionally sporty feeling, it also had a stellar first lap pace, but then seemed to struggle with the heat a little more than others so laps two and three were slower.
The top three tyres in dry handling were the UUHP tyres, and while it was so exceptionally close between the Bridgestone and Michelin in time, there were some subjective differences worth noting. The Michelin wasn't quite as direct as the other two UUHP rivals to steer, but still very direct and enjoyable to drive. The Bridgestone felt meatier and more like a track tyre than a road tyre, and once hot it was very good laterally, feeling more like a track compound.
As for the Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport, it was tyre that was hard to fault in the dry. It's steering speed and feel was up there with the Bridgestone, and while it didn't quite feel as precise on centre, it was still exceptional, AND it seemed to cope with the heat the best of the three, with very little drop in time.
Dry Handling
Spread: 4.05 s (4.3%)|Avg: 95.63 s
Dry handling time in seconds (Lower is better)
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
93.92 s
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
94.34 s
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
94.42 s
Continental Premium Contact 6
94.83 s
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
94.87 s
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
95.17 s
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti Plus
95.52 s
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
95.87 s
Falken Azenis FK510
95.91 s
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
96.04 s
Nokian PowerProof
96.17 s
GT Radial SportActive 2
96.19 s
Avon ZV7
97.61 s
Altenzo Sports Comforter +
97.97 s
Dry Braking
Spread: 5.90 M (17.8%)|Avg: 34.93 M
Dry braking in meters (100 - 1 km/h) (Lower is better)
Dry Braking: Safety Impact: Best vs Worst Tyre
Wet
Like in the dry the Altenzo was the slowest tyre on test, just with a bigger margin in the wet. Again, there wasn't anything particularly terrible about the balance of the tyre, it just lacked grip in all directions, but as the cheapest tyre here that's not unexpected, as wet grip is the main area cheap tyres struggle with.
The next two tyres in the 66's were the Avon and Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport, and while they had similar times they had very different driving qualities. The Avon was a well mannered tyre with gentle understeer, just limited grip especially on the brakes, where as the F1 SuperSport had direct steering and great feedback, but struggled a little with aquaplaning, especially on the rear which led to oversteer.
The rest of the tyres were extremely close in terms of lap time.
The Nokian and Vredestein were pretty much tied, with both tyres lacking a bit of grip and feedback through the wheel, though the Vredestein suffered with understeer and the Nokian slightly oversteer.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S was the nicest of the three uuhp tyres in terms of balance, but like all the UUHP tyres it aquaplaned more than the UHP tyres on the lap making an ultimate lap time difficult, but the grip was good.
The Continental PremiumContact 6 once again felt sporty and direct with good levels of grip, and on a similar lap time was the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3, which dominated in the wet braking test, but felt weaker laterally and like in the dry, had an understeer balance.
The new GT Radial was more impressive in wet handling than it was wet braking, having no issues with the deeper water on the wet handling lap which certainly helped it's overall lap time.
The Falken and Asymmetric 5 were opposing styles on a similar time. The Falken felt more sporty than when tested in other sizes, with quick direction changes on the front axle, but the rear couldn't keep up so you were fighting oversteer, whereas the Asymmetric 5 was a very well balanced tyre, giving you good grip and predictable handling in all directions..
Like in the dry, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 was a joy to drive in the wet. Good traction, sharp on the front, the only negative point was on this Golf it liked to oversteer more than understeer.
Second place was taken by the new Bridgestone Potenza Sport, the fastest of the UUHP tyres and almost the fastest of all the tyres. The compound on this tyre feels a bit like a track day tyre, it needed a few laps to get some heat into it, and it struggled with aquaplaning more than any other tyre, but when it was in contact with the surface it had excellent levels of grip.
And finally, with a similar time but delivering it in a totally opposite way, was the Michelin Pilot Sport 4. This tyre didn't feel that sporty, but what it did was deliver a safe, understeer primary balance that gave you a lot of confidence to drive quickly and safely.
Wet Handling
Spread: 4.54 s (7%)|Avg: 65.56 s
Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
64.46 s
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
64.53 s
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
64.84 s
Falken Azenis FK510
65.17 s
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
65.20 s
GT Radial SportActive 2
65.20 s
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
65.23 s
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
65.23 s
Continental Premium Contact 6
65.30 s
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti Plus
65.59 s
Nokian PowerProof
65.63 s
Avon ZV7
66.20 s
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
66.20 s
Altenzo Sports Comforter +
69.00 s
Hankook really did have this much of an advantage during wet braking, it was tested three times to be sure!
Wet Braking
Spread: 10.39 M (33.9%)|Avg: 35.86 M
Wet braking in meters (80 - 1 km/h) (Lower is better)
Wet Braking: Safety Impact: Best vs Worst Tyre
The GT Radial had an impressive pair of aquaplaning results.
Straight Aqua
Spread: 12.20 Km/H (15.1%)|Avg: 74.81 Km/H
Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)
GT Radial SportActive 2
80.90 Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
78.50 Km/H
Continental Premium Contact 6
77.90 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
77.40 Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
76.70 Km/H
Falken Azenis FK510
75.80 Km/H
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti Plus
75.00 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
74.10 Km/H
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
74.00 Km/H
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
73.40 Km/H
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
72.30 Km/H
Nokian PowerProof
72.10 Km/H
Avon ZV7
70.60 Km/H
Altenzo Sports Comforter +
68.70 Km/H
Curved Aquaplaning
Spread: 0.70 m/sec2 (29.2%)|Avg: 2.07 m/sec2
Remaining lateral acceleration (Higher is better)
GT Radial SportActive 2
2.40 m/sec2
Continental Premium Contact 6
2.30 m/sec2
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
2.23 m/sec2
Falken Azenis FK510
2.20 m/sec2
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
2.20 m/sec2
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
2.18 m/sec2
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti Plus
2.10 m/sec2
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
2.07 m/sec2
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
2.00 m/sec2
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
1.93 m/sec2
Avon ZV7
1.90 m/sec2
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
1.90 m/sec2
Nokian PowerProof
1.90 m/sec2
Altenzo Sports Comforter +
1.70 m/sec2
Environment
The lower cost tyres had the lowest external noise, with the Pirelli managing to combine sporty handling with low noise levels better than any other tyre.
Noise
Spread: 4.00 dB (5.8%)|Avg: 71.28 dB
External noise in dB (Lower is better)
GT Radial SportActive 2
69.50 dB
Altenzo Sports Comforter +
70.20 dB
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
70.50 dB
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
70.80 dB
Avon ZV7
70.80 dB
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
71.10 dB
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti Plus
71.20 dB
Falken Azenis FK510
71.30 dB
Nokian PowerProof
71.30 dB
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
71.50 dB
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
71.70 dB
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
72.20 dB
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
72.30 dB
Continental Premium Contact 6
73.50 dB
The cheapest tyre on test, the Altenzo, had the lowest rolling resistance, with the UUHP tyres unable to match the best of the UHP tyres.
Rolling Resistance
Spread: 2.63 kg / t (37.3%)|Avg: 8.92 kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)
Altenzo Sports Comforter +
7.05 kg / t
Nokian PowerProof
8.44 kg / t
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
8.48 kg / t
GT Radial SportActive 2
8.55 kg / t
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
8.56 kg / t
Avon ZV7
8.66 kg / t
Continental Premium Contact 6
8.84 kg / t
Falken Azenis FK510
9.10 kg / t
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
9.31 kg / t
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
9.44 kg / t
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
9.47 kg / t
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti Plus
9.62 kg / t
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
9.67 kg / t
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
9.68 kg / t
19,000 km
£1.45/L
8.0 L/100km
--
Annual Difference
--
Lifetime Savings
--
Extra Fuel/Energy
--
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.
Unsurprisingly we find the best tyres on test also being some of the most expensive, with only Goodyear bucking the trend with the great value Asymmetric 5.
Price
Spread: 49.28 (106.6%)|Avg: 74.56
Price in local currency (Lower is better)
Altenzo Sports Comforter +
46.22
GT Radial SportActive 2
63.99
Avon ZV7
67.20
Falken Azenis FK510
68.40
Nokian PowerProof
69.40
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
72.70
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
75.70
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
78.20
Continental Premium Contact 6
79.70
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
81.10
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
82.70
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
88.50
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
95.50
Results
Please note: For the final results, the UHP tyres are separated from the UUHP tyres (see video), however due to website limitations, they are all included in the same results below. Please keep this in mind when viewing the final results.
Excellent rounded tyre with almost no weakness, excellent grip in the dry and wet, short braking distances and safe balance.
Not the most sporty feeling of the UHP tyres.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is a tyre with almost no weaknesses, it has excellent grip in all conditions, good aquaplaning resistance, and a low noise. The only negative is that it's not the most responsive of tyres during the dry handling test.
Excellent rounded tyre with almost no weakness, sporty handling in the dry and wet, very short wet braking, very high aquaplaning resistance.
Average external noise.
The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 is a tyre with almost no weaknesses, it has excellent grip in the dry and wet, sporty handling, excellent aquaplaning resistance and low rolling resistance.
Extremely rounded UUHP tyre with the shortest dry braking distances, excellent aquaplaning resistance, good levels of comfort and lowest rolling resistance of the UUHP tyres.
Not as dynamic handling as the other two UUHP tyres in this test.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is an extremely rounded UUHP tyre, offering the most complete blend of qualities. The trade off for all these qualities seems to be in dry handling, where it doesn't feel the most sporty of tyres.
Sporty handling tyre with excellent steering response and feedback, very quick in the dry and wet with short braking distances.
Low aquaplaning resistance, oversteer balance in wet handling.
The new Bridgestone Potenza Sport at times feels like a track tyre for the road. The grip levels are extremely high and when the tyre is warm, the grip incredible. The low starting tread depth makes it difficult in the wet due to high levels of aquaplaning, however the grip is impressive when in contact with the road.
Shortest wet braking distance, very short dry braking, safe wet handling balance, low rolling resistance.
Understeer balance in the dry, average aquaplaning performance.
The new specification Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 is the wet braking master, stopping the car significantly shorter than any other tyre on test. This braking advantage does seem to have come at the slight expense of handling, with the tyre slower to react and understeer balance in the dry and wet.
Truly a road tyre you can use on track, excellent dynamic steering with quick reactions and good feedback, and very good heat resistance for a road tyre.
Oversteer wet handling balance, long wet braking distances, high external pass by noise, high rolling resistance.
The Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport was the master of the dry handling lap, offering the best steering response and good feedback. Unfortunately in this 18" size, the F1SS didn't has as much wet performance as tested in other sizes.
Dynamic handling with an excellent performance in the dry and wet, low levels of noise.
Average aquaplaning performance.
The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is a rare tyre that seems to blend good grip in the dry and wet, sporty handling, low rolling resistance and good levels of comfort. IF this tyre had slightly better aquaplaning resistance it would have been in the top group.
Sporty dry handling with the fastest dry lap time, short dry braking, excellent aquaplaning resistance.
Highest pass by noise on test, average wet handling lap time.
The Continental PremiumContact 6 further cements the theory that it should have been named the SportContact 6, with the fastest dry handling lap, best in category steering response and precision, and short dry braking. Sadly, this comes at the expense of NVH.
Best straight and curved aquaplaning, lowest noise on test, stable wet handling with good levels of grip, sporty handling in the dry, low rolling resistance.
Long wet braking, average grip in the dry.
The new GT Radial SportActive 2 is a good improvement over the SportActive, with very high aquaplaning resistance, very low noise, and good handling in the dry and wet. Unfortunately the tyre has extended wet braking distances.
Stable dry handling with good steering feel and low wear on track.
Long wet braking distances, low grip in wet handling, highest rolling resistance on test.
The new Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+ had extremely stable dry handling times with good steering and very good heat resistance. Sadly that seemed to hamper it in the wet, where it couldn't match the best on test.
Lowest rolling resistance on test, quiet pass by noise, low purchase price.
Extremely long wet and dry braking, lowest grip in handling tests with understeer balance, weak aquaplaning resistance.
