2021 Auto Bild UUHP Summer Tyre Test

Dry BrakingBridgestone Potenza Sport: 35.1 MBerlin-Tires Summer UHP 1: 39.6 M
Dry HandlingMichelin Pilot Sport 4 S: 100 Km/HBerlin-Tires Summer UHP 1: 91.6 Km/H
Wet BrakingBridgestone Potenza Sport: 41.1 MLandsail LS588 UHP: 82.7 M
Wet HandlingBridgestone Potenza Sport: 85.5 Km/HLandsail LS588 UHP: 69.6 Km/H
Straight AquaGoodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport: 75.3 Km/HLandsail LS588 UHP: 69.6 Km/H
NoiseMichelin Pilot Sport 4 S: 72 dBHankook Ventus S1 evo 3: 74.1 dB
PriceLandsail LS588 UHP: 500 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S: 1130
Rolling ResistanceLandsail LS588 UHP: 7.62 kg / tVredestein Ultrac Vorti R: 9.86 kg / t
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

1st: Bridgestone Potenza Sport

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
  • 265/35 R20 99Y
  • EU Label: C/A/73
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking1st35.1 M100%
Dry Handling2nd98.2 Km/H100 Km/H-1.8 Km/H98.2%
Wet Braking1st41.1 M100%
Wet Handling1st85.5 Km/H100%
Straight Aqua3rd74.6 Km/H75.3 Km/H-0.7 Km/H99.07%
Noise6th72.9 dB72 dB+0.9 dB98.77%
Price7th1055 500 +555 47.39%
Rolling Resistance6th9.15 kg / t7.62 kg / t+1.53 kg / t83.28%
The Potenza Sport is a new top class sports tyre with excellent handling in the dry and wet, precise steering response, good balance, shortest wet and dry braking distances and good aquaplaning properties.
Test Winner.

Read Reviews    Buy from £241.36

2nd: Continental Sport Contact 6

Continental Sport Contact 6
  • 265/35 R20 99Y
  • EU Label: E/A/72
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd35.5 M35.1 M+0.4 M98.87%
Dry Handling5th97.4 Km/H100 Km/H-2.6 Km/H97.4%
Wet Braking2nd41.2 M41.1 M+0.1 M99.76%
Wet Handling4th82 Km/H85.5 Km/H-3.5 Km/H95.91%
Straight Aqua6th72.8 Km/H75.3 Km/H-2.5 Km/H96.68%
Noise8th73.6 dB72 dB+1.6 dB97.83%
Price6th985 500 +485 50.76%
Rolling Resistance2nd8.57 kg / t7.62 kg / t+0.95 kg / t88.91%
The Sport Contact 6 is an excellent tyre with dynamic driving behaviour in the wet, short wet and dry braking distances, good comfort and low rolling resistance.
Slightly high noise.
Highly Recommended.

Read Reviews    Buy from £232.24

3rd: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
  • 265/35 R20 99Y
  • EU Label: C/A/71
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd35.5 M35.1 M+0.4 M98.87%
Dry Handling1st100 Km/H100%
Wet Braking3rd43.3 M41.1 M+2.2 M94.92%
Wet Handling5th79.6 Km/H85.5 Km/H-5.9 Km/H93.1%
Straight Aqua7th72.7 Km/H75.3 Km/H-2.6 Km/H96.55%
Noise1st72 dB100%
Price8th1130 500 +630 44.25%
Rolling Resistance3rd8.88 kg / t7.62 kg / t+1.26 kg / t85.81%
The Pilot Sport 4S is a premium summer tyre with sporty dynamic handling in the dry, precise steering, short wet and dry braking distances and low rolling resistance.
Very expensive.
Highly Recommended.

Read Reviews    Buy from £249.14

4th: Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport

Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
  • 265/35 R20 99Y
  • EU Label: E/A/72
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking2nd35.4 M35.1 M+0.3 M99.15%
Dry Handling4th98 Km/H100 Km/H-2 Km/H98%
Wet Braking5th45.1 M41.1 M+4 M91.13%
Wet Handling3rd82.1 Km/H85.5 Km/H-3.4 Km/H96.02%
Straight Aqua1st75.3 Km/H100%
Noise7th73.3 dB72 dB+1.3 dB98.23%
Price8th1130 500 +630 44.25%
Rolling Resistance8th9.6 kg / t7.62 kg / t+1.98 kg / t79.38%
The F1 SuperSport is a sporty summer tyre with a high level of balanced performance in the dry and wet, short dry braking distances, good comfort.
Very expensive.
Recommended.

