While testing 225/45 R17 on an Audi A3 1.8 TFSI might not be as glamorous as some of EVO Magazines usual test cars, the 225/45 R17 is the second largest selling tyre size today and is fitted to many performance hatches, mid-sized saloons and even some MPVs.
As usual, EVO have put their own dynamic slant on the tyre test, and while they focus on objective scoring, they also give subjective scoring 40% of the overall result meaning a tyre which offers a good balance, and feels good to drive on doesn't necessarily need to have the ultimate grip to score well.
The Results
In raw performance, this years test was extremely close. The dry lap was covered by just 2.61 seconds, from the first place Vredestein, to the last place Nexen - that's a 2.4% difference. Fortunately, the subjective score had a much bigger variance, with the worst on test getting just 70.7% of the pack leading Pirelli.The wet lap, while shorter was a little more spread, with 5.11 seconds covering the first place Pirelli to the last place Nexen, or 6.8%. Again, the subjective scores offered a much wider spread, with the Nexen trailing the pack a whole 37% behind than the winning Goodyear.
Other tests included aquaplaning and rolling resistance tests, as well as a purely subjective road driving section. Interestingly, tyres which scored poorly in during the subjective dry lap or wet laps didn't necessarily score badly during the road section of driving, which focused as much on ride quality and noise as it did steering feedback and "on the limit" grip.
Overall
"Grip under acceleration, cornering and braking is paramount"
John Barker - EVO
In this years tyre test EVO have done an excellent job of reminding us how a tyre feels is as important as how much grip a tyre has to offer.
John Barker - EVO
The premium brands have once again shown that you do get what you pay for with tyres, and have locked out the top 6 places, with Hankook, Vredestein and Kumho closely squabbling for 7th, and the cheapest tyre on test a long way back in last place. Would the Goodyear have won without the strange aquaplaning result? Possibly, but you won't go far wrong with any of the top 4. It is however worth keeping in mind that this result stands for 225/45 R17 tyres on an Audi A3, a different tyre size on a different vehicle might change the order of the top 6.
As always our coverage doesn't do the test justice, so make sure you pick up EVO issue 175 for the full write up and the detailed results breakdown.
Pirelli P Zero
225/45 R17
Overall the P Zero demonstrated a consistently strong showing in all the tests, other than rolling resistance where it finished last
All discipline results (5)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 199.7 |
| Wet | 292.6 |
| Subjective | 100 |
| Rolling Resistance | 72.5 |
| Overall | 95.5 |
Total: 760.3
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2
225/45 R17
The best rolling resistance, combined with plenty of table topping wet performances the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 retains its crown as a strong wet weather tyre, with the lowest rolling resistance. Effective in the dry, but subjectively it lacked a bit of sparkle, the oddest and most disappointing part of the test was the weak aquaplaning results where it is usually strong
All discipline results (5)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 192.9 |
| Wet | 294.3 |
| Subjective | 82.2 |
| Rolling Resistance | 100 |
| Overall | 94.6 |
Total: 764
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3
225/45 R17
Another tyre strong which is strong in the wet, only slightly disappointing with an average dry performance
All discipline results (5)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 191.5 |
| Wet | 288.6 |
| Subjective | 95.6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 83.2 |
| Overall | 94.1 |
Total: 753
Continental Sport Contact 5
225/45 R17
Overall the Sport Contact 5 is a tyre that seems to get better the faster you go. Strong in both the dry and wet, it was only slightly let down by subjective feel and a mid pack rolling resistance
All discipline results (5)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 193.2 |
| Wet | 281.4 |
| Subjective | 93.3 |
| Rolling Resistance | 79.1 |
| Overall | 93.8 |
Total: 740.8
Bridgestone Potenza S001
225/45 R17
Mid pack in most of the wet tests, the Bridgestone showed to be a stronger performance in the dry, with an excellent subjective feel on track
All discipline results (5)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 194 |
| Wet | 276.9 |
| Subjective | 86.7 |
| Rolling Resistance | 68 |
| Overall | 91.9 |
Total: 717.5
Dunlop SportMaxx RT
225/45 R17
A strong raw performance in both the wet and dry gri[, the Sport Maxx RT was held back by its subjective feel while track driving
All discipline results (5)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 184.9 |
| Wet | 282.9 |
| Subjective | 84.4 |
| Rolling Resistance | 90.1 |
| Overall | 91.6 |
Total: 733.9
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
225/45 R17
Not the fastest tyre on test, with last place in wet braking as a test low, the Hankook S1 Evo2 never felt particularly bad, scoring well subjectively in many places
All discipline results (5)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 191.5 |
| Wet | 272.4 |
| Subjective | 84.4 |
| Rolling Resistance | 79.2 |
| Overall | 90.9 |
Total: 718.4
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
225/45 R17
The Vredestein Ultrac Vorti seems to have traded a strong dry performance with a weak wet performance, and a good steering response on the roads over ride comfort
All discipline results (5)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 184.1 |
| Wet | 275.6 |
| Subjective | 77.8 |
| Rolling Resistance | 76.7 |
| Overall | 89.6 |
Total: 703.8
Kumho Ecsta KU39
225/45 R17
Much closer to the tyres above rather than the Nexen below, the Kumho had a relatively strong wet performance. Slow in the dry, and a dull light steering feel give the Kumho a poor subjective score overall
All discipline results (5)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 169.2 |
| Wet | 275.9 |
| Subjective | 82.2 |
| Rolling Resistance | 77.4 |
| Overall | 88.2 |
Total: 692.9
Nexen N8000
225/45 R17
While the Nexen N8000 might be the least expensive tyre on test, it proves that you get what you pay for by being slowest by a fair margin in the wet, and subjectively one of the worst tyres on test
All discipline results (5)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 173.2 |
| Wet | 235.8 |
| Subjective | 75.6 |
| Rolling Resistance | 77 |
| Overall | 79.9 |
Total: 641.5
Discussion