The Altenzo SportComforter+ is the first time we've seen Altenzo in a test which should be commended. It is by far the cheapest tyre on test, and while it couldn't match the rest of the tyres in the grip test, it gives Altenzo a base of very low fuel use and low noise to build on and improve in the future.
Thanks for your great testing Jon, 1 question, you mention that the Goodyr SS gave less (time) degradation than the Mich, (so no sign that it was overheating?). Any idea why that seemed the case, yet in the video we see the Goodyr clearly has suffered from over heating? ( @11:41) Cheers Mark D
Maybe is to early to say but... Yesterday I put F1 SuperSport to replace the PZ4, and in the come back to home from the workshop I feel the tyre like soo soft in corners, like when you have the shocks to change, (the preasures are the same) and braking on corners the car slides too much, the light os stability control blinks to much times than before... Is the first time that I change the tyres in this (Nissan GTR) car and I dont know how many kilometers I need to have the 100% grip, but I hope to need to improve...
Were the Pirellis you took off the tyres that Nissan fitted? If they're the OE versions they might be heavily tuned for the GTRs power / weight.
There's also quite a bit of steering feel difference between tyres at 1.6mm and new tyres, so that might be part of the reason too. I hope they bed in for you. Usually 500km should be enough.
Thanks for reply, the tyres that I took off was Pirelli PZero (No OE version), the tyres that I've fitted are F1 SS ND0 (Porsche Homologation) (you know something about Porsche homologation differences??), I replaced because they're incompatible with the 4x4, not for wear it still have 5mm, (the previous owner of this car put a set with wrong equivalence 1,5% of inequal, the front tyre have more diameter), now I'm on 0,35% of inequal and I can see that the car send less torque to front wheels (8-10% less)... In any case I feel the car smoother and with better rolling resistance. I hope the same, I hope to find more grip with the kilometers, I will write the evolution here in 1000 kilometers! Besst!
Interesting that they're porsche tyres. ND is the Panamera, so depending on which vehicle it might be that they've been highly tuned for comfort which might be the cause. Though Porsche are usually pretty good with their tyres, they focus on handling for nearly all vehicles in some regard.
Oh I didnt know that... I was thinking maybe this OE is for a GT3 that is a car that weight 400kg less than mine and this maybe the cause, but if you say that this tyres is for car that weight more than mine I feel more comfortable by this, and I hope to have more grip when they have more kilometers, anyway if I have a little bit of more comfort in this car maybe is a plus to use it out of track (my use on 95%) althought in Septembre I want to go Nurburgring I hope this tyres do it well...
FINALLY! I just fitted a new set of 225/40 R18 Michelin PS4S to my GTI Performance and I had them on the car for roughly 450 km currently. Again, I placed this order on March 30 in 2022. Yeah, 2022! After some endless wait until October 8th delivered to dealer, and I use to fit winters in October, no summer tyres. On a sidenote: DOT 2222, so these American produced tyres were made two months after my order . . . . Somewhat facetiously, isn't it? These PS4S replaced my former PSS in HN spec (Hyundai i30N). So, what do they look? Much wider, with a way better rim protection compared to the PSS HN. The sidewalls are almost straight on VW 7.5" wheels. Very pleased to lay my eyes on. My former PSS HN looked like a 205. How do they feel? Stiff. I didn't exactly expect them to be harsher compared to the PSS, but they really are. With ~3.5 mm my former PSS felt more forgiving if not just softer. These PS4S ride like 19" instead of 18" and I didn't expect that. What I much longed for was wet grip. The PSS HN isn't an adept for wet performance. We had some coolish rainy days (slightly below +10°C). In a nutshell, this PS4S delivered! Just what you'd expect from a contemporary 'higher performance' tyre.
Surprised at the ride quality, have you double checked pressures? The 225/40 R18 PS4S is actually the same as the one they tweaked for the GR Yaris, so that might have something to do with it.
Yes of course, double checked. 2,3 bar (cold) on all corners (instead of VW recommended 2,6 bar, probably a CO² thing). I know, it's factory fit on the GR Yaris, you might be right, even though the article number remains the same since SOP in 2016 (225/40 R18 in America).
You said 9.76 kg in 2021, while Sportauto indicates 10.03 kg in 2023. Well, I don't know the corresponding DOT numbers, but my own are DOT 2222. So, it might well be and Michelin 'tweaked/reinforced/strengthened' this PS4S for the GR Yaris - as a consequence it became a couple of grams heavier. I'm ok with that anyway.
Experienced PZ4 aquaplaning myself. It drops like a knife below 10c, those tyres are not really suitable for UK climate, unless you want to drive them only at >15c. Pretty dangerous. Different summer tyre behaviour in different outside temperatures is pretty underrated topic. Most of the tests online are done in like 20c and higher. Which is fine for southern continental Europe, but not great for Northern countries, which see those temperatures only 3 months of the year or so.
That's exactly same as the 2023 225/40 R18 'auto, motor und sport' review told about the PZ4. This Pirelli (probably 'SC' version) needs some heat when wet. You'd most probably a similar experience with BS Potenza Sport, Michelin PS4S and - even much worse - with a PSS in HN spec. Ask how I know.
Another update if anyone is interested: My anticipated 225/40 R18 PS4S is announced to be october 8th delivered. Even though I've curious finally running them I decided to wait fitting them for march or april 2023. To remember, I placed the order march 30th (2022!!). I'll have to wait a full year. It's a shame, but it is what it is. I'd love to know if 235/40 R18 size PS4S would provide advantageous availability compared to 225s.
The (American produced) 225/40 R18 Michelin PS4S (as in reviewed on this site) I ordered in April is finally supposed to arrive in late August. I'm still waiting for almost FIVE months. It's crazy in 2022!
Where are you in the world? If it makes you feel any better I've had to delay / skip tests due to stock availability, and that tyre is a particularly bad one.
I'm in Germany and still waiting for my set of PS4S. Even though all my waiting patiently I couldn't imagine Michelin would deliver me some summer tyres in autumn. I feel you for that delay too.
After two months so far I'm still waiting for my 225/40 R18 PS4S to be delivered. Still no ETA. Never had something like this happen in the past. Things are quite crazy in 2022. It starts getting annoying.
does anyone know where the PS4S in 225/40 R18 sold in Europe (and as tested by TR) is made? Does it come from the US just like the same size sold across the pond? In the past at least Euro and NA offerings didn't have necessarily to be the same.
Sadly my PS4S are still on backorder. I've never had to wait for tyres that long. Thanks to TR for your answer 18 days ago.
Guys, there's perhaps something wrong. In its final verdict you say about the PS4S: "excellent aquaplaning resistance" and it scores second in straight aquaplaning according to the graphics - better than PS4 and all UHP tyres except the GT Radial. It also scores quite well in curved aquaplaning. However the text says about wet performance: "The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S was the nicest of the three uuhp tyres in terms of balance, but like all the UUHP tyres it aquaplaned more than the UHP tyres on the lap making an ultimate lap time difficult, but the grip was good."
The straight aquaplaning test is a different test to the wet handling test which can lead to different results, especially as wet handling is dynamic aquaplaning rather than steady state tests
I just decided to still go for the PS4S, not the new PS5. GTI Performance Mk7.5 w/ 225/40 R18 and had PSS HN (Hyundai spec) before on this car. As previously mentioned this HN spec PSS isn't that of a smart choice for Northern European weather. I'd even say it's almost dangerous in the rain and hast been that way from day one. Wet performance is clearly worse compared to my BMW spec PSS, which I do run on my Mini. This 205/45 R17 PSS (BMW/Mini star marking) is a surprisingly well rounded tire and basically feels like a PS4 (but looks better). Not all PSS are the same. That said I'm happy to the PS4S being made in 225/40 R18 as well as in 235/40 R18. Thanks to Michelin for that! You're making business with me since the new Conti SC7 isn't sold in 18". Sadly the 235/40 R18 PS4S is DT1 spec which is seemingly just a tiny 3 mm wider than the 225/40 R18. That's just disappointing. I would've gone with the 235s IF they're actually wider. Still on winter tires though. Can't wait to fit the summer wheels with new tires. Jonathan and all of the TR team again, keep on doing your excellent reviews please - they're the very best available anywhere! Again, thank you so much for all of your efforts!
Hello, I am planning to change my set of tyres and thinking for Goodyear F1 or the Michelin p4s , looi for comfort ,low noise and summer season mainly.
Hi, I’m currently driving a 430i MSport Convertible. I use this car mainly for leisure… a couple of times in the Old Nurburgring circuit. Actually I’ve the Michelin Supersport. I’m thinking to replace them with the Potenza Sport or Michelin 4s ( 19” rims). Do you think they’ll perform better in Nurburgring track compared to SS? I’m referring to the overall grip and steering feedback. Many thanks for your comments!
Ciao Francesco, beautiful car. However are you certain this 1,8 ton convertible is a proper choice for Ring abuse? Excessive weight, medium power and a complete lack of camber (almost zero camber on front) inevitably make for excessive outer edge wear with any tyre you go for. That said, the PS4S isn't a huge upgrade on a dry track compared to the PSS. It's more so an upgrade on wet roads, though if your PSSs are BMW spec (star marking) then they're likely better in wet performance than non-BMW spec PSS. This doesn't apply to tires aimed for true M cars.
I'd generally avoid the ultra low rolling resistance tyres if grip is a priority, and it seems like a premium touring tyre might be more suited than a uhp tyre if comfort is your thing!
Hi, I'm looking to buy a set of new tyre (245/40/19) to replacy my current Pirelli P7. I might choose between PS4 and FK510. I think both tyres' performance can meet my needs. I want my next tyre be quiet and comfort too, since my current P7 is extremely noise. In Australia, PS4 is around $280 per corner, while FK510 is $240 per corner. Could you please give me any suggestion?
Hi, I know they're technically not in the same categories, but what would you choose between the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 and the MICHELIN PILOT SPORT 4, 16 inch? I would like to be totally safe in wet and dry but have great comfort and low noise. Thanks. David
Agreed, the PS4 very most probably is the best performing (safest) tire currently available in 205/55 R16, however as an UHP tire it won't be the quietest.
Had its predecessor in this size some years ago on a Golf and Conti PremiumContact 2 (touring type) before. With the PS3 handling was noticeably improved, car felt much more stable. On the other hand it clearly wasn't as smooth as before. Still not too obtrusive though.
Hi, I've a 2014 Ginetta G40R, a "road ready" version of the race series & it is pretty race orientated, 220 Bhp and 850kg.. I use it a lot in Sprints & Hillclimbs, currently on Toyo 888's. I can't fault their performance (tyres), but I wish to use the UUHP (List 1a MSA UK Blue book) Road tyre as I am penalised for having MSA List B tyres (888's) and wonder if, for 205/40/17 (I haven't the room for 18 inch) but also for 205/45/17? My preferences would be: Michelin PSS (if still available?); Bridgestone Potenza (unsure if in 17 inch?); Goodyear asyim and then Michelin PS4? What would be your advice be for, sprints, are one lap or less and Hillclimbs, 35 to 65 secs?? Tks
The new Potenza Sport is pretty soft, and while it needs heat it does warm up fast and you'll have none of the negative wear from overheating on longer runs, so I'd try that first. Then probably the Goodyear. The PSS might need a bit more heat than you generate, especially on cooler days.
I did think the PSS were for something nearly twice the weight of the G40. It may be some weeks/months ahead, but I'll update you when our `season starts again with the Potenzas 8-)) Many thanks
I have an 07 acura type s w/michelin pilot sport as3. Looking to upgrade...i live in vegas so wetness not such a factor but when it does rain it gets slick but need grip more so....any suggestions
Just some comments on this, which I hope come across in the right way:
Dry and Wet Handling: You've rated the tyres on their lap times, which if they're all on the same car is a function of their braking, traction and lateral grip, not their handling. Grip and handling are completely different: grip is just the lateral or longitudinal force that a tyre can generate, whereas handling is the subjective manner in which a car responds to inputs (i.e. sharp, woolly, linear or non linear etc) and the shape of its slip/grip curve (i.e. slip angles build gradually and tail off gently, or tail off sharply etc).
