If you like detailed and confusing tyre tests, you're in for a treat! The 2020 Sport Auto tyre test has tested ten 245/35 R19 tyres, using a Mercedes AMG A45 S, and is confusingly amazing!
Why is this confusing? They've managed to test three different types of tyres in the single test! The first group is the more "regular" ultra high performance tyres, which includes the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5, Nokian PowerProof, Vredestein Ultrac Vorti, Toyo Proxes Sport, and strangely, the Continental SportContact 6. They've also tested two "UUHP" tyres, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and the new Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport (which is the group we believe the Continental SportContact 6 should be included in, as the PremiumContact 6 is the more natural rival to the Asymmetric 5), and three track day tyres, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, the unreleased Bridgestone Potenza S007 RS, and the Giti GitiSport GTR3.
So we have ten tyres across three different categories, with one of them in the wrong category, and one of them unreleased, all in the same test! Fortunately, the data is really interesting, and is a fascinating insight into the differences between the three types of tyre.
Before we start, if you're able to read German, we highly recommend finding a copy of the original test on SportAuto.de as their print layout is way more effective at displaying the differences of all the tyres included.
The differences between tyre types
In theory, as each group of tyres gets more sporty (UHP -> UUHP -> track day tyres), their dry performance and subjective handling scores should increase, while their wet performance and comfort levels should decrease, and this is roughly the case!
In the dry handling testing, the results were perfectly as expected, with the track day tyres best, the two UUHPs next in line, and the five UHP tyres at the bottom of the table. Dry braking wasn't quite as expected, but apart from the Giti, it was roughly correct (see below.)
Dry
Michelin will be happy with the dry braking results, as both their tyres lead the group. The track bias Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 had the shortest stopping distance, with the Pilot Sport 4S just 0.4 meters behind. Interestingly, the other two track day tyres only managed to finish seventh and tenth overall. Without knowing how the test procedure was run it's impossible to say why, but it might have something to do with a lack of temperature in the Bridgestone and Giti products.
Dry Braking
Dry braking in meters
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 93 % | |
| 92 % | |
| 91 % |
The difference between best and worst was 9%.
The dry handling results are much closer to what we expect, with the three trackdays tyres reaching temperature, and being significantly faster than even the fastest UUHP tyre. The two UUHP tyres were also a step above the UHP tyres, both in lap time and subjective handling.
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 96 % |
The difference between best and worst was 4%.
Subj. Dry Handling
Subjective Dry Handling Score
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 83 % | |
| 75 % | |
| 75 % | |
| 75 % | |
| 75 % | |
| 67 % | |
| 67 % | |
| 67 % | |
| 67 % |
The difference between best and worst was 33%.
Wet
As you would expect in wet braking, the track day tyres finished at the other end of the table, with even the "best in the dry" Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 nearly 4 meters behind the worst road tyre.
Wet Braking
Wet braking in meters
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 92 % | |
| 92 % | |
| 89 % | |
| 88 % | |
| 78 % | |
| 77 % | |
| 72 % |
The difference between best and worst was 28%.
Wet handling gave the first win to the UHP segment, with the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 proving to be the fastest, and best subjectively around the wet handling circuit, with the Continental SportContact 6 a close second.
Wet Handling
Wet Handling Average Speed
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 94 % | |
| 92 % | |
| 89 % | |
| 89 % |
The difference between best and worst was 11%.
Subj. Wet Handling
Subjective Wet Handling Score
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 90 % | |
| 80 % | |
| 80 % | |
| 70 % | |
| 70 % | |
| 70 % | |
| 60 % | |
| 50 % | |
| 50 % |
The difference between best and worst was 50%.
The wet circle test swapped the top two tyres from wet handling, while the track day tyres continued to struggle.
Wet Circle
Lateral wet grip in m/s squared
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 93 % | |
| 90 % | |
| 88 % | |
| 86 % |
The difference between best and worst was 14%.
The Continental SportContact 6 again proved its dominance in the wet, acing the straight aquaplaning test.
Straight Aqua
Float Speed in Km/H
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 93 % | |
| 93 % | |
| 91 % | |
| 88 % | |
| 84 % |
The difference between best and worst was 16%.
Environment
Interestingly there was no real order between the three groups of tyres on the subjective comfort or noise tests.
Subj. Comfort
Subjective Comfort Score
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 100 % | |
| 80 % | |
| 80 % | |
| 80 % | |
| 80 % | |
| 80 % | |
| 80 % | |
| 70 % | |
| 60 % |
The difference between best and worst was 40%.
Noise
External noise in dB
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 97 % |
All the tyres in the Noise test finished less than 3% apart.
Tyre weight was again fairly evenly distributed between the three groups of tyres.
Tyre Weight
Tyre Weight Per Set
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 94 % | |
| 92 % | |
| 91 % | |
| 91 % | |
| 89 % | |
| 84 % |
The difference between best and worst was 16%.
Whereas the rolling resistance testing definitely showed an advantage for the UHP category of tyres.
