2016 EVO Summer Performance Tyre Test

As always, EVO have dedicated 40% of the overall scoring to the subjective feel and handling of the tyre, rather than relying on data alone to judge. This means the results don't just reflect the tyres overall grip, but also how they make the driver feel, an often overlooked but important quality for performance tyres.

The objective tests cover wet and dry handling and braking, a wet steering pad, rolling resistance testing, straight and curved aquaplaning tests, and a road route where comfort and noise are assessed.

The Top Three

Following on from a win in the AutoBild tyre test, Continental wins again with the new Sport Contact 6. The new Continental tops both the wet and dry braking tests, places strongly in wet and dry handling tests both timed and subjectively, and even manages a good result on the road route giving it an excellent all round performance.

Like the Continental, the joint second place Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 and Yokohama Advan Sport V105 earn their positions due to strong all round performances. The Goodyear scored particularly well in the wet handling, braking and aquaplaning tests and wins the road route and rolling resistance tests, while the Yokohama manages to score extremely well in both the dry and wet testing, but was a little let down by its road manners.

The Rest

Vredestein takes fourth place with the focused Ultrac Vorti R, which scores extremely well in the dry but is let down by poor aquaplaning results, whereas the fifth placed Dunlop earns its position by not excelling in any of the key tests, but by having no glaring failures either.

The Michelin Pilot Super Sport dominates in the dry both objectively and subjectively, but can only manage sixth position overall due to a weak showing in the wet, and a poor performance on the road route. This performance focused tyre clearly shows the trade in high performance driving pleasure for wet grip and comfort as the Michelin struggled with the standing water levels at the circuit.

Pirelli take seventh place overall with the older version of the P Zero. Second slowest in the dry, and scoring poorly subjective, a quick wet handling lap wasn't enough to make up for the poor braking results.

The last two places are taken by Hankook and Falken. The Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2 K117 struggled in both wet handling and braking, and only managed to beat Falken to eighth place overall due to a reasonable dry performance. The new Falken Azenis FK510 take last place, slowest in the dry, almost slowest in the wet, and second to last on the road route.

The Results

Please note, the dry and wet scoring below only reflect the handling scores, not the braking or aquaplaning. For full results please see EVO Magazine October 2016 issue.

1^st

Continental Sport Contact 6

235/35 R19

Third fastest and best braking in the dry, extremely competent in the wet and solid road manners mean the new Sport Contact 6 wins. The best all round tyre on test.

Total: 553.7

Dry 99.2

Wet 97.2

Subjective 177.9

Comfort 86.4

Rolling Resistance 93

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2^nd

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3

235/35 R19

Not as strong as the best in the test in the dry, but an excellent all round wet ability combined with the lowest rolling resistance and best levels of comfort win the new Goodyear joint second place.

Total: 568.6

Dry 98.6

Wet 98

Subjective 172

Comfort 100

Rolling Resistance 100

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2^nd

Yokohama Advan Sport V105

235/35 R19

Much like the Goodyear, the Yokohama proved to be an excellent all round tyre, only slightly let down by the road route refinement.

Total: 543.8

Dry 98.7

Wet 99.2

Subjective 179.6

Comfort 86.4

Rolling Resistance 79.9

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4^th

Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R

235/35 R19

The Vorti R was beaten only by the Michelin in the objective and subjective dry tests, and it scored strongly in the wet lap time too. The Vredesteins relatively weak braking and aquaplaning results stopped the tyre making the top three.

Total: 560.1

Dry 99.8

Wet 97.7

Subjective 187.2

Comfort 86.4

Rolling Resistance 89

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5^th

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2

235/35 R19

The Dunlop excelled in no key area, but as an all round package it was more balanced than the tyres below. A solid performance for one of the cheaper tyres on test.

Total: 552.3

Dry 98.5

Wet 97.6

Subjective 170.5

Comfort 86.4

Rolling Resistance 99.3

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6^th

Michelin Pilot Super Sport

235/35 R19

The Michelin ruled the dry testing, both in outright performance and subjective steering feel, but it struggled in the wet running, one of the slowest on test. Excellent if you prioritise dry running and steering feel.

Total: 540.7

Dry 100

Wet 96.6

Subjective 177.8

Comfort 77.3

Rolling Resistance 89

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7^th

Pirelli P Zero

235/35 R19

The previous generation Pirelli P Zero performed excellently in the wet lap time, but struggled in the dry both objectively and subjectively with the tyre dropping off be nearly one second between the first and second lap.

Total: 557

Dry 97.9

Wet 100

Subjective 186.8

Comfort 86.4

Rolling Resistance 85.9

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8^th

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2

235/35 R19

The worst tyre in the wet was saved from last place by a mid table performance i the dry. Ok on the road, but lacking elsewhere.

Total: 525.9

Dry 98.6

Wet 94.6

Subjective 154.9

Comfort 86.4

Rolling Resistance 91.4

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9^th

Falken Azenis FK510

235/35 R19

Slowest in the dry, almost the slowest in the wet, one of the worst on the road route.

Total: 519.3

Dry 97.1

Wet 97

Subjective 156.5

Comfort 81.8

Rolling Resistance 86.9

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