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.
Dry Performance Overview
Dry Braking (M)
Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)
Dry Handling (s)
Dry handling time in seconds (Lower is better)
Subj. Dry Handling ( Points)
Subjective Dry Handling Score (Higher is better)
Wet Performance Overview
Wet Braking (M)
Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)
Wet Handling (s)
Wet handling time in seconds (Lower is better)
Subj. Wet Handling ( Points)
Subjective Wet Handling Score (Higher is better)
Straight Aqua (Km/H)
Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)
Comfort Performance Overview
Subj. Comfort ( Points)
Subjective Comfort Score (Higher is better)
Noise (dB)
External noise in dB (Lower is better)
Value Performance Overview
Rolling Resistance (kg / t)
Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)
Overall Findings
Based on the weighted scoring from all tests, here are the overall results:
| Position | Tyre | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | 94.9% | |
| 2 | Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | 94.9% |
| 3 | Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 | 94.7% |
| 4 | Continental Premium Contact 6 | 94.2% |
| 5 | Bridgestone Turanza T005 | 93.2% |
| 6 | Semperit Speed Life 3 | 92.8% |
| 7 | Yokohama Advan Sport V105 | 90.5% |
| 8 | Giti GitiSportS2 | 89% |
| 9 | Rotalla RU01 S Pace | 86.2% |
Test Winner
Rotalla RU01 S Pace
86.2%
Hi, thank you for your fantastic reviews and advice. I’ll soon be looking to replace the Yokahama V105 tyres on my SL. I’ve been very happy with these but looking for better wet performance.
Unfortunately the rears are a rare size 285/30/r19 Thinking of Asymmetric 5s, but would be grateful for any advice.
Thanks Mark
Asym5 is one of my fav tyres so always a good choice!
Thanks for the great reviews. I’ll soon be looking to replace the Yokohama V105 tyres on my SL. I’ve been happy with these but looking to get better wet performance. Unfortunately the rears are quite a rare size 285/30/r19
Thinking of replacing with Asymmetric 5. Would this be a good choice? And what else should I consider.
Thank you Mark
A bit of an oddball perhaps - i’m looking to replace 9 year old Pirellis on my almost daily driven ‘85 911 Targa. It’s a set of 16” 205/55 and 225/50. Having searched all possibilities in Belgium, the shortlist comes down to Pilot Sport 4, PremiumContact6 and V105.
V105 is by far the cheapest, others quite similar. Now the 911 is a naturally slightly understeery beast with very light front end - so in my understanding this calls more for a solid sidewall tyre, right? At the same time, the suspension is not something you’d call sophisticated or supple - so would Michelin’s comfort vs the other 2 make a significant difference in overall ride quality as the roads are not the very best over here in Belgium - but also, i suspect the difference is bigger in 18” than in 16” where there is a lot of sidewall or am i mistaken?
I’m not after just ultimate grip, as it’s quite nice being able to have a controlled powerslide but at less than suicidal speeds… what would be your suggestion here?
Many thanks!
Good short list, but I'm afraid I can't answer your question based on experience as I've not tested the V105 in 16" and 16" tyres are often built differently from their 17/18 inch brothers.
I know what I'd fit, the Conti just because I always like that tyre no matter the size, but I do prioritise handling over comfort.
Also, very cool daily.
Many thanks man! Conti it will be then - German for a German car ?
I drive a modded 2001 E39 525d. I just bought 18" wheels and will buy 235/40R18 front, 265/35R18 rear tires next week. I'm looking for a tire that is sportier & grippier than a touring tire, but still comfortable and quiet enough for my type of usage. I use the car as a daily and also do multiple long range (1000 km) trips per year with it (25-30k km per year). I basically want the car to still be able to attack twisty mountain roads, but the main thing I look for in the tire is that it should be good at high speeds, it should be quiet, and not have too harsh of a ride. It should also have short braking distances, and good wet performance, as my region gets a lot of rain.
I wanted to get the Michelin PS5 but then I realized that they are stupidly expensive in my country (Turkey). The next tire that I looked at is the Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 and it's 50% cheaper than the PS5. I also know that the Hankooks are OE tires on a lot of cars, including a 2021 BMW 520d xDrive that a relative owns, and he says he was happy with them and that they lasted him 40,000 km.
