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2022 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test

Overall test winnerBridgestone Potenza RE 71RS

Tire Rack's first road course test, run in the summer of 2022, put eleven extreme performance summer tyres on a 2.1-mile circuit in southwest Michigan, all in 225/45 R17 on 2022 Subaru BRZ Limiteds.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson
5 min read

Test data in partnership withTire Rack

Tyre shortlist Read the test
Tyres tested
11
Tested size
225/45 R17
Test vehicle
2022 Subaru BRZ Limited
Disciplines
1

At a glance

Tyre shortlist

11 Tyres tested

Published finishing positions, with the strengths and considerations from this test. Owner reviews cover other sizes and driving conditions.

1st

Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS

+The Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS combined near class-leading traction with an almost perfectly neutral balance, so it carried more speed through every turn and stayed planted and predictable lap after lap.

−The steering is less precise and less responsive than the RE-71R it replaced, although none of the drivers felt it held them back.

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18 owner reviews Test Results
2nd

Falken Azenis RT660

+The Falken Azenis RT660 had arguably the most responsive steering in the test, an eager front end and strong mid-corner traction, with just enough rotation to help finish a turn.

−The steering is so quick that the car becomes sensitive to how fast the wheel is turned, and an abrupt input can bring understeer at turn-in.

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4 owner reviews Test Results
3rd

Nexen N Fera Sport R

+The Nexen N'Fera Sport R was genuinely fast straight away, setting the third quickest average lap and showing the potential to run with the best in the class.

−The steering reacts slowly and in two stages, with an initial response followed by a pause before the tyre takes a set, and it needed more seat time than any other tyre before the drivers felt comfortable.

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Read owner reviews Test Results
4th

Kumho Ecsta V730

+The Kumho Ecsta V730 had huge front-end grip, which gave strong braking feel, urgent turn-in and good mid-corner traction on the bigger circuit.

−The steering was a small step behind the best, and it was less comfortable than some rivals when braking and turning at the same time.

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5 owner reviews Test Results
5th

Yokohama Advan A052

+The Yokohama Advan A052 clearly had a lot of grip, with rear-axle traction so strong it was evident on every corner exit.

−On the low-powered BRZ its balance moved strongly towards understeer, so the rear wasn't free enough to rotate the car, and throttle mid-corner pushed the nose wide.

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15 owner reviews Test Results
6th

Continental ExtremeContact Force

+The Continental ExtremeContact Force had perfectly weighted steering, natural turn-in and a neutral balance that let the driver adjust the line with the throttle, making it one of the most enjoyable tyres to drive.

−It lacks the ultimate traction of the fastest tyres in the class.

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5 owner reviews Test Results
7th

Hankook Ventus RS4

+The Hankook Ventus R-S4 is known for its longevity at race pace, and on track it held a slip angle easily from turn-in to corner exit with a rear-led balance that was forgiving beyond the limit.

−It felt vague, and finding and holding the exact limit was harder than driving it beyond the limit, which cost lap time.

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20 owner reviews Test Results
8th

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect

+The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240) was pleasant to drive, athletic and secure, and the drivers felt comfortable pushing it from the very first corner.

−It wasn't especially fast, the front tyres slid into understeer when pushed beyond the limit, and at least one driver wanted more braking performance.

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9 owner reviews Test Results
9th

Yokohama Advan Neova AD09

+The Yokohama Advan Neova AD09 was a good all-round package, with responsive turn-in, natural steering and calm behaviour at and beyond the limit.

−It needed more traction, particularly at the front, with understeer the main thing holding it back.

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28 owner reviews Test Results
10th

Dunlop Direzza ZIII

+The Dunlop Direzza ZIII was easy to drive, with good balance, natural and linear steering, and plenty of communication at the limit.

−As one of the oldest designs in the test its traction is behind the current class standard, and trying to match the faster tyres made it easy to overdrive.

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2 owner reviews Test Results
11th

Falken Azenis RT615K+

+The Falken Azenis RT615K+ was probably the easiest tyre in the test to drive, with a neutral balance and a gentle, progressive breakaway that was easy to catch.

−It is an older design with the least grip in the test, and the steering, while linear, was not particularly precise.

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Tyre shortlist

Compare selected tyres

2022 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test · 225/45 R17

TyreBridgestone Potenza RE 71RSFalken Azenis RT660Nexen N Fera Sport RKumho Ecsta V730Yokohama Advan A052Continental ExtremeContact ForceHankook Ventus RS4Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 ConnectYokohama Advan Neova AD09Dunlop Direzza ZIIIFalken Azenis RT615K+
Position1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th
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The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

Tire Rack's first road course test, run in the summer of 2022, put eleven extreme performance summer tyres on a 2.1-mile circuit in southwest Michigan, all in 225/45 R17 on 2022 Subaru BRZ Limiteds. The Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS set the fastest average lap, ahead of the Falken Azenis RT660 and the Nexen N'Fera Sport R.