External Noise: Thank you, but can you measure internal noise please? The internet is full of questions from people like me wanting a quiet tyre for their car, but all that seems to be out there are external noise ratings. The noise a tyre puts out to bystanders can be very different to the noise it transmits to the cabin. We do all care about how local residents and bystanders hear our cars, but we also care about peace and quiet when driving.
Fair point regarding handling vs laptime. I do score the tyres on their subjective handling, I just call all the track work handling.
I do also score internal noise subjectively, and when I can, objectively (see the 16" test) as I agree it's very important. Unfortunately it's also very time consuming to do properly so I don't always get the chance to test this.
Thank you, I'll take a look. What would you recommend for my BMW 530d on 19s? I'm a very keen driver who races in his spare time (in another car, obviously), so I really tend to feel subtle differences in response, ride and handling, but I also desperately want a quiet tyre. I'm not bothered at all about grip or traction. The 530d is vastly over-tyred for what it needs (way more grip than I could ever want), but those big tyres just make so much noise! They're a ridiculous 245/50R19 front and 275/35/19 rear. It's currently on Bridgestone Turanza T005s RFTs.
Interesting, thanks. I tried non-RFTs on my E90 and it messed up the ride and handling, reducing the effective overall spring rate and making the car really bouncy. They were 205/55/16 though, so I suspect the effect would be much greater than with my current tyres. It did put me off though!
That is one benefit of runflat tyres but most people seem to be totally fine giving that up for the better NVH, and yes of course you're right, the effect will be way bigger with a 16" wheel but you'll definitely still notice it if you do switch.
If sticking with runflats, assuming your T005s are driveguard runflats, they're already amongst the best from what I've seen.
Thanks, I'll give it some thought. Sorry to ask another question, but if I did go for non-runflats, what would be a good tyre for response and good handling but also low NVH? I'm not really bothered about grip or price.
I'd love to see some odd-ball comparisons to drive some interest, such as
1. Compare tyres from brother/sister brands of the same performance category? - Like Falken FK510 Vs something from the Dunlop Sport Maxx range (both owned by Sumitomo) - or something from Toyo vs Nitto (both owned by Toyo)
2. Comparison between region-market specific tyres of the same model. - eg: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 "ST" (silent tuned), in Asian/Oceania markets we often get the "ST" PS4 rather than the "real thing", feedback around here seems to indicate there is a performance difference between them.
I have an Audi TTS with 255/35/19 tyres on it. I use the car for daily transportation and also for sporty driving usually on twisty B-roads. I don't have easy access to a track so I can rarely take the car there. Which tyre would you recommend for this kind of usage? Thank you very much in advance!
I have a 2020 Polo GTI with factory 18" rims and a really stupid tire size (214/40 R18). From the factory I had Continental SportContact 5 which I was really unhappy with. I now switched to Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and I'm so far really happy with them, except for the price. I now have to put new ones on as mine are worn and I need help by picking a new tire. Should I stick with the Pilot Sport 4 or should I rather get the cheaper Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3? (I would take the Asymmetric 5 but those aren't available in that size) I need the most grip possible and I like to corner fast on country roads. We handling is also very important as we get quite a lot of rain here as well in Germany. I'm also planning to go up in power, so I really need a tire with good grip. Which one do you think performs the best overall and has a bit more headroom to go along with 100hp more? The Pilot Sport 4 or the Asymmetric 3? Thank you very much!
If it was the Asym 5 or PS4 I'd say try the Goodyear, but the Asym 3 is a dated tyre now and without knowing if Goodyear have rolled in any updates you might be giving up quite a bit of wet grip
We have here FWD car in the test. What about Audi A3 8V quattro (haldex) limusine with 300hp? So still a bit understeer car. Any ideas from you as a all rounder tire? Do you think Pilot Sport 4 and F1 Eagle Asymetric 5 is still the best way to go?
I am looking for replacement of my BMW Pirelli P7 run flat by Eagle F1 Asym 3 run flat OR Asym 5 standard tyre (non run flat). What do you suggest me to choose?
Why do we have different results for rolling resistance between the video and the article? (in the video for example the hankook evo 3 has a high rolling resistance, but on the article a low rolling resistance)
On a Porsche Macan forum I've seen a lot of people praising Arturo tires for some strange reason, saying they are just as good as say the Michelin N0 options for the Macan. Can you get a set to actually provide some real world tests on these?
I assume you are referring to Atturo tyres(tires). I tried these on a V8 Audi Q7 (AZ-850 in 295/35/21). They were just OK for handling specs but deformed (out of round) at speed (above 100km/h) causing severe shake (they were balanced this was confirmed by testing on a high speed balance machine). These were well short of the overall handling, subjective feel and overall quality of the Pirelli P-Zero's that came off the car, it's arguable that the top line Michelin's (Pilot Sport SUV, Latitude Sport etc) are step up again from the P-Zero's so no - they are nowhere near as good as a quality Michelin , noting this is only 1 person's experience and not a very big sample size.
Hey I used the dunlop maxi sport for my Audi A7 in 275/30 r21, its punktured so now dealer changed to of them in front to some Windforce tires. Dont know if I should keep them or change them to something better? Never heard about windforce.
I'm looking to replace a set of Yokohama's on a MK1 MX5 15" alloys, but finding it impossible to find great dry performance tyres in the size I need. 195-205/45/15. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I'm afraid in these smaller low fitment sizes the owners club will be a much better source of information than me, as it's not an area I've managed to test, sorry!
I'm in the same boat, looking at the standard 195/50R15 size and I want the best for handling feel in the dry, I'm hesitant to just plonk my money down on a set of Pilot Sport 3s due to the age of the tyre, but anything new in this size seems to always fall in the touring category. The Hankook Prime 3s seem to rate well, and the ZV7 is in this UHP test but obviously didn't score brilliantly. I'm just badly stuck on what decision to make. Can be high wear as its a weekend car and they will age before running to full depth.
Not from me I'm afraid as it's not something I've tested. If it's truely a weekend warrior and dry is the most important I might be tempted by something like an NS2R as they will certainly have good dry handling
If you are in Oceania or North America you could go with Potenza RE003 aka Firehawk Indy 500 as they are quite good and made down to 15". If you can get the Potenza RE004, even better!
Hi there Thanks ever so much for all the great content you put out, it really is in a class of its own. I have a 2014 RS4 and whilst it rides great on perfect tarmac I find the ride quality to be quite brittle and crashy on the poor road surfaces in my area. Which of the UUHP and UHP tyres do you rate best for comfort / sidewall compliance? Also the Falkens in the test work out about 100 pounds per tyre cheaper than the biggest name brands, hence useful to get your thoughts on that tyre for comfort too. thanks again!
Sorry for the slow reply, I missed the message. Nice car! The Falkens are a good option for comfort in 19, not not 18" it seems. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 / 4S are also very good with comfort :)
Just a suggestion, that woul be very nice to me, which is having a check box to tick the test specifications, so you can get a score to the things that matter to you. i.e: I don't care about noise neither dry braking, so I could choose which is best overall without these 2 parameters. @TyreReviews:disqus What do you think?
Maybe you could consider the Continental Sport Contact 6, since in most of the tests it is very well rated (dry and wet), and it's quieter and has a lower rolling resistance than your other tyre options, which is also something to take in great consideration for an electrical car, like your Tesla, where noise and autonomy are great issues.
SportContact 6 is a good shout from the aftermarket, however I would suggest for EV's sticking with an EV specific tyre as the requirements are quite different. I've a video on this subject coming soon!
I finally fitted the Potenza Sports in 215/40/17. They replaced a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 in 205/40/17 (OEM size), with 25.000 km clocked and two and a half years of age. A full set ran me 475€ with installation and wheel balancing included in Athens, Greece. Car is a 2006 Ibiza Cupra with ~210HP, Bilstein B8s, matched Eibach springs and a Whiteline rear antiroll bar, that essentially stiffens the torsion beam. The first 100km were a bit squirmy as the tires settled in with the geometry of the car, but after 400km, they seem to be turning out to be a really good tire.
Steering response is direct, grip seems a bit improved compared to the PS4s, and more importantly, the tires react a lot better under heavy loads, like accelerating out of a corner in 3rd gear at the limit of understeer. Where the PS4 would tend to perform somewhat erratically, with the steering lightening a bit and the front becoming a bit unsettled (though ultimately, their high levels of grip allowed a quick pace), the Potenzas just pull you around the corner with no drama. An unexpected improvement of the Potenzas, that may be specific to my setup, lift-off oversteer during turn in became a lot more predictable and controllable, and doesn't upset the rear.
Comfort is not really affected (the B8s are pretty stiff at low frequency movements), maybe a touch more road surface-borne vibration transmitted to the chassis. Tire pressures are 37PSI front, 32 rear. As I acclimate myself with the tires more, I'll write a proper review. A photo of the tread in my particular fitment follows.
Still hoping someday you will also test a Yokohama-tyre ;)
Looks like the FK510 changed much, I remember it as a quiet, soft tyre with unsharp dry handling, now it´s completely different. Won´t buy this tyre because I´m not sure what I will get.
And the Conti PC6, which is known for very good wet grip now getting average and with much better aquaplaning resistance?
I think my personal choice for everyday driving would be the PZ4.
Maybe I´m a bit biased because the old P zero was the best tyre I ever had. But because it´s a very old tyre-design I tried next Bridgestone RE002 and wasn´t pleased with it because the new tyres where more worse in the grip in wet as my 3 year old worn Pirellis. Next I had GY F1 A3 which looks good at new state, not so good as the Pirellis, but better than the RE002. But after some years it lost significantly Grip in the wet and in the dry it needs very high ambient temperature to be grippy.
Thanks, but I guess the A052 isn´t a tyre for everyday driving on German Autobahn, especially because there were big tarffic accidents the last years because of Aquaplaning :(
I hope I will change my car before I change tyres again ;)
Yokohama tyres are rare to find in reviews. I´d droven some years ago the w.drive V905 which was tested by some magazines and the result was mediocre. I was satisfied with it´s wet grip till I changed the Yokos because the tyres were undriveable in snowy corners. And because the Semperit Speed Grip had good results in wet grip tests but were IMHO not so good as 3 year old Yokos I hope the summer tyres of Yokohama are now much better than in the past.
Ah, OK, thats not nice. Sounds a bit arrogance or they´re afraid about the test result.
In Yokohamas News (german) I read rarely test results, mostly that they have become the original equipment manufacturer for a certain vehicle or that they have achieved some success in motorsport.
I know hankook sent an updated compound for the test, in theory it should be reflected in the 2022 tests as they all test earlier than me (autumn 2020 for the 2021 tests where I tested in April 2021)
Hi Jonathan. Great review again. Have you come across the bridgestone potenza s005 by any chance? I'm wondering how they stack up to the Potenza Sports. They come with my next car but don't know anything about them and can't find much info either!
Thanks. I was thinking potentially getting all weather tyre replacements, something like the Continental All Season Contacts. I've never had a performance car. Would you think an all weather would be sensible? I'm going to be realistic I don't think I can go through the hassle of two sets of tyres.
Thanks that was my gut instinct too! I'll let you know how p005s perform. If I change I'd go for either bridgestone sports or the the classic michellin p4's.
Hello Jonathan, Thank you for your great work, it really helps us! I would like some advice please. I need to change all four tyres on my BMW M140i Xdrive, currently fitted with Bridgestone Potenza S001 runflat. I don't want the runflat anymore, it's heavy, noisy and I can't feel the limit in the rain. I want Michelin (I'm French!) and I'm hesitating between the PS4 and the PS4S. It's my family car and I drive it daily, to school, on holiday and sometimes for fun on the back roads (without the kids!). So I'm looking for a polyvalent tyre, comfortable enough for my family. I might go on a track but not very often, it's too risky for the car. Is the PS4 enough for this car and this use or is the PS4S the minimum?