Do you think I should go with the Hankooks? As long as they're still sportier than a touring tire, and have enough grip on the rear axle for my 500-600 Nm of torque (modded M57), those seem like the perfect tire for me. Or are there any alternatives that you could recommend considering my requirements?
Good tyres, but maybe they'll have quite high wear on the rear. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5/6 are great options.
I just found out that I could also get PS4 for a good price. They would cost me 20% more than the Hankooks while the PS5 would cost me 50% more. Does the PS5 just have improved wear over the PS4?
Also, now that you mentioned the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 I looked them up online for my sizes and could find extremely well priced ones for my fronts, but no luck with the rears for some reason. I could always ask local tire shops if they have some in stock or could order some for me, though
Yes, the PS5 should wear more than 20% better than the PS4, and has the nice sidewall so that's a plus.
Looking at recent tests the Asymmetric 6 is wearing even better than the PS5. If you can still get the Asymmetric 5 for a good price that's also a good option
Nevermind, I went to multiple tire shops in my city today and was able to find a set of PS5 in my sizes for an unbeatable price, 13250 Turkish Liras (650€) including mounting & balancing.
The PS4 would cost 12000 TL but that is an online price, so mounting & balancing is not included. Also, the longevity of the PS5 makes it cheaper in the long run than the PS4. And the PS4s I found were made in 2021, unlike the PS5s which were made this year.
I'll be buying them tomorrow, so I'm super excited! The tires I had on before were a square setup of 235/45R17 Falken Azenis FK510. I was happy with those for their price but the rubber felt like it became hard quite quickly, and they lasted around 30k km. Dry braking & noise became worse with wear. Eager to see how different the PS5s will be in 235/40R18 front and 265/35R18 rear!
Let me know how you like them :)
I've driven a bit on them already, and wow, I knew it was a good tire but I did not expect this. I went from 17" to 18" and have MORE comfort now. It's just such a refined ride both in terms of ride quality but also noise. And on top of this they have a lot more grip than my Falkens did, or at least they feel like they are easier to drive fast, as they provide you with a lot of confidence because their limit is very progressive. The car is also noticeably upset less by road grooves, lane markings etc, so driving fast in a straight line feels a lot more stable.
We also had monsoon-like rain yesterday, and WOW, this is the best tire I've ever experienced in the wet. Felt like I was driving in the dry. I was literally driving through standing water on purpose and there was never even a hint of aquaplaning.
SUPER glad I made this purchase. 100% worth their money and the sidewall design just makes the entire car look so much better!
This feels like the perfect tire choice for a 5 series with sport suspension. Perfect mix of comfort & sportiness imo.
:D glad you love them, if you could put a review on the site it'll be more visible :)
It looks difficult to compare the tires based on a full change of wheels and fitment, isn’t it. As you say you went from square 17” to 18” non square, so I believed you changed the the rims and the height of the tire wall, which obviously change the behaviour of the car. I am also leaning towards PS5 since they are very close in price to the Primacy 4+ version. Coming from Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 MO….I am not sure where to aim….
I've noticed that overal the price difference between the winning premium brands and the so called 'second tier' or non premium cheaper brands isn't always that huge. For instance, for my car I'd save 20-25 euro's per tyre for going to Falken instead of the Goodyear AS6. Even if I buy 4 tires at once, i can't even fill me gas tank twice for the savings.
Is there any tyre in particular that is considerably less expensive than the premium big name brands, that really stood out to you or surprised you?
Unfortunately it's very rare, the fact is it's expensive to make a good tyre, and as soon as manufacturers are making good tyres their price increases.
Some Hankook products can still be found at near tier 2 prices with test winning performances.
great reviews as usual Jonathan but other tyre tests for the goodyear say its good for aquaplaning ? i guess it is good but not the best !
Asym 5 was better than 6, not sure if that's the difference?
I have a 2.0TSi Scirocco on 235/40R18s, currently standard but possibly looking at a remap in the summer to go to about 280bhp. I need to replace all four tyres and I've always been a Michelin fan boy, but in these tighter economical times i'm considering the Asymmetric 6s as there doesn't appear to be much between them in the reviews? However, making it even harder, a friend has recommended the Uniroyal Rainsport 5s and they are cheaper by far than both other options. I'm confused and conflicted! Is it worth forking out on the PS5s or will the Rainsports perform on the road as well as my wallet? Or do I meet in the middle and go for Goodyears!?
