2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test

For summer 2022, Sport Auto tested four sets of UHP tyres, three sets of UUHP and three semi set of slick track day tyres, all in the popular 235/35 R19 size! This is of course very interesting, and in parts a little confusing! 

As the Tyre Reviews database doesn't yet have the ability to deal with different types of tyres in the same test gracefully, we'll run over the results below before presenting all the data.

UHP

Sport Auto classify the new Continental SportContact 7 as a UHP tyre, not a UUHP tyre, putting it against the Michelin Pilot Sport 4, not the 4S (which was also missing from this test.) After testing the SportContact 7 in our own UUHP test we're not sure we agree with the category, but we do agree with the result - the Continental SportContact 7 convincingly won the category with a huge advantage in wet braking, but also leading the way in dry braking and dry handling. The SportContact 7 was almost as fast around the handling track as the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2... further evidence it might be more suited to the UUHP category!

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 placed second, with Sport Auto finding it to have direct and precise steering in the dry, not something we've found before, and Pirelli and Falken rounded out the group with the P Zero PZ4 and FK510.

UUHP

The UUHP category was led by the Bridgestone Potenza Sport, with the tester noting the tyres felt great but needed a lot of temperature to warm up, something we have noticed in our own testing! The new Hankook Ventus S1 Evo Z placed second with low noise and good wet handling, and the Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport finished in third place, with Sport Auto saying the car and tyre combination didn't work well.

Track

Nankang AR-1 won the track group on points, but looking at the data the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R (N rated) was the star of dry handling, which is where you want a track tyre to excel! The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect couldn't match the other two in dry grip, but did have a significant advantage in the wet, highlighting that this is a track tyre with more usability in the real world.

Dry

Continental led the group in dry braking, with the Nankang AR-1 scoring surprisingly well! We can only assume the tyres got a little heat into them during braking, even if the other track tyres finished in the last two places.

Fortunately for the track tyres, dry handling does add a lot of temperature, and Sport Auto adjusted the pressures to 2.4/2.0 bar once hot. Sadly they give their lap data in average speed, not time, however it was written in the article that the track tyres were on average three seconds a lap faster than the average UUHP tyre. This was tested at Michelins proving ground in France, which means it would be approximately a 70 second lap in the Hyundia I30N test vehicle.

Wet

Continental once again led wet braking, with the UHP Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and Falken FK510, and UUHP Bridgestone Potenza Sport the next group of tyres.

Bridgestone was fastest in wet handling, narrowly beating the UHP Pirelli P Zero. Unsurprisingly the track tyres struggled, with the Nankang AR1 having a lot of issues with aquaplaning.

Wet circle closely mirrored wet handling.

The two aquaplaning tests really highlighted how much the track tyres struggled in deeper water.

Environment

Pirelli had the quietest tyre on test.

The Continental SportContact 7 proved you can be good in the wet AND have low rolling resistance, a blend of qualities that's usually difficult to achieve!

The track tyres were the most expensive on test, which given the lowest starting tread depth (see below) shows just how expensive track days can be!

Results

Reminder, the tyres are grouped as UHP, UUHP and Track, meaning the actual results are:

UHP - Continental Sportcontact 7, Michelin Pilot Sport 4, Pirelli P Zero PZ4, Falken Azenis FK510

UUHP - Bridgestone Potenza Sport, Hankook Ventus S1 Evo Z, Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport

Track - Nankang AR-1, Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R (N0), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (Connect)

