2017 Motor Mag UHP Tyre Test

Overall test winnerContinental ContiSportContact 5 P

We'll keep the words low and data high for this Australian ultra high performance tyre test. All tyres tested were 235/35 R19, and the magazine used a Ford Focus RS.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson

August 25, 2017 4 min read Updated January 8, 2025

Tyre shortlist Read the test

Tyres tested: 9
Tested size: 235/35 R19
Disciplines: 3

At a glance

Tyre shortlist

9 Tyres tested

Published finishing positions, with the strengths and considerations from this test. Owner reviews cover other sizes and driving conditions.

1^st

Continental ContiSportContact 5 P

+The Continental ContiSportContact 5 P has the shortest dry and wet braking and the second-fastest dry handling lap.

Read full verdict

110 owner reviews Test Results

2^nd

Michelin Pilot Super Sport

+The Michelin Pilot Super Sport has the fastest dry handling lap and the second-shortest dry braking.

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148 owner reviews Test Results

3^rd

Pirelli P Zero PZ4

Read full verdict

99 owner reviews Test Results

4^th

Kumho Ecsta PS91

+The Kumho Ecsta PS91 has the second-shortest wet braking, the third-shortest dry braking and the third-fastest dry handling lap.

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47 owner reviews Test Results

5^th

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2

+The Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 has the third-shortest wet braking.

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84 owner reviews Test Results

6^th

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2

−The Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 has the third-longest wet braking and the third-slowest dry handling lap.

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96 owner reviews Test Results

7^th

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3

−The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 has the third-longest dry braking.

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187 owner reviews Test Results

8^th

Nexen N Fera RU1

−The Nexen N Fera RU1 has the longest dry braking and the slowest dry handling lap, both by a clear margin, and the second-longest wet braking.

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27 owner reviews Test Results

9^th

Maxxis M36

−The Maxxis M36 has the longest wet braking, the second-longest dry braking and the second-slowest dry handling lap.

Read full verdict

Read owner reviews Test Results

Tyre shortlist

Compare selected tyres

2017 Motor Mag UHP Tyre Test · 235/35 R19

Tyre	Continental ContiSportContact 5 P	Michelin Pilot Super Sport	Pirelli P Zero PZ4	Kumho Ecsta PS91	Hankook Ventus S1 evo2	Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3	Nexen N Fera RU1	Maxxis M36
Position	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th	6^th	7^th	8^th	9^th
Keep researching	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results

Explore the complete results →

The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

We'll keep the words low and data high for this Australian ultra high performance tyre test. All tyres tested were 235/35 R19, and the magazine used a Ford Focus RS.

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental ContiSportContact 5 P	13.96 m	Best
2Kumho Ecsta PS91	14.36 m	+0.40 m
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo2	14.46 m	+0.50 m
4Pirelli P Zero PZ4	14.66 m	+0.70 m
5Michelin Pilot Super Sport	14.7 m	+0.74 m
6Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3	15.1 m	+1.14 m
7Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	15.26 m	+1.30 m
8Nexen N Fera RU1	15.63 m	+1.67 m
9Maxxis M36	15.93 m	+1.97 m

The difference between best and worst was 14.1% (1.97 m ≈ 0.4 Car Lengths).

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental ContiSportContact 5 P	35.73 m	Best
2Michelin Pilot Super Sport	36.23 m	+0.50 m
3Kumho Ecsta PS91	37.43 m	+1.70 m
4Pirelli P Zero PZ4	37.83 m	+2.10 m
5Hankook Ventus S1 evo2	38 m	+2.27 m
5Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	38 m	+2.27 m
7Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3	38.16 m	+2.43 m
8Maxxis M36	39.36 m	+3.63 m
9Nexen N Fera RU1	41.36 m	+5.63 m

The difference between best and worst was 15.8% (5.63 m ≈ 1.3 Car Lengths).

Dry Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Super Sport	78.39 s	Best
2Continental ContiSportContact 5 P	78.4 s	+0.01 s
3Kumho Ecsta PS91	78.7 s	+0.31 s
4Pirelli P Zero PZ4	78.86 s	+0.47 s
5Hankook Ventus S1 evo2	79.42 s	+1.03 s
6Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3	79.93 s	+1.54 s
7Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	80.13 s	+1.74 s
8Maxxis M36	80.55 s	+2.16 s
9Nexen N Fera RU1	82.7 s	+4.31 s

The difference between best and worst was 5.5% (4.31 s).

Results

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	21
Wet	15

Total: 36

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	23
Wet	7

Total: 30

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	17
Wet	13

Total: 30

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	16
Wet	11

Total: 27

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	13
Wet	12

Total: 25

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	8
Wet	7

Total: 15

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	5
Wet	5

Total: 10

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	2
Wet	2

Total: 4

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	3
Wet	1

Total: 4

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Discussion

2 comments

4cvg Aug 29, 2017 archived

Note that this is the SC5P & not the SC5 & that the PZero is the "sports" variant of the PZ4. The "scores" are simple rank orders. Errors & methodological crudities have been advised by me to Motor & acknowledged by them in a later issue.

#2813
1. TyreReviews 4cvg Aug 31, 2017 archived
  
  I'm not sure what happened to your published letter to the magazine, but thank you for the note regarding the Pirelli and Conti issue. I did query the document I was sent when it arrived as it seemed odd (the 5 isn't made in this size in my market) but the magazine confirmed the details and I didn't think anyone could make an error like that when tyre testing!
  
  #2821

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2017 Motor Mag UHP Tyre Test