Avoid the rainsports if you like driving, they're too spongy. I'd be more than happy with the Asym 6 if it's more wallet friendly!
Thanks for the excellent test, as always!
I think it would be *very* useful to test tires halfway down their tread life too. Tires are obviously always tested brand new but this is only a relatively short part of their lifespan. During the lifespan of a tire, the performance changes/deteriorates. Often significantly. Some manufacturers seem to put more importance on this aspect than others. A 'halfway down' test might (likely will) surface interesting outcomes.
It would be useful, but to do it properly they need to be worn on the road which is VERY expensive.
I drive a 2013 Hyundai i30 and am using it for Ubering. Will be in need of new tyres shortly in this size (225/45 R17) after getting around 50K kms from the stock Hankooks, so was very interested to see the results of your test. Given I mostly drive around town and would prioritise fuel efficiency and safety (I realise they can go against each other) and noise, would you have a recommendation? Was actually thinking of getting some Pirelli P7 but noticed Pirellis werent tested here so not sure where they'd fit. Appreciate any advice at all! Cheers.
HI i own a bmw 520i 2018. I urgently need to get rid of my RFTs. I am super confused between Michelin pilot sport 5 and Primacy 4 plus. Or is there anything better that you would recommend, My main interest is definitely noise level and comfort. Also to add in live in Dubai so not much of wet days or winter either, Its mostly Hot weather and Super hot weather.
Primacy 4+ if you want comfort. I have a video comparing both on youtube
Thank you for your feedback
Driver of an old corvette 2000, used at legal speeds mostly in city and little bit on highway 8kkm in summer tires and 2kkm in winter tires. Need to change my summer Dunlop RT maxx front 245/45-17 20kkm. Leaning toward primacy 4+ and I am concern of aqua planning, living in south west Sweden. Why not a PS5 vs Primacy 4+?
What do you think? Saw your lastest video with both but could not conclude.
Thanks!
The Primacy 4+ certainly isn't the best tyre in its sector for aquaplaning performance, check out the data on this page https://www.tyrereviews.com... so if it's a concern maybe aim for a different tyre.
ok :( the hunt shall resume ...not sure I can find the latest Bridgestone one the market nowadays ... but it looks like my Dunlop are better than the Primacy 4... hmmmm
It would be useful to repeat this test when ambient temperatures drop to a typical UK winter temperature.
Most people drive on these tyres all year round, you can often find a brilliant performer in typical summer temps cant switch on in a normal winter. A test at maybe 5 degrees would be quite interesting, for example it may find if a PS4 worked better than a PS5 in the colder weather and it was the cold performance that was sacrificed for longer tyre wear.
Sadly controlling the weather, especially in winter is very difficult but it is something I'm actively working on. The good news is theres TUV data on your very example, keep an eye on youtube for a video in the coming days, but in short they haven't dropped cold weather performance and Michelin is much better than competitors when cool.
That's great, thanks for the information. I will look out for that. I currently use PS4 and they have been really very good in colder weather.
Nexen N'Fera Sport SUV 225/65 R17 might be also a good choice
Hi Jonathan. Thank you for the massive effort you put in to making your comparisons. I love your reviews . The only bad thing to come of it is, that I've become fussy with what to put on next
I've been wrecking my own head with what to get.
I have a 2016 BMW 520d with pirelli 245/45 R18 96Y runflats. I love driving, So don't want the car to feel numb. I would like it to be super quiet and comfortable but also get good wear and fuel efficient too
I know it's a big ask.
I live in Dublin, Ireland so we get very mild weather. Usually damp and cold in winter
Should I come away from the runflats and do I need to go to the all season tyres.
I was thinking P7 sf2 or cross climate 2 if I decide on all season.
Or a summer tyre of your recommendation.
I understand you get tonnes of messages like this
,but I just can't decide. Please help me.
Thanks and keep up the great work
All season = numb.
If you're ditching the runflats, which I'm sure will be summer tyres, i'd go to the asymmetric 6.
Thanks for the quick reply Jonathan.
I have them in my basket already.
Just waiting on the word from yourself.
I'll put a review on the website once I get them fitted and tested.
Really looking forward to it now.
Thanks again for your tireless work. We are all a little smarter thanks to your reviews
Please explain this EU label differences.
