List of models tested:

• Accelera PHI
• Continental SportContact 6
• Falken Azenis FK510
• Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
• Kumho Ecsta PS91
• Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
• Toyo Proxes Sport
• Vredestein Ultrac Vorti

The new test by Tyre Reviews involved eight tires, including the brand new Goodyear model that met with its top-class rivals from Michelin and Continental. In addition, the test involved tires from the mid-price bracket, while the budget segment was represented by the Accelera tire manufactured by Indonesia’s PT Elangperdana Tyre Industry. All of the tested models (for the sole exception of Goodyear) are already available for sale both in Europe and North America.

The test was conducted at Continental’s U.S. proving grounds in Uvalde, Texas, using a BMW M2, fitted with the 245/35 R19 tires at the front and 265/35 R19 at the rear. The test method was no different from the one that is used by most automotive magazines, i.e. the tires were tested on wet and dry pavement, and the experts also evaluated their fuel efficiency, riding comfort, and noise emission. The most weight of all was attached to the dry pavement performance (55%) because the tires of this category are essentially created for sports driving in dry weather conditions. The weights of the scores for wet pavement performance and fuel efficiency / riding comfort were 40% and 5% respectively.

Unfortunately, the test did not involve such brands as Hankook, Nokian, Pirelli, and Yokohama because these brands offer tires of only one of the sizes that the test required. This difficulty always arises when a test involves using tires of different sizes on the front and rear wheels, as in this case.

Dry tests

On the dry track, the three main odds-on favorites — Continental, Goodyear, and Michelin — demonstrated almost identical lap time, the difference in their results staying within 0.3 seconds. The highest subjective scores were won by the Continental tires that demonstrated the most precise steering response and ensured the best feedback on the front axis. Goodyear and Michelin also showed well-balanced performance but, as it turned out, they were slightly prone to understeer.

Amidst the «midrange», the victory was win by the Vredestein tires that felt pretty much like Continentals but lost to them 0.6 seconds of lap time. Falken provides a decent grip but its focus on riding comfort is rather a minus — the tires feel too soft. Kumho demonstrated a great lap time the very first time around but later, due to overheating, its grip dropped abruptly. The same problem is characteristic for Toyo, although to a smaller degree.

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Wet tests

Due to the fact that a BMW M2 was used, the ability to maintain the grip on wet pavement was just as important and just as difficult for the rear wheels as for the front ones, and the best results in this discipline were shown by Goodyear that got far ahead of its rivals. It is also worth mentioning that Vredestein, which doesn’t really deliver good braking performance on wet pavement, successfully kept up the grip of the rear wheels when cornering, and this allowed it to show the second best lap time. The same holds true for Toyo, while Continental and Michelin in terms of lap time could only score the fourth and fifth places respectively because they were to some extent prone to skidding. Accelera tires fell so much behind its rivals that we cannot recommend to consider buying them.

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The straight hydroplaning test was won by the Michelin tire that brought the car to a standstill on wet pavement quicker than all the other tires. A great result, which was quite expectable from the sports tires of this famous French brand.

Fuel efficiency and riding comfort tests

The best fuel efficiency was demonstrated by Continental, followed by Accelera, and, although this is quite an achievement for such a cheap tire, it still does not excuse its shortcomings evicted by other tests.

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The riding comfort scores turned out to be strikingly similar but some differences were still there. According to the experts’ subjective evaluation, the best tire in this respect became Falken that absorbs the road bumps and has a low noise emission. Falken is followed by Michelin, Continental and Toyo that also have a high level of comfort, while Goodyear and Vredestein are noisier and prone to vibration.

 

The weight of the tires did not affect the final scores in any way but TR decided to specify it all the same because, as it turned out, there are some interesting correlations between the weight and the test results.

Test Results

 

1 Place: Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport

• Great handling response and tire feedback in any weather conditions
• The lap time did not get worse due to overheating on dry pavement
• Relatively long braking distance on wet pavement
• Riding comfort less than average
• Increased noise

The new Goodyear tire was able to compete with Michelin and Continental, ultimately beating them thanks to its excellent wet handling.

2 Place: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S

• The shortest braking distance on wet and dry pavement
• Great handling on dry pavement
• Great riding comfort
• Prone to oversteer on wet pavement

Michelin still demonstrates an excellent well-balanced performance and combines great grip with good riding comfort and fuel efficiency.

3 Place: Continental SportContact 6

• Short braking distance on wet and dry pavement
• The best lap time on dry pavement thanks to quick steering response and good feedback
• Great riding comfort
• Low rolling resistance
• Prone to oversteer on wet pavement

An excellent well-balanced tire with good feedback and great traction on a dry track. Got a status of the most «sports» tire on test.

4 Place: Falken Azenis FK510

• Short braking distance on wet pavement
• Great riding comfort
• Lack of precise steering response

Great for those who value comfort and is not a fan of the sports driving style.

5 Place: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti

• Great handling response, excellent traction and very good steering feedback on dry pavement
• Great handling in the wet
• Long braking distance on wet pavement
• High rolling resistance
• Low riding comfort
• The heaviest tires on test

A tire that provides great handling response in any weather conditions and could have scored a higher place, had it not been for the relatively insufficient braking performance.

6 Place: Toyo Proxes Sport

• Great handling in the wet
• Excellent hydroplaning resistance
• Good feedback
• Great riding comfort
• Long braking distance on wet and dry pavement
• Grip on dry pavement weakens significantly after the first few rounds

The Toyo tire provided good handling response both on wet and dry pavements but its grip is generally weaker than that of the best tires on test.

7 Place: Kumho Ecsta PS91

• Showed a great lap time on dry pavement during the first run
• The tires were getting quickly overheated both on dry and wet pavements, which led to loss of grip and oversteer
• A very long braking distance on wet pavement
• Average riding comfort

At first, Kumho produced a great impression but after the first few runs the tires overheated, which lead to a quick deterioration of grip and stability.

8 Place: Accelera PHI

• Low rolling resistance
• Low noise emission
• A very long braking distance and generally weak grip on wet pavement
• Weak grip on dry pavement

These tires do not ensure dependable grip either on dry or on wet pavement, and they are not recommended for purchase.

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