2012 has started with a bang with EVO, the UKs leading high performance car magazine, publishing its 2012 summer tyre test.
Unlike some of the European tyre tests which concentrate on the data, EVO rate the driving experience equal to the out right performance, meaning subjective scoring is very detailed. This is key, as when the top 5 tyres are separated by just a few seconds over a lap, how the tyre feels is the primary difference between brands.
The Test
Also refreshing was EVOs choice of location - a mix of the UK MIRA testing circuit, and their home track Bedford Autodrome. This effectively removes any "home advantage" tyre manufacturers gain when they host the tyre tests at their development circuits.EVO selected 10 tyres in 235/40 R18 to test on a 261bhp Audi S3. Each of the 6 premium brands were represented, with Hankook, Kumho and Vredestein from the mid range sector and Accelera from the budget end rounding out the group.
All the tests, including the road handling test were carried out on the various specialist circuits at MIRA, other than the dry lap time which was done at Bedford Autodrome.
Subjective feel
With the top 4 tyres separated by less than a second a lap in the wet, and just 0.4 seconds in the dry, subjectivity has never been more critical amongst the top runners.Of the pack leaders Continental fared best, winning the wet test and scoring a joint first position with Hankook in the dry, who could only manage 4th place in the wet. The Continentals were particularly praised in the wet, where they felt extremely sure footed, barely registering puddles which upset its rivals and offering supreme traction.
Goodyear finished a close 2nd overall, scoring two 3rd places only let down by a fraction of under steer on the limit in the wet. It’s dry performance was also excellent on the limit, with "grainy, grippy feedback" and the highest lateral G reading.
While Bridgestone could only manage the 7th fastest wet lap, it rated very well subjectively finishing just behind the Continental. As we’ve found with Bridgestone tyres, it’s dry performance was many times better than the wet, scoring the fastest lap and finishing just behind the Goodyear subjectively.
Hankook rounded out the top 4 with the 5th fastest wet lap but an excellent subject 4th place, and the 3rd fastest dry lap with the subjective rating equalling that of Continental for the win. Another strong performer for Hankook, who are quickly edging towards premium status.
"In many respects, wet handling is the most cricial test of a tyre. Good performance in the dry is much easier to achieve."
John Barker - EVO
Some what disappointingly, the online favourites Vredestein and Kumho finished 8th and 9th in the wet, with Vredestein edging out Kumho, and could only manage 8th and 10th in the dry, this time with Kumho ahead of Vredestein. Disappointing results for 2 brands often recommended online, however it demonstrates the old adage “you get what you pay for†still largely rings true in the world of tyres.
John Barker - EVO
The Results
As always our coverage doesn’t do the test justice, so make sure you pick up EVO issue 166 for the full write up and the detailed results breakdown.
The ContiSportContact 3s only weakness was a little subjective feel on the road. It dominated the wet tests and was extremely strong in the dry. EVO commented as "an impressively complete performance". The Sport Contact 3 has now been replaced by the Sport Contact 5, which should be an even more impressive tyre.
Total: 669.9
Dry
197.6
Wet
200
Subjective
200
Rolling Resistance
72.3
Although the Hankook S1 Evo only managed a single top place (its subjective feel on the dry track) the rest of its results were strong enough to give it a close second behind the Conti and a whisker ahead of the Goodyear.
Total: 666.4
Dry
196.4
Wet
194.5
Subjective
190.4
Rolling Resistance
85.1
Outstanding in the dry, pulling the highest lateral G and shortest dry braking. Also very good in the wet just 0.8% slower than the Conti. Highly rated subjectively, a great all round tyre.
Total: 674.8
Dry
199.4
Wet
196.2
Subjective
187.9
Rolling Resistance
91.3
The new Pilot Sport 3 scored well objectively in all tests. Slightly let down by its subjective feel, EVO still recommend it as a great all round tyre, having the best blend of comfort and precision on the road.