Read Reviews    Buy from £278.22

5th: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R

Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R
  • 265/35 R20 99Y
  • EU Label: E/B/70
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking5th36.7 M35.1 M+1.6 M95.64%
Dry Handling3rd98.1 Km/H100 Km/H-1.9 Km/H98.1%
Wet Braking6th46.4 M41.1 M+5.3 M88.58%
Wet Handling2nd82.6 Km/H85.5 Km/H-2.9 Km/H96.61%
Straight Aqua3rd74.6 Km/H75.3 Km/H-0.7 Km/H99.07%
Noise4th72.2 dB72 dB+0.2 dB99.72%
Price4th795 500 +295 62.89%
Rolling Resistance9th9.86 kg / t7.62 kg / t+2.24 kg / t77.28%
The Vorti R is a good performance tyre with sporty handling, precise steering, short dry braking distances, and a good price to performance ratio.
Slightly longer braking distances in the wet, increased rolling resistance.
Recommended.

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6th: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3

Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
  • 265/35 R20 99Y
  • EU Label: C/A/73
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th36.8 M35.1 M+1.7 M95.38%
Dry Handling6th97 Km/H100 Km/H-3 Km/H97%
Wet Braking4th44.4 M41.1 M+3.3 M92.57%
Wet Handling6th78.3 Km/H85.5 Km/H-7.2 Km/H91.58%
Straight Aqua5th73.6 Km/H75.3 Km/H-1.7 Km/H97.74%
Noise9th74.1 dB72 dB+2.1 dB97.17%
Price3rd790 500 +290 63.29%
Rolling Resistance5th9.11 kg / t7.62 kg / t+1.49 kg / t83.64%
The S1 Evo3 has safe driving behavior and short braking distances in the dry and wet, with a direct steering response.
Low aquaplaning resistance, high noise.
Recommended.

Read Reviews    Buy from £203.56

7th: Falken Azenis FK510

Falken Azenis FK510
  • 265/35 R20 99Y
  • EU Label: C/A/71
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking7th38.4 M35.1 M+3.3 M91.41%
Dry Handling7th95.4 Km/H100 Km/H-4.6 Km/H95.4%
Wet Braking7th48.6 M41.1 M+7.5 M84.57%
Wet Handling7th78.1 Km/H85.5 Km/H-7.4 Km/H91.35%
Straight Aqua2nd75.1 Km/H75.3 Km/H-0.2 Km/H99.73%
Noise5th72.3 dB72 dB+0.3 dB99.59%
Price5th810 500 +310 61.73%
Rolling Resistance4th8.92 kg / t7.62 kg / t+1.3 kg / t85.43%
Good safety reserves in aquaplaning, good handling in the wet.
Long wet braking distances, understeer balance in dry handling.
Fair.

Read Reviews    Buy from £209.99

8th: Landsail LS588 UHP

Landsail LS588 UHP
  • 265/35 R20 99Y
  • EU Label: C/B/70
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking8th39.2 M35.1 M+4.1 M89.54%
Dry Handling8th93 Km/H100 Km/H-7 Km/H93%
Wet Braking9th82.7 M41.1 M+41.6 M49.7%
Wet Handling8th69.6 Km/H85.5 Km/H-15.9 Km/H81.4%
Straight Aqua9th69.6 Km/H75.3 Km/H-5.7 Km/H92.43%
Noise1st72 dB100%
Price1st500 100%
Rolling Resistance1st7.62 kg / t100%
Very low rolling resistance.
Limited wet grip, very long wet and dry braking distances, bad handling and poor aquaplaning resistance.
Not Recommended.

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9th: Berlin Tires Summer UHP 1

Berlin-Tires Summer UHP 1
  • 265/35 R20 99Y
  • EU Label: B/C/73
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking9th39.6 M35.1 M+4.5 M88.64%
Dry Handling9th91.6 Km/H100 Km/H-8.4 Km/H91.6%
Wet Braking8th59.6 M41.1 M+18.5 M68.96%
Wet Handling8th69.6 Km/H85.5 Km/H-15.9 Km/H81.4%
Straight Aqua8th70.6 Km/H75.3 Km/H-4.7 Km/H93.76%
Noise3rd72.1 dB72 dB+0.1 dB99.86%
Price2nd530 500 +30 94.34%
Rolling Resistance7th9.19 kg / t7.62 kg / t+1.57 kg / t82.92%
Low noise, low price.
Very poor in the wet, dangerously long wet and dry braking distances, spongy unbalanced handling with poor steering response.
Not Recommended.

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