Coming from runflats I would aim for the 4S of the two because you'll be dropping a lot of lateral stiffness from the runflats anyway, and the PS4 can be very soft
Would you recommend the Eagle F1 SuperSport for a 200hp, 300nm of torque rear wheel drive car with 1100 kg of weight or is this tire "too much/overkill" for such a car using it as a daily?
Unfortunately, Goodyear stops producing the SuperSport (at least in the size 205/40R18), because it will become a new rubber compound (mixture) for 2022. So my size isn't available anywhere in germany and might not come back til 2022
Hi Jonathan, Thanks for being the premiere tyre review resource out there :)
Considering you always said the PS4 is a comfortable tyre, especially for a UHP one, how does the comfort compare with the Primacy 4? I know i am comparing different classes, i am looking for a comfortable tyre but if i can get some extra performance i will take it.
Thanks for your answer! Not sure if you ever planned to do such a test, but doing a mix test with touring tyres and UHP tyres together might reveal some interesting overlaps between the categories.
When i am looking for tyres i am always analyzing both touring the UHP categories, and i believe this might be the case for others as well.
First of all, congrats for another excellent tyres test! However, studying both the video and the report, not surprisingly some uncertainties are not completely eliminated! Therefore, could you please give your opinion about the best of the choices that follow, which I'm considering for the new tyres of my Peugeot 207RC (GTi), 175HP : 1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4, ( I have been using them for about 38 000 km now and they need to be replaced). 2. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5. 3. Bridgestone Potenza Sport. Size is 205/45/R17 88 XL W. As this car has fairly stiff suspension settings, ... especially for greek roads, a reasonable degree of comfort would be a plus. For example the PS4s are much better in this respect, than the RE050As that the car came with from the factory! Thanks in advance.
Bridgestone for handling, but might not be the best in comfort. If the Asym 5 is much cheaper than the PS4 in your area, it would be the no brainer choice for me.
Your reply is really helpful. I think I'll go for the Asym 5. I understand that in a way it compares well with the PS4, handles well on dry and wet and can contribute in the enjoyment of sporty driving. As to the Bridgestone, I am sceptical about its behaviour on wet roads (we're in the south of Europe, but we do have winters with rains and low temperatures above zero ...) and also for its very shallow tread. Thanks a lot!
I wanted to try the goodyear supersports but they have been out of stock for a long time in my size. I don't have many more alternatives (I don't want the ps4) other than the PC6 or try the yokohama advan v105s. What is your opinion of the yokos?
Great test, as always! I was wondering if you had tested runflat vs regular variants of some of these tyres. I am currently driving on Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ZPs * which is the runflat version and these are awesome tyres, both dry and wet, great road handling, etc. It is also one of the few good options for BMW 225/45/18 and 255/40/18 standard spec (OEMs being some mediocre Pirellis and Bridgestones which I have driven but the Michelins are entirely different level). However I am considering transition to non runflats but I can't really find good information like a test or a review about how non runflats would compare to runflats so I can decide...
I've not done it yet, I've been meaning to but time has been against me! There's lots of reviews from BMW owners on the site that have moved to non-runflats and really enjoyed the upgrade, finding improved grip, especially in the wet, and vastly improved comfort.
Thanks! Such comparison of runflat vs non-runflat versions of same tyres would be great, I'm sure a lot of BMW and Mercedes owners would appreciate it :-) Otherwise as I said I am very happy with PS4 ZPs, never had any issues with grip no matter dry or wet, the only inconvenience is a subjectively harsh ride and noise, and I believe Michelin have done a good job applying the excellent PS4 technology also with runflats but of course that can be confirmed only with a measured test.
Please give an info on what you chose in the end. I have the same wheel specs (225/45 R48 front, 255/40 R18 rear), also stock mediocre Continental CSC5 and I am looking at Goodyear Supersports. As regards the runflat tyres, I have non-RFT winter tyres, but this obviously cannot be compared to summer tyres. However they really seem a tiny bit more comfortable. But again, hard to compare directly.
Fabulous test, as always. From your video, it looks like you were using the Pirelli PZ4 SC version, although here in your results table the thumbnail you show for the PZ4 looks like an LS version. I suspect there may be even more difference between a PZ4 SC vs LS than there is between a Michelin PS4S vs PS4. So perhaps a good idea to identify which version is being tested? None of the other test sources seem to identify which PZ4 version is under test either. Pirelli themselves usually don't bother on their own website when looking at size availability - hopeless. Long overdue a new marketing dept perhaps.
I need to double check this as Pirelli have been more than a little confusing with the namings of the various PZ4, but I believe the aftermarket version is just the aftermarket version, but much closer to the SC than the LS which are OE only.
In the green section the Continental Premium Contact 6 is described as having the "fastest dry lap time" but you also list it as being 4th in dry handling. This appears to be a contradiction.
The UHP and UUHP are in separate results, however due to website limitations they had to be in the same listings on the site, it's noted about the overall results.
I was interested in the curved aquaplaning result for the PC6 as it seems to have been an area of relative weakness in other tests. What was the water depth for your test in this discipline?
Great review! I have not managed to make a decision yet though :-) I want one these: P Zero, FI asym 5 or PS4.
My preference is biased towards the most quiet one in the cabin. Did any of these tyres in this test have noise cancellation foam? And whats your take on noice cancellation foam? Does it make a noticable difference?
I´m replacing old P Zeros and they are a bit loud. But the pz4, with the foam (PNCS) is ranked very well noicewise in the EU-classification, but that´s drive-by-noice, not cabin noice. The question is how that translates to cabin noice? Any thoughts? What would you recommend? Grateful for all input I can get.
Great video & test as usual. Always good to see how different tyres perform on FWD compared to RWD tests. I cry when I see the prices you pay in the UK for the top tyres. Down under in NZ we get ripped off, small market & isolation don't help I guess. Even working in the trade I paid the equivalent of £100 for S1 Evo3 in 235/40R18 for my FoST. Retail would be over £150, madness!
Thanks a lot for your efforts put into this test. I'm looking for a sporty 17" tire for spring and autumn when it's still cold sometimes, in summer i've got some Yokohama AD08 or Michelin Sport Cup 2. I'm driving mostly only in dry conditions but the tire should also handle a good rain. I'ts my car for having fun driving serpentine roads and alpine passes. I've used a Pilot Sport 4 from my daily and it did it's job (it was just a bit tricky with the tirepressure on this car). I'm leading towards the eagle asymmetric 5, the conti (which sounds to feel the sportiest) or the new potenza sport. What would you say? Is the Potenza more in the range of a sport cup 2 (or the yokohama) or is it still driveable on cold days. Or would you tend to the "safe" side with the conti or the goodyear. the PS4 is still an option but way more expensive and I'm not sure if it's worth the extra. Noise and wear is irrelevant, i usually change my tires because of age. The Wet performance of the bridgestone and the conti is leading me more towards the goodyear, so i could use it if necessary on my daily.
Hmm, all good choices, I'm not sure if I can steer you in any direction. I figure the Bridgestone would be pretty good in 17" as it is in 18", and if it's just a fun ROAD car quite a lot of fun!
Thanks for the great article and accompanying video. The findings regarding the performance variability of the Potenza Sport depending on tire temperature give me pause. Would, for example, driving 10km to the local twisties at mostly regular speeds leave the tires below their optimal temperature, resulting in inferior grip? With my PS4s (non S version), at temperatures above 10C, I find that regular driving is enough to make them ready to lift the rear inside tire on the first pass through the Limanakia corkscrew. I'm wondering whether this temperature variability also affects braking distances.
Maybe the difference is not that dramatic. If it is, I'll probably go for either the PC6 for subjective feel or a set of PS4s again for objective performance. I'd appreciate your comment Jonathan.
Hi Jonathan. Before anything, I have to congratulate you for doing this research that literally nobody else does (that i know)
With that, I have a 2007 Cayman S without PASM (active suspension). Wears 235/35/R19 front and 265's rear. So pretty low profile tire, makes for a bit stiff ride on less than optimal roads. Car isn't driven often, so I don't feel like splurging 800€ in a set of PS4S or Continental SC6. The Falken Fk510 and the Hankook evo3 seem like a great tire and I can get those for well under 600€ a set. With that, I've seen the BMW M2 comparison and you say that the Falken isn't very good on subjective handling as the steering isn't as precise. Cayman is a lot lighter at the front end compared to the M2 though, so I wonder how the softer Falken would feel. But the softer sidewall makes me look at these Falkens to slight improve ride quality. In this test the FK510 seems different than in the M1 size. Change in compound for the entire range or just different behaviour in different sizes?
Would you recommend the Falken for my Cayman, or the hankooks? or should I just bite the bullet and go PS4S or Continental SC6? (Bridgestone and Goodyear don't have competitive prices here.)
Hey! This 18" Falken definitely had a firmer construction than other times I've tested it, I've not found out why yet.
I don't actually know how those tyres would do on a Cayman, they have a pretty unique weight balance compared to normal tyres, have you found an owners club online to see what others are doing?
Unfortunately not, Porsche forums these days are like PS4S and everything else is crappy tire. I bet most people don't even drive the cars fast enough to get the PS4S up to temperature and could be better served by the PS4. I can't find the regular PS4 on my sizes at least here in Portugal.
Based on your guess, and given the prices for all 4 tyres, what would be your sugestion(s) for cayman 987? (prices from an online vendor to UK's Camskill but in Portugal)
Michelins PS4S - 876€ Continental SC6 - 708€ Goodyear SS - 806€ (can't find asymmetric 5 for the rear tyre, only front) Hankook S1 Evo3 - 570€ Bridgestone Potenza Sport - 718€ Falken FK510 - 498€
(as you can see, the Hankook and especially the fallen at are a killer price here in Portugal)
Seeing your M2 review, the comfort side of the Fallen interests me given the rough roads and stiff ride, but being a weekend toy, I wouldn't want to give up much fun by having a more numb driving experience.
If you don't mind that I step in, I would suggest the Maxxis Victra Sport 5 just in front, since they don't have that tire in both sizes! It's a great tire either in the dry and wet but a lot cheaper. But you'd have to be alright with different tires in both axles...
No at all mate, thanks a lot for the input. No rear tire available in the 265/35/R19 it seems. But the fronts are at a great price at 93€ a pop. Wonder what the rear tire would be since they are most of the bill.
I have PS4 on one of my cars on the basis of your previous reviews but now needed tyres for my other car. I was waiting for the latest results before I made a purchase. Have just ordered a set of GoodYear Asymmetric 5 on the basis of this review (would have gone for PS4 again if the prices were equal but the GY were nearly £100 cheaper). Thanks for the review.
I went to the same selection already in my previous car with 225/40 18 (FWD, Seat Exeo) with the following order and milage: Asym 3 (45k km) - PS4 (38k km) - PZ4 (30k km) - Asym 5 (sold the car with 10k km, very little wear)
Best feeling and comfort, for Pirelli Best performance after many miles, Goodyear With PS4, it did everything well, but it was more expensive. I could use again any of the four
Hi Jonathan, great job from you and the team, thanks! A suggestion: it may be a good idea to measure the thread depth before and after the tests, to give us an idea of the tyre wear. I.e. I'd like to put the KF510 on my car, but I'd be really interested to see if the lower price is counterbalanced by a wear ratio that made in the end these tyres anti economical in respect to less rolling resistant (hence less fuel consumption) or longer lasting but more expensive ones. Thanks :)
There are tests on the site which will have wear tested the FK510. The miles we do on the tyre aren't really enough to get any wear data, apart from the left front of dry handling which is nothing like real life wear so wouldn't be useful information.
I'd love to do proper wear testing but it's' very costly.
Thanks for the excellent review Jonathan! You’re the benchmark in this tyre world for teaching us in this entertaining manner ?
Personally, the thing I appreciate most is the subjective comments about the tyres. Considering that lap times are not the most important factor for some of us when compared to the subjective driving feeling, do you think you could get a different ranking order based on just subjective feeling, or the result would be rather similar?
And last question, is it always the case that weight and rolling resistance are so much correlated as in this comparison?
Subjective dry or subjective wet? The results would certainly change. For example, the PremiumContact 6 didn't win this test, but it's the tyre I have fitted to my daily driver as I like its subjectiveness.