Hankook Ventus Prime 4 K135 205/55 R17 95V XL
Same tyre, same size, but two different EU labes (one has A wet braking rating, other has B).
The only differences are the tyre designator number (or what ever that is): 1029267 and 1029212.
What is the difference? Are they for different markets, or what? EU labes is supposed to make it easier for the consumers, not harder...
https://image.delti.com/eu-...
https://image.delti.com/eu-...
I'm afraid I don't have that data, it might be an unmarked OE tyre, I suggest dropping hankook an email!
I've sent them an email. Probably will not get any reply anyway...
No replay from them, of course...
I'll drop them a message next week and try and find out! Got a link to where you saw these? It would be useful if I could get the EAN / UPC
Thanks. I found them at these two stores in Serbia:
https://www.autogume.rs/gum...
https://www.tirendo.rs/prod...
For the second link, when you open it, scroll down and in the left corner click on the "Etiketa za gumu" tab to show the EU label.
I don't have the barcodes, unfortunately.
Thanks Jonathan for tirelessly producing high quality tyre tests over the years.
From your videos I've learned that it's not just the numbers, equally important are your subjective comments on each tyre tested - that's why during the covid lock down, I went back to your tests, and read every comment/respond you posted in tyrereviews, and youtube.
In your tests, do you use one set of tyres for all the test, or a new set for each set of test?
As tyres wear over time, I'm wondering whether by using one set of tyres for all the tests would better reflect real-life performance/use. I'm thinking the tests can be carried out starting with the more gentle test, and progressing to the more punishing ones. Dry handling(account for tread block flex), followed by wet handling(less tread depth after dry handling), aquaplaning, wet braking, dry braking, nose & comfort.
So far I've only seen one new versus used performance comparison, and the results were disturbing. The results in this tests confirms my experience with the 2 competitor tyre brands (though different models). After about 50% used, their wet performance disappeared.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
We generally use one set for wet and one for dry. Even gentle testing wear is very different compared to real world wear so it's not really possible to use that as a comparison. I'm always looking into doing more worn testing but it's incredibly expensive.
Have a read of today's press release from the CC2 SUV, they've worn tested in the wet and the differences aren't super different amongst the premiums. https://www.tyrereviews.com...
Golf VII TDI 1.6 DSG (225/45/17) driver here, my PremiumContact6 tyres are slowly getting old (~35K Km.) and I was thinking about what to buy next. These tyres are really good all-rounder, only downside in my opinion is the low comfort level on bad road conditions. I was thinking about going for Turanza T005 for very low fuel-consumption ratings, but I see many users saying that those tyres are very hard and not comfortable at all... I also think that'll be a downgrade from what I have right now. I might consider Primacy 4, or just buy PremiumContact6 again... Thanks for the review. You made me decide buying Continental PremiumContact6 in the first place for my summer tyres and Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 for my winter tyres. No regrets at all.
The T005 will be way more comfortable than the PC6, but if you like driving also feel less sporty. If you like the PC6 but want a bit more comfort I'd suggest the Asym 6 or PS5.
Careful looking at user comments on the Turanza T005. It is a very common OEM fitment on BMW, and always the run-flat version. Users are probably commenting more about the characteristics of a run-flat combined with BMW's fixed (non-adaptive) suspensions than they are about the tyre model.
Good point!
I have Skoda Octavia III estate... Until now I had dunlop sport maxx rt 225/45/R17. It's time for a change... until yesterday I thought my next set was going to be Continental Premium Contact 6.
After watching the video I'm leaning towards the new Michelin PS5 - mainly because of the comfort/noise. As I am a very gentle driver... and hate all the bumps on uneven roads, the PS5 should probably be better, right?
That is a sound conclusion :)
Audi A4 Quattro 3.2 FSI. I can't decide between the GY F1 6 or the Hankook's.
I'm not sure I like the sound of "undynamic handling" but then it's a Quattro so does it really matter? Perhaps as I'm doing motorway miles I'll be better off with the best wet braking stats.
But then rolling resistance and noise.... however anything will be better than the garbage mix of Falken's and Dunlop's it came with!
Why not the Michelin then, a mix of both!