View Results as a single table and adjust the score weighting

1st: Continental SportContact 7
235/35 R19 91Y EU Label: C/A/72 Weight: 9.38kgs Tread: 6.5mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 1st 100% Dry Handling 4th -1.7 Km/H 98.74% Wet Braking 1st 100% Wet Handling 1st 0% Wet Handling 4th -2.3 Km/H 97.44% Wet Circle 2nd -0.11 m/s 98.5% Straight Aqua 2nd -0.8 Km/H 98.86% Curved Aquaplaning 6th -0.2 m/sec2 91.3% Noise 3rd +0.3 dB 99.56% Price 3rd +45 75.54% Rolling Resistance 1st 100% Outstanding braking in wet and dry conditions at everyday road and tyre temperatures. Despite small limitations in the sports rating very balanced. Small deficits in longitudinal aquaplaning and ride comfort. Outstanding safety reserves in everyday life. Read Reviews    Buy from £137.09
1st: Nankang AR 1
235/35 R19 91Y EU Label: F/E/72 Weight: 11.35kgs Tread: 4.8mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 2nd +0.2 M 99.41% Dry Handling 2nd -0.4 Km/H 99.7% Wet Braking 10th +13.6 M 66.91% Wet Handling 10th -27.5 s 0% Wet Handling 10th -19.4 Km/H 78.44% Wet Circle 10th -1.24 m/s 83.11% Straight Aqua 10th -15.7 Km/H 77.57% Curved Aquaplaning 10th -0.6 m/sec2 73.91% Noise 9th +1.7 dB 97.56% Price 8th +91 60.43% Rolling Resistance 9th +1.6 kg / t 84% Race tyre typical, rather soft turn in, high level of grip dependant on temperature, understeer balance which is easy to control. Critical handling and high aquaplaning in the wet, very loud noise and vibrations. The slick like Nankang AR-1 is top on track, but nothing for the street, and loud as hell. Read Reviews
1st: Bridgestone Potenza Sport
235/35 R19 91Y EU Label: D/A/72 Weight: 10.11kgs Tread: 6.6mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 7th +2.2 M 93.84% Dry Handling 5th -1.9 Km/H 98.59% Wet Braking 4th +3 M 90.16% Wet Handling 4th -27.5 s 0% Wet Handling 1st 100% Wet Circle 1st 100% Straight Aqua 5th -1 Km/H 98.57% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd -0.01 m/sec2 99.57% Noise 10th +2.5 dB 96.45% Price 5th +61 69.5% Rolling Resistance 8th +1.5 kg / t 84.85% Outstanding and safe cornering dynamics on wet and dry routes, combined with surprisingly good aquaplaning prevention. High steering agility and precision. For every day relevant driving, only moderate braking and grip in the wet and dry. Precise and uncompromisingly sporty – only safe to drive when the tyres are warm. Read Reviews    Buy from £120.19
2nd: Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
235/35 R19 91Y EU Label: D/B/71 Weight: 9.65kgs Tread: 5mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 10th +2.5 M 93.06% Dry Handling 1st 100% Wet Braking 9th +12.5 M 68.75% Wet Handling 9th -27.5 s 0% Wet Handling 9th -9.6 Km/H 89.33% Wet Circle 9th -0.67 m/s 90.87% Straight Aqua 9th -9.1 Km/H 87% Curved Aquaplaning 9th -0.3 m/sec2 86.96% Noise 8th +1.5 dB 97.84% Price 9th +101 57.92% Rolling Resistance 10th +1.8 kg / t 82.35% Very precise steering behavior with a high level of lateral support, Wide, confidence-inspiring threshold range, neutral to slightly understeering balance, easily calculable load change reaction, strong traction. Harder to control in the wet, longer braking distances in the dry, needs temperature to work. The Porsche OE is a perfect match for the Hyundai test vehicle. Read Reviews
2nd: Hankook Ventus S1 Evo Z K129
235/35 R19 91Y EU Label: D/A/72 Weight: 9.95kgs Tread: 7mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 7th +2.2 M 93.84% Dry Handling 6th -3.8 Km/H 97.19% Wet Braking 7th +6.5 M 80.88% Wet Handling 7th -27.5 s 0% Wet Handling 3rd -2.1 Km/H 97.67% Wet Circle 6th -0.26 m/s 96.46% Straight Aqua 2nd -0.8 Km/H 98.86% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 100% Noise 2nd +0.2 dB 99.71% Price 2nd +43 76.37% Rolling Resistance 4th +1.1 kg / t 88.42% With the exception of the longer braking distances, very safe to drive in the wet thanks to very good aquaplaning precautions. Dynamically sporty, but still not very confidence inspiring handling characteristics. Poor braking performance, especially in the wet. Only moderate directional stability when braking hard in the dry. Inexpensive everyday athlete with only small deficits. Read Reviews    Buy from £190.00
