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2019 EVO Summer Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
6 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the 2019 EVO 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.

Performance Overview

This radar chart shows relative performance across all test categories, with 100% representing the best performance in each category. Reference tires may have gaps where data is not available.

Falken Azenis FK510
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
Continental Premium Contact 6
Nokian PowerProof
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Spread: 2.10 M (6%) | Avg: 36.16 M

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Continental Premium Contact 6 with a result of 35.2 M. The difference between best and worst was 5.6%.
  1. Continental Premium Contact 6
    35.2 M
  2. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    35.4 M
  3. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    35.5 M
  4. Nokian PowerProof
    36.2 M
  5. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    36.6 M
  6. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
    36.9 M
  7. Falken Azenis FK510
    37.3 M

Dry Handling (s)

Spread: 2.00 s (2.3%) | Avg: 88.73 s

Dry handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: All the tyres in the dry handling test finished less than 3% apart.
  1. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    87.3 s
  2. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    88.1 s
  3. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
    89 s
  4. Continental Premium Contact 6
    89.1 s
  5. Falken Azenis FK510
    89.1 s
  6. Nokian PowerProof
    89.2 s
  7. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    89.3 s

Subj. Dry Handling ( Points)

Spread: 16.00 Points (25.4%) | Avg: 53.29 Points

Subjective Dry Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli P Zero PZ4 with a result of 63 Points. The difference between best and worst was 25.4%.
  1. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    63 Points
  2. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    57.5 Points
  3. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
    52 Points
  4. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    52 Points
  5. Continental Premium Contact 6
    51 Points
  6. Nokian PowerProof
    50.5 Points
  7. Falken Azenis FK510
    47 Points

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Spread: 3.30 M (8.8%) | Avg: 39.21 M

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli P Zero PZ4 with a result of 37.5 M. The difference between best and worst was 8.1%.
  1. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    37.5 M
  2. Falken Azenis FK510
    38.5 M
  3. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    39 M
  4. Nokian PowerProof
    39.1 M
  5. Continental Premium Contact 6
    39.7 M
  6. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    39.9 M
  7. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
    40.8 M

Wet Handling (s)

Spread: 2.30 s (2.8%) | Avg: 83.86 s

Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: All the tyres in the wet handling test finished less than 3% apart.
  1. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    82.1 s
  2. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    83.3 s
  3. Continental Premium Contact 6
    84.1 s
  4. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
    84.3 s
  5. Falken Azenis FK510
    84.4 s
  6. Nokian PowerProof
    84.4 s
  7. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    84.4 s

Subj. Wet Handling ( Points)

Spread: 10.00 Points (16.9%) | Avg: 53.57 Points

Subjective Wet Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli P Zero PZ4 with a result of 59 Points. The difference between best and worst was 16.9%.
  1. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    59 Points
  2. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    56.5 Points
  3. Continental Premium Contact 6
    55.5 Points
  4. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
    53 Points
  5. Falken Azenis FK510
    51 Points
  6. Nokian PowerProof
    51 Points
  7. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    49 Points

Straight Aqua (Km/H)

Spread: 2.20 Km/H (2.8%) | Avg: 76.16 Km/H

Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)

Key Insight: All the tyres in the straight aqua test finished less than 3% apart.
  1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    77.5 Km/H
  2. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
    76.9 Km/H
  3. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    76.7 Km/H
  4. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    75.7 Km/H
  5. Nokian PowerProof
    75.6 Km/H
  6. Falken Azenis FK510
    75.4 Km/H
  7. Continental Premium Contact 6
    75.3 Km/H

Comfort Performance Overview

Subj. Comfort ( Points)

Spread: 5.50 Points (22.9%) | Avg: 22.29 Points

Subjective Comfort Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Continental Premium Contact 6 with a result of 24 Points. The difference between best and worst was 22.9%.
  1. Continental Premium Contact 6
    24 Points
  2. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    23.5 Points
  3. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    23.5 Points
  4. Nokian PowerProof
    23 Points
  5. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    22.5 Points
  6. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
    21 Points
  7. Falken Azenis FK510
    18.5 Points

Value Performance Overview

Rolling Resistance (kg / t)

Spread: 1.58 kg / t (18.4%) | Avg: 8.99 kg / t

Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 with a result of 8.58 kg / t. The difference between best and worst was 15.6%.
  1. Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
    8.58 kg / t
  2. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    8.59 kg / t
  3. Nokian PowerProof
    8.77 kg / t
  4. Continental Premium Contact 6
    8.84 kg / t
  5. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    8.88 kg / t
  6. Falken Azenis FK510
    9.08 kg / t
  7. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    10.16 kg / t

Overall Findings

Based on the weighted scoring from all tests, here are the overall results:

Position Tyre Score
Pirelli P Zero PZ4 0%
2 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 0%
3 Continental Premium Contact 6 0%
4 Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 0%
5 Nokian PowerProof 0%
6 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 0%
7 Falken Azenis FK510 0%

Discussion

31 comments
  1. light767 archived

    What about the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 vs the Bridgestone Potenza s001? I have just bought Potemza S001 Y XL for my Giulietta 2.0 as they used to have rigid flanks and last at least 25000 /30 000 km..what do you think?

    #5380
    1. EValerio light767 archived

      Not sure if it helps, my GQV has Pirelli P Zero PZ4 tyres which are brilliant on both dry and wet, the main issue is I´ve done almost 14.000 km and the rear tyres are practically done.

      #5523
      1. light767 EValerio archived

        I have done 30000 km with the last set of Bridgestone Potenza S001 and they were done. I was curious about P Zero PZ4 because I have heard that it has great holding but it's not that rigid to contrast car rolling.

