2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test

Test Summary
Wet Braking	Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R
Dry Braking	Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
Rolling Resistance	Kumho Ecsta PS71
Noise	Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2
Snow Handling	Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R Continental Sport Contact 6 Nankang Noble Sport NS20

2018 is setting up to be an excellent year for tyre testing, with the epic German publication Auto Bild already delivering three excellent tests. Of the three, this 20" tyre test is perhaps the most interesting of the trio.

For this investigation, Auto Bild have bought eight 245/30 R20 tyre patterns and placed them through the usual array of wet and dry tests using a Mercedes E Class.

While the internet favourite Michelin Pilot Sport 4S takes its traditional top spot, there is a strange result for the Continental Sport Contact 6, a great result for the ten year old Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 (not 3!), and Bridgestone make a return to tests with the old Potenza S001.

Read on for the full results!

Dry

In the dry the Michelin and Vredestein duke it out for the top spot. The Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R often proves to be an excellent dry weather tyre, with good grip and excellent feedback, and it proves that again here, fastest over dry handling and second best during dry braking. The Michelin has a 0.7 metre lead in dry braking, which is comparatively large when you consider only a metre covers the next four places.

The Nankang finishes last in both tests, a huge four metres behind the Michelin during dry braking, which when braking down from 62 mph would be the difference between stopping, and a 25 mph crash!

Wet

The wet testing shows the strength of the Michelins all round ability, with the Pilot Sport 4 S winning both the wet braking and wet handling tests. Its dry weather rival, the Vorti R manages a strong wet lap, but slips in the wet braking testes to fifth. The Nankang again finishes both tests last.

Aquaplaning testing as very different test, with the Nankang winning the test by a considerable margin, the Michelin only managing third place and the Vredestein finishing second to last.

 

Environmental

The Continental proved to be the quietest tyre on test, but it also used the most fuel. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S was the nosiest.

Results

Full details below, and as always check out the Auto Bild website for all the glorious details (in German)