Following on from the fifty tyre braking shootout, Auto Bild have more thoroughly tested the best twenty 245/45 R18 summer tyres using a RWD BMW 5 Series.
The top three tyres should come as no surprise, with Continental, Goodyear and Michelin proving to be the most rounded tyres across all the testing.
The Continental Premium Contact 6 and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 tied for first place. As we found with our video comparison, both the Continental and Goodyear tyres offer sporty handling, good levels of grip in the dry and wet, and good comfort levels. Both tyres also topped the wear test, and when combined with their reasonable purchase price, offered some of the best value on test.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 was a close third, and like the Continental and Goodyear provided to have an excellent rounded performance in all conditions. One thing worth noting, he Michelin had significantly worse wear than the Contiental and Goodyear, which when combined with the most expensive purchase price on test, meant the French tyre offered the worst value. An unusual situation for a Michelin tyre.
Other notable performances again come from Vredestein and its parent company Apollo in fourth and fifth place, while Nexen and Falken round out the list of "highly recommended" tyres in sixth and seventh.
Dry
Michelin had its usual dry braking advantage, stopping nearly a meter shorter than any other tyre.
Dry Braking
Spread: 3.90 M (12.1%)|Avg: 34.23 M
Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)
Dry Braking: Safety Impact: Best vs Worst Tyre
Michelin's dry braking advantage could not be carried over to dry handling, with the Vredestien Ultrac Vorti proving to be best on test.
Dry Handling
Spread: 4.50 Km/H (3.8%)|Avg: 115.32 Km/H
Dry Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
117.00 Km/H
Continental Premium Contact 6
116.80 Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
116.40 Km/H
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
116.30 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
116.20 Km/H
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
116.20 Km/H
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
116.10 Km/H
Nokian PowerProof
115.90 Km/H
Firestone RoadHawk
115.40 Km/H
Apollo Aspire XP
115.40 Km/H
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
115.40 Km/H
Bridgestone Potenza S001
115.30 Km/H
Fulda SportControl 2
115.00 Km/H
Toyo Proxes Sport
114.90 Km/H
Falken Azenis FK510
114.80 Km/H
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
114.60 Km/H
Kumho Ecsta PS71
114.30 Km/H
Kleber Dynaxer UHP
114.20 Km/H
Uniroyal RainSport 3
113.70 Km/H
Zeetex HP2000 vfm
112.50 Km/H
Wet
Bridgestone highlight their wet grip improvements to the S001, winning the wet braking testing.
Wet Braking
Spread: 7.30 M (16.3%)|Avg: 48.48 M
Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)
Wet Braking: Safety Impact: Best vs Worst Tyre
Bridgestone continued the wet advantage through to the wet handling test.
Wet Handling
Spread: 6.90 Km/H (9.2%)|Avg: 71.18 Km/H
Wet Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)
Bridgestone Potenza S001
74.60 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
74.30 Km/H
Nokian PowerProof
73.90 Km/H
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
73.30 Km/H
Kumho Ecsta PS71
73.20 Km/H
Continental Premium Contact 6
73.00 Km/H
Firestone RoadHawk
72.30 Km/H
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
72.10 Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
71.90 Km/H
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
71.50 Km/H
Apollo Aspire XP
70.60 Km/H
Fulda SportControl 2
70.50 Km/H
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
70.00 Km/H
Toyo Proxes Sport
69.60 Km/H
Zeetex HP2000 vfm
69.50 Km/H
Falken Azenis FK510
69.20 Km/H
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
68.90 Km/H
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
68.80 Km/H
Kleber Dynaxer UHP
68.70 Km/H
Uniroyal RainSport 3
67.70 Km/H
Michelin took a second test win, proving best during the straight aquaplaning testing.
Straight Aqua
Spread: 8.40 Km/H (8.5%)|Avg: 95.04 Km/H
Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
99.10 Km/H
Kumho Ecsta PS71
98.50 Km/H
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
97.20 Km/H
Toyo Proxes Sport
96.70 Km/H
Apollo Aspire XP
96.60 Km/H
Firestone RoadHawk
96.60 Km/H
Bridgestone Potenza S001
95.80 Km/H
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
95.50 Km/H
Falken Azenis FK510
95.50 Km/H
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
95.40 Km/H
Uniroyal RainSport 3
95.30 Km/H
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
95.20 Km/H
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
95.00 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
93.90 Km/H
Continental Premium Contact 6
93.60 Km/H
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
93.20 Km/H
Nokian PowerProof
92.70 Km/H
Kleber Dynaxer UHP
92.50 Km/H
Fulda SportControl 2
91.70 Km/H
Zeetex HP2000 vfm
90.70 Km/H
Wear
Continental has again shown to have the lowest wear on test, with Goodyear and Falken extremely close behind.
