2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test

It's the test we've all been waiting for, it's the first test of the brand new Bridgestone Potenza Sport, the only new tyre in 2021 that has the chance of taking the fight to the established ultra high performance tyres such as the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Continental SportContact 6 and Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport.

Naturally, it's the best testers in the business doing it first, the German publication Auto Bild. They've tested nine 265/35 R20 UUHP tyres in the dry and wet using a very un-european Ford Mustang.

Tyre Reviews is due to test the new Potenza Sport, against 14 of its key rivals in an 18" size, so if you're not already subscribed, be sure to head over to the Tyre Reviews YouTube channel and subscribe as that will be published in the coming weeks!

Can the Bridgestone Compete?

The biggest question is, can the new Potenza Sport really take the fight to Michelin, Continental and Goodyear? The answer, at least for this test, is a resounding yes!

The new Bridgestone Potenza Sport wins the test, and has the shortest dry braking, shortest wet braking, and fastest wet handling lap! The only one of the four key tests it was beaten in was dry handling, where it finished just 1.8% behind the Michelin, but the testers still reported it to have excellent handling and precise steering in the dry and wet.

The best of the rest went to the Continental Sport Contact 6. While it didn't win any test, and the testers found it to have a slightly high noise level, it was consistently close in all the tests, and had a dynamic sport driving behavio r in the wet.

The internet's favourite tyre,  the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S placed third overall, winning dry braking and having the lowest noise on test, but could only manage mid pack during the wet handling lap and was the most expensive set of tyres to buy.

The last of the "big 4" was the Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport. Like the SportContact 6 it was consistent in all conditions, but couldn't quite match the best overall.

Dry

The new Potenza Sport led the way in dry braking, with the Goodyear just 0.1 meters ahead of the Continental and Michelin pairing.

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S posted the fastest lap time by a considerable margin, and led the way subjectively. The Bridgestone could match the subjective handling of the Michelin, but not the time, and the Landsail and Berlin tyres provided little grip or enjoyment.

Wet

The Bridgestone also led wet braking by a small margin.

Claiming three wins from the four key tests, the Potenza Sport was both the fastest and best handling tyre on test, with direct steering and first class balance. The Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R and Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport were also reported to be excellent handling tyres in the wet.

The Goodyear won the aquaplaning test, with a small margin to the second placed Falken.

Environment

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S was the quietest tyre on test, matching the budget Landsail LS588.

The budge tyre also had the lowest rolling resistance, a test the Goodyear and Vredestein struggled in.

Michelin wasn't the only expensive tyre on test, with the Goodyear matching its price for four. The new Bridgestone was also expensive, but a full 75 euros cheaper for a set of four.

Results