Regarding RR and weight, there's a lot of factors at play, and tyre weight is certainly one of them, but it's certainly not the only factor at play so this might just be a bit of a fluke
Wow this test was great. You are my point of reference when I have to change tires. Last year I bought a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 and I really loved them. They last me 17.000km vs the 13.000km of the previous Michelin PS4, which are more expensive. Goodyear did an excellent job.
With the greatest tyre manufacturers finally stepping into this popular 18'' size, it´s finally time for Continental to present us with the Sport Contact 6! Will they step in this year? If the Premium Contact 6 is already this good, I wonder where the Sport Contact 6 would position in the chart, particularly in dry handling! Being the Michelin PS4S so expensive, one could buy 2 sets of Bridgestones for the price of 1 Michelin!... So, one more reason for Continental to step into this size with the Sport Contact 6! Once again, we watch odd results regarding one more Hankook tyre, compared with other some size tests... I may be mistaken, but are you sure about Michelin PS4 and Pirelli's EU labels?
Honestly, I'm not sure the Sport Contact 6 would do that much better than the PC6, it was already up there dynamically with the UUHP tyres and not too far off in laptime! It's a really impressive little thing :)
Excellent, I've been anxiously waiting for this one! Great review as ever. So the Bridgestone seems to be the spiritual successor to the MPSS, great tyre as long as it's warm but back off when cold. Think that's fair?
I would need to test it more off track to really know, it seems to be doing very well in tests. I'm not yet sure if the track wear will match the Michelin, I'm waiting for some extra data
A brilliantly thorough test presented in an admirably concise manner. You're continuing to make an often baffling subject very easy to digest. That ability is a real talent and greatly appreciated.
I'd been awaiting your verdict on the Potenza Sport before replacing all four corners of my 2018 Megane R.S.280, as there are some good deals on these right now. I've had the car for 16 months and was supplied used on mismatched UUHP Potenza S007 RS on the front, but S001s on the rear. They're all worn so time for a change. As the car is a daily driver I'm hesitant if the poorer wet performance of the UUHPs is a wise move and if I should drop to UHP, but would that hamper the enjoyment of the car? Given I haven't had any problems with the very aggressive S007s maybe I'm worrying unnecessarily? The Potenza Sports are hardly slicks are they...
I don't think the Potenza Sport will be any worse than the S007, especially as you're running 4 very worn tyres so if you want to try them, I'd certainly give them ago :)
Thanks for your great testing Jon, 1 question, you mention that the Goodyr SS gave less (time) degradation than the Mich, (so no sign that it was overheating?). Any idea why that seemed the case, yet in the video we see the Goodyr clearly has suffered from over heating? ( @11:41)
Cheers
Mark D
Maybe is to early to say but...
Yesterday I put F1 SuperSport to replace the PZ4, and in the come back to home from the workshop I feel the tyre like soo soft in corners, like when you have the shocks to change, (the preasures are the same) and braking on corners the car slides too much, the light os stability control blinks to much times than before... Is the first time that I change the tyres in this (Nissan GTR) car and I dont know how many kilometers I need to have the 100% grip, but I hope to need to improve...
Were the Pirellis you took off the tyres that Nissan fitted? If they're the OE versions they might be heavily tuned for the GTRs power / weight.
There's also quite a bit of steering feel difference between tyres at 1.6mm and new tyres, so that might be part of the reason too. I hope they bed in for you. Usually 500km should be enough.
Thanks for reply, the tyres that I took off was Pirelli PZero (No OE version), the tyres that I've fitted are F1 SS ND0 (Porsche Homologation) (you know something about Porsche homologation differences??), I replaced because they're incompatible with the 4x4, not for wear it still have 5mm, (the previous owner of this car put a set with wrong equivalence 1,5% of inequal, the front tyre have more diameter), now I'm on 0,35% of inequal and I can see that the car send less torque to front wheels (8-10% less)...
In any case I feel the car smoother and with better rolling resistance.
I hope the same, I hope to find more grip with the kilometers, I will write the evolution here in 1000 kilometers!
Besst!
Interesting that they're porsche tyres. ND is the Panamera, so depending on which vehicle it might be that they've been highly tuned for comfort which might be the cause. Though Porsche are usually pretty good with their tyres, they focus on handling for nearly all vehicles in some regard.
Oh I didnt know that... I was thinking maybe this OE is for a GT3 that is a car that weight 400kg less than mine and this maybe the cause, but if you say that this tyres is for car that weight more than mine I feel more comfortable by this, and I hope to have more grip when they have more kilometers, anyway if I have a little bit of more comfort in this car maybe is a plus to use it out of track (my use on 95%) althought in Septembre I want to go Nurburgring I hope this tyres do it well...
FINALLY! I just fitted a new set of 225/40 R18 Michelin PS4S to my GTI Performance and I had them on the car for roughly 450 km currently. Again, I placed this order on March 30 in 2022. Yeah, 2022! After some endless wait until October 8th delivered to dealer, and I use to fit winters in October, no summer tyres. On a sidenote: DOT 2222, so these American produced tyres were made two months after my order . . . . Somewhat facetiously, isn't it?
These PS4S replaced my former PSS in HN spec (Hyundai i30N). So, what do they look? Much wider, with a way better rim protection compared to the PSS HN. The sidewalls are almost straight on VW 7.5" wheels. Very pleased to lay my eyes on. My former PSS HN looked like a 205. How do they feel? Stiff. I didn't exactly expect them to be harsher compared to the PSS, but they really are. With ~3.5 mm my former PSS felt more forgiving if not just softer. These PS4S ride like 19" instead of 18" and I didn't expect that. What I much longed for was wet grip. The PSS HN isn't an adept for wet performance. We had some coolish rainy days (slightly below +10°C). In a nutshell, this PS4S delivered! Just what you'd expect from a contemporary 'higher performance' tyre.
Glad you finally got them :D
Surprised at the ride quality, have you double checked pressures? The 225/40 R18 PS4S is actually the same as the one they tweaked for the GR Yaris, so that might have something to do with it.
Yes of course, double checked. 2,3 bar (cold) on all corners (instead of VW recommended 2,6 bar, probably a CO² thing). I know, it's factory fit on the GR Yaris, you might be right, even though the article number remains the same since SOP in 2016 (225/40 R18 in America).
You said 9.76 kg in 2021, while Sportauto indicates 10.03 kg in 2023. Well, I don't know the corresponding DOT numbers, but my own are DOT 2222. So, it might well be and Michelin 'tweaked/reinforced/strengthened' this PS4S for the GR Yaris - as a consequence it became a couple of grams heavier. I'm ok with that anyway.
Experienced PZ4 aquaplaning myself. It drops like a knife below 10c, those tyres are not really suitable for UK climate, unless you want to drive them only at >15c. Pretty dangerous.
Different summer tyre behaviour in different outside temperatures is pretty underrated topic. Most of the tests online are done in like 20c and higher. Which is fine for southern continental Europe, but not great for Northern countries, which see those temperatures only 3 months of the year or so.
That's exactly same as the 2023 225/40 R18 'auto, motor und sport' review told about the PZ4. This Pirelli (probably 'SC' version) needs some heat when wet. You'd most probably a similar experience with BS Potenza Sport, Michelin PS4S and - even much worse - with a PSS in HN spec. Ask how I know.
The Pirelli and Bridgestone are worse in colder conditions to the PS4S, I'm not sure how much by though.
Another update if anyone is interested: My anticipated 225/40 R18 PS4S is announced to be october 8th delivered. Even though I've curious finally running them I decided to wait fitting them for march or april 2023. To remember, I placed the order march 30th (2022!!). I'll have to wait a full year. It's a shame, but it is what it is. I'd love to know if 235/40 R18 size PS4S would provide advantageous availability compared to 225s.
I'm always interested in tyres, so thanks for sharing :) Let me know how you like them when they're eventually fitted!
The (American produced) 225/40 R18 Michelin PS4S (as in reviewed on this site) I ordered in April is finally supposed to arrive in late August. I'm still waiting for almost FIVE months. It's crazy in 2022!
Where are you in the world? If it makes you feel any better I've had to delay / skip tests due to stock availability, and that tyre is a particularly bad one.
Michelin sell everything they make!
I'm in Germany and still waiting for my set of PS4S. Even though all my waiting patiently I couldn't imagine Michelin would deliver me some summer tyres in autumn. I feel you for that delay too.
After two months so far I'm still waiting for my 225/40 R18 PS4S to be delivered. Still no ETA. Never had something like this happen in the past. Things are quite crazy in 2022. It starts getting annoying.
Hello everyone,
does anyone know where the PS4S in 225/40 R18 sold in Europe (and as tested by TR) is made? Does it come from the US just like the same size sold across the pond? In the past at least Euro and NA offerings didn't have necessarily to be the same.
Sadly my PS4S are still on backorder. I've never had to wait for tyres that long.
Thanks to TR for your answer 18 days ago.
The 225/40 R18 PS4S is an American produced tyre and is the built the same as the euro spec tyres.
Thank you very much for your quick answer! That's what I expected to hear.
Guys, there's perhaps something wrong. In its final verdict you say about the PS4S: "excellent aquaplaning resistance" and it scores second in straight aquaplaning according to the graphics - better than PS4 and all UHP tyres except the GT Radial. It also scores quite well in curved aquaplaning. However the text says about wet performance: "The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S was the nicest of the three uuhp tyres in
terms of balance, but like all the UUHP tyres it aquaplaned more than
the UHP tyres on the lap making an ultimate lap time difficult, but the
grip was good."
The straight aquaplaning test is a different test to the wet handling test which can lead to different results, especially as wet handling is dynamic aquaplaning rather than steady state tests
I just decided to still go for the PS4S, not the new PS5. GTI Performance Mk7.5 w/ 225/40 R18 and had PSS HN (Hyundai spec) before on this car. As previously mentioned this HN spec PSS isn't that of a smart choice for Northern European weather. I'd even say it's almost dangerous in the rain and hast been that way from day one. Wet performance is clearly worse compared to my BMW spec PSS, which I do run on my Mini. This 205/45 R17 PSS (BMW/Mini star marking) is a surprisingly well rounded tire and basically feels like a PS4 (but looks better). Not all PSS are the same.
That said I'm happy to the PS4S being made in 225/40 R18 as well as in 235/40 R18. Thanks to Michelin for that! You're making business with me since the new Conti SC7 isn't sold in 18". Sadly the 235/40 R18 PS4S is DT1 spec which is seemingly just a tiny 3 mm wider than the 225/40 R18. That's just disappointing. I would've gone with the 235s IF they're actually wider.
Still on winter tires though. Can't wait to fit the summer wheels with new tires.
Jonathan and all of the TR team again, keep on doing your excellent reviews please - they're the very best available anywhere! Again, thank you so much for all of your efforts!
Hello, I am planning to change my set of tyres and thinking for Goodyear F1 or the Michelin p4s , looi for comfort ,low noise and summer season mainly.
Appreciate
Volkswagen Volkswagen cc
This test has all the data you're looking for to guide you!
Hi, I’m currently driving a 430i MSport Convertible. I use this car mainly for leisure… a couple of times in the Old Nurburgring circuit. Actually I’ve the Michelin Supersport. I’m thinking to replace them with the Potenza Sport or Michelin 4s ( 19” rims). Do you think they’ll perform better in Nurburgring track compared to SS? I’m referring to the overall grip and steering feedback. Many thanks for your comments!
Ps Any suggestion will be appreciated :-)
I'd get the Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport, it's as close as you can get. The bridgestone feels great, but if you're driving hard the wear is very high.
Ciao Francesco, beautiful car. However are you certain this 1,8 ton convertible is a proper choice for Ring abuse? Excessive weight, medium power and a complete lack of camber (almost zero camber on front) inevitably make for excessive outer edge wear with any tyre you go for.
That said, the PS4S isn't a huge upgrade on a dry track compared to the PSS. It's more so an upgrade on wet roads, though if your PSSs are BMW spec (star marking) then they're likely better in wet performance than non-BMW spec PSS. This doesn't apply to tires aimed for true M cars.