Wear
Spread: 22450.00 KM (50%)|Avg: 30307.50 KM
Predicted tread life in KM (Higher is better)
Continental Premium Contact 6
44900.00 KM
Falken Azenis FK510
39063.00 KM
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
39063.00 KM
Uniroyal RainSport 3
35920.00 KM
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
33226.00 KM
Apollo Aspire XP
33226.00 KM
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
32328.00 KM
Kleber Dynaxer UHP
31879.00 KM
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
30083.00 KM
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
29634.00 KM
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
27838.00 KM
Bridgestone Potenza S001
27838.00 KM
Fulda SportControl 2
27389.00 KM
Nokian PowerProof
27389.00 KM
Firestone RoadHawk
27389.00 KM
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
26042.00 KM
Toyo Proxes Sport
23797.00 KM
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
23348.00 KM
Zeetex HP2000 vfm
23348.00 KM
Kumho Ecsta PS71
22450.00 KM
Thanks to the excellent wear and reasonable purchase prices, the Falken, Goodyear and Continental prove to be the value of all twenty tyres.
The Fulda SportControl 2 had the lowest rolling resistance on test, with the Bridgestone having the highest by a margin.
Rolling Resistance
Spread: 2.69 kg / t (37.7%)|Avg: 8.10 kg / t
Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)
Fulda SportControl 2
7.13 kg / t
Zeetex HP2000 vfm
7.34 kg / t
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
7.40 kg / t
Apollo Aspire XP
7.43 kg / t
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
7.55 kg / t
Uniroyal RainSport 3
7.56 kg / t
Continental Premium Contact 6
7.63 kg / t
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
7.65 kg / t
Nokian PowerProof
7.77 kg / t
Firestone RoadHawk
7.83 kg / t
Kleber Dynaxer UHP
7.94 kg / t
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
8.09 kg / t
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
8.15 kg / t
Toyo Proxes Sport
8.30 kg / t
Falken Azenis FK510
8.45 kg / t
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
8.86 kg / t
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
8.98 kg / t
Kumho Ecsta PS71
9.05 kg / t
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
9.16 kg / t
Bridgestone Potenza S001
9.82 kg / t
19,000 km
£1.45/L
8.0 L/100km
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Annual Difference
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Lifetime Savings
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Extra Fuel/Energy
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Extra CO2
Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tyre age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.
The noise testing was relatively close, with the Nexen having the quietest pass-by noise levels.
Noise
Spread: 2.60 dB (3.7%)|Avg: 72.23 dB
External noise in dB (Lower is better)
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
71.00 dB
Apollo Aspire XP
71.20 dB
Toyo Proxes Sport
71.30 dB
Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus
71.30 dB
Fulda SportControl 2
71.50 dB
Zeetex HP2000 vfm
71.70 dB
Uniroyal RainSport 3
71.80 dB
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
72.10 dB
Falken Azenis FK510
72.10 dB
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
72.10 dB
Kleber Dynaxer UHP
72.20 dB
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
72.20 dB
Kumho Ecsta PS71
72.40 dB
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
72.50 dB
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
72.80 dB
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
72.80 dB
Firestone RoadHawk
73.20 dB
Nokian PowerProof
73.20 dB
Continental Premium Contact 6
73.50 dB
Bridgestone Potenza S001
73.60 dB
The budget Zeetex tyre was the cheapest on test, but also the worst overall.
Something interesting caught my eye here. Maxxis VS5 did well in 2020 AMS and ADAC wet tests (and overall), same time it totally tanked in this one, especially wet braking. Is there something I'm missing here?
Thanks for this awesome site! As the new owner of a 2008 Lexus IS250, I am a bit overwhelmed with all the tyre info available here. I need some help. I am looking to pick up a staggered 18" OEM set-up of 225/40R18 front and 255/40R18 rear. Here are my options: - Nexen N'Fera SU1 353 EUR/set - Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 435 EUR - Michelin Pilot Sport 3 482 EUR (The Hankooks and Michelins have 1-year extra pothole warranty included.)
