2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test

The 2023 Sport Auto summer tyre test has set out to discover what the best UHP summer tyre is by testing eleven summer tyres in the popular 225/40 R18 size using an Audi S3.

Once again the Continental SportContact 7 won the test with a strong performance in the dry and wet, with the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 close behind in second place and the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S in third place.

There seems to be a running theme in 2023 tyre testing, and that is the SportContact 7 and Asymmetric 6 are incredible tyres!

Wet

The new Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 proved to have a small advantage over the Continental SportContact 7 during the wet braking test. The new Firestone Firehawk Sport also performed well, with the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 performing oddly poorly compared to its recent run of impressive test results.

The Bridgestone Potenza Sport took its usual spot at the top of wet handling, with the Continental and Pirelli close behind.

The new Falken FK520, Giti GitiSportS2 and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S all joint won the straight aquaplaning test. Curved aquaplaning can be found in the overall results at the base of the page.

Dry

The Continental and Goodyear were back at the front for dry braking.

And the Continental also narrowly beat the Bridgestone Potenza Sport for the fastest lap around dry handling.

Environment

The Kumho Ecsta PS91 was the quietest tyre in the external noise drive by test.

The Firestone had an impressively low rolling resistance, with the Bridgestone having an impressive high one!

At usual, the Michelin tyre was the most expensive on test.