        #5525
        1. TyreReviews light767 archived

          Sorry I missed this! The PZ4 should offer better wet grip than the S001, and the ride comfort should be better too. If you're looking for a good grip / comfort the Asymmetric 5 is also a great tyre to look into.

          #5526
          1. light767 TyreReviews archived

            No problem! I see, better grip! Anyway what I liked a lot of Potenza S001 is the rigidity of the tyre shoulder and I appreciated that because my Giulietta has good stability but it suffer a little of rolling so rigid tyres compensate a little.

            #5527
  2. Fin Guz archived

    Would have liked to have seen the Eagle F1 SS in the test, but nm.

    #5189
  3. Josh Mcmartin archived

    In the magazine it said the Maxxis Victra Sport 5 would have would the test, beating Pirelli, had it been available to buy through wholesale - which i believe they are now?

    #5142
    1. TyreReviews Josh Mcmartin archived

      That's correct, though I'm not sure what the question is? :)

      #5155
      1. Josh Mcmartin TyreReviews archived

        Haha no question as such - just thought there would be some mention of it now that it's available to buy :)

        #5164
          1. MDGTI TyreReviews archived

            I'm also disappointed not to be able to view the results of this tyre as well. Just because it was on wholesale at that point people can still use the test for future reference. It would be nice to see which categories it was strongest in and how close it was in other sections. I have seen that it comes with a treadwear rating of 320 in a review in Australia. So in theory same wear as a PS4? Seriously considering these for my next two tyres as I have found them locally for £70 per tyre on 225/45/17.

            #5198
            1. TyreReviews MDGTI archived

              The results were in the magazine, but not part of the final scoring as pre-production tyres can differ from the tyres you end up buying in the aftermarket.

              #5200
  4. Klenk Róbert archived

    Hey! Why there is no PS 4S edition? Its available (gooosh finally...) in this 18" size

    #5132
    1. TyreReviews Klenk Róbert archived

      Can't have been available at the time of test. I've not officially heard about an 18" PS4S in the UK market!

      #5134
  5. paul brockley archived

    The final oddity that i notice is that the Pirelli tyre is top of the class for both wet and dry handling. Considering performance in one usually means sacrificing the other i am very surprised that it was so far ahead of even the nearest competitor in both tests.
    I'd better get a tin foil hat and join the conspiracy nuts at this rate.

    #5091
  6. paul brockley archived

    Also, a Golf GTI, not even an "R"? not really the car of choice to truly test the limits of a UHP tyre. If the car was supplied by Pirelli, then again it would be safe to assume that this is their test car for that tyre, again literally tailor made for the car. However, i understand that it can be hard to find a size that all manufacturers supply for a true comparison.

    #5090
    1. TyreReviews paul brockley archived

      I think the GTI is dynamically better than the R, lighter, more feel, and for an 18" size, not the worst choice :)

      #5093
  7. paul brockley archived

    Would the fact that they are using the Pirelli test track not in itself give an advantage to the Pirelli tyres? Surely the Pirelli tyres will have spent many thousands of miles more on this track than the competition. They are literally tailor made for this track.

    #5089
    1. TyreReviews paul brockley archived

      There can be a SMALL home advantage at the hosts track, but look at the latest few tests from Uvalde, Continentals test facility. They've not won. The huge advantage of the PZ4 won't just be doing to being at Pirelli's facility, it was by far the best tyre on test

      #5092
  8. Lukica Stipetić archived

    Pirelli was good in the "auto bild sports car" too, but never did Falken and Nokian Powerproof do this "badly".
    something stinks in this test

    #5078
    1. TyreReviews Lukica Stipetić archived

      I'm sure there would have been no foul play, a lot of the EVO result is based on subjectivity, which is afterall subjective. The biggest surprise for me was Falken doing so badly in comfort testing, as nearly all other tests call this a comfortable tyre.

      #5081
  9. Joseph Chong archived

    Sponsored by Pirelli, no?

    #5071
    1. TyreReviews Joseph Chong archived

      Nope! Pirelli will have provided the proving grounds and vehicle etc, but EVO will have planned and conducted the entire test themselves with no influence from Pirelli.

      #5074
  10. 4cvg archived

    Thanks for that.
    The image is of the "luxury saloon" variant. Was this indeed the variant tested? (And would you be able to separate the listings of the two variants please?)

    #5064
  11. Dolf Jans archived

    Sport tyre (Pirelli) against sporty/comfy tyres from Conti and Michelin is an useless comparison in my opinion. Should have been Conti SportContact5 and Michelin Pilot Super Sport (Since Michelin has no 4S on offer for some strange reason). I know those are older types but so is the Dunlop RT2.....

    #5063
    1. TyreReviews Dolf Jans archived

      The difference is the RT2 hasn't been replaced yet, the PSS and CSC5 have. The PC6 is also more sporty than the CSC5 in a lot of sizes too, don't let the name fool you

      #5075
      1. Dolf Jans TyreReviews archived

        OK, understood. One thing though: The PS4 is not a real replacement for the PSS but again, it's strange that Michelin doesn't offer the PS4S in this popular size.
        In the meantime my compliments for all the services and information on these pages. Many thanks. Greetings from the Netherlands.

        #5076
      2. brainthesizeofplanet TyreReviews archived

        With the Pirelli naming mess it would be really helpful to know which version of the p4z did get tested:
        SC or LS - since the Pz4 dominates the wet tests also I would guess it was the LS version as I would expect the SC version to be extremely good on dry with less good performance on wet

        #5928
        1. TyreReviews brainthesizeofplanet archived

          As far as I understand, only the SC version is available to the aftermarket, so it would have been that

          #5930
          1. brainthesizeofplanet TyreReviews archived

            Mhh last year I don't know. At the moment I can order SC easily, depending on the size those are OE version.

            #5931