I'd generally avoid the ultra low rolling resistance tyres if grip is a priority, and it seems like a premium touring tyre might be more suited than a uhp tyre if comfort is your thing!
Hello, how does kumho ecsta Ps71 compares to this list performers in your opinion? Thanks
It's in the 2022 test. It's midpack.
Hi, I'm looking to buy a set of new tyre (245/40/19) to replacy my current Pirelli P7. I might choose between PS4 and FK510. I think both tyres' performance can meet my needs. I want my next tyre be quiet and comfort too, since my current P7 is extremely noise. In Australia, PS4 is around $280 per corner, while FK510 is $240 per corner. Could you please give me any suggestion?
I've not tested in that size, it would be very close but I imagine the PS4 would have the advantage over the total life.
Hi, I know they're technically not in the same categories, but what would you choose between the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 and the MICHELIN PILOT SPORT 4, 16 inch? I would like to be totally safe in wet and dry but have great comfort and low noise. Thanks. David
For comfort and noise, the Goodyear
I'm torn, as practically all the websites say the pilot sport 4 is the best tyre on the market.
It's a good performance tyre, but if you're after comfort and low noise, the goodyear will be better.
Agreed, the PS4 very most probably is the best performing (safest) tire currently available in 205/55 R16, however as an UHP tire it won't be the quietest.
Had its predecessor in this size some years ago on a Golf and Conti PremiumContact 2 (touring type) before. With the PS3 handling was noticeably improved, car felt much more stable. On the other hand it clearly wasn't as smooth as before. Still not too obtrusive though.
Should be quite similar with the PS4 and EGP2.
Hi, I've a 2014 Ginetta G40R, a "road ready" version of the race series & it is pretty race orientated, 220 Bhp and 850kg.. I use it a lot in Sprints & Hillclimbs, currently on Toyo 888's. I can't fault their performance (tyres), but I wish to use the UUHP (List 1a MSA UK Blue book) Road tyre as I am penalised for having MSA List B tyres (888's) and wonder if, for 205/40/17 (I haven't the room for 18 inch) but also for 205/45/17? My preferences would be: Michelin PSS (if still available?); Bridgestone Potenza (unsure if in 17 inch?); Goodyear asyim and then Michelin PS4? What would be your advice be for, sprints, are one lap or less and Hillclimbs, 35 to 65 secs?? Tks
The new Potenza Sport is pretty soft, and while it needs heat it does warm up fast and you'll have none of the negative wear from overheating on longer runs, so I'd try that first. Then probably the Goodyear. The PSS might need a bit more heat than you generate, especially on cooler days.
Very cool car though.
I did think the PSS were for something nearly twice the weight of the G40. It may be some weeks/months ahead, but I'll update you when our `season starts again with the Potenzas 8-)) Many thanks
I have an 07 acura type s w/michelin pilot sport as3. Looking to upgrade...i live in vegas so wetness not such a factor but when it does rain it gets slick but need grip more so....any suggestions
PS4S would be the natural upgrade for a climate like Vegas
Was thinking of the Pirelli P zero as well
Just some comments on this, which I hope come across in the right way:
Dry and Wet Handling: You've rated the tyres on their lap times, which if they're all on the same car is a function of their braking, traction and lateral grip, not their handling. Grip and handling are completely different: grip is just the lateral or longitudinal force that a tyre can generate, whereas handling is the subjective manner in which a car responds to inputs (i.e. sharp, woolly, linear or non linear etc) and the shape of its slip/grip curve (i.e. slip angles build gradually and tail off gently, or tail off sharply etc).
External Noise: Thank you, but can you measure internal noise please? The internet is full of questions from people like me wanting a quiet tyre for their car, but all that seems to be out there are external noise ratings. The noise a tyre puts out to bystanders can be very different to the noise it transmits to the cabin. We do all care about how local residents and bystanders hear our cars, but we also care about peace and quiet when driving.
Thanks :-)
Fair point regarding handling vs laptime. I do score the tyres on their subjective handling, I just call all the track work handling.
I do also score internal noise subjectively, and when I can, objectively (see the 16" test) as I agree it's very important. Unfortunately it's also very time consuming to do properly so I don't always get the chance to test this.
Thank you, I'll take a look. What would you recommend for my BMW 530d on 19s? I'm a very keen driver who races in his spare time (in another car, obviously), so I really tend to feel subtle differences in response, ride and handling, but I also desperately want a quiet tyre. I'm not bothered at all about grip or traction. The 530d is vastly over-tyred for what it needs (way more grip than I could ever want), but those big tyres just make so much noise! They're a ridiculous 245/50R19 front and 275/35/19 rear. It's currently on Bridgestone Turanza T005s RFTs.
You could pick pretty much any non-runflat tyre and get improvements in NVH, are you willing to drop them?!
Interesting, thanks. I tried non-RFTs on my E90 and it messed up the ride and handling, reducing the effective overall spring rate and making the car really bouncy. They were 205/55/16 though, so I suspect the effect would be much greater than with my current tyres. It did put me off though!
That is one benefit of runflat tyres but most people seem to be totally fine giving that up for the better NVH, and yes of course you're right, the effect will be way bigger with a 16" wheel but you'll definitely still notice it if you do switch.
If sticking with runflats, assuming your T005s are driveguard runflats, they're already amongst the best from what I've seen.
Thanks, I'll give it some thought. Sorry to ask another question, but if I did go for non-runflats, what would be a good tyre for response and good handling but also low NVH? I'm not really bothered about grip or price.
Most people switch to the Asymmetric 5 as it's a well balanced tyre with respect to NVH and handling :)
I'd love to see some odd-ball comparisons to drive some interest, such as
1. Compare tyres from brother/sister brands of the same performance category?
- Like Falken FK510 Vs something from the Dunlop Sport Maxx range (both owned by Sumitomo)
- or something from Toyo vs Nitto (both owned by Toyo)
2. Comparison between region-market specific tyres of the same model.
- eg: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 "ST" (silent tuned), in Asian/Oceania markets we often get the "ST" PS4 rather than the "real thing", feedback around here seems to indicate there is a performance difference between them.
As much as I'd love to do such tests, as you could possibly guess there's a lot of politics comparing brands between the same owners or markets!
I have an Audi TTS with 255/35/19 tyres on it. I use the car for daily transportation and also for sporty driving usually on twisty B-roads. I don't have easy access to a track so I can rarely take the car there. Which tyre would you recommend for this kind of usage? Thank you very much in advance!
Any of the top tyres in this test depending on what you desire. Most people would be aiming at the UUHP like the 4S rather than the 4.
I have a 2020 Polo GTI with factory 18" rims and a really stupid tire size (214/40 R18). From the factory I had Continental SportContact 5 which I was really unhappy with. I now switched to Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and I'm so far really happy with them, except for the price. I now have to put new ones on as mine are worn and I need help by picking a new tire. Should I stick with the Pilot Sport 4 or should I rather get the cheaper Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3? (I would take the Asymmetric 5 but those aren't available in that size) I need the most grip possible and I like to corner fast on country roads. We handling is also very important as we get quite a lot of rain here as well in Germany. I'm also planning to go up in power, so I really need a tire with good grip. Which one do you think performs the best overall and has a bit more headroom to go along with 100hp more? The Pilot Sport 4 or the Asymmetric 3?
Thank you very much!
If it was the Asym 5 or PS4 I'd say try the Goodyear, but the Asym 3 is a dated tyre now and without knowing if Goodyear have rolled in any updates you might be giving up quite a bit of wet grip
We have here FWD car in the test. What about Audi A3 8V quattro (haldex) limusine with 300hp? So still a bit understeer car.
Any ideas from you as a all rounder tire?
Do you think Pilot Sport 4 and F1 Eagle Asymetric 5 is still the best way to go?
Yeah, they would still be my choices. Or the Conti or Bridgestone for a little more sport.
Then I will have to buy next season one of those. Do we expect some successors next year? We have crossclimate 2 this year, so I wonder.
I don't know of any planned updates for 2022 in this sector from the key brands
I am looking for replacement of my BMW Pirelli P7 run flat by Eagle F1 Asym 3 run flat OR Asym 5 standard tyre (non run flat). What do you suggest me to choose?
That depends if you want the risk of not running with a runflat
Why do we have different results for rolling resistance between the video and the article? (in the video for example the hankook evo 3 has a high rolling resistance, but on the article a low rolling resistance)
We do, the website article is correct
On a Porsche Macan forum I've seen a lot of people praising Arturo tires for some strange reason, saying they are just as good as say the Michelin N0 options for the Macan. Can you get a set to actually provide some real world tests on these?
These people sound somewhat delusional!
I assume you are referring to Atturo tyres(tires). I tried these on a V8 Audi Q7 (AZ-850 in 295/35/21). They were just OK for handling specs but deformed (out of round) at speed (above 100km/h) causing severe shake (they were balanced this was confirmed by testing on a high speed balance machine). These were well short of the overall handling, subjective feel and overall quality of the Pirelli P-Zero's that came off the car, it's arguable that the top line Michelin's (Pilot Sport SUV, Latitude Sport etc) are step up again from the P-Zero's so no - they are nowhere near as good as a quality Michelin , noting this is only 1 person's experience and not a very big sample size.
Maybe a bit off-topic, but Auto Express released a summer-tyre-test in issue 1693
They did, I'm so behind with all season and winter tests I'm not sure w hen I'll publish it!
TBH, mid of september I don´t notice summer tyre tests that much like winter or all season tyres, I guess most ppl did ;)
Hey I used the dunlop maxi sport for my Audi A7 in 275/30 r21, its punktured so now dealer changed to of them in front to some Windforce tires. Dont know if I should keep them or change them to something better? Never heard about windforce.
Generally if you've never heard of them, they're probably not going to be great. Be careful in the wet!
Why do You used Continental Premium Contact and not Continental Sport Contact for an UHP tyre test?
It's not made in this size
Hi
I'm looking to replace a set of Yokohama's on a MK1 MX5 15" alloys, but finding it impossible to find great dry performance tyres in the size I need. 195-205/45/15. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
I'm afraid in these smaller low fitment sizes the owners club will be a much better source of information than me, as it's not an area I've managed to test, sorry!
I'm in the same boat, looking at the standard 195/50R15 size and I want the best for handling feel in the dry, I'm hesitant to just plonk my money down on a set of Pilot Sport 3s due to the age of the tyre, but anything new in this size seems to always fall in the touring category. The Hankook Prime 3s seem to rate well, and the ZV7 is in this UHP test but obviously didn't score brilliantly. I'm just badly stuck on what decision to make. Can be high wear as its a weekend car and they will age before running to full depth.
Any advice?
Not from me I'm afraid as it's not something I've tested. If it's truely a weekend warrior and dry is the most important I might be tempted by something like an NS2R as they will certainly have good dry handling
https://www.tyrereviews.com...
Thanks for the pointer. Struggled with all the conflicting anecdotal advice from the OC too so anything is helpful, cheers.
If you are in Oceania or North America you could go with Potenza RE003 aka Firehawk Indy 500 as they are quite good and made down to 15". If you can get the Potenza RE004, even better!
Hi there
Thanks ever so much for all the great content you put out, it really is in a class of its own. I have a 2014 RS4 and whilst it rides great on perfect tarmac I find the ride quality to be quite brittle and crashy on the poor road surfaces in my area. Which of the UUHP and UHP tyres do you rate best for comfort / sidewall compliance? Also the Falkens in the test work out about 100 pounds per tyre cheaper than the biggest name brands, hence useful to get your thoughts on that tyre for comfort too. thanks again!
Sorry for the slow reply, I missed the message. Nice car! The Falkens are a good option for comfort in 19, not not 18" it seems. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 / 4S are also very good with comfort :)
Thanks - great to know!
Just a suggestion, that woul be very nice to me, which is having a check box to tick the test specifications, so you can get a score to the things that matter to you.
i.e: I don't care about noise neither dry braking, so I could choose which is best overall without these 2 parameters.
@TyreReviews:disqus What do you think?
