2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test

The 2023 Auto Zeitung Performance Summer Tyre Test included nine of the very best UHP summer tyres in the popular 235/35 R19 tyre size, and also included the Michelin CrossClimate 2 all season / all weather tyre so show us how one of the best all season tyres compared to some of the best summer tyres. The test car was a 280bhp Ford Focus ST which will give the summer tyres a good stress test, let alone the all seasons!

Test Publication:

235/35 R19 10 tyres 4 categories

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Test Publication:

https://www.autozeitung.de/reifen-test

Test Size: 235/35 R19

Tyres Tested: 10 tyres

Test Categories:
4 categories (9 tests)

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Wet

The Continental SportContact 7 and Bridgestone Potenza Sport led the way in wet braking, with a small gap to the third placed Pirelli P Zero PZ4.

The magazine noted the overall group was very close with the worst summer tyre 7.1 meters behind the best... which actually sounds like quite a gap, and the CrossClimate 2 was another half meter behind the best summer tyre. We know from all season tests the CrossClimate 2 isn't the best all season tyre in the wet, so it's fair to assume an all season tyre with higher wet grip could have jumped the Giti.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
38.10 M
Continental SportContact 7
38.10 M
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
39.60 M
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
39.90 M
Falken Azenis FK520
40.10 M
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
40.60 M
Kumho Ecsta PS91
42.00 M
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
43.80 M
Giti GitiSportS2
46.60 M
Michelin CrossClimate 2
47.20 M

Wet handling had the Bridgestone back at the top, narrowly beating the Pirelli by just 0.2 seconds. Michelin, Goodyear and Kumho were next in line with the all season tyre again at the back.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
66.50 s
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
66.70 s
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
67.90 s
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
68.40 s
Kumho Ecsta PS91
68.80 s
Falken Azenis FK520
68.90 s
Continental SportContact 7
69.20 s
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
69.20 s
Giti GitiSportS2
70.40 s
Michelin CrossClimate 2
71.90 s

The all season tyre again struggled during the aquaplaning tests, with the Giti the best of the summer tyres.

Giti GitiSportS2
83.30 Km/H
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
80.90 Km/H
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
80.30 Km/H
Kumho Ecsta PS91
79.80 Km/H
Continental SportContact 7
79.40 Km/H
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
79.30 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
79.30 Km/H
Falken Azenis FK520
78.80 Km/H
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
77.10 Km/H
Michelin CrossClimate 2
75.90 Km/H

Dry

Continental were back at the front for dry braking with the Falken Azenis FK520 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tied for second place. The CrossClimate 2, which IS the best all season tyre in dry braking, again couldn't match any of the summer tyres.

Continental SportContact 7
31.60 M
Falken Azenis FK520
32.50 M
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
32.50 M
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
32.60 M
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
32.70 M
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
33.00 M
Kumho Ecsta PS91
33.40 M
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
33.80 M
Giti GitiSportS2
35.40 M
Michelin CrossClimate 2
35.70 M

The Potenza Sport was back in the lead for dry handling, with the Continental again close behind.

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
98.40 s
Continental SportContact 7
98.50 s
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
99.10 s
Falken Azenis FK520
99.40 s
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
100.10 s
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
100.10 s
Kumho Ecsta PS91
100.80 s
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
101.00 s
Giti GitiSportS2
101.10 s
Michelin CrossClimate 2
102.60 s

Environment

The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 was the quietest tyre of the group, with the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 posting a rather high external noise figure.

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
67.00 dB
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
68.00 dB
Falken Azenis FK520
69.00 dB
Continental SportContact 7
69.00 dB
Giti GitiSportS2
69.00 dB
Michelin CrossClimate 2
70.00 dB
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
70.00 dB
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
71.00 dB
Kumho Ecsta PS91
71.00 dB
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
72.00 dB

The CrossClimate 2 had a huge advantage during the rolling resistance test, with the Giti GitiSportS2 the best of the summer tyres, 12% off the all season tyre.

Michelin CrossClimate 2
7.20 kg / t
Giti GitiSportS2
8.12 kg / t
Continental SportContact 7
8.26 kg / t
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
8.37 kg / t
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
8.39 kg / t
Falken Azenis FK520
8.48 kg / t
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
8.81 kg / t
Kumho Ecsta PS91
9.29 kg / t
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
9.46 kg / t
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
9.47 kg / t

There was a significant premium for the all season tyre in the purchase prices.

