2017 Auto Bild UHP Tyre Test

Test Summary
Wet BrakingMichelin Pilot Sport 4
Dry BrakingMichelin Pilot Sport 4
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
Rolling ResistanceGoodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
NoiseMichelin Pilot Sport 4
Snow HandlingVredestein Ultrac Vorti
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
The German publication Auto Bild have published their third tyre test of 2017, this time testing nine UHP tyres in 245/40 R18 using an Audi TT. Without a budget tyre included in the test, this is one of the closest tyre tests we've seen in years, and highlight just how close the latest generation of tyres have become in terms of raw performance.

Wet

In the wet, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 came out best overall. It won the aquaplaning tests and was joint fastest during the wet handling lap. The Firestone tyre lost both categories.

Under wet braking, the Michelin only managed sixth position, but when you consider the gap between the test winning Dunlop and sixth placed Michelin was just 0.4 meters, you realise the order of the top tyres could fall within the variance of the testing. The now-dated Continental Sport Contact 5 struggled, but not as much as the Firestone tyre, a full ten meters behind the winning Dunlop.

Dry

As in the wet, the Michelin was the fastest tyre in the dry, with Vredestein a close second.

The dry braking test verified Vredesteins dry ability, with Vredestein convincingly winning the test. Firestone once again finished last, rounding out last place in every test of grip performed.

The rolling resistance test was won by Goodyear, with the first five places close enough not to make a huge impact in overall fuel use. The excellent dry grip of the Vredestein does have a trade off, the Ultrac Vorti had the worst efficiency of all tyres on test.

The quietest tyres on test were Hankook and Vredestein. Firestone once again ranks last, but is the cheapest tyre on test.

Results

Below are the overall results. Auto Bild place a higher score weighting on the wet results, which is why the total scores aren't in sequence with the order of results.

1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Michelin Pilot Sport 4
  • 245/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 35
  2. Dry: 8
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Comfort: 7
  5. Rolling Resistance: 7
  6. Noise: 6
Very good handling on dry and wet surfaces, precise steering response, good feedback and short braking distances in all conditions. High level of comfort
None mentioned
Exemplary / Test Winner

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2nd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
  • 245/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 35
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Comfort: 6
  5. Rolling Resistance: 9
  6. Noise: 6
Good handling and a short stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces, high lateral stability on wet roads, low rolling resistance
None mentioned
Exemplary

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2nd: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti

Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
  • 245/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 30
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Comfort: 5
  5. Rolling Resistance: 4
  6. Noise: 7
Good handling and a short stopping distance on wet and dry roads, low noise
Slightly high rolling resistance
Exemplary

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4th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
  • 245/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 33
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 7
  4. Comfort: 6
  5. Rolling Resistance: 8
  6. Noise: 6
Good handling on dry roads, short stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces, good levels of comfort
A tendency to oversteer on wet roads
Good

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4th: Hankook Ventus S1 evo2

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
  • 245/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 31
  2. Dry: 7
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Comfort: 5
  5. Rolling Resistance: 6
  6. Noise: 7
High lateral stability and good handling on dry roads, short stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces, high resistance to aquaplaning, low noise
Strong tendency to understeer in the wet
Good

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6th: Falken Azenis FK510

Falken Azenis FK510
  • 245/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 29
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Comfort: 5
  5. Rolling Resistance: 6
  6. Noise: 6
High lateral stability and good handling on dry roads, short stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces, high resistance to aquaplaning
A tendency to oversteer on wet roads
Good

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6th: Nokian zLine

Nokian zLine
  • 245/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 29
  2. Dry: 6
  3. Wet: 6
  4. Comfort: 4
  5. Rolling Resistance: 8
  6. Noise: 5
Short stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces, high lateral stability on wet roads
Delayed response to steering and the tendency to oversteer, average comfort level
Good

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8th: Continental Sport Contact 5

Continental Sport Contact 5
  • 245/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 30
  2. Dry: 5
  3. Wet: 5
  4. Comfort: 6
  5. Rolling Resistance: 8
  6. Noise: 6
Good resistance to aquaplaning, low rolling resistance, good levels of comfort
Average braking, slow steering, low stability on wet roads
Average

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9th: Firestone Firehawk SZ90

Firestone Firehawk SZ90
  • 245/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
  1. Total: 18
  2. Dry: 4
  3. Wet: 1
  4. Comfort: 5
  5. Rolling Resistance: 5
  6. Noise: 3
Acceptable resistance to aquaplaning
Unbalanced handling and long braking distances on wet and dry roads. High noise levels
Not recommended

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