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2024 Classic Car Tyre Test

Jonathan Benson
Data analyzed and reviewed by Jonathan Benson
7 min read Updated
Below are all the data points for the 2024 Classic Car 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.

Vredestein Sprint Classic
Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12
Pirelli Cinturato P5
Radar Dimax Classic
Michelin XWX
Dunlop Sport Classic
Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet

Quick Navigation

Dry Performance Overview

Dry Braking (M)

Spread: 4.20 M (11.3%) | Avg: 39.03 M

Dry braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12 with a result of 37.2 M. The difference between best and worst was 10.1%.
  1. Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12
    37.2 M
  2. Pirelli Cinturato P5
    38 M
  3. Dunlop Sport Classic
    38.7 M
  4. Radar Dimax Classic
    39.1 M
  5. Michelin XWX
    39.3 M
  6. Vredestein Sprint Classic
    39.5 M
  7. Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet
    41.4 M

Dry Handling (Km/H)

Spread: 2.10 Km/H (2.4%) | Avg: 86.67 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. Pirelli Cinturato P5
    87.6 Km/H
  2. Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12
    87.5 Km/H
  3. Dunlop Sport Classic
    86.8 Km/H
  4. Radar Dimax Classic
    86.8 Km/H
  5. Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet
    86.3 Km/H
  6. Vredestein Sprint Classic
    86.2 Km/H
  7. Michelin XWX
    85.5 Km/H

Wet Performance Overview

Wet Braking (M)

Spread: 22.40 M (45.3%) | Avg: 56.96 M

Wet braking in meters (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli Cinturato P5 with a result of 49.5 M. The difference between best and worst was 31.2%.
  1. Pirelli Cinturato P5
    49.5 M
  2. Dunlop Sport Classic
    50.3 M
  3. Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12
    50.5 M
  4. Vredestein Sprint Classic
    53.5 M
  5. Michelin XWX
    58.5 M
  6. Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet
    64.5 M
  7. Radar Dimax Classic
    71.9 M

Wet Handling (Km/H)

Spread: 12.60 Km/H (16%) | Avg: 74.11 Km/H

Wet Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12 with a result of 78.8 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 16%.
  1. Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12
    78.8 Km/H
  2. Pirelli Cinturato P5
    78.4 Km/H
  3. Dunlop Sport Classic
    76.1 Km/H
  4. Vredestein Sprint Classic
    75.2 Km/H
  5. Michelin XWX
    72.9 Km/H
  6. Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet
    71.2 Km/H
  7. Radar Dimax Classic
    66.2 Km/H

Wet Circle (s)

Spread: 1.80 s (15.8%) | Avg: 12.17 s

Wet Circle Lap Time in seconds (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli Cinturato P5 with a result of 11.4 s. The difference between best and worst was 13.6%.
  1. Pirelli Cinturato P5
    11.4 s
  2. Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12
    11.4 s
  3. Dunlop Sport Classic
    11.8 s
  4. Vredestein Sprint Classic
    11.9 s
  5. Michelin XWX
    12.6 s
  6. Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet
    12.9 s
  7. Radar Dimax Classic
    13.2 s

Straight Aqua (Km/H)

Spread: 19.70 Km/H (21.1%) | Avg: 83.63 Km/H

Float Speed in Km/H (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Pirelli Cinturato P5 with a result of 93.3 Km/H. The difference between best and worst was 21.1%.
  1. Pirelli Cinturato P5
    93.3 Km/H
  2. Vredestein Sprint Classic
    91.5 Km/H
  3. Dunlop Sport Classic
    87.1 Km/H
  4. Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12
    86.1 Km/H
  5. Radar Dimax Classic
    80 Km/H
  6. Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet
    73.8 Km/H
  7. Michelin XWX
    73.6 Km/H

Curved Aquaplaning (m/sec2)

