2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test

Dry BrakingMichelin Pilot Sport Cup 2: 34.2 MNankang Noble Sport NS20: 39.7 M
Dry HandlingMichelin Pilot Sport Cup 2: 124.5 Km/HNankang Noble Sport NS20: 116.4 Km/H
Wet BrakingMichelin Pilot Sport 4 S: 56 MNankang Noble Sport NS20: 72.2 M
Wet HandlingGoodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport: 83.1 Km/HNankang Noble Sport NS20: 75.8 Km/H
Straight AquaNankang Noble Sport NS20: 94 Km/HMichelin Pilot Sport Cup 2: 82.8 Km/H
NoiseHankook Ventus S1 evo2: 72.9 dBGoodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport: 75 dB
PriceNankang Noble Sport NS20: 420 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2: 1085
Rolling ResistanceHankook Ventus S1 evo2: 8.31 kg / tYokohama Advan Sport V105: 9.82 kg / t
Ultra high performance tyre tests always make us happy, and Auto Bild do some of the best. For 2020, AutoBild have tested nine sports tyres in the staggered 245/35 R19 and 265/35 R19 sizes using a Mercedes Benz C63 AMG.

Like our UHP tyre test in 2019, Auto Bild have tested the very three best UHP tyres on the market, the Continental SportContact 6, Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, along with some of the other well know UHP tyres from Hankook, Vredestein, Falken and other brands.

The end results are very close, so instead of spoiling the surprise, read on below for all the geeky data! It's particularly important to read the testers notes at the bottom of the page, as these give a small insight into the subjective feel of the tyres along side the numbers, but if you'd like to learn more about how these tyres differ subjectively, go and watch our video of a very similar test!

One addition Auto Bild have made is the inclusion of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 semi slick track day tyre. Unsurprisingly this tyre dominated the dry testing, with a significant advantage over even the best UHP tyres, but couldn't match the best in the wet, especially during the aquaplaning testing where the lack of tread grooves really impacted the tyres performance.

Dry

Continental proved to be the best in the dry, offering the shortest braking distance and the fastest lap time. Michelin was close behind, and while the Falken Azenis FK510 placed third in the braking tests, it struggled more during handling.

Goodyear, Vredestein and Hankook were also all very close in the dry, but when looking at the testing notes it was the Goodyear that offered the best steering feel and feedback.

Wet

As we've seen before in the wet, a tyre which works well in braking doesn't always work as well in handling.

In this test, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S offered the best wet braking performance, but could only manage seventh fastest lap time, while the Goodyear was the fastest in the wet, but took 4.4 meters longer to stop the car than the Michelin!

The only tyre with a balanced performance between braking and handling was the Falken, which finished second in both tests meaning it was the best tyre overall.

Nankang had a significant advantage during aquaplaning testing, however this doesn't make up for the long wet braking and poor wet handling in the other wet tests.

The rest of the tyres were extremely close.

Environment

Hankook had the lowest rolling resistance on test, with Yokohama having the highest fuel use.

Only the Goodyear and Yokohama tyres were significantly louder than the others on test.

As usual, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S was the most expensive tyre on test. Sadly no wear testing was done, however in previous testing Michelin, Goodyear and Continental all seem to have similar, best in class tread life.

Results

1st: Continental Sport Contact 6

Continental Sport Contact 6
  • 265/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking2nd34.8 M34.2 M+0.6 M98.28%
Dry Handling2nd123 Km/H124.5 Km/H-1.5 Km/H98.8%
Wet Braking4th60.4 M56 M+4.4 M92.72%
Wet Handling5th81.8 Km/H83.1 Km/H-1.3 Km/H98.44%
Straight Aqua5th88.5 Km/H94 Km/H-5.5 Km/H94.15%
Noise2nd73 dB72.9 dB+0.1 dB99.86%
Price7th855 420 +435 49.12%
Rolling Resistance6th9.39 kg / t8.31 kg / t+1.08 kg / t88.5%
Top class sports tyres with precise steering, sporty handling and short braking distances in the dry. Stable cornering in the wet with good aquaplaning resistance.
Average driving comfort, high price.
Highly Recommended.

