2017 EVO Summer Tyre Test

As with previous years, the overall result is 60% subjective and 40% objective, making it quite a different test from the traditional tyre tests which rate objective data above subjective. This means that while the raw objective figures from the wet and dry tests are still important, how the tyre feels subjectively with regards to steering speed and car balance has an even more importance on the overall result.

The Top Three

Even with the unique score weighting, the overall result isn't a surprise. The new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 wins the test by a convincing margin with a clean sweep in the subjective ratings, an extremely strong wet performance, and excellent road manners. This is the Michelin Pilot Sport 4's fifth win in five tests, continuing its 100% success rate.

The new Pirelli P Zero PZ4 takes second place. The Pirelli was the fastest in the wet and dry, but didn't quite have the steering feel or balance of the winning Michelin. The Pirelli also struggled in the curved aquaplaning test, where it could only manage eighth place, 20% behind the winning Dunlop.

Third place was awarded to the new Continental Premium Contact 6. This tyre merges the Sport Contact 5 and Premium Contact 5 tyres, and blends an excellent wet performance with good road manners. The negatives? The Premium Contact 6 was a little weak in the dry finishing last overall in dry handling, but the pack was so close this didn't cost the tyre too many points overall.

The Rest

Fourth place was taken by the Falken FK510. The mid-range Falken was more expensive than both the Goodyear and Dunlop on test, but offered a better blend of dry and wet objective and subjective performances, but was also the heaviest tyre on test and used the most fuel. When comparing the Falken to the best tyre on test, the Falken would cost you approximately 0.5mpg extra on a car which averaged around 30mpg.

The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2, Bridgestone Turanza T001 Evo and Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 cover fifth to seventh place, split by just 0.5% overall. The Dunlop was one of the fastest tyres in the dry and had the lowest rolling resistance, but weak in the wet, whereas the Bridgestone was strong in the wet, but average in the dry. Seventh placed Hankook wasn't outstanding in any area, but wasn't really weak either.

Unusually the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 could only manage eighth place. As usual, the Goodyear was strong in wet handling, won the aquaplaning tests and was strong in dry braking, however it proved to be weak during dry handling, and scored very poorly subjectively in both the wet and dry which cost it a better result.

The Toyo Proxes Sport finished the test in last place, proving to be weak in both subjective and objective testing.

Data

Results

As always, we recommended visiting the evo.co.uk website, or buying EVO issue 238 for the full results. Our scoring below covers only the subjective dry and wet scoring (not objective), and "comfort" covers the road route EVO tested.

1^st

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

225/40 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Excellent in both subjective and objective testing. Best all round package on test.

None mentioned.

Total: 308.2

Dry 41

Wet 56

Comfort 22.5

Rolling Resistance 90.6

Overall 98.1

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2^nd

Pirelli P Zero PZ4

225/40 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Fastest in both the dry and wet.

Poor curved aquaplaning score.

Total: 297.4

Dry 39

Wet 54.5

Comfort 21

Rolling Resistance 87.2

Overall 95.7

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3^rd

Continental Premium Contact 6

225/40 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Fast in the wet, subjectively great in the dry and excellent on the road.

Slowest tyre in the dry, felt a little disconnected in the wet.

Total: 296.8

Dry 36.5

Wet 49.5

Comfort 22

Rolling Resistance 94.5

Overall 94.3

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4^th

Falken Azenis FK510

225/40 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Excellent in dry and wet testing, subjectively and objectively. Strong aquaplaning result.

Heaviest tyre on test, highest rolling resistance, least refined on the road.

Total: 284.9

Dry 38.5

Wet 50

Comfort 18

Rolling Resistance 85.6

Overall 92.8

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5^th

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2

225/40 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Quick in the dry, good ride comfort, lowest rolling resistance, strong aquaplaning result.

Slow in the wet.

Total: 293.1

Dry 33.5

Wet 46.5

Comfort 21

Rolling Resistance 100

Overall 92.1

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6^th

Bridgestone Turanza T001 Evo

225/40 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Excellent feel in the wet, low rolling resistance.

Weak in curved aquaplaning, average road comfort.

Total: 292.2

Dry 34

Wet 52

Comfort 19.5

Rolling Resistance 94.9

Overall 91.8

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7^th

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2

225/40 R18

• 3PMSF: no

An average all round performance with no real weaknesses.

An average all round performance with no real strengths.

Total: 284.3

Dry 32

Wet 47.5

Comfort 21

Rolling Resistance 92.2

Overall 91.6

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8^th

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3

225/40 R18

• 3PMSF: no

Good in the wet, best aquaplaning overall, good dry braking, comfortable on the road.

Slow in the dry, poor subjective handling in the dry and wet.

Total: 280.3

Dry 29.5

Wet 48

Comfort 20.5

Rolling Resistance 91.6

Overall 90.7

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9^th

Toyo Proxes Sport

225/40 R18

• 3PMSF: no

None mentioned.

Worst in nearly all objective testing, poor comfort on the road.

Total: 269.4

Dry 31.5

Wet 41

Comfort 17

Rolling Resistance 93

Overall 86.9

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