Kumho Ecsta PS91
540.00
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
565.00
Falken Azenis FK520
595.00
Giti GitiSportS2
670.00
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
700.00
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
745.00
Continental SportContact 7
750.00
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
760.00
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
825.00
Michelin CrossClimate 2
975.00

Results

The new Continental SportContact 7 wins with balanced properties that very convincingly solve the balancing act between sportiness and efficiency. Safe when wet.

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	1^st	31.6 M			100%
Dry Handling	2^nd	98.5 s	98.4 s	+0.1 s	99.9%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	1^st	38.1 M			100%
Wet Handling	7^th	69.2 s	66.5 s	+2.7 s	96.1%
Wet Circle	2^nd	13.45 s	13.41 s	+0.04 s	99.7%
Straight Aqua	5^th	79.4 Km/H	83.3 Km/H	-3.9 Km/H	95.32%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	3^rd	69 dB	67 dB	+2 dB	97.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	7^th	750	540	+210	72%
Rolling Resistance	3^rd	8.26 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+1.06 kg / t	87.17%

Outstanding on wet roads, great performance in the dry - this is how the Bridgestone Potenza Sport brought the test win. Slightly more expensive than the Conti with the same points and worse in terms of rolling resistance.

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	4^th	32.6 M	31.6 M	+1 M	96.93%
Dry Handling	1^st	98.4 s			100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	1^st	38.1 M			100%
Wet Handling	1^st	66.5 s			100%
Wet Circle	6^th	13.72 s	13.41 s	+0.31 s	97.74%
Straight Aqua	3^rd	80.3 Km/H	83.3 Km/H	-3 Km/H	96.4%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	8^th	71 dB	67 dB	+4 dB	94.37%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	8^th	760	540	+220	71.05%
Rolling Resistance	10^th	9.47 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+2.27 kg / t	76.03%

Second place for the current, sixth generation of the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric, which shines as a dynamic all-rounder with remarkable driving comfort. Not a pure racer, but very harmonious.

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	6^th	33 M	31.6 M	+1.4 M	95.76%
Dry Handling	3^rd	99.1 s	98.4 s	+0.7 s	99.29%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	6^th	40.6 M	38.1 M	+2.5 M	93.84%
Wet Handling	4^th	68.4 s	66.5 s	+1.9 s	97.22%
Wet Circle	5^th	13.67 s	13.41 s	+0.26 s	98.1%
Straight Aqua	6^th	79.3 Km/H	83.3 Km/H	-4 Km/H	95.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	1^st	67 dB			100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	5^th	700	540	+160	77.14%
Rolling Resistance	5^th	8.39 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+1.19 kg / t	85.82%

Once again the Pirelli P Zero, this time in the PZ4 S.C. version, can establish itself at the forefront with its dynamic talents and its meticulously balanced steering characteristics. Level on points with Goodyear.

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	5^th	32.7 M	31.6 M	+1.1 M	96.64%
Dry Handling	5^th	100.1 s	98.4 s	+1.7 s	98.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	3^rd	39.6 M	38.1 M	+1.5 M	96.21%
Wet Handling	2^nd	66.7 s	66.5 s	+0.2 s	99.7%
Wet Circle	1^st	13.41 s			100%
Straight Aqua	6^th	79.3 Km/H	83.3 Km/H	-4 Km/H	95.2%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	6^th	70 dB	67 dB	+3 dB	95.71%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	6^th	745	540	+205	72.48%
Rolling Resistance	9^th	9.46 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+2.26 kg / t	76.11%

In the end, the new Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is only missing a single point for second place. He only performs worse in aquaplaning than the tyre before him. Low rolling resistance, but high price level.

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	2^nd	32.5 M	31.6 M	+0.9 M	97.23%
Dry Handling	5^th	100.1 s	98.4 s	+1.7 s	98.3%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	4^th	39.9 M	38.1 M	+1.8 M	95.49%
Wet Handling	3^rd	67.9 s	66.5 s	+1.4 s	97.94%
Wet Circle	3^rd	13.52 s	13.41 s	+0.11 s	99.19%
Straight Aqua	9^th	77.1 Km/H	83.3 Km/H	-6.2 Km/H	92.56%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	10^th	72 dB	67 dB	+5 dB	93.06%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	9^th	825	540	+285	65.45%
Rolling Resistance	4^th	8.37 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+1.17 kg / t	86.02%

The price-performance tip: Falken Azenis FK520. Although no longer fresh as a dew, the fairly priced tire remains within striking distance of the top products in the dry and masters the wet without any problems.