Rolling Resistance
Rolling resistance in kg t
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tyre | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 100 % | |
| 94 % | |
| 92 % | |
| 92 % | |
| 90 % | |
| 90 % | |
| 89 % | |
| 88 % | |
| 83 % |
The difference between best and worst was 17%.
Results
The below results will look a little confusing as there's three winners (one from each category) so keep this in mind when reading through.
Continental Sport Contact 6
245/35 R19
Category scores (% of best)
All discipline results (12)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 3rd / 10 | 97.61% |
| Dry Handling | 6th / 10 | 97.13% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 3rd / 10 | 75% |
| Wet Braking | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Wet Handling | 2nd / 10 | 99.4% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 2nd / 10 | 90% |
| Wet Circle | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Straight Aqua | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Subj. Comfort | 3rd / 10 | 80% |
| Noise | 5th / 10 | 98.33% |
| Tyre Weight | 3rd / 10 | 98.5% |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th / 10 | 91.58% |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
245/35 R19
Category scores (% of best)
All discipline results (12)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 2nd / 10 | 98.79% |
| Dry Handling | 4th / 10 | 97.87% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 3rd / 10 | 75% |
| Wet Braking | 2nd / 10 | 94.66% |
| Wet Handling | 4th / 10 | 98.69% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 3rd / 10 | 80% |
| Wet Circle | 5th / 10 | 94.68% |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd / 10 | 96.04% |
| Subj. Comfort | 3rd / 10 | 80% |
| Noise | 4th / 10 | 98.74% |
| Tyre Weight | 2nd / 10 | 98.99% |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th / 10 | 91.58% |
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
245/35 R19
Category scores (% of best)
All discipline results (12)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Dry Handling | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Wet Braking | 8th / 10 | 78.24% |
| Wet Handling | 8th / 10 | 91.76% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 5th / 10 | 70% |
| Wet Circle | 9th / 10 | 88.13% |
| Straight Aqua | 8th / 10 | 91.01% |
| Subj. Comfort | 10th / 10 | 60% |
| Noise | 9th / 10 | 97.25% |
| Tyre Weight | 7th / 10 | 91.45% |
| Rolling Resistance | 8th / 10 | 88.78% |
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
245/35 R19
Category scores (% of best)
All discipline results (12)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 4th / 10 | 96.46% |
| Dry Handling | 8th / 10 | 96.98% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 3rd / 10 | 75% |
| Wet Braking | 2nd / 10 | 94.66% |
| Wet Handling | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Wet Circle | 2nd / 10 | 96.04% |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd / 10 | 96.4% |
| Subj. Comfort | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Noise | 3rd / 10 | 99.3% |
| Tyre Weight | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st / 10 | 100% |
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
245/35 R19
Category scores (% of best)
All discipline results (12)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 5th / 10 | 96.18% |
| Dry Handling | 5th / 10 | 97.79% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 2nd / 10 | 83.33% |
| Wet Braking | 4th / 10 | 92.04% |
| Wet Handling | 6th / 10 | 96.18% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 5th / 10 | 70% |
| Wet Circle | 3rd / 10 | 95.91% |
| Straight Aqua | 6th / 10 | 93.41% |
| Subj. Comfort | 3rd / 10 | 80% |
| Noise | 10th / 10 | 97.12% |
| Tyre Weight | 5th / 10 | 93.63% |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd / 10 | 93.55% |
Bridgestone Potenza S007 RS
245/35 R19
Category scores (% of best)
All discipline results (12)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 6th / 10 | 95.34% |
| Dry Handling | 2nd / 10 | 98.97% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 3rd / 10 | 75% |
| Wet Braking | 9th / 10 | 76.66% |
| Wet Handling | 9th / 10 | 89.49% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 8th / 10 | 60% |
| Wet Circle | 7th / 10 | 92.63% |
| Straight Aqua | 10th / 10 | 84.41% |
| Subj. Comfort | 3rd / 10 | 80% |
| Noise | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Tyre Weight | 6th / 10 | 91.88% |
| Rolling Resistance | 10th / 10 | 82.86% |
Nokian PowerProof
245/35 R19
Category scores (% of best)
All discipline results (12)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 8th / 10 | 93.43% |
| Dry Handling | 10th / 10 | 96.03% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 7th / 10 | 66.67% |
| Wet Braking | 4th / 10 | 92.04% |
| Wet Handling | 3rd / 10 | 99.16% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 3rd / 10 | 80% |
| Wet Circle | 6th / 10 | 94.54% |
| Straight Aqua | 5th / 10 | 94.6% |
| Subj. Comfort | 9th / 10 | 70% |
| Noise | 6th / 10 | 98.06% |
| Tyre Weight | 9th / 10 | 89.05% |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st / 10 | 100% |
Giti GitiSport GTR3
245/35 R19
Category scores (% of best)
All discipline results (12)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 10th / 10 | 91.09% |
| Dry Handling | 3rd / 10 | 98.68% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 7th / 10 | 66.67% |
| Wet Braking | 10th / 10 | 71.89% |
| Wet Handling | 9th / 10 | 89.49% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 9th / 10 | 50% |
| Wet Circle | 10th / 10 | 85.54% |
| Straight Aqua | 9th / 10 | 88.49% |
| Subj. Comfort | 3rd / 10 | 80% |
| Noise | 7th / 10 | 97.93% |
| Tyre Weight | 8th / 10 | 90.61% |
| Rolling Resistance | 6th / 10 | 89.69% |
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
245/35 R19
Category scores (% of best)
All discipline results (12)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 7th / 10 | 95.06% |
| Dry Handling | 9th / 10 | 96.84% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 7th / 10 | 66.67% |
| Wet Braking | 6th / 10 | 88.67% |
| Wet Handling | 5th / 10 | 96.65% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 5th / 10 | 70% |
| Wet Circle | 4th / 10 | 95.36% |
| Straight Aqua | 7th / 10 | 93.17% |
| Subj. Comfort | 1st / 10 | 100% |
| Noise | 2nd / 10 | 99.44% |
| Tyre Weight | 10th / 10 | 83.53% |
| Rolling Resistance | 6th / 10 | 89.69% |
Toyo Proxes Sport
245/35 R19
Category scores (% of best)
All discipline results (12)
Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.
