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2020 AMS 18 Inch Summer Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
7 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the 2020 AMS 18 Inch 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.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Falken Azenis FK510
GiTi GitiSport S1
Continental Premium Contact 6
Toyo Proxes Sport
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
Bridgestone Turanza T005
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
Nokian PowerProof
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Spread: 2.40 M (7.1%) | Avg: 35.11 M

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Sport 4 with a result of 34 M. The difference between best and worst was 6.6%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    34 M
  2. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    34.4 M
  3. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    34.6 M
  4. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    34.7 M
  5. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    34.8 M
  6. Nokian PowerProof
    34.8 M
  7. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    34.9 M
  8. Continental Premium Contact 6
    35 M
  9. Falken Azenis FK510
    36.2 M
  10. GiTi GitiSport S1
    36.4 M
  11. Toyo Proxes Sport
    36.4 M

Dry Handling (Km/H)

Spread: 2.30 Km/H (1.8%) | Avg: 125.53 Km/H

Dry Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)

Key Insight: All the tyres in the dry handling test finished less than 3% apart.
  1. Continental Premium Contact 6
    126.9 Km/H
  2. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    126.2 Km/H
  3. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    126.2 Km/H
  4. GiTi GitiSport S1
    126.1 Km/H
  5. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    125.8 Km/H
  6. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    125.3 Km/H
  7. Nokian PowerProof
    125.2 Km/H
  8. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    125 Km/H
  9. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    124.9 Km/H
  10. Falken Azenis FK510
    124.6 Km/H
  11. Toyo Proxes Sport
    124.6 Km/H

Subj. Dry Handling ( Points)

Spread: 2.00 Points (22.2%) | Avg: 8.00 Points

Subjective Dry Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Sport 4 with a result of 9 Points. The difference between best and worst was 22.2%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    9 Points
  2. GiTi GitiSport S1
    9 Points
  3. Continental Premium Contact 6
    9 Points
  4. Toyo Proxes Sport
    8 Points
  5. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    8 Points
  6. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    8 Points
  7. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    8 Points
  8. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    8 Points
  9. Falken Azenis FK510
    7 Points
  10. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    7 Points
  11. Nokian PowerProof
    7 Points

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Spread: 3.20 M (10.5%) | Avg: 31.86 M

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 with a result of 30.6 M. The difference between best and worst was 9.5%.
  1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    30.6 M
  2. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    30.8 M
  3. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    31.2 M
  4. Continental Premium Contact 6
    31.3 M
  5. Nokian PowerProof
    31.5 M
  6. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    31.9 M
  7. Falken Azenis FK510
    32.1 M
  8. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    32.3 M
  9. Toyo Proxes Sport
    32.4 M
  10. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    32.6 M
  11. GiTi GitiSport S1
    33.8 M

Wet Handling (Km/H)

Spread: 4.70 Km/H (5.6%) | Avg: 81.99 Km/H

Wet Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Sport 4 with a result of 83.6 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 5.6%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    83.6 Km/H
  2. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    83.1 Km/H
  3. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    83.1 Km/H
  4. Continental Premium Contact 6
    83 Km/H
  5. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    82.9 Km/H
  6. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    82.8 Km/H
  7. Nokian PowerProof
    82.4 Km/H
  8. Falken Azenis FK510
    81.3 Km/H
  9. Toyo Proxes Sport
    80.9 Km/H
  10. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    79.9 Km/H
  11. GiTi GitiSport S1
    78.9 Km/H

Subj. Wet Handling ( Points)

Spread: 4.00 Points (40%) | Avg: 7.82 Points

Subjective Wet Handling Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Sport 4 with a result of 10 Points. The difference between best and worst was 40%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    10 Points
  2. Continental Premium Contact 6
    9 Points
  3. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    9 Points
  4. Toyo Proxes Sport
    8 Points
  5. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    8 Points
  6. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    8 Points
  7. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    8 Points
  8. Falken Azenis FK510
    7 Points
  9. Nokian PowerProof
    7 Points
  10. GiTi GitiSport S1
    6 Points
  11. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    6 Points

Straight Aqua (Km/H)

Spread: 6.50 Km/H (7.3%) | Avg: 85.15 Km/H

Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Michelin Pilot Sport 4 with a result of 88.7 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 7.3%.
  1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    88.7 Km/H
  2. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    88.3 Km/H
  3. Toyo Proxes Sport
    87.6 Km/H
  4. Continental Premium Contact 6
    86 Km/H
  5. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    85.9 Km/H
  6. Falken Azenis FK510
    84.6 Km/H
  7. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    83.9 Km/H
  8. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    83.6 Km/H
  9. GiTi GitiSport S1
    83.4 Km/H
  10. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    82.4 Km/H
  11. Nokian PowerProof
    82.2 Km/H

Comfort Performance Overview

Subj. Comfort ( Points)

Spread: 4.00 Points (40%) | Avg: 8.00 Points

Subjective Comfort Score (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 with a result of 10 Points. The difference between best and worst was 40%.
  1. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    10 Points
  2. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    10 Points
  3. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    9 Points
  4. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    9 Points
  5. GiTi GitiSport S1
    8 Points
  6. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    8 Points
  7. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    8 Points
  8. Falken Azenis FK510
    7 Points
  9. Continental Premium Contact 6
    7 Points
  10. Toyo Proxes Sport
    6 Points
  11. Nokian PowerProof
    6 Points

Noise (dB)

Spread: 3.10 dB (4.5%) | Avg: 70.61 dB

External noise in dB (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 with a result of 69.3 dB. The difference between best and worst was 4.3%.
  1. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    69.3 dB
  2. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    69.5 dB
  3. GiTi GitiSport S1
    69.6 dB
  4. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    70 dB
  5. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    70.1 dB
  6. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    70.1 dB
  7. Falken Azenis FK510
    71 dB
  8. Toyo Proxes Sport
    71.1 dB
  9. Nokian PowerProof
    71.3 dB
  10. Continental Premium Contact 6
    72.3 dB
  11. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    72.4 dB