Awesome work! Keep going! :)
It's definitely on the to-do list, I'm just lacking time at the moment :) :(
Maybe you could consider the Continental Sport Contact 6, since in most of the tests it is very well rated (dry and wet), and it's quieter and has a lower rolling resistance than your other tyre options, which is also something to take in great consideration for an electrical car, like your Tesla, where noise and autonomy are great issues.
SportContact 6 is a good shout from the aftermarket, however I would suggest for EV's sticking with an EV specific tyre as the requirements are quite different. I've a video on this subject coming soon!
I finally fitted the Potenza Sports in 215/40/17. They replaced a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 in 205/40/17 (OEM size), with 25.000 km clocked and two and a half years of age. A full set ran me 475€ with installation and wheel balancing included in Athens, Greece. Car is a 2006 Ibiza Cupra with ~210HP, Bilstein B8s, matched Eibach springs and a Whiteline rear antiroll bar, that essentially stiffens the torsion beam. The first 100km were a bit squirmy as the tires settled in with the geometry of the car, but after 400km, they seem to be turning out to be a really good tire.
Steering response is direct, grip seems a bit improved compared to the PS4s, and more importantly, the tires react a lot better under heavy loads, like accelerating out of a corner in 3rd gear at the limit of understeer. Where the PS4 would tend to perform somewhat erratically, with the steering lightening a bit and the front becoming a bit unsettled (though ultimately, their high levels of grip allowed a quick pace), the Potenzas just pull you around the corner with no drama. An unexpected improvement of the Potenzas, that may be specific to my setup, lift-off oversteer during turn in became a lot more predictable and controllable, and doesn't upset the rear.
Comfort is not really affected (the B8s are pretty stiff at low frequency movements), maybe a touch more road surface-borne vibration transmitted to the chassis. Tire pressures are 37PSI front, 32 rear. As I acclimate myself with the tires more, I'll write a proper review. A photo of the tread in my particular fitment follows.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
Awesome write up, I look forward to the full review! Do you plan on any track days?
I need to fix my engine mount situation first and maybe come September when there's less heat outside. I have no real track experience fwiw
Thanks for this very interesting test :)
Still hoping someday you will also test a Yokohama-tyre ;)
Looks like the FK510 changed much, I remember it as a quiet, soft tyre with unsharp dry handling, now it´s completely different. Won´t buy this tyre because I´m not sure what I will get.
And the Conti PC6, which is known for very good wet grip now getting average and with much better aquaplaning resistance?
I think my personal choice for everyday driving would be the PZ4.
Maybe I´m a bit biased because the old P zero was the best tyre I ever had. But because it´s a very old tyre-design I tried next Bridgestone RE002 and wasn´t pleased with it because the new tyres where more worse in the grip in wet as my 3 year old worn Pirellis. Next I had GY F1 A3 which looks good at new state, not so good as the Pirellis, but better than the RE002. But after some years it lost significantly Grip in the wet and in the dry it needs very high ambient temperature to be grippy.
https://www.youtube.com/wat... has a Yoko tyre in ;)
If you end up changing, let me know how you find the new tyres :)
Thanks, but I guess the A052 isn´t a tyre for everyday driving on German Autobahn, especially because there were big tarffic accidents the last years because of Aquaplaning :(
I hope I will change my car before I change tyres again ;)
I agree, I'd certainly not run them daily.
Thought so ;)
Yokohama tyres are rare to find in reviews. I´d droven some years ago the w.drive V905 which was tested by some magazines and the result was mediocre. I was satisfied with it´s wet grip till I changed the Yokos because the tyres were undriveable in snowy corners. And because the Semperit Speed Grip had good results in wet grip tests but were IMHO not so good as 3 year old Yokos I hope the summer tyres of Yokohama are now much better than in the past.
I always speak to Yoko about being included and they always politely decline. Who knows why
Ah, OK, thats not nice. Sounds a bit arrogance or they´re afraid about the test result.
In Yokohamas News (german) I read rarely test results, mostly that they have become the original equipment manufacturer for a certain vehicle or that they have achieved some success in motorsport.
Any idea why other tests don't reflect the wet braking advantage of the Hankook S1 evo3?
I know hankook sent an updated compound for the test, in theory it should be reflected in the 2022 tests as they all test earlier than me (autumn 2020 for the 2021 tests where I tested in April 2021)
Reminds me a bit of some tests of the old P Zero. In a Test of Auto Zeitung 2015 it stopps on wet 100-0km/h in 50,7m, 2nd tyre needed 54,5m
Hi Jonathan. Great review again. Have you come across the bridgestone potenza s005 by any chance? I'm wondering how they stack up to the Potenza Sports. They come with my next car but don't know anything about them and can't find much info either!
I've no idea, they seem to have been released in a few OE sizes and not talked about! What car is it?
Thanks for the response. It's the Cupra Leon 300. It will be on 19 inch rims. Think the size will be 235, 35
Let me know how you find them, and if you switch to the Potenza Sport next maybe you can answer the question for everyone :)
Thanks. I was thinking potentially getting all weather tyre replacements, something like the Continental All Season Contacts. I've never had a performance car. Would you think an all weather would be sensible? I'm going to be realistic I don't think I can go through the hassle of two sets of tyres.
I personally wouldn't put an all season tyre on a performance car like that, you lose too much steering precision and handling
Thanks that was my gut instinct too! I'll let you know how p005s perform. If I change I'd go for either bridgestone sports or the the classic michellin p4's.
Would be nice, looks like Bridgestone made a big step since the LM005. The S005 is also on actual Golf GTIs
S005 is coming on MK8s?!
Yes, I saw 3 reviews with Golf 8, GTI and GTI Clubsport and one review with Audi S3 Sportback with the S005, all in 235/35R19
Hello Jonathan,
Thank you for your great work, it really helps us! I would like some advice please. I need to change all four tyres on my BMW M140i Xdrive, currently fitted with Bridgestone Potenza S001 runflat. I don't want the runflat anymore, it's heavy, noisy and I can't feel the limit in the rain. I want Michelin (I'm French!) and I'm hesitating between the PS4 and the PS4S. It's my family car and I drive it daily, to school, on holiday and sometimes for fun on the back roads (without the kids!). So I'm looking for a polyvalent tyre, comfortable enough for my family. I might go on a track but not very often, it's too risky for the car. Is the PS4 enough for this car and this use or is the PS4S the minimum?
Thanks for your expertise!
Coming from runflats I would aim for the 4S of the two because you'll be dropping a lot of lateral stiffness from the runflats anyway, and the PS4 can be very soft
Thank you for your reply!
Would you recommend the Eagle F1 SuperSport for a 200hp, 300nm of torque rear wheel drive car with 1100 kg of weight or is this tire "too much/overkill" for such a car using it as a daily?
No such thing as too much tyre imo :)
Unfortunately, Goodyear stops producing the SuperSport (at least in the size 205/40R18), because it will become a new rubber compound (mixture) for 2022. So my size isn't available anywhere in germany and might not come back til 2022
That's a shame!
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for being the premiere tyre review resource out there :)
Considering you always said the PS4 is a comfortable tyre, especially for a UHP one, how does the comfort compare with the Primacy 4? I know i am comparing different classes, i am looking for a comfortable tyre but if i can get some extra performance i will take it.
Cheers
Sadly I've not tested this back to back, but the Primacy 4 should in theory certainly bring extra levels of comfort over the PS4
Thanks for your answer! Not sure if you ever planned to do such a test, but doing a mix test with touring tyres and UHP tyres together might reveal some interesting overlaps between the categories.
When i am looking for tyres i am always analyzing both touring the UHP categories, and i believe this might be the case for others as well.
Enjoy Texas! :)
A swedish magazine did this recently with the EGP2 and Asym 5, I'll try and get it on the site in the next few weeks :)
Definitely would like to see that, i actually consider the EGP2 as a better option than the Primacy 4.
Hi Jonathan, kind reminder on this :)
Drop me an email and I'll fwd it on as I've clearly not managed yet, sorry!
No worry, i used the contact page to send you the email. Thank you!
First of all, congrats for another excellent tyres test! However, studying both the video and the report, not surprisingly some uncertainties are not completely eliminated! Therefore, could you please give your opinion about the best of the choices that follow, which I'm considering for the new tyres of my Peugeot 207RC (GTi), 175HP : 1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4, ( I have been using them for about 38 000 km now and they need to be replaced). 2. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5. 3. Bridgestone Potenza Sport. Size is 205/45/R17 88 XL W. As this car has fairly stiff suspension settings, ... especially for greek roads, a reasonable degree of comfort would be a plus. For example the PS4s are much better in this respect, than the RE050As that the car came with from the factory! Thanks in advance.
Bridgestone for handling, but might not be the best in comfort. If the Asym 5 is much cheaper than the PS4 in your area, it would be the no brainer choice for me.
Your reply is really helpful. I think I'll go for the Asym 5. I understand that in a way it compares well with the PS4, handles well on dry and wet and can contribute in the enjoyment of sporty driving. As to the Bridgestone, I am sceptical about its behaviour on wet roads (we're in the south of Europe, but we do have winters with rains and low temperatures above zero ...) and also for its very shallow tread. Thanks a lot!
Im so confused. Really don’t know what to go for. I have an Audi RS4 B9 so not sure the P4S would be over kill for an AWD. Please help!!!!
PS4S definitely not overkill for an RS4, a great combination!
I wanted to try the goodyear supersports but they have been out of stock for a long time in my size. I don't have many more alternatives (I don't want the ps4) other than the PC6 or try the yokohama advan v105s. What is your opinion of the yokos?
I've not actually tested them, sorry (also sorry for the slow reply, what did you end up getting?)
I fitted the yokohama advan sport v105s last week.it's too early to draw conclusions
Great test, as always! I was wondering if you had tested runflat vs regular variants of some of these tyres. I am currently driving on Michelin Pilot Sport 4 ZPs * which is the runflat version and these are awesome tyres, both dry and wet, great road handling, etc. It is also one of the few good options for BMW 225/45/18 and 255/40/18 standard spec (OEMs being some mediocre Pirellis and Bridgestones which I have driven but the Michelins are entirely different level). However I am considering transition to non runflats but I can't really find good information like a test or a review about how non runflats would compare to runflats so I can decide...
I've not done it yet, I've been meaning to but time has been against me! There's lots of reviews from BMW owners on the site that have moved to non-runflats and really enjoyed the upgrade, finding improved grip, especially in the wet, and vastly improved comfort.
Thanks! Such comparison of runflat vs non-runflat versions of same tyres would be great, I'm sure a lot of BMW and Mercedes owners would appreciate it :-) Otherwise as I said I am very happy with PS4 ZPs, never had any issues with grip no matter dry or wet, the only inconvenience is a subjectively harsh ride and noise, and I believe Michelin have done a good job applying the excellent PS4 technology also with runflats but of course that can be confirmed only with a measured test.
Please give an info on what you chose in the end. I have the same wheel specs (225/45 R48 front, 255/40 R18 rear), also stock mediocre Continental CSC5 and I am looking at Goodyear Supersports.
As regards the runflat tyres, I have non-RFT winter tyres, but this obviously cannot be compared to summer tyres. However they really seem a tiny bit more comfortable. But again, hard to compare directly.
Fabulous test, as always. From your video, it looks like you were using the Pirelli PZ4 SC version, although here in your results table the thumbnail you show for the PZ4 looks like an LS version. I suspect there may be even more difference between a PZ4 SC vs LS than there is between a Michelin PS4S vs PS4. So perhaps a good idea to identify which version is being tested? None of the other test sources seem to identify which PZ4 version is under test either. Pirelli themselves usually don't bother on their own website when looking at size availability - hopeless. Long overdue a new marketing dept perhaps.
I need to double check this as Pirelli have been more than a little confusing with the namings of the various PZ4, but I believe the aftermarket version is just the aftermarket version, but much closer to the SC than the LS which are OE only.
In the green section the Continental Premium Contact 6 is described as having the "fastest dry lap time" but you also list it as being 4th in dry handling. This appears to be a contradiction.