Further info: - For dynamic driving style, but no racing. - 70/20/10 split city/country roads/motorway. - Domestic road quality is less than desirable. - For summer tyre only (April-October), but occasional rainy weather should also be considered for safety.
I agree with the finding that the Michelin PS4 did not have good wear compared to the Conti/Goodyear. Having ran all three on the back of my C250 the results match my own experiences. The only praise for the Michelin above the Goodyear (although in comparison to an Asym 3) was that it offered much better wet traction off the line. Shame they couldn't have tested the new Rainsport 5 also. Also interesting to see the differences between the findings in this and the 2020 ADAC test, especially with regards to the Maxxis, which ive just bought... Otherwise great work!
Do you know what speed the wet braking was done at? Very surprised by these results, only 7m separating best/worst in wet either the braking tests were done at a low speed or -all- of these tyres are good with no ditchfinders! ?
True, still a surprise with some in there though and 7m is still quite a small gap for the 20! Surprised to see Uniroyal struggle so much in the wet too...
Michelin, most of the time, gives very good discounts, here in Greece at least. I bought them cheaper than both Continental and Goodyear. But you really can't go wrong with any of the three.
Something interesting caught my eye here. Maxxis VS5 did well in 2020 AMS and ADAC wet tests (and overall), same time it totally tanked in this one, especially wet braking. Is there something I'm missing here?
Perhaps different versions of the tyres due to size differences. 245/45 R18 is quite an odd size so might be a generation behind
Why in the heck they tested old Uniroyal Rainsport 3 and not the new Rainsport 5?
It will be because the 5 wouldn't have been available in the size required at the time of test.
Where can we find Nexen Nfera SU2? I can see the SU4, is that a successor of SU2 already?
Thanks in advance
I don't actually know, it doesn't seem to be available in many sizes yet, if it's in the market place at all
Does anyone have an idea which of these top 10 tires is the most comfortable? The softest to hit.
My educated guess would be the Goodyear or Falken
New tyre-tests of AB Sportcars
https://reifenpresse.de/202...
Thanks :) It's due on the site on monday!
Also on the posted page is the test from auto motor sport, here are more details from this test (in german)
https://www.auto-motor-und-...
Hope the test from sport auto will come soon, it´s the test I´m mostly agreed in the past
Thanks for this awesome site! As the new owner of a 2008 Lexus IS250, I am a bit overwhelmed with all the tyre info available here. I need some help.
I am looking to pick up a staggered 18" OEM set-up of 225/40R18 front and 255/40R18 rear. Here are my options:
- Nexen N'Fera SU1 353 EUR/set
- Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 435 EUR
- Michelin Pilot Sport 3 482 EUR
(The Hankooks and Michelins have 1-year extra pothole warranty included.)
Further info:
- For dynamic driving style, but no racing.
- 70/20/10 split city/country roads/motorway.
- Domestic road quality is less than desirable.
- For summer tyre only (April-October), but occasional rainy weather should also be considered for safety.
Thanks in advance!
D.
https://www.tyrereviews.co....
You have the F1 SuperSport in your sizes?
Yup, for 580 EUR! :o
Worth it over the Hankooks (or the Nexens)?
If you want the best of the best, yes, but at those prices the Hankook would probably take my money of those you've listed
I agree with the finding that the Michelin PS4 did not have good wear compared to the Conti/Goodyear. Having ran all three on the back of my C250 the results match my own experiences. The only praise for the Michelin above the Goodyear (although in comparison to an Asym 3) was that it offered much better wet traction off the line. Shame they couldn't have tested the new Rainsport 5 also. Also interesting to see the differences between the findings in this and the 2020 ADAC test, especially with regards to the Maxxis, which ive just bought... Otherwise great work!
Do you know what speed the wet braking was done at?
Very surprised by these results, only 7m separating best/worst in wet either the braking tests were done at a low speed or -all- of these tyres are good with no ditchfinders! ?
100kph, the distances are longer than the braking test which I believe was 80kph.
Don't forget the worst braking tyres were weeded out with the pre-test
True, still a surprise with some in there though and 7m is still quite a small gap for the 20!
Surprised to see Uniroyal struggle so much in the wet too...
Michelin, most of the time, gives very good discounts, here in Greece at least. I bought them cheaper than both Continental and Goodyear. But you really can't go wrong with any of the three.
Agreed, all three manufacturers are making excellent tyres now