Tire Rack don't publish an overall ranking for this test, so the order here follows average lap time. For the full write-up, the driver commentary and the details of the test set-up, read Tire Rack's original test.

Average Lap Times

Dry Handling

Dry handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TyreResultGap to best
1Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS
 106 s Best
2Falken Azenis RT660
 106.39 s +0.39 s
3Nexen N Fera Sport R
 106.77 s +0.77 s
4Kumho Ecsta V730
 107.02 s +1.02 s
5Yokohama Advan A052
 107.05 s +1.05 s
6Continental ExtremeContact Force
 107.54 s +1.54 s
7Hankook Ventus RS4
 107.55 s +1.55 s
8Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
 107.57 s +1.57 s
9Yokohama Advan Neova AD09
 107.58 s +1.58 s
10Dunlop Direzza ZIII
 107.97 s +1.97 s
11Falken Azenis RT615K+
 108.53 s +2.53 s

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

Test data in partnership with

Results

1st

Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS

225/45 R17
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS
The Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS set the fastest average lap of the test. Strong grip and a neutral balance made it fast and consistent, and the only real criticism was steering that has lost a little sharpness compared with its predecessor.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better1st / 11106 sBest in this discipline
2nd

Falken Azenis RT660

225/45 R17
Falken Azenis RT660
The Falken Azenis RT660 was second fastest on average, a sharp and grippy tyre that rewards smooth steering. Drivers who are quick with their hands will need to adapt to how alert the front end is.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better2nd / 11106.39 s+0.39 s
3rd

Nexen N Fera Sport R

225/45 R17
Nexen N Fera Sport R
The Nexen N'Fera Sport R was a strong newcomer, third fastest on average despite handling the drivers didn't fully warm to. If Nexen can sharpen the steering response it could challenge the class leaders.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better3rd / 11106.77 s+0.77 s
4th

Kumho Ecsta V730

225/45 R17
Kumho Ecsta V730
The Kumho Ecsta V730 finished just behind the top three on average lap time. Its front-end grip stood out, and the testers felt that with some set-up changes it could compete with the fastest tyres in the class.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better4th / 11107.02 s+1.02 s
5th

Yokohama Advan A052

225/45 R17
Yokohama Advan A052
The Yokohama Advan A052 finished mid-pack, which surprised the testers as much as anyone. Its grip was obvious, but the balance didn't suit this car, and Tire Rack believe a chassis set-up that added front-end traction would have put it among the fastest.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better5th / 11107.05 s+1.05 s
6th

Continental ExtremeContact Force

225/45 R17
Continental ExtremeContact Force
The Continental ExtremeContact Force was a driver favourite for feel and balance, finishing in the tight mid-pack group on lap time. More grip with the same character would make it a serious contender.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better6th / 11107.54 s+1.54 s
7th

Hankook Ventus RS4

225/45 R17
Hankook Ventus RS4
The Hankook Ventus R-S4 landed mid-pack, within a few hundredths of three other tyres, which is what the testers expected from a tyre built for endurance racing rather than outright lap time. It remains a sensible choice where durability matters more than the last tenth.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better7th / 11107.55 s+1.55 s
8th

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect

225/45 R17
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240) was easy to trust with a neutral-to-understeer balance, but its lap times put it in the middle of the field rather than near the front.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better8th / 11107.57 s+1.57 s
9th

Yokohama Advan Neova AD09

225/45 R17
Yokohama Advan Neova AD09
The Yokohama Advan Neova AD09, the more endurance-focused tyre in Yokohama's range, was easy to drive quickly and finished in the close mid-pack group, a little short of grip compared with the faster tyres.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better9th / 11107.58 s+1.58 s
10th

Dunlop Direzza ZIII

225/45 R17
Dunlop Direzza ZIII
The Dunlop Direzza ZIII felt like an old friend to the testers, friendly and communicative, but it finished towards the back because its grip has been overtaken by newer rivals.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better10th / 11107.97 s+1.97 s
11th

Falken Azenis RT615K+

225/45 R17
Falken Azenis RT615K+
The Falken Azenis RT615K+ set the slowest average lap, but it was the most forgiving tyre in the group and always made clear what it was about to do, which still makes it a reasonable choice for drivers new to the track.
All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

TestPosition in disciplineResultGap to best
Dry HandlingLower is better11th / 11108.53 s+2.53 s

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