Read Reviews    Buy from £233.33

1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
  • 265/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd34.9 M34.2 M+0.7 M97.99%
Dry Handling3rd122.9 Km/H124.5 Km/H-1.6 Km/H98.71%
Wet Braking1st56 M100%
Wet Handling7th81 Km/H83.1 Km/H-2.1 Km/H97.47%
Straight Aqua6th88.4 Km/H94 Km/H-5.6 Km/H94.04%
Noise2nd73 dB72.9 dB+0.1 dB99.86%
Price9th930 420 +510 45.16%
Rolling Resistance3rd8.97 kg / t8.31 kg / t+0.66 kg / t92.64%
All round ability with best driving characteristics on wet and dry roads. Shortest braking distances, precise steering with excellent feedback, good aquaplaning properties, low noise.
Most expensive tyres on test.
Highly Recommended.

Read Reviews    Buy from £319.86

2nd: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
  • 265/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking1st34.2 M100%
Dry Handling1st124.5 Km/H100%
Wet Braking9th68.5 M56 M+12.5 M81.75%
Wet Handling9th77.5 Km/H83.1 Km/H-5.6 Km/H93.26%
Straight Aqua10th82.8 Km/H94 Km/H-11.2 Km/H88.09%
Noise2nd73 dB72.9 dB+0.1 dB99.86%
Price10th1085 420 +665 38.71%
Rolling Resistance7th9.41 kg / t8.31 kg / t+1.1 kg / t88.31%
The dry specialists, precise steering, exemplary feedback and excellent grip.
Average wet performance, low aquaplaning reserves.
Conditionally Recommended.

Read Reviews    Buy from £320.50

3rd: Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport

Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
  • 265/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th36.2 M34.2 M+2 M94.48%
Dry Handling4th122.3 Km/H124.5 Km/H-2.2 Km/H98.23%
Wet Braking4th60.4 M56 M+4.4 M92.72%
Wet Handling1st83.1 Km/H100%
Straight Aqua9th87.8 Km/H94 Km/H-6.2 Km/H93.4%
Noise10th75 dB72.9 dB+2.1 dB97.2%
Price8th890 420 +470 47.19%
Rolling Resistance4th8.98 kg / t8.31 kg / t+0.67 kg / t92.54%
Sporty summer tyre with best cornering and handling in the wet, good steering precision, short wet and dry braking distances, balanced comfort.
Noise, increased rolling resistance.
Recommended.

Read Reviews    Buy from £231.98

4th: Hankook Ventus S1 evo2

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
  • 265/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th36.2 M34.2 M+2 M94.48%
Dry Handling7th120.4 Km/H124.5 Km/H-4.1 Km/H96.71%
Wet Braking3rd60.3 M56 M+4.3 M92.87%
Wet Handling6th81.2 Km/H83.1 Km/H-1.9 Km/H97.71%
Straight Aqua2nd89.3 Km/H94 Km/H-4.7 Km/H95%
Noise1st72.9 dB100%
Price4th650 420 +230 64.62%
Rolling Resistance1st8.31 kg / t100%
Excellent tyre with a balanced performance in all tests, stable in the dry and wet, low noise, low fuel use, good price to performance ratio.
Slightly slow steering response.
Recommended.

Read Reviews    Buy from £219.99

4th: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti

Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
  • 265/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking5th36.1 M34.2 M+1.9 M94.74%
Dry Handling6th121.8 Km/H124.5 Km/H-2.7 Km/H97.83%
Wet Braking6th62.2 M56 M+6.2 M90.03%
Wet Handling3rd82.4 Km/H83.1 Km/H-0.7 Km/H99.16%
Straight Aqua8th88.1 Km/H94 Km/H-5.9 Km/H93.72%
Noise7th73.9 dB72.9 dB+1 dB98.65%
Price5th710 420 +290 59.15%
Rolling Resistance7th9.41 kg / t8.31 kg / t+1.1 kg / t88.31%
Dynamic wet handling with stable cornering and precise steering, balanced and safe dry handling, short dry braking distances, good aquaplaning properties, good price to performance ratio.
High rolling resistance.

