Test Charts / Auto Zeitung

2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP Tyre Test

Compare each discipline in the tested size. See the measured result, position and gap to the best tyre, then read the verdict for the trade-offs behind the finishing order.

Tested size: 225/40 R18
Tyres tested: 10
Disciplines: 10

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Michelin Pilot Sport 4	34.3 m	Best	0 km/h
2Continental Premium Contact 6	34.7 m	+0.40 m	14 km/h
3Maxxis Victra Sport 5	34.8 m	+0.50 m	16 km/h
4Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5	35.1 m	+0.80 m	20 km/h
5Pirelli P Zero PZ4	35.2 m	+0.90 m	21 km/h
6Falken Azenis FK510	35.4 m	+1.10 m	23 km/h
6Nokian PowerProof	35.4 m	+1.10 m	23 km/h
8Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	35.5 m	+1.20 m	24 km/h
8Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	35.5 m	+1.20 m	24 km/h
10Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	36.2 m	+1.90 m	30 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 5.5% (1.9 m ≈ 0.4 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 would still be travelling at 30 km/h when the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Dry Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental Premium Contact 6	68.8 s	Best
2Michelin Pilot Sport 4	69 s	+0.20 s
2Maxxis Victra Sport 5	69 s	+0.20 s
4Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	69.1 s	+0.30 s
4Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5	69.1 s	+0.30 s
6Pirelli P Zero PZ4	69.2 s	+0.40 s
6Nokian PowerProof	69.2 s	+0.40 s
8Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	69.4 s	+0.60 s
9Falken Azenis FK510	69.6 s	+0.80 s
10Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	69.7 s	+0.90 s

All the tyres in the Dry Handling test finished less than 3% apart.

Subj. Dry Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental Premium Contact 6	10 Points	Best
2Michelin Pilot Sport 4	9 Points	-1.00 Points
2Pirelli P Zero PZ4	9 Points	-1.00 Points
2Maxxis Victra Sport 5	9 Points	-1.00 Points
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5	9 Points	-1.00 Points
6Nokian PowerProof	8 Points	-2.00 Points
7Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	7 Points	-3.00 Points
8Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	6 Points	-4.00 Points
9Falken Azenis FK510	5 Points	-5.00 Points
10Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	4 Points	-6.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 60% (6 Points).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5	41.9 m	Best	0 km/h
2Continental Premium Contact 6	42.1 m	+0.20 m	9 km/h
3Falken Azenis FK510	42.8 m	+0.90 m	19 km/h
4Michelin Pilot Sport 4	44.8 m	+2.90 m	33 km/h
5Pirelli P Zero PZ4	45.1 m	+3.20 m	35 km/h
6Nokian PowerProof	46.6 m	+4.70 m	41 km/h
7Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	48.7 m	+6.80 m	49 km/h
8Maxxis Victra Sport 5	49.7 m	+7.80 m	52 km/h
9Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	50.1 m	+8.20 m	53 km/h
10Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	50.6 m	+8.70 m	54 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 20.8% (8.7 m ≈ 1.9 Car Lengths). From 130 km/h, the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 would still be travelling at 54 km/h when the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Wet Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli P Zero PZ4	62.6 s	Best
2Nokian PowerProof	62.9 s	+0.30 s
3Michelin Pilot Sport 4	63.1 s	+0.50 s
4Maxxis Victra Sport 5	63.2 s	+0.60 s
5Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	63.3 s	+0.70 s
5Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	63.3 s	+0.70 s
7Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5	63.4 s	+0.80 s
8Falken Azenis FK510	63.5 s	+0.90 s
9Continental Premium Contact 6	63.7 s	+1.10 s
10Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	64.9 s	+2.30 s

The difference between best and worst was 3.7% (2.3 s).

Subj. Wet Handling
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli P Zero PZ4	10 Points	Best
2Nokian PowerProof	9 Points	-1.00 Points
3Maxxis Victra Sport 5	8 Points	-2.00 Points
3Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5	8 Points	-2.00 Points
5Falken Azenis FK510	7 Points	-3.00 Points
6Michelin Pilot Sport 4	6 Points	-4.00 Points
6Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	6 Points	-4.00 Points
6Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	6 Points	-4.00 Points
9Continental Premium Contact 6	5 Points	-5.00 Points
10Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	3 Points	-7.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 70% (7 Points).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	73.3 km/h	Best
2Continental Premium Contact 6	71.7 km/h	-1.60 km/h
3Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5	71.5 km/h	-1.80 km/h
4Falken Azenis FK510	70.6 km/h	-2.70 km/h
5Michelin Pilot Sport 4	70.4 km/h	-2.90 km/h
6Nokian PowerProof	69.9 km/h	-3.40 km/h
7Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	69.8 km/h	-3.50 km/h
8Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	69.7 km/h	-3.60 km/h
9Maxxis Victra Sport 5	69.5 km/h	-3.80 km/h
10Pirelli P Zero PZ4	68.2 km/h	-5.10 km/h

The difference between best and worst was 7% (5.1 Km/H).

Comfort

Subj. Comfort
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	9 Points	Best
2Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	8 Points	-1.00 Points
2Continental Premium Contact 6	8 Points	-1.00 Points
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5	8 Points	-1.00 Points
5Michelin Pilot Sport 4	7 Points	-2.00 Points
5Falken Azenis FK510	7 Points	-2.00 Points
5Pirelli P Zero PZ4	7 Points	-2.00 Points
5Maxxis Victra Sport 5	7 Points	-2.00 Points
5Nokian PowerProof	7 Points	-2.00 Points
10Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	6 Points	-3.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 33.3% (3 Points).

Noise
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	69.1 dB	Best
2Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	69.8 dB	+0.70 dB
2Pirelli P Zero PZ4	69.8 dB	+0.70 dB
4Falken Azenis FK510	70.4 dB	+1.30 dB
5Maxxis Victra Sport 5	71 dB	+1.90 dB
5Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5	71 dB	+1.90 dB
7Michelin Pilot Sport 4	71.1 dB	+2.00 dB
8Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	71.2 dB	+2.10 dB
9Continental Premium Contact 6	71.4 dB	+2.30 dB
10Nokian PowerProof	71.9 dB	+2.80 dB

The difference between best and worst was 4.1% (2.8 dB).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2	8.38 kg/t	Best	£0
2Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	8.5 kg/t	+0.12 kg/t	£6
3Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5	8.6 kg/t	+0.22 kg/t	£12
4Michelin Pilot Sport 4	8.64 kg/t	+0.26 kg/t	£14
5Nokian PowerProof	8.66 kg/t	+0.28 kg/t	£15
6Maxxis Victra Sport 5	8.78 kg/t	+0.40 kg/t	£21
7Continental Premium Contact 6	8.88 kg/t	+0.50 kg/t	£26
8Falken Azenis FK510	9.23 kg/t	+0.85 kg/t	£45
9Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	9.27 kg/t	+0.89 kg/t	£47
10Pirelli P Zero PZ4	9.99 kg/t	+1.61 kg/t	£85

The difference between best and worst was 19.2% (1.61 kg / t). Over 19,000 km a year at £1.45/L, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 uses about 58 L (£85) more fuel than the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2.

Adjust the assumptions

Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions. These calculators use the full test field, independently of your tyre selection above.

Petrol/Diesel Electric

Annual Mileage

19,000 km

km (L)

miles (US gal)

Fuel Price

£1.45/L

GBP (£)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Set my vehicle consumption

Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tyre age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.