2nd: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
235/35 R19 91Y EU Label: C/A/71 Weight: 10.43kgs Tread: 6.1mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 4th +1.3 M 96.26% Dry Handling 9th -5.2 Km/H 96.15% Wet Braking 2nd +2.5 M 91.67% Wet Handling 2nd -27.5 s 0% Wet Handling 6th -2.4 Km/H 97.33% Wet Circle 4th -0.22 m/s 97% Straight Aqua 1st 100% Curved Aquaplaning 7th -0.2 m/sec2 91.3% Noise 6th +0.6 dB 99.12% Price 7th +73 65.57% Rolling Resistance 2nd +0.1 kg / t 98.82% Very spontaneous, direct, precise and dynamic on dry roads while still being safe in the wet. Fulfills sporting demands. Limited in the wet, subjectively quite sensitive to puddles, low self damping. Read Reviews    Buy from £141.19
3rd: Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
235/35 R19 91Y EU Label: D/A/72 Weight: 9.99kgs Tread: 7.1mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 6th +2 M 94.37% Dry Handling 8th -4.6 Km/H 96.59% Wet Braking 6th +6 M 82.09% Wet Handling 6th -27.5 s 0% Wet Handling 4th -2.3 Km/H 97.44% Wet Circle 4th -0.22 m/s 97% Straight Aqua 6th -1.3 Km/H 98.14% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd -0.1 m/sec2 95.65% Noise 7th +0.9 dB 98.69% Price 4th +52 72.77% Rolling Resistance 5th +1.4 kg / t 85.71% With the exception of the longer braking distances and a certain sensitivity to load changes, still balanced performance in the wet. In the dry, the car and tyre doesn't work well together. Weak braking performance in the everyday temperature range, here also stability deficits during quick evasive manoeuvres. Sensitive to load changes in the wet. Read Reviews    Buy from £136.29
3rd: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
235/35 R19 91Y EU Label: C/A/71 Weight: 10.37kgs Tread: 7.5mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 3rd +1.1 M 96.82% Dry Handling 7th -4.4 Km/H 96.74% Wet Braking 5th +4.9 M 84.88% Wet Handling 5th -27.5 s 0% Wet Handling 2nd -0.6 Km/H 99.33% Wet Circle 3rd -0.14 m/s 98.09% Straight Aqua 8th -4.6 Km/H 93.43% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd -0.1 m/sec2 95.65% Noise 1st 100% Price 6th +63 68.81% Rolling Resistance 5th +1.4 kg / t 85.71% Despite longer baking distances,s thanks to the good handling, neater cornering and very neutral balance. Sporty, safe, fast. Longer braking distances in the wet, limited cornering strength. Read Reviews
3rd: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
235/35 R19 91Y EU Label: D/C/70 Weight: 10.43kgs Tread: 5.3mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 9th +2.3 M 93.58% Dry Handling 3rd -1.3 Km/H 99.04% Wet Braking 8th +10 M 73.33% Wet Handling 8th -27.5 s 0% Wet Handling 8th -6.6 Km/H 92.67% Wet Circle 8th -0.41 m/s 94.41% Straight Aqua 7th -4 Km/H 94.29% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd -0.1 m/sec2 95.65% Noise 3rd +0.3 dB 99.56% Price 10th +145 48.94% Rolling Resistance 3rd +1 kg / t 89.36% Astonishingly high wet grip potential for a cup tyre, but with a very narrow limit range. High precision and very confidence inspiring drivability in the sporty, dynamic speed range. Longer braking distances in every day temperature ranges, pronounced sensitivity to load changes and severe oversteer in the wet, poor comfort. Easily manageable track tyres. Read Reviews    Buy from £268.56
4th: Falken Azenis FK510
235/35 R19 91Y EU Label: D/A/71 Weight: 10.76kgs Tread: 7.4mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 5th +1.5 M 95.71% Dry Handling 10th -8.1 Km/H 94% Wet Braking 3rd +2.8 M 90.76% Wet Handling 3rd -27.5 s 0% Wet Handling 7th -3.1 Km/H 96.56% Wet Circle 7th -0.31 m/s 95.78% Straight Aqua 4th -0.9 Km/H 98.71% Curved Aquaplaning 7th -0.2 m/sec2 91.3% Noise 3rd +0.3 dB 99.56% Price 1st 100% Rolling Resistance 5th +1.4 kg / t 85.71% Short braking and safe and easy to control in the wet. ess sporty and very sluggish in the dry, low steering precision. Read Reviews    Buy from £126.69