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6th: Falken Azenis FK510

Falken Azenis FK510
  • 265/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking4th36 M34.2 M+1.8 M95%
Dry Handling8th119.6 Km/H124.5 Km/H-4.9 Km/H96.06%
Wet Braking2nd56.3 M56 M+0.3 M99.47%
Wet Handling2nd82.9 Km/H83.1 Km/H-0.2 Km/H99.76%
Straight Aqua7th88.3 Km/H94 Km/H-5.7 Km/H93.94%
Noise8th74 dB72.9 dB+1.1 dB98.51%
Price2nd565 420 +145 74.34%
Rolling Resistance5th9.24 kg / t8.31 kg / t+0.93 kg / t89.94%
Wet specialist with sporty handling and precise steering behavior, short wet and dry braking distances, good comfort, low price.
Understeering in the dry, slow steering response, high rolling resistance.
Good.

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7th: Yokohama Advan Sport V105

Yokohama Advan Sport V105
  • 265/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking8th37.2 M34.2 M+3 M91.94%
Dry Handling5th122.2 Km/H124.5 Km/H-2.3 Km/H98.15%
Wet Braking8th63.5 M56 M+7.5 M88.19%
Wet Handling4th81.9 Km/H83.1 Km/H-1.2 Km/H98.56%
Straight Aqua3rd88.7 Km/H94 Km/H-5.3 Km/H94.36%
Noise9th74.9 dB72.9 dB+2 dB97.33%
Price6th740 420 +320 56.76%
Rolling Resistance10th9.82 kg / t8.31 kg / t+1.51 kg / t84.62%
Sporty handling and balance behaviour in the dry, safe wet handling, short dry braking.
Long wet braking, high rolling resistance, average driving comfort, high price.
Good.

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8th: Toyo Proxes T1 Sport

Toyo Proxes T1 Sport
  • 265/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking9th37.4 M34.2 M+3.2 M91.44%
Dry Handling9th119 Km/H124.5 Km/H-5.5 Km/H95.58%
Wet Braking7th62.8 M56 M+6.8 M89.17%
Wet Handling8th79.6 Km/H83.1 Km/H-3.5 Km/H95.79%
Straight Aqua3rd88.7 Km/H94 Km/H-5.3 Km/H94.36%
Noise5th73.5 dB72.9 dB+0.6 dB99.18%
Price3rd595 420 +175 70.59%
Rolling Resistance2nd8.81 kg / t8.31 kg / t+0.5 kg / t94.32%
High aquaplaning resistance, short dry braking, well priced.
Understeer and average grip in the dry and wet, slow steering, average comfort.
Good.

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9th: Nankang Noble Sport NS20

Nankang Noble Sport NS20
  • 265/35 R19
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking10th39.7 M34.2 M+5.5 M86.15%
Dry Handling10th116.4 Km/H124.5 Km/H-8.1 Km/H93.49%
Wet Braking10th72.2 M56 M+16.2 M77.56%
Wet Handling10th75.8 Km/H83.1 Km/H-7.3 Km/H91.22%
Straight Aqua1st94 Km/H100%
Noise5th73.5 dB72.9 dB+0.6 dB99.18%
Price1st420 100%
Rolling Resistance9th9.65 kg / t8.31 kg / t+1.34 kg / t86.11%
High aquaplaning resistance, low price.
Dangerously long wet and dry braking, poor handling and spongy steering feel on both dry and wet surfaces, high rolling resistance.
Not Recommended.

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