Value Performance Overview

Price

Spread: 308.00 (77.8%) | Avg: 499.82

Price in local currency (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Maxxis Victra Sport 5. The difference between best and worst was 43.8%.
  1. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    396
  2. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    396
  3. GiTi GitiSport S1
    404
  4. Toyo Proxes Sport
    432
  5. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    468
  6. Falken Azenis FK510
    494
  7. Nokian PowerProof
    496
  8. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    536
  9. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    560
  10. Continental Premium Contact 6
    612
  11. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    704

Rolling Resistance (kg / t)

Spread: 2.30 kg / t (32.4%) | Avg: 8.54 kg / t

Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Bridgestone Turanza T005 with a result of 7.1 kg / t. The difference between best and worst was 24.5%.
  1. Bridgestone Turanza T005
    7.1 kg / t
  2. Nokian PowerProof
    7.9 kg / t
  3. Continental Premium Contact 6
    8.2 kg / t
  4. Michelin Pilot Sport 4
    8.4 kg / t
  5. Falken Azenis FK510
    8.5 kg / t
  6. GiTi GitiSport S1
    8.5 kg / t
  7. Pirelli P Zero PZ4
    8.9 kg / t
  8. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
    8.9 kg / t
  9. Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
    9 kg / t
  10. Maxxis Victra Sport 5
    9.1 kg / t
  11. Toyo Proxes Sport
    9.4 kg / t

Overall Findings

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

Position Tyre Score
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 0%
2 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 0%
3 Continental Premium Contact 6 0%
4 Pirelli P Zero PZ4 0%
5 Maxxis Victra Sport 5 0%
6 Bridgestone Turanza T005 0%
7 Nokian PowerProof 0%
8 Falken Azenis FK510 0%
9 Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 0%
10 Toyo Proxes Sport 0%
11 GiTi GitiSport S1 0%

Discussion

14 comments
  1. Saeed Piroozfard archived

    Hey guys, I wanna buy tyres for my crossover (255/45/R20) and have three options:

    Nexen nfera Supreme (N5000 Platinum) : $175 each,
    Nankang SP-9 Cross-Sport : $115,
    Giti Sport S2 SUV :$125

    which will provide more comfort?

    #9263
  2. Lulu Bulu archived

    Obviously the Michelin PS4 was the best tyre in test!

    #5668
  3. Briscs archived

    Objectively, excluding price, there is surely only one winner being the Michelin PS4?

    Even the price might be mitigated if wear and performance throughout a tyres life was taken into account?

    #5647
    1. TyreReviews Briscs archived

      I agree that it's very close between the two, if nothing else they should have been marked as tied for first, but that's not how Auto Motor Und Sport presented the data.

      We didn't cover curved aquaplaning, where the goodyear had a 2 point advantage which probably tipped the balance in its favour. AMS rated the Goodyear 9.1 and Michelin 9.0 overall.

      #5648
      1. Raymond Carlo TyreReviews archived

        What would you recommend for a staggered fit for a Lexus IS250 - 225/40/18 and 255/40/18?

        #5743
    2. Scour Briscs archived

      If the prices are correct the Michelin costs 50% more than the Goodyear. And it´s only 225/45R18.

      In other tests the Goodyear also have better wear.

      I don´t have a problem with pay more for the best things but in this case I doubt the PS4 is worth this extreme higher price.

      #5649
      1. Briscs Scour archived

        Having just quickly looked at the current price differential I would most probably go for the Goodyear myself.

        Hadn't realised it was about 30% - that's quite some difference for premium brands

        #5650
        1. Scour Briscs archived

          The Goodyear is cheap for a premium, it´s cheaper than the 2nd class from Goodyear, Fulda. Dunno why.

          But Michelin is mostly the most expensive.

          #5651
      2. Lulu Bulu Scour archived

        Here in Greece, Michelin is the most expensive but there are always coupons either for gas or discount worth 40€. So they end up with same price or lower compared to Continental and Goodyear.

        #5667
        1. Scour Lulu Bulu archived

          I´m also take a look at someshops and the Michelin-prices are much diffrent to the prices in the magazine. But with big tyres the rebates don´t make is cheaper than some other brands (which sometimes make similar offers)

          #5669
      3. Vladimir Iliev Scour archived

        Michelin driver for one season here - totally disappointed from the performance of the tyre, comming from Continental SportContact 5. I sold the tyres after the season ended and now I'm looking to buy either Pirelli or Goodyear (looking at all the tests). SportContact5 only disadvantage was the high wear - lasted two seasons on my BMW 5er.
        Also the price difference between Michelin and Goodyear here in Bulgaria is 15euro. SportContact5 on other hand is much expensive - 50eur more than Michelin for some reason.

        #5691
        1. dufonrafal . Vladimir Iliev archived

          What was so disappointing? Personally I really don’t like the SC5, it’s harsh and noisy and while the grip is very good, it’s not the best. Then some driver love that very firm “German” road feal.
          I hate it :D

          #5696
          1. TyreReviews dufonrafal . archived

            Funny you say that, my experience of the SC5 was it was quite soft with bad handling! It can vary by size and fitment, it's a bit of a minefield!

            #5697
            1. dufonrafal . TyreReviews archived

              Well, my experience on two different vehicles/size is pretty consistent with how the PC6 is rated for comfort in this test. And how Continental tyres are usually rated for comfort in multiple test.

              EDIT: just looked at the SC5 page on the site, “poor comfort” is noted as a negative in multiple test for it.

              #5698