If a broken car is a sign of a good tire test, breaking a Focus RS twice, then giving up and using a Sirocco R means the latest Max performance tire test from Russian magazine Auto Review should be the best tire test yet. Fortunately, it doesn't disappoint.
An ideal tire test would take the huge amount of clinical data taken from the average German tire test, and combine it with the glorious enthusiasm of the British tire test like EVO. This is exactly what Auto Review have achieved when testing 9 of the latest Max Performance Summer Tires, at the Contidrome in 235/35 R19. Instead of summarising the test, we'll go straight to the full results with each tire summarised in excellent detail. For even more information, be sure to check out the full test (and brush up on your Russian) at Auto Review or just checkout a spreadsheet overview of the full results here. One final thing to note, the Russian magazines subjective scores were based on "ease of driving".
The Results
- 3PMSF: no
High resistance to aquaplaning, great grip and handling on both wet and dry roads
Poor tread wear
The SportContact 5P is a very balanced tire, scoring strongly in both the wet and dry. The main achievement of the 5P is the excellent resistance to aquaplaning with excennelt braking characteristics on dry roads. At the limit of grip in the wet, the tire starts sliding gently and only needs small steering angles to get back in line. The speed on the track isn't the highest, but it's not far off the leader, just 0.6 seconds behind in the dry.
Misc: Tire Weight: 9.6kgs / Tread Depth: 7.7mm / Rim Protection: 5mm
Total: 116.1
Dry
28
Wet
46
Subjective
19
Comfort
6
Noise
8
Overall
9.1
- 3PMSF: no
Great grip and handling in the wet and dry
Low resistance to curved aquaplaning
While the P Zero is now 5 years old, a second second place proves Pirelli are doing a great job of keeping it up to date. It's raw grip in the wet and dry topped the tables, with its only negative score due to a rather abrupt slide quality in the wet. The poor curved aquaplaning results left the P Zero just 0.1 points behind the 5P!
Misc: Tire Weight: 9.8kgs / Tread Depth: 8.1mm / Rim Protection: 3mm
Total: 113
Dry
27
Wet
44
Subjective
18
Comfort
7
Noise
8
Overall
9
- 3PMSF: no
Good in the wet, excellent resistance to aquaplaning, quietest tire on test
Only 8th fastest time in dry handling
The Korean Ventus S1 EVO was the surprise of the test, scoring well in nearly every test and offering excellent value for money, being the cheapest tire on test.
Misc: Tire Weight: 10.2kgs / Tread Depth: 7mm / Rim Protection: 2.5mm
Total: 109.6
Dry
25
Wet
44
Subjective
16
Comfort
6
Noise
10
Overall
8.6
- 3PMSF: no
Best wet grip and handling, high resistance to aquaplaning, comfortable tire
Not so great in the dry
Despite being a fairly old tire (the Asymmetric 2 is now launched) the F1 Asymmetric still places a strong 4th thanks to its excellent wet weather grip and handling coupled with a comfortable ride. Unfortunately the F1 Asymmetric was let down by its "floaty" dry handling, something which has been resolved in the new version
Misc: Tire Weight: 11.5kgs / Tread Depth: 8.5mm / Rim Protection: 4.5mm
Total: 109.4
Dry
21
Wet
47
Subjective
17
Comfort
8
Noise
8
Overall
8.4
- 3PMSF: no
Good dry grip and handling, low noise
Poor resistance to aquaplaning
The T1 Sport are the best of the Japanese trio of tires, trading poor aquaplaning results for excellent dry handling and low noise. If Toyo could correct the wet weather issues it would be a top 3 tire
Misc: Tire Weight: 10.2kgs / Tread Depth: 7.5mm / Rim Protection: 1.5mm
Total: 106.3
Dry
27
Wet
38
Subjective
18
Comfort
6
Noise
9
Overall
8.3
- 3PMSF: no
Best dry handling, fastest dry lap time, best steering feel
Poor resistance to aquaplaning, low level of comfort
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport is a good example of how it's extremely difficult to achieve excellent in all areas. Michelin have prioritised dry grip and steering feedback with the Pilot Super Sport, giving the tire the best dry lap time and handling, at the expense of wet performance and comfort.
Misc: Tire Weight: 10.1kgs / Tread Depth: 7.7mm / Rim Protection: 4.5mm
Total: 103.2
Dry
29
Wet
39
Subjective
16
Comfort
5
Noise
6
Overall
8.2
- 3PMSF: no
A well balanced tire, good resistance to aquaplaning in a curve
Handling on wet pavement
A good high speed road tire without an obvious specalisation
Misc: Tire Weight: 10.6kgs / Tread Depth: 7.5mm / Rim Protection: 4mm
Total: 106.2
Dry
26
Wet
43
Subjective
14
Comfort
6
Noise
9
Overall
8.2
- 3PMSF: no
Quiet, reasonable handling in the dry
Poor wet grip, poor wet handling, low aquaplaning resistance
For a tire which is fitted to cars like the Ferrari 430, the RE050A has a very poor result. Perhaps Bridgestone use a different compound for the Russian market as it was a full 10 metres behind the best tire in the wet braking test. Bridgestone have recently release the S001, and there is rumours of the S04 coming to Europe.
Misc: Tire Weight: 11.1kgs / Tread Depth: 8mm / Rim Protection: 5.5mm
Total: 88.7
Dry
25
Wet
28
Subjective
13
Comfort
7
Noise
9
Overall
6.7
- 3PMSF: no
Quiet
Poor wet grip, poor wet handling, low aquaplaning resistance
The Yokohama Advan Sport scored similarly to the Bridgestone RE050A giving average dry performance and poor wet scores. This again raised the question as to whether the Japanese ship a different compound into Russia, or is it just one of Yokohamas flashship tires really lags behind its competitors
Misc: Tire Weight: 11.1kgs / Tread Depth: 7.7mm / Rim Protection: 3mm
Total: 85.4
Dry
22
Wet
29
Subjective
13
Comfort
6
Noise
9
Overall
6.4
Score weighting: 40% wet / 30% dry / 20% subjective ("Ease of driving") / 10% comfort