Spread: 1.79 m/sec2 (45.7%) | Avg: 3.03 m/sec2

Remaining lateral acceleration (Higher is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Dunlop Sport Classic with a result of 3.92 m/sec2. The difference between best and worst was 45.7%.
  1. Dunlop Sport Classic
    3.92 m/sec2
  2. Pirelli Cinturato P5
    3.53 m/sec2
  3. Vredestein Sprint Classic
    3.37 m/sec2
  4. Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12
    3.21 m/sec2
  5. Radar Dimax Classic
    2.73 m/sec2
  6. Michelin XWX
    2.35 m/sec2
  7. Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet
    2.13 m/sec2

Comfort Performance Overview

Noise (dB)

Spread: 6.40 dB (8.9%) | Avg: 73.71 dB

External noise in dB (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet with a result of 71.6 dB. The difference between best and worst was 8.2%.
  1. Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet
    71.6 dB
  2. Radar Dimax Classic
    71.9 dB
  3. Michelin XWX
    72.5 dB
  4. Vredestein Sprint Classic
    72.6 dB
  5. Dunlop Sport Classic
    74 dB
  6. Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12
    75.4 dB
  7. Pirelli Cinturato P5
    78 dB

Value Performance Overview

Rolling Resistance (kg / t)

Spread: 2.87 kg / t (31.9%) | Avg: 10.54 kg / t

Rolling resistance in kg t (Lower is better)

Key Insight: The best performer was Dunlop Sport Classic with a result of 9.01 kg / t. The difference between best and worst was 24.2%.
  1. Dunlop Sport Classic
    9.01 kg / t
  2. Radar Dimax Classic
    9.53 kg / t
  3. Michelin XWX
    9.99 kg / t
  4. Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12
    10.9 kg / t
  5. Vredestein Sprint Classic
    10.91 kg / t
  6. Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet
    11.54 kg / t
  7. Pirelli Cinturato P5
    11.88 kg / t

Overall Findings

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

Position Tyre Score
Pirelli Cinturato HS CN12 0%
2 Dunlop Sport Classic 0%
3 Pirelli Cinturato P5 0%
4 Vredestein Sprint Classic 0%
5 Michelin XWX 0%
6 Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet 0%
7 Radar Dimax Classic 0%

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Discussion

11 comments
  1. 4cvg archived

    The Tire Rack has just done a "classic" tyre test. Compared to ABK thoroughness, it's a disappointingly limited effort but, given the paucity of "classic" tyre tests, it would be nice for you to give it a forum.

    #10437
    1. TyreReviews 4cvg archived

      I'll put it on the list.

      #10440
  2. 4cvg archived

    Jonathan, I don't know if you are in conversation with the good folk at ABK, but if so, perhaps you could suggest to them that a future test of interest would be in 155/80-15. I mention it because it is a size of interest as it is available in the FF compound formulation of the Xas. The regular compound Xas generally tests poorly in the wet but the FF should do better in merely slick conditions which don't make demands on the pattern's poor water clearance.
    Adding interest would be to also test some 145/80 (XZX for example) &, if it is available still, the TB15 in 170/65 against the 155/80 field.
    Vehicle? Superbeetle maybe (5" rims) or R8 Gordini or R8S (with 4.5" standard wheels)

    #9667
    1. 4cvg 4cvg archived

      Oh, and perhaps 175/70-15 as it allows the CN36 to feature.

      #9668
    2. TyreReviews 4cvg archived

      Sadly I have almost no contact with AB, other than our paths crossing sometimes when testing. Dirk is a great guy, maybe write in?

      #9674
      1. 4cvg TyreReviews archived

        Would it breach confidentiality to share his email (or whatnot) here?

        #9677
        1. TyreReviews 4cvg archived

          Unfortunately I don't have it!

          #9697
          1. 4cvg TyreReviews archived

            I've requested via the generic ABK contact email but no response yet.

            #9698
  3. 4cvg archived

    Thanks so much for this Jonathan. The ABK tests are otherwise very hard to access. (Spoken as someone whose youngest car is 45 years old & all of them take unfashionably small sizes.) I'll spread the word that it's up here.

    #9643
    1. TyreReviews 4cvg archived

      Sounds like you have quite the interesting garage!

      #9646