Results

View Results as a single table and adjust the score weighting

1st: Continental SportContact 7
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/72 Weight: 9.76kgs Tread: 5.8mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 1st 100% Dry Handling 1st 100% Wet Braking 2nd +0.3 M 98.76% Wet Handling 2nd -1.2 Km/H 98.65% Wet Circle 2nd -0.23 m/s 97.39% Straight Aqua 4th -0.5 Km/H 99.38% Curved Aquaplaning 8th -0.26 m/sec2 92.84% Noise 11th +3.6 dB 95.09% Price 8th +28 75% Rolling Resistance 2nd +1.1 kg / t 86.59% Very balanced handling and short braking distances in the wet. Very high level of grip when braking and cornering in the dry, very stable, fast handling. Cornering grip in the wet not quite at the top level, increased pass-by noise. High grip level and best driving safety in wet and dry conditions for the Continental SC7. Read Reviews    Buy from £104.40
2nd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/70 Weight: 9.75kgs Tread: 6.4mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 2nd +0.1 M 99.7% Dry Handling 4th -1.2 Km/H 98.82% Wet Braking 1st 100% Wet Handling 4th -2.3 Km/H 97.41% Wet Circle 4th -0.29 m/s 96.71% Straight Aqua 11th -1.5 Km/H 98.14% Curved Aquaplaning 6th -0.25 m/sec2 93.11% Noise 3rd +1.2 dB 98.31% Price 4th +19 81.55% Rolling Resistance 3rd +1.2 kg / t 85.54% Shortest braking distances, best balance, very safe and wide limit in the wet. Strong braking, quick steering and high driving safety in the dry. Cornering grip not at top level in wet conditions. The EF1A6 is particularly strong on a dry track, top braking. Read Reviews    Buy from £95.00
3rd: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: D/A/72 Weight: 10.03kgs Tread: 7.24mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 3rd +0.2 M 99.41% Dry Handling 4th -1.2 Km/H 98.82% Wet Braking 5th +0.7 M 97.14% Wet Handling 8th -4.1 Km/H 95.38% Wet Circle 7th -0.35 m/s 96.03% Straight Aqua 1st 100% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 100% Noise 10th +2.4 dB 96.67% Price 11th +97 46.41% Rolling Resistance 9th +2.5 kg / t 73.96% Good wet braking, brilliant aquaplaning safety. Strong braking, great precision and very low sensitivity to load changes on a dry track. Difficult balance in wet handling. Increased values in rolling resistance and tyre noise. Top aquaplaning protection and strong in the dry for the Pilot Sport 4S, but slight deficits when wet. Read Reviews    Buy from £161.99
4th: Firestone Firehawk Sport
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: B/A/70 Weight: 9.44kgs Tread: 6.5mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 7th +0.8 M 97.68% Dry Handling 3rd -1.1 Km/H 98.92% Wet Braking 3rd +0.5 M 97.94% Wet Handling 5th -2.5 Km/H 97.18% Wet Circle 6th -0.33 m/s 96.25% Straight Aqua 7th -1.2 Km/H 98.51% Curved Aquaplaning 9th -0.44 m/sec2 87.88% Noise 6th +1.6 dB 97.76% Price 8th +28 75% Rolling Resistance 1st 100% Good wet braking, very reliable wet grip with very precise steering, stable. Very balanced, easily controllable driving characteristics dry, lowest rolling resistance. Deficits in curved aquaplaning. Strong performance for the new Firestone FireHawk Sport, lowest rolling resistance. Read Reviews    Buy from £115.10
5th: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/B/71 Weight: 9.16kgs Tread: 7.2mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 4th +0.4 M 98.83% Dry Handling 7th -1.3 Km/H 98.72% Wet Braking 11th +2.8 M 89.47% Wet Handling 3rd -2 Km/H 97.75% Wet Circle 3rd -0.24 m/s 97.28% Straight Aqua 5th -0.7 Km/H 99.13% Curved Aquaplaning 5th -0.23 m/sec2 93.66% Noise 4th +1.4 dB 98.03% Price 7th +27 75.68% Rolling Resistance 9th +2.5 kg / t 73.96% Very easy to control and steer with a balanced, slightly understeering balance in the wet. Very quick steering, high lateral support and sensitive balance when cornering. Weak wet braking, increased rolling resistance. Strong when dry. Weaknesses in wet braking for the PZ4. Read Reviews
6th: Bridgestone Potenza Sport
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: D/A/70 Weight: 10.3kgs Tread: 6.43mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 9th +1.5 M 95.74% Dry Handling 2nd -0.7 Km/H 99.31% Wet Braking 10th +1.6 M 93.7% Wet Handling 1st 100% Wet Circle 1st 100% Straight Aqua 9th -1.3 Km/H 98.39% Curved Aquaplaning 6th -0.25 m/sec2 93.11% Noise 9th +1.9 dB 97.35% Price 10th +30 73.68% Rolling Resistance 11th +3.1 kg / t 69.61% Razor-sharp wet handling with high cornering. Safe, active handling on dry roads. Longer braking distances at low temperatures and slightly rear-biased in the wet. Weak dry braking, highest rolling resistance in the test. When the Bridgestone Potenza Sport is warm, it has very good grip in all directions. Read Reviews    Buy from £78.99
7th: Falken Azenis FK520
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/70 Weight: 10.02kgs Tread: 7.2mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 9th +1.5 M 95.74% Dry Handling 4th -1.2 Km/H 98.82% Wet Braking 5th +0.7 M 97.14% Wet Handling 11th -5.6 Km/H 93.69% Wet Circle 10th -0.51 m/s 94.21% Straight Aqua 1st 100% Curved Aquaplaning 4th -0.16 m/sec2 95.59% Noise 6th +1.6 dB 97.76% Price 3rd +12 87.5% Rolling Resistance 4th +1.5 kg / t 82.56% Good wet braking, safe aquaplaning properties. Safe but less dynamic cornering, best ride comfort. Dull steering, somewhat indifferent balance in the wet. Less spontaneous steering and slightly longer braking distances when dry. The new FK520 is comfortable, but steers sluggishly on wet roads. Read Reviews    Buy from £95.95
8th: Kumho Ecsta PS91
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: D/A/70 Weight: 9.86kgs Tread: 7.2mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 5th +0.7 M 97.97% Dry Handling 10th -1.8 Km/H 98.23% Wet Braking 9th +1.4 M 94.44% Wet Handling 7th -3.9 Km/H 95.6% Wet Circle 9th -0.43 m/s 95.12% Straight Aqua 7th -1.2 Km/H 98.51% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd -0.11 m/sec2 96.97% Noise 1st 100% Price 4th +19 81.55% Rolling Resistance 8th +2.4 kg / t 74.74% Decent water drainage, acceptable cornering grip and low load change reactions in the wet. Good deceleration values on dry roads, very quiet passing noise. Longer braking distances and significant understeer in the wet. Sluggish steering, increased rolling resistance. The PS91 is a quiet tyre but has weaknesses in wet and dry grip. Read Reviews    Buy from £114.10
9th: Maxxis Victra Sport 5
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/72 Weight: 8.97kgs Tread: 7.32mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 5th +0.7 M 97.97% Dry Handling 9th -1.7 Km/H 98.33% Wet Braking 4th +0.6 M 97.54% Wet Handling 6th -2.9 Km/H 96.73% Wet Circle 5th -0.32 m/s 96.37% Straight Aqua 6th -0.8 Km/H 99.01% Curved Aquaplaning 9th -0.44 m/sec2 87.88% Noise 6th +1.6 dB 97.76% Price 2nd +5 94.38% Rolling Resistance 7th +1.9 kg / t 78.89% Good wet braking, easily controllable, tends to understeer in the wet and dry. Low curve aquaplaning resistance, cornering grip decreases with longer loads. The VS5 has safe braking and good grip level in wet and dry corners. Read Reviews    Buy from £82.00
10th: Giti GitiSportS2
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: D/A/70 Weight: 8.79kgs Tread: 7.93mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 11th +1.7 M 95.2% Dry Handling 8th -1.4 Km/H 98.62% Wet Braking 8th +1 M 95.97% Wet Handling 9th -4.3 Km/H 95.15% Wet Circle 7th -0.35 m/s 96.03% Straight Aqua 1st 100% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 100% Noise 4th +1.4 dB 98.03% Price 6th +26 76.36% Rolling Resistance 5th +1.8 kg / t 79.78% Objectively good wet properties, best aquaplaning safety. When moving dynamically, there is a lack of steering precision and response in the wet. Comparatively long braking distances and unbalanced handling on dry roads. The Giti SportS2 has superior aquaplaning protection but is sluggish when turning in the dry. Read Reviews
11th: Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/B/72 Weight: 9.42kgs Tread: 7.39mm	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 8th +1.4 M 96.01% Dry Handling 11th -2.8 Km/H 97.25% Wet Braking 7th +0.8 M 96.75% Wet Handling 10th -5.2 Km/H 94.14% Wet Circle 11th -0.53 m/s 93.98% Straight Aqua 10th -1.4 Km/H 98.26% Curved Aquaplaning 11th -0.54 m/sec2 85.12% Noise 2nd +0.5 dB 99.29% Price 1st 100% Rolling Resistance 5th +1.8 kg / t 79.78% Good wet braking, decent longitudinal aquaplaning. Quiet pass-by noise. Very sluggish steering and high levels of understeer in the wet. Long braking distances and less dynamic handling on a dry track. The N`Fera Sport SU2 brakes properly when wet, otherwise rather low level of grip. Read Reviews    Buy from £78.39