The German motoring magazine tested UHP and UUHP tires, as well as three semi-slick models.
List of models tested:
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport
- Continental SportContact 7
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
- Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z K129
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
- Nankang AR-1
- Pirelli P Zero (PZ4)
- Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
Sportauto magazine has conducted a series of tests of summer tires in size 235/35ZR19, which fits many compact sports cars, such as Volkswagen Golf GTI or Hyundai i30 N. On the European market, a large number of tire models in this size are available, from UHP tires with excellent wet grip to sportier UUHP tires, and even track tires, which are commonly referred to as «semi-slicks».
In the UHP and UUHP classes, seven tire models were tested, including a few new products — Bridgestone Potenza Sport, Michelin Pilot Sport 4, Continental SportContact 7, Falken Azenis FK510, Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport, Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z, and the recently modernized Pirelli P Zero (PZ4). The list of tested semi-slicks included Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2, Nankang AR-1, and the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R in the version homologated by Porsche and bearing an additional N0 sign.
While for the first two tires the weight of the points was almost standard, and varied only slightly (UUHP tires are usually designed with a bigger focus on dry pavement), for the semi-slicks it was completely different. First of all, this applies to points scored on wet pavement — for the UHP and UUHP tires, they are 40% and 30% respectively, while for the track tires only 10%. As for ride comfort and environmental performance, they were not taken into account at all (0% weight) because on a race track they are irrelevant. In addition to this, the maximum number of points for dry performance was raised from 10 to 12 for the semi-slicks because «this was the only way to compensate for their huge deficit of wet traction». The final ranking was composed in accordance with the method adopted for the UHP tires, but for the UUHP tires and semi-slicks, extra rankings were added (second and third respectively) with regard to the evaluation weight changes.
Dry braking
- Continental
- Nankang
- Pirelli
- Michelin
- Falken
- Goodyear
- Hankook
- Bridgestone
- Michelin
- Pirelli
Info! Dry braking in meters. (100-0 km/h)
Among the UHP and UUHP tires, the best one was pronounced to be the Continental SportContact 7, which is winning already a second test after its premier (it scored an absolute victory during its debut in independent tests), and the experts noted that on dry pavement neither the famous handling precision and well balanced performance of the Michelin PS4 nor the amazing cornering grip of the Bridgestone Potenza Sport could not help them get the upper hand over the Continental model, which demonstrated outstanding braking performance. On wet pavement, the Bridgestone model again scored high points thanks to its excellent grip in corners, but the Continental tire demonstrated a braking distance so short (2.5 meters shorter than that of the next pursuer, when braking form 80 km/h) that the experts said that this tire model set a new standard for wet grip.
Wet braking
- Continental
- Michelin
- Falken
- Bridgestone
- Pirelli
- Goodyear
- Hankook
- Michelin
- Pirelli
- Nankang
Info! Wet braking in meters. (100-0 km/h)
As for the semi-slicks, due to their tread patterns with an increased tread-to-void ratio, they can hardly tackle the task of dispelling water from the contact area, and once such a tire hits a puddle, the grip goes instantaneously. When placed on wet pavement, the Nankang model barely mustered the grip sufficient to make it to the finish line, while the Pirelli tire demonstrated a much better performance, and the Michelin model’s performance was surprisingly close to that of the worst of road tires. In the braking test, the differences between the tires were the most prominent of all. The stopping distance demonstrated by the Continental CS7 when braking from 80 km/h was 27.5 meters, while the semi-slicks needed from 37.5 to 41.1 meters to perform the same task, which essentially means that when a car on Continental tires is already standing still, a car on Nankang tires will keep on driving at about 50 km/h, i.e. driving on such tires in the rain is not recommended.
On a dry track, however, after a few warm-up laps, the semi-slicks can fully demonstrate their potential, and their lap time in the test was on average three seconds better than that of road tires. High scores were received by all the three tires, including the Nankang model that ensures excellent grip during the braking, acceleration, and maneuvering, and, as the pilots said, feels more like full-fledged semi-slicks (but delivers a ride as noiseless as that of a caterpillar tractor). The Michelin model quickly reacted to the turns of the steering wheel, yet at the same time was a little bit temperamental, while the Pirelli tire behaved in an unstable way only during emergency braking and in corners (no gripes otherwise), and, thanks to its excellent stability at high speeds showed a good lap time, its grip staying consistently stable for a long time.
Compared to the UHP and UUHP tires, the Pirelli model sometimes showed a time five seconds better, while the «fastest» among the road tires were Continental and Bridgestone, which lost to the semi-slicks by mere 1 or 2 seconds — quite a decent result, particularly considering the fact that no wet performance was sacrificed. At the same time, the Bridgestone model was very noisy and had a high rolling resistance, while the Continental tire technologists proved that you could indeed combine sporty and environmental performance within one tire.
1st place: Continental / SportContact 7
Quick Take
Continental SportContact 7
- Excellently balanced performance
- Outstanding dry and wet braking capabilities
- Relatively low lateral hydroplaning resistance
- Low riding comfort
- Exemplary
2nd place: Michelin / Pilot Sport 4
Quick Take
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Predictable behavior and precise steering response to the driver’s actions on dry pavement
- Relatively low lateral hydroplaning resistance
- Reduced shock-absorbing properties
- Very good
3rd place: Bridgestone / Potenza Sport
Quick Take
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
- Outstanding cornering stability on wet and dry pavement
- Surprisingly good hydroplaning resistance
- Fast and precise response to the driver’s actions
- Average dry and wet braking performance
- Very good
4th place: Pirelli / P Zero PZ4
Quick Take
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- Good handling response and stability on wet pavement
- Long braking distance on wet pavement
- Relatively poor traction and limited lateral stability at high speeds on dry pavement
Good
5th place: Falken / Azenis FK510
Quick Take
Falken Azenis FK510
- Short braking distance and good handling properties on wet pavement
- Attractive price
- Delayed and fuzzy steering response on dry pavement
- Good
6th place: Hankook / Ventus S1 Evo Z K129
Quick Take
Hankook Ventus S1 Evo Z K129
- Great handling response in the wet
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Long braking distances, especially on wet pavement
- Insufficient stability during emergency braking on dry pavement
- Good
7th place: Goodyear / Eagle F1 SuperSport
Quick Take
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
- Acceptable overall performance on dry and wet pavement
- Long braking distance on wet pavement
- Relatively low stability during the emergency maneuvers on dry pavement
- Good
8th place: Michelin / Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
Quick Take
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
- Precise steering response, neutral behavior, and good track traction
- Controllable behavior on wet pavement
- Poor braking performance under temperatures typical for everyday life
- Insufficient stability during emergency braking
- Very good
9th place: Pirelli / P Zero Trofeo R
Quick Take
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
- Excellent wet grip for a tire from this category (even though its threshold is achieved soon)
- Precise steering response and confidence-inspiring handling lightness on a track
- Poor braking performance under temperatures typical for everyday life
- Very prone to oversteer on wet pavement
- Low riding comfort
- Very good
10th place: Nankang / AR-1
Quick Take
Nankang AR-1
- A high level of traction and stability (depends on the heat degree), as well as good performance and neutral behavior on a track
- Poor hydroplaning resistance, can suddenly lose grip on wet pavement
- Very noisy, plus strong vibrations
- Very good