The UHP and UUHP are in separate results, however due to website limitations they had to be in the same listings on the site, it's noted about the overall results.
Are they easy to overheat compared to the PS4?
The PS4S certainly has better heat and wear resistance on track
I was interested in the curved aquaplaning result for the PC6 as it seems to have been an area of relative weakness in other tests. What was the water depth for your test in this discipline?
I would have to find out what depth they use at goodyear :)
Thanks for that; I'll await events.
Hi Jonathan,
Great review! I have not managed to make a decision yet though :-) I want one these: P Zero, FI asym 5 or PS4.
My preference is biased towards the most quiet one in the cabin. Did any of these tyres in this test have noise cancellation foam? And whats your take on noice cancellation foam? Does it make a noticable difference?
I´m replacing old P Zeros and they are a bit loud. But the pz4, with the foam (PNCS) is ranked very well noicewise in the EU-classification, but that´s drive-by-noice, not cabin noice. The question is how that translates to cabin noice? Any thoughts? What would you recommend? Grateful for all input I can get.
None of the tyres had the noise foam, but I believe it does make an appreciable difference (I've not tested myself yet)
Great video & test as usual. Always good to see how different tyres perform on FWD compared to RWD tests.
I cry when I see the prices you pay in the UK for the top tyres. Down under in NZ we get ripped off, small market & isolation don't help I guess. Even working in the trade I paid the equivalent of £100 for S1 Evo3 in 235/40R18 for my FoST. Retail would be over £150, madness!
Thanks a lot for your efforts put into this test.
I'm looking for a sporty 17" tire for spring and autumn when it's still cold sometimes, in summer i've got some Yokohama AD08 or Michelin Sport Cup 2. I'm driving mostly only in dry conditions but the tire should also handle a good rain. I'ts my car for having fun driving serpentine roads and alpine passes.
I've used a Pilot Sport 4 from my daily and it did it's job (it was just a bit tricky with the tirepressure on this car). I'm leading towards the eagle asymmetric 5, the conti (which sounds to feel the sportiest) or the new potenza sport. What would you say? Is the Potenza more in the range of a sport cup 2 (or the yokohama) or is it still driveable on cold days. Or would you tend to the "safe" side with the conti or the goodyear. the PS4 is still an option but way more expensive and I'm not sure if it's worth the extra. Noise and wear is irrelevant, i usually change my tires because of age. The Wet performance of the bridgestone and the conti is leading me more towards the goodyear, so i could use it if necessary on my daily.
Hmm, all good choices, I'm not sure if I can steer you in any direction. I figure the Bridgestone would be pretty good in 17" as it is in 18", and if it's just a fun ROAD car quite a lot of fun!
Thanks for the great article and accompanying video. The findings regarding the performance variability of the Potenza Sport depending on tire temperature give me pause. Would, for example, driving 10km to the local twisties at mostly regular speeds leave the tires below their optimal temperature, resulting in inferior grip? With my PS4s (non S version), at temperatures above 10C, I find that regular driving is enough to make them ready to lift the rear inside tire on the first pass through the Limanakia corkscrew. I'm wondering whether this temperature variability also affects braking distances.
Maybe the difference is not that dramatic. If it is, I'll probably go for either the PC6 for subjective feel or a set of PS4s again for objective performance. I'd appreciate your comment Jonathan.
I don't think you'd have any issue getting the Bridgestones warm, I'd certainly give them a shot in your situation :)
Thanks, Potenza Sports it is then.
Let me know how you find them :)
Hi Jonathan. Before anything, I have to congratulate you for doing this research that literally nobody else does (that i know)
With that, I have a 2007 Cayman S without PASM (active suspension). Wears 235/35/R19 front and 265's rear. So pretty low profile tire, makes for a bit stiff ride on less than optimal roads.
Car isn't driven often, so I don't feel like splurging 800€ in a set of PS4S or Continental SC6. The Falken Fk510 and the Hankook evo3 seem like a great tire and I can get those for well under 600€ a set. With that, I've seen the BMW M2 comparison and you say that the Falken isn't very good on subjective handling as the steering isn't as precise. Cayman is a lot lighter at the front end compared to the M2 though, so I wonder how the softer Falken would feel. But the softer sidewall makes me look at these Falkens to slight improve ride quality. In this test the FK510 seems different than in the M1 size. Change in compound for the entire range or just different behaviour in different sizes?
Would you recommend the Falken for my Cayman, or the hankooks? or should I just bite the bullet and go PS4S or Continental SC6? (Bridgestone and Goodyear don't have competitive prices here.)
Thanks a lot and keep the good work
Hey! This 18" Falken definitely had a firmer construction than other times I've tested it, I've not found out why yet.
I don't actually know how those tyres would do on a Cayman, they have a pretty unique weight balance compared to normal tyres, have you found an owners club online to see what others are doing?
Unfortunately not, Porsche forums these days are like PS4S and everything else is crappy tire. I bet most people don't even drive the cars fast enough to get the PS4S up to temperature and could be better served by the PS4.
I can't find the regular PS4 on my sizes at least here in Portugal.
Based on your guess, and given the prices for all 4 tyres, what would be your sugestion(s) for cayman 987?
(prices from an online vendor to UK's Camskill but in Portugal)
Michelins PS4S - 876€
Continental SC6 - 708€
Goodyear SS - 806€ (can't find asymmetric 5 for the rear tyre, only front)
Hankook S1 Evo3 - 570€
Bridgestone Potenza Sport - 718€
Falken FK510 - 498€
(as you can see, the Hankook and especially the fallen at are a killer price here in Portugal)
Seeing your M2 review, the comfort side of the Fallen interests me given the rough roads and stiff ride, but being a weekend toy, I wouldn't want to give up much fun by having a more numb driving experience.
Again, thanks a lot Jonathan
I would put the SS on, but that's the kind of tyre I like. I'm sure lots of people would enjoy the Falkens too
If you don't mind that I step in, I would suggest the Maxxis Victra Sport 5 just in front, since they don't have that tire in both sizes! It's a great tire either in the dry and wet but a lot cheaper. But you'd have to be alright with different tires in both axles...
No at all mate, thanks a lot for the input. No rear tire available in the 265/35/R19 it seems. But the fronts are at a great price at 93€ a pop. Wonder what the rear tire would be since they are most of the bill.
I wouldn't recommend intentionally mixing tyres, especially on a mid engined car
..why no tyres from yokohama???
I spoke with Yokohama but the V105 is a very old tyre now and there's nothing new yet in this size.
How does the AD08R compare? Is it much sportier, like Cup 2 equivalent?
Correct, yes
João, if you check this tests you will find out (extrapolate) how the Yoko AD08R lay behind the Michelin Cup 2. The Yokohama Advan A052 seems to be a better choice, although I'm not sure if it's road legal...
https://www.tyrereviews.com...
https://www.tyrereviews.com...
https://www.tyrereviews.com... (as a reference, with the Yoko V105 and the Falken FK510 incl.)
The old Bridgestone RE50A could be a good deal, as well:
https://www.tyrereviews.com...
I have PS4 on one of my cars on the basis of your previous reviews but now needed tyres for my other car.
I was waiting for the latest results before I made a purchase. Have just ordered a set of GoodYear Asymmetric 5 on the basis of this review (would have gone for PS4 again if the prices were equal but the GY were nearly £100 cheaper).
Thanks for the review.
Let me know what you think of the Asym 5, it will be an interesting comparison!
Will do. Both cars are on 18 inch wheels and rear wheel drive, staggered setup and similar widths.
I went to the same selection already in my previous car with 225/40 18 (FWD, Seat Exeo) with the following order and milage:
Asym 3 (45k km) - PS4 (38k km) - PZ4 (30k km) - Asym 5 (sold the car with 10k km, very little wear)
Best feeling and comfort, for Pirelli
Best performance after many miles, Goodyear
With PS4, it did everything well, but it was more expensive.
I could use again any of the four
Hi Jonathan, great job from you and the team, thanks! A suggestion: it may be a good idea to measure the thread depth before and after the tests, to give us an idea of the tyre wear. I.e. I'd like to put the KF510 on my car, but I'd be really interested to see if the lower price is counterbalanced by a wear ratio that made in the end these tyres anti economical in respect to less rolling resistant (hence less fuel consumption) or longer lasting but more expensive ones. Thanks :)
There are tests on the site which will have wear tested the FK510. The miles we do on the tyre aren't really enough to get any wear data, apart from the left front of dry handling which is nothing like real life wear so wouldn't be useful information.
I'd love to do proper wear testing but it's' very costly.
Yeah, and I imagine also a lot time consuming. Well, thanks anyway, you're (as a team) doing a great job anyway :)
Thanks for the excellent review Jonathan! You’re the benchmark in this tyre world for teaching us in this entertaining manner ?
Personally, the thing I appreciate most is the subjective comments about the tyres. Considering that lap times are not the most important factor for some of us when compared to the subjective driving feeling, do you think you could get a different ranking order based on just subjective feeling, or the result would be rather similar?
And last question, is it always the case that weight and rolling resistance are so much correlated as in this comparison?
Thanks!!
Subjective dry or subjective wet? The results would certainly change. For example, the PremiumContact 6 didn't win this test, but it's the tyre I have fitted to my daily driver as I like its subjectiveness.
Regarding RR and weight, there's a lot of factors at play, and tyre weight is certainly one of them, but it's certainly not the only factor at play so this might just be a bit of a fluke
To make it simple and direct... 1-2-3 for both dry and wet? ?
Dry, F1 SS from UUHP and PC6 from UHP.
Wet, Pirelli or Conti
Great, thanks!
Wow this test was great. You are my point of reference when I have to change tires. Last year I bought a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 and I really loved them. They last me 17.000km vs the 13.000km of the previous Michelin PS4, which are more expensive. Goodyear did an excellent job.
That's awesome, glad you enjoyed them and great mileage increase! (though you must drive pretty quickly? :D)
If you get some time I'd love to see a review on this site :)
https://www.tyrereviews.com...
Hahaha yes you are right! I drive pretty quickly and I live in countryside in Italy, so i don't know what straight roads mean :D
With the greatest tyre manufacturers finally stepping into this popular 18'' size, it´s finally time for Continental to present us with the Sport Contact 6! Will they step in this year? If the Premium Contact 6 is already this good, I wonder where the Sport Contact 6 would position in the chart, particularly in dry handling!
Being the Michelin PS4S so expensive, one could buy 2 sets of Bridgestones for the price of 1 Michelin!... So, one more reason for Continental to step into this size with the Sport Contact 6!
Once again, we watch odd results regarding one more Hankook tyre, compared with other some size tests...
I may be mistaken, but are you sure about Michelin PS4 and Pirelli's EU labels?
Honestly, I'm not sure the Sport Contact 6 would do that much better than the PC6, it was already up there dynamically with the UUHP tyres and not too far off in laptime! It's a really impressive little thing :)
Excellent, I've been anxiously waiting for this one! Great review as ever. So the Bridgestone seems to be the spiritual successor to the MPSS, great tyre as long as it's warm but back off when cold. Think that's fair?
I would need to test it more off track to really know, it seems to be doing very well in tests. I'm not yet sure if the track wear will match the Michelin, I'm waiting for some extra data
A brilliantly thorough test presented in an admirably concise manner. You're continuing to make an often baffling subject very easy to digest. That ability is a real talent and greatly appreciated.
I'd been awaiting your verdict on the Potenza Sport before replacing all four corners of my 2018 Megane R.S.280, as there are some good deals on these right now. I've had the car for 16 months and was supplied used on mismatched UUHP Potenza S007 RS on the front, but S001s on the rear. They're all worn so time for a change. As the car is a daily driver I'm hesitant if the poorer wet performance of the UUHPs is a wise move and if I should drop to UHP, but would that hamper the enjoyment of the car? Given I haven't had any problems with the very aggressive S007s maybe I'm worrying unnecessarily? The Potenza Sports are hardly slicks are they...
I don't think the Potenza Sport will be any worse than the S007, especially as you're running 4 very worn tyres so if you want to try them, I'd certainly give them ago :)
Thanks - I've pushed the button on them!