It's rare you find tyre tests specifically scoring subjective handling qualities as it's a very difficult thing for tyre testers to quantify, but this latest tyre test from the Finish publication Test World scores the tyres subjective behaviour out of a possible ten points in both the dry and wet. This is particularly interesting if you're not worried about that final 0.1 seconds of dry lap time, but do rate the subjective qualities of a tyre such as steering feel, feedback and car balance.
This test covers sixteen 225/45 R17 UHP tyre patterns using an Audi A3 - perhaps not the last word in dynamic handling but it is still an insight to the tyres we don't usually get.
Dry
Strangely Test World didn't publish dry handling lap times, instead looking at dry braking from 90 km/h and subjective points. Continental, Hankook and Michelin all scored well in the dry tests, offering short dry braking and good subjective handling.
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Nokian Hakka Black 2
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
- Yokohama Advan Sport V105
- Pirelli CINTURATO P7
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Kumho Ecsta PS71
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Gislaved Ultra Speed
- Triangle Sportex TSH11
- Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Nokian Hakka Black 2
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Kumho Ecsta PS71
- Pirelli CINTURATO P7
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Yokohama Advan Sport V105
- Triangle Sportex TSH11
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
- Gislaved Ultra Speed
Wet
In the wet, Test World added wet handling and an aquaplaning test. As we've previously seen in 2018, the new Falken dominated wet braking, and was 0.4 seconds off during the wet handling lap.
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
- Kumho Ecsta PS71
- Pirelli CINTURATO P7
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Nokian Hakka Black 2
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Gislaved Ultra Speed
- Triangle Sportex TSH11
- Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
- Yokohama Advan Sport V105
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Nokian Hakka Black 2
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
- Kumho Ecsta PS71
- Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
- Yokohama Advan Sport V105
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Triangle Sportex TSH11
- Pirelli CINTURATO P7
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Gislaved Ultra Speed
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
- Kumho Ecsta PS71
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Nokian Hakka Black 2
- Yokohama Advan Sport V105
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Pirelli CINTURATO P7
- Triangle Sportex TSH11
- Gislaved Ultra Speed
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Nokian Hakka Black 2
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Pirelli CINTURATO P7
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
- Yokohama Advan Sport V105
- Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
- Kumho Ecsta PS71
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Triangle Sportex TSH11
- Gislaved Ultra Speed
Environment
Test world published the rolling resistance scoring as a percentage difference from the best tyre on test. The Bridgestone had the lowest rolling resistance so was the 100% reference, Pirelli was mid pack using 2.6% more fuel than the Bridgestone, and the Yokohama tyre finished last but still only 5.7% more fuel use than the winning tyre.
Again, the in-cabin noise levels were very close, with the best and worst tyres on test less than 2 dB apart.
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Gislaved Ultra Speed
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Pirelli CINTURATO P7
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Kumho Ecsta PS71
- Bridgestone Turanza T005
- Nokian Hakka Black 2
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
- Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Triangle Sportex TSH11
- Yokohama Advan Sport V105
- Nankang Sportnex AS2 Plus
Results
Short braking distances in the dry and wet, excellent handling in all conditions, excellent balance during emergency maneuvers, excellent feedback in all conditions.
Relatively high rolling resistance.
Total: 79.9
Dry
10
Wet
28
Subjective
9
Wet Subjective
10
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
8
Overall
8.9
Good handling and short braking distances in the dry and wet, low rolling resistance, low noise.
None mentioned.
Total: 76.5
Dry
9
Wet
24
Subjective
9
Wet Subjective
10
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
9
Overall
8.5
Shortest wet braking, low noise levels, quick and accurate steering, very well priced.
None mentioned.
Total: 75.3
Dry
9
Wet
25
Subjective
8
Wet Subjective
8
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
10
Overall
8.3
Precise reactions to steering movements, predictable behavior and very high grip on a dry surface.
Average wet braking, weak aquaplaning resistance.
Total: 72.1
Dry
10
Wet
21
Subjective
10
Wet Subjective
9
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
8
Overall
8.1
God handling and stability in the wet, low rolling resistance.
Relatively long wet braking.
Total: 72.9
Dry
8
Wet
22
Subjective
6
Wet Subjective
10
Rolling Resistance
10
Noise
9
Overall
7.9
Good handling in the wet, short dry braking, low noise.
Oversteer balance in the dry, high rolling resistance.
Total: 69.8
Dry
10
Wet
24
Subjective
6
Wet Subjective
9
Rolling Resistance
4
Noise
9
Overall
7.8
A balanced tyre with good dry and wet grip.
Oversteer balance when making emergency maneuvers.
Total: 68.7
Dry
10
Wet
22
Subjective
8
Wet Subjective
8
Rolling Resistance
4
Noise
9
Overall
7.7
Good handling in the wet, low rolling resistance.
Poor dry handling.
Total: 66.5
Dry
6
Wet
22
Subjective
6
Wet Subjective
8
Rolling Resistance
8
Noise
9
Overall
7.5
Good wet handling.
Understeer in the dry.
Total: 68.5
Dry
8
Wet
21
Subjective
7
Wet Subjective
9
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
9
Overall
7.5
Good wet braking.
Poor balance during emergency maneuvers.
Total: 67.5
Dry
7
Wet
24
Subjective
7
Wet Subjective
6
Rolling Resistance
7
Noise
9
Overall
7.5
Low noise.
Understeer in the dry and wet.
Total: 62
Dry
6
Wet
20
Subjective
6
Wet Subjective
8
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
9
Overall
7
Lowest noise, stable handling in the dry, low rolling resistance.
Understeer in the dry and wet.
Total: 58.1
Dry
6
Wet
19
Subjective
6
Wet Subjective
5
Rolling Resistance
6
Noise
10
Overall
6.1
None mentioned.