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	2^nd	32.5 M	31.6 M	+0.9 M	97.23%
Dry Handling	4^th	99.4 s	98.4 s	+1 s	98.99%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	5^th	40.1 M	38.1 M	+2 M	95.01%
Wet Handling	6^th	68.9 s	66.5 s	+2.4 s	96.52%
Wet Circle	4^th	13.63 s	13.41 s	+0.22 s	98.39%
Straight Aqua	8^th	78.8 Km/H	83.3 Km/H	-4.5 Km/H	94.6%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	3^rd	69 dB	67 dB	+2 dB	97.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	3^rd	595	540	+55	90.76%
Rolling Resistance	6^th	8.48 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+1.28 kg / t	84.91%

The Nexen N'Fera Sport SU2 doesn't set any highlights, but it delivers decent results and shows no major weaknesses. That's not enough for a good placement, but considering the price it's ok.

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	8^th	33.8 M	31.6 M	+2.2 M	93.49%
Dry Handling	8^th	101 s	98.4 s	+2.6 s	97.43%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	8^th	43.8 M	38.1 M	+5.7 M	86.99%
Wet Handling	7^th	69.2 s	66.5 s	+2.7 s	96.1%
Wet Circle	8^th	13.95 s	13.41 s	+0.54 s	96.13%
Straight Aqua	2^nd	80.9 Km/H	83.3 Km/H	-2.4 Km/H	97.12%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	2^nd	68 dB	67 dB	+1 dB	98.53%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	2^nd	565	540	+25	95.58%
Rolling Resistance	7^th	8.81 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+1.61 kg / t	81.73%

The Kumho Ecsta PS91 SC doesn't do anything wrong, but it's no longer up to date - a successor is in the works. Currently, however, the low price is the strongest argument for this tire.

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	7^th	33.4 M	31.6 M	+1.8 M	94.61%
Dry Handling	7^th	100.8 s	98.4 s	+2.4 s	97.62%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	7^th	42 M	38.1 M	+3.9 M	90.71%
Wet Handling	5^th	68.8 s	66.5 s	+2.3 s	96.66%
Wet Circle	7^th	13.91 s	13.41 s	+0.5 s	96.41%
Straight Aqua	4^th	79.8 Km/H	83.3 Km/H	-3.5 Km/H	95.8%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	8^th	71 dB	67 dB	+4 dB	94.37%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	1^st	540			100%
Rolling Resistance	8^th	9.29 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+2.09 kg / t	77.5%

Best in aquaplaning, low rolling resistance. But those who opt for the Giti Sport S2 have to accept compromises in wet performance. The latest update is said to offer noticeably more grip.

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	9^th	35.4 M	31.6 M	+3.8 M	89.27%
Dry Handling	9^th	101.1 s	98.4 s	+2.7 s	97.33%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	9^th	46.6 M	38.1 M	+8.5 M	81.76%
Wet Handling	9^th	70.4 s	66.5 s	+3.9 s	94.46%
Wet Circle	9^th	14.41 s	13.41 s	+1 s	93.06%
Straight Aqua	1^st	83.3 Km/H			100%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	3^rd	69 dB	67 dB	+2 dB	97.1%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	4^th	670	540	+130	80.6%
Rolling Resistance	2^nd	8.12 kg / t	7.2 kg / t	+0.92 kg / t	88.67%

The Michelin CrossClimate 2 gets the fewest points. But a direct comparison with UHP summer pros would be unfair, so no placement. But: It is fast, very economical and suitable for winter!

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Dry Braking	10^th	35.7 M	31.6 M	+4.1 M	88.52%
Dry Handling	10^th	102.6 s	98.4 s	+4.2 s	95.91%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Wet Braking	10^th	47.2 M	38.1 M	+9.1 M	80.72%
Wet Handling	10^th	71.9 s	66.5 s	+5.4 s	92.49%
Wet Circle	10^th	14.58 s	13.41 s	+1.17 s	91.98%
Straight Aqua	10^th	75.9 Km/H	83.3 Km/H	-7.4 Km/H	91.12%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Noise	6^th	70 dB	67 dB	+3 dB	95.71%

Test	#	Result	Best	Diff	%
Price	10^th	975	540	+435	55.38%
Rolling Resistance	1^st	7.2 kg / t			100%

Menu

2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test

Wet

Wet Braking

Wet Handling

Straight Aqua

Dry

Dry Braking

Dry Handling

Environment

Noise

Rolling Resistance

Price

Results

Continental SportContact 7

Bridgestone Potenza Sport

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6

Pirelli P Zero PZ4

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Falken Azenis FK520

Nexen N Fera Sport SU2

Kumho Ecsta PS91

Giti GitiSportS2

Michelin CrossClimate 2

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