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2018 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
6 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the 2018 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test, displaying how each tyre performed across all test categories. The spider chart below provides a complete overview of performance, where one hundred percent represents the best performance in each category. The larger the area covered by each tyre's plot, the better its overall performance.
How to read these charts: For each test category, data is presented relative to the best performing tire. The direction indicates whether lower or higher values are better - pay close attention to this when interpreting results.
Spider chart cannot be displayed because there are no test categories common to all tires.

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Discussion

17 comments
  1. Paul La archived

    SO on this review the Nokian dry performance is weak. But when i read the Consumer Reports they say the Dry performance is outstanding. Same with the Nexen Su1's. On American tire websites the tires are amazing but here not that great. Why is that ?

    #4916
    1. TyreReviews Paul La archived

      Different tyre pattern or compound for american markets, or different competition

      #4917
  2. Frontschleuder archived

    Why the tyre with 2nd most points is on 5th place instead of 2nd?

    In 225/45 R17only this old P zero is available.

    Nice performance from the T005, but this touring-tyre is a bit wrong in this review. But I´m sure Bridgestone knows how awful their "UHP"-tyres will do against the competitors.

    #3796
      1. Frontschleuder TyreReviews archived

        Still don´t clear

        If wet count more: 2nd place
        If dry: 3rd

        Or many parameters are not listed.

        #3799
  3. Riccardo archived

    As the owner of Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 215/45R17 91Y (very close to 225/45R17) mounted on an Opel Corsa, I confirm that sometimes I noticed a poor straight aquaplaning, but it must rain very strongly and there must be plenty of water on the roadway! But now is much better than when I had the Continental ContiEcoContact 5: in the same meteo conditions I felt like driving a boat! ;-)

    #3794
  4. 4cvg archived

    Of service to readers would be a link to the original AE test (the AE website is technically incompetently designed for trying to search for tyre tests).

    #3768
  5. Simon H archived

    I am surprised that the ZV7 was as close as it is to the top tyres. Other tests seem to show it as average at best.

    #3767
  6. 4cvg archived

    I assume that this was the PZ4 in the test. In which case your link is erroneous.

    #3762
    1. TyreReviews 4cvg archived

      Nope, it was the original P Zero pattern pictured in the magazine.

      #3763
  7. Gee archived

    It’s hard to believe the results of this test placing the PC6 ahead of the PS4 in wet tests; one of the many areas the PS4 excelled in.
    Has there been a compound update for the PC6 or the Dunlop? Will this translate to similar results when you move up to 225/40/18 sizes? I’ve been hesitant in choosing my next set of tyres (PC6 or PS4 for a Mk7.5 Golf GTi-P) and this result has only confused me more.

    #3756
    1. TyreReviews Gee archived

      It's not a surprise to me the PC6 is best in wet, it replaces the PC5 and SC5 which are still beating Michelin products this year. It was more the sporty handling comments which surprised me.

      Whether it translates to 18"... in theory yes, but you might find differences in the number of belts used in different sizes which can change the handling.

      #3757
      1. 4cvg TyreReviews archived

        Of importance for crisp handling response is the speed with which a sidewall passes steering inputs from bead to tread. I have always recommended to people that they buy the XL option in a size because a common way of achieving that extra load rating is to have two, not one, polyester sidewall plies.

        #3764
        1. Mark 4cvg archived

          Like 4cvg my preference would be for the XL tyre but at least AE have been consistent in going for the other option in every case here.

          So when they mark down the Nokian saying "It lacked the sharpness of the best and required more lock than most rivals. It felt soft, too..." I know that wasn't really true of the ZLines that I had a couple of years ago (I thought that one of theIr best features was crispness of initial turn In) and put that down to them choosng the wrong tyres. What I don't know is what this would have done to its competitors.

          #3770
          1. TyreReviews Mark archived

            If you've ever handled a modern Nokian tyre you will understand why they have fallen behind subjectively, the Nokian zLine will likely have the softest feeling sidewalls of all tyres in this test. While sidewall stiffness doesn't always link to sporty handling, there's definitely a correlation

            #3771
            1. Andy Holmes TyreReviews archived

              Yeah, I had Nokian H which were the best subjective tyres Ive ever driven, wonderfully sharp and precise. They had very thin sidewalls too. Replaced them with Line, which were very soft with delayed response and a penchant for understeer, except in cold wet conditions where they sharpened up a LOT!...
              I suspect nokians summer compound, developed by winter tyre experts, struggles to maintain its composure in hot conditions (my line did anyway). The H didnt struggle in the heat but were a bit hard & 'waxy' to drive in the wet.

              #3772