Total: 649.1
Dry
193
Wet
194.4
Subjective
179.5
Rolling Resistance
82.2
Slightly ahead of the Bridgestone, the Pirelli P Zero offered a good all round performance - not the best in any test but usually in the top half in every test.
Total: 641.8
Dry
195.4
Wet
197.7
Subjective
178.1
Rolling Resistance
70.6
Unlike when we tested the S001 and found it a little numb, this version of the new Bridgestone echoes Bridgestones of old. Good dry grip with excellent feedback, average grip the wet but the excellent subjective scores make the tyre uncomfortable and bumpy on the road.
Total: 644.2
Dry
197.9
Wet
195.4
Subjective
180.3
Rolling Resistance
70.6
Echoing our own long term test findings, while the Dunlop Sport Maxx GT offers excellent grip in the wet and dry, it's somewhat let down by the average steering feel it provides.
Total: 648.4
Dry
197.7
Wet
196.4
Subjective
176.6
Rolling Resistance
77.7
Slowest tyre in the dry with a poor subjective score to boot, and almost as poor in the wet. The Ultrac Cento might just be starting to show its age.
Total: 620.2
Dry
190.4
Wet
189.9
Subjective
161.6
Rolling Resistance
78.3
A very average performance from the Kumho KU39 left Kumhos flagship tyre in 9th. Like the Accelera in 10th, the Kumho was ok in the dry, but struggled in the wet.
Total: 594
Dry
192.6
Wet
174.4
Subjective
140.3
Rolling Resistance
86.7
Finishing bottom of the table in nearly every test secured the Accelera its last place, however EVO noted it wasn't as bad as some of the other budgets tested in previous years. As is the norm with budget tyres, it was capable in the dry but lacked grip, composure and safety when the surface changed to wet.
Total: 584.8
Dry
194.6
Wet
165.7
Subjective
124.5
Rolling Resistance
100
On a track these results may bare out but we don't drive on tracks, we drive on roads with broken and potholed pavement , changing surfaces alike . At the general speeds that we experience whist driving on these imperfect surfaces the diffence between these 10 tires is so minute as to pretty much render these tests mute.
The price differences between tyres are however staggering where the so called premium brands are often upto 50% more expensive than those deemed of a lesser brand.
One tyre in this test (Hankook evo1) has me absolutely perplexed in that in tests subjectivly carried out with this tyre (and documented on this site) it is all over the place from near last to almost first. God help us mere mortals in laying down our hard earned cash based on the results of these so called expert tests. I'll take every day drivers experiences every time.
I bought my car solely for driving it on the track so this article was perfect. Work from home and dump your commute - thrash your car on weekends - makes perfect sense.
Actually, you don't want any of these tires on the track.
Why on earth are they not testing the Vredestein that drivers say is best - the Sessanta?
That's a good question. We would assume Vredestein selected which tyre to provide for the test, so they possibly thought the Cento has a better chance of scoring well.
Seems unlikely, as Vredesteins own website place the Sessanta above the Cento. As Zeke says, this test tells us very little = disappointing. Bring on the 2012 German magazine tests (thumbs-up)
How is the rank decided? Why is Goodyear ranked 3rd despite having max total score??
The rank was EVOs final rank. We only calculated some of their scores (wet lap, dry lap, subjectivity and rolling resistance) and didn't have their final score weighting - only the full article has that!
I think that rolling resistance,doesn't come along with "Sport tyre".Even more when it comes to 235/40/18.........EVO'S not finest hour on tyre tests....
These aren't track day tyres, they're tyres people fit to their every day cars to commute with, do the shopping with and occasionally enjoy a nice B road with - fuel consumption is very relevant!
With 235/40/18....you can't go shopping.Anyway....
I go shopping in my Maserati....
and I'm doing city driving with my Skoda Superb too….
Rule of thumb: if you want a performance tire stay away from "green" and low rolling resistance tires.