Long wet braking, oversteer during emergency maneuvers.
Total: 53
Dry
8
Wet
17
Subjective
6
Wet Subjective
8
Rolling Resistance
2
Noise
6
Overall
6
None mentioned.
Poor dry and wet braking, poor balance during emergency maneuvers.
Total: 48.4
Dry
3
Wet
21
Subjective
4
Wet Subjective
6
Rolling Resistance
3
Noise
6
Overall
5.4
Acceptable dry handling.
Poor dry and wet braking, poor balance during emergency maneuvers.
Total: 47.1
Dry
3
Wet
16
Subjective
6
Wet Subjective
4
Rolling Resistance
5
Noise
8
Overall
5.1
Low noise, low rolling resistance.
Long dry and wet braking, understeer and oversteer at different points in the dry and wet.
Total: 44.4
Dry
3
Wet
12
Subjective
3
Wet Subjective
3
Rolling Resistance
9
Noise
10
Overall
4.4
Uh… I have tried both the Advan Sport V105 and Cinturato P7 on my 2019 STi, and this report is not accurate regarding the Advan.
The Advan is a much more confident tire than the P7, especially in the wet. I get ESC lights frequently when trying to corner in rain at speeds like 50-70kph with the P7 on, almost crossing the lane and crashing into oncoming traffic once when doing a hairpin on a local hill in light rain because somehow the car's rear bolted free. (It shouldn't!) Fortunately I was quick enough to countersteer, but the guy in the car on the other lane must have been scared shitless. The Advan has much more grip, but they are rated the same for wet performance? And even below the P7 for dry performance? Seriously? Makes me think if they've mistaken the P Zero for the P7…
I fully agree with the inclusion of subjective data - as "feel" and confidence play a big part in making driving relaxed and enjoyable.
On another subject, I do think it would be helpful to list when and where these various tests were performed: the temperature sensistivity of tyres seems to vary quite a bit, and there can be a world of difference between Ladoux in July and the A7 on an October morning!
I agree, test temperatures would be a huge plus, but very few magazines include it, even in all season and winter tests where temperature is a key factor.
Maybe TyreReviews should organise a UK tyre test done under typical British conditions i.e. damp and not too warm!
BTW, thanks for the site, very useful :-)
The problem with testing is you need it to be dry so you can do the dry testing, then you can wet the track to do wet testing. That means most of the tracks we use are in south Europe and super warm :/
I can see the problem, but given a bit of time and effort I wouldn't have thought the difficulties are insurmountable. If you study weather a bit, there are places that are cool & reasonably dry in spring, Madrid and central/eastern Poland spring to mind, though if you were to venture further afield there would be better places around the globe I'm sure. Even Norfolk (Snetterton?) might fit the bill given a normal winter. However I guess the issue as per always would be making it financially worthwhile.....
Renting somewhere like snetterton for the day is upwards of £10,000, and you risk wasting that money if it's wet (which lets face it in the UK is anyone's guess.)
Most tyre tests happen on tyre manufacturers test tracks for free, and their test facilities are usually in the best places for the longest possible year round testing!
There is what seems to be an increasing weight/bias being put on this 'subjective' feel concept which by definition cannot be measured and has appeared in tyre tests since the launch of the Michelin PS4 and Conti Premium Contact 6. What it does is allow magazines to award top marks to a tyre that really didn't get 'top marks' by data. EVO's 2017 tyre test (and others) is an example of this , the PZ4 wins 3 out the 4 criteria yet loses the test to the PS4??? Crikey... undoing the whole point of the data and hard data is why tyre tests were invented. I've got to the point of ignoring the test winner and looking only at the measured data.
Many tests still only look at objective data, but I think it's a good thing others are looking at subjective handling. I've experienced tyres which can be very fast over a wet handling lap, but you have to be absolutely on it to extract that speed, which isn't always safe or fun on the road.
EVO does place a high importance on subjective, but its sister publication Auto Express places almost none so there's balance.
With the gap between the best tyres on test almost nothing, I feel like it's important to consider both criteria.
Trouble with that though is it allows greater scope for 'opinion' over fact...1 tester may prefer tyre A another tester tyre B. So when subjective 'feel' adds to or detracts from a tyre's score (as opposed to being a 'test note' which they used to be and welcomed) then overall scoring a hence final result can be manipulated in any direction and historically some have been caught out before (Nokian) and others even admitting to test specific tyres (Continental).
Aside from this its interesting that according to TUV SUD tyre test (report# 713112819) that the Turanza T005 was 8% better in wet braking than the Cinturato P7 which is at odds with the above result albeit in a different size (205/55 R16).
Ultimately tyre sales are king and favourable/unfavourable reviews transfer millions of currency.
A couple of unusual tyre selections included in this test (Bridgestone's Turanza T005 and the Pirelli Cinturato P7.) Both of which I thought belonged in the premium touring tyre segment rather than the UHP one?
Either way it demonstrates just what a good job Bridgestone has made of the T005. Whilst the P7 looks to be showing it's age.
It also shows how little confidence Bridgestone have in their S001 product!
very true Gary....the PS4 should be put up against the P Zero PZ4 and not the Cinturato P7 apples and oranges
I believe there's an internal update for the PZ4 P Zero coming so Pirelli aren't submitting the current tyre to tests.
Strange you saying that..... as they are supposed to be bought on the open market for any objective tyre test and they're availabel on the open market.
The tyre manufacturers still tell the magazines what version (or DOT) of the tyre they want them to buy on the open market. The tyre magazines recovers the cost of tyres from the manufacturer so if the manufacturer doesn't want to be part of it, they generally can't afford to buy the tyres without the rebate.