| Test | Position in discipline | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 9th / 10 | 92.37% |
| Dry Handling | 6th / 10 | 97.13% |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 7th / 10 | 66.67% |
| Wet Braking | 7th / 10 | 88.08% |
| Wet Handling | 7th / 10 | 94.38% |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 9th / 10 | 50% |
| Wet Circle | 8th / 10 | 90.31% |
| Straight Aqua | 4th / 10 | 95.56% |
| Subj. Comfort | 3rd / 10 | 80% |
| Noise | 8th / 10 | 97.52% |
| Tyre Weight | 4th / 10 | 94.62% |
| Rolling Resistance | 9th / 10 | 87.88% |
Hi. You say "the updated Vorti stands for comfort over dynamics." Is it the Vredestein Vorti Plus tested here, or an updated version of the old Vorti? A bit confusing, as EVO's test of Vorti from 2020 (same year) complained about low comfort. Could you please help clarify?
Thanks a lot for your help,
Morgan
This wasn't my test so I only know what they printed.
Fully understand!!
What 19" UHP tyres would you recommend for max. comfort, i.e. ride refinement and low cabin noise? Good handling and safety sure is a must, but I don't take the car to the race track. Michelin PS4, I assume? And think also Falken FK510 in that size? Any other suggestions?
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 is also a great balanced tyre!
Thank you very much!
Hello tyre reviews, first congrats for your site it was really difficult before to have data’s on tyres so many thanks 🙏. I wrote to you because I m a bit loss with all possibilities of tyres we have, I bought an audi S3 8v 300hp with Michelin primacy 4 (225/40/R18/92/Y)and I want to change my tyres for something with a lot of sporty feeling but keeping safety on road in wet conditions. I hesitate between Michelin pilot sport 4 (4s is not available in 🇫🇷) Goodyear eagle F1 supersport or asymmetric 5 so my question is what tyre you could recommend for a sporty feeling on Road ( I never go in racetrack but I like sport steering feel) ? I wish you all the best to continue your reviews 😊
Thank you for the kind words. In this case I would go for the f1 supersport or continental PremiumContact 6 as this is a surprisingly sporty feeling tyre in 18"
Many thanks for your reactivity 👍
What a nice test to see what you potentially sacrifice by going to a more sporty tyre!
It is easy to get excited by the promises of extra grip and handling with uuhp or road legal trackday tyres, yet half the time the conditions on the road aren't suite to get them in their sweet spot. It is the equivalent of running a nordic winter tyre on mostly clear roads...
Hello from Slovakia. I really like your website, I'm looking for summer tyre for my VW Golf GTI mk5 (225/45 R17), what will be used approximately 90% on road and 10% on track. Could you advice me some tyre to 100€, please? Most I like Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5, but I'm also considering about Michelin Pilot Sport 4, Continental PremiumContact 6 and Nankang NS-2R. With Nankang NS-2R I affraid of driving on wet road and noise level.
Forget Nankang, it doesn't have the wet grip of the others. As for the other three, they're all amazing, so buy whatever you prefer. One caveat is that I have seen the Conti wear very quickly on track. I really like the Goodyear for mixed road/track
Thank you.
Great test, the only bother of me is where for "Vredestein Ultrac Worty" a comment like this: "lower grip levels in the wet" when the results in the table indicate otherwise! '
6th in wet braking and 5th in wet handling means the tyre does have lower levels of wet grip than the best in its category. The wet braking was 3.4 meters behind the winner, which is a very large gap.
Hey, waiting for the 2020 best summer tyres video so badly. When will it be live? Thanks!
Sadly covid-19 has stopped all filming in the UK so I'm not sure when I'll be able to do this. Looking at options now.