Great test for my tyre size :) , big Thanks form me for that :)
Nice to see the new Goodyear and Michelin. I was a bit surprised to see the Yokohama here, I think it´s the oldest tyre in this review, it was released in 2013 if I remember correct. Not abd for this age, but the high rolling resistance is not contemporary
The first two places aren´t a surprise for me but can´t believe the Semperit is so good in wet but believe it´s weakness in the dry. Reminds on the Uniroyal-tyres, bad in the dry, better in the wet, but maybe the Rainsport 5 is better on Aquaplaning than the Semperit.
Sadly some newer tyres like the Vredestein Ultrac Vorti +, Pirelli P Zero SZ4 and Yokohama V107 aren´t available in this size.
I'm excited to get on the V107 sometime, I hope it feels like the 105 with added wet / rolling resistance
A question, did you test the V105 oder V105S?
Good question. It was sold as V105, and is named V105 on the sidewall however there is a small V105S too. Yokohama only list the V105 on their sites now, but I think they're all the "S" versions now?
Maybe newer versions all 105S but even in the shops it´s not clear marked, different categories in rolling resistance D, E and F for the same tyre in different shops.
You can find that for compound updates and OE versions too, tyre buying is a total mess when you look into it ?
Yep, different rolling resitance labels and some OE versions. But I think some shops also to blame for less detailed description
Thanks for the test! I am looking to replace runflats on my BMW 3 touring. I really like the Asym 6, but is not available in my fronts size yet. Would you gor for the PS5, Asym 5 or wait until September to get the Asym 6? I am just worried how much sportiness I would lose with the PS5, othewise looks great.
What tyre are you coming from? If you're not hitting tracks i'm sure the PS5 would be a great option if you don't want to wait
Currently on Pirelli P Zero * runflat R19 (year 2019). I’m not tracking the car, but I push it a bit on twisty roads. The ride is pretty harsh right now, so that’s also why I like the PS5, being more comfortable than the Asymetric. I could get the Asym 5 for 150€ less than PS5 though.
The only thing I will mention is moving away from a runflat you will lose dynamic handling, that's just how the hard sidewalls in rft tyres work, so maybe the Asym 5 would be a slightly less shock to the system. ALL non-runflat tyres will be a marked improvement in comfort!
Yes I get it, thanks! What about Asym 5 vs 6, worth the wait or marginal improvements?
There's a video on that on youtube :) https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Comparing previous 225/45 R17 tests, where raw data was shown and where the Continental PC6 was facing the Michelin PS4, I believe it's fair to extrapolate and say that the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 lost some dry and wet braking performance to its predecessor as well as a little bit of dry handling performance and steering feel. The PS5 is certainly a great tyre but something was lost along the way (or traded in) to wear, according to Michelin.
I see why you think that, but I think that size worked out very well for the PC6, especially in wet braking where it performed better than anyone expected!
The data I've seen for the PS5 is that it at least matches the PS4 in everything, but has a huge increase in mileage (+40% over PS4)
I notice that the T005 91W tested is also available as 91Y, 94W, 94Y in this size. Past experience suggests that different load and speed ratings do affect how the same tyre feels. Not sure why Bridgestone didn't send you their Potenza Sport 94Y though
It really can depend on the pattern and size, sometimes they're just different sidewalls. I'm not sure what differences this is.
Good point. I'm running Michelin CrossClimate+ in this size with 94W rating during winter and it feels heavy and stiff. Sadly the CC+ wasn't available with a 91 load rating at that time. It's NOT more comfortable compared to my PSS in 225/40 R18 92Y. If at all it's the opposite of that. Anyways, the Bridgestone T-005 91W tested seems stunningly light at just 8 kg, though not that untypical for a more comfort and eco oriented tyre. The difference of 1,5 to 2 kg per tyre should be measurable and even noticeable in acceleration (e.g. from 80 to 120 in 6th or even from 100 to 200 km/h). Again, great review, thanks for that!
In the case of the Michelin, I would have a guess that the 91 and 94 XL tyres are the same tyres built to the 94 standard as that's pretty common in the CC range, however the 18" size might throw that!
So, would i be a smug S-class mercedes owner who mostly cares about looks and exclusive price-tag with lots of data results backing it up (Michelin Pilotsport 5) or an overconfident Audi Quattro enjoyer who idolizes Group B rallying (Goodyear Asymmetric 6). My choice in this case is Goodyear Asymmetric 6.