2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test

If you've ever dreamed of seeing the Michelin Pilot Sport 5, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, Continental SportContact 7 and Bridgestone Potenza Sport in the same test, your dreams have just been answered with the 2023 Auto Bild Sportscars Summer Tire Test! They even included the new Falken FK520!

The German publication tested thirteen of the most popular UHP tires in 225/40 R18 using a Toyota GR Yaris, and yes you read that right, the SportContact 7 is now available in some 18" wheel sizes!

Want to know which of the UHP titans is best overall? Read on below!

Wet

It seems like the Hankook has a new rival in wet braking, as the Continental SportContact 7 knocked the Korean tire off it's usual top sport to beat it to first place, with the Hankook close behind and the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 in third.

The Bridgestone Potenza Sport jumped up the order to post the fastest lap around wet handling, with the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 proving to be impressive in second and the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 finishing third. Oddly, the wet braking winner dropped all the way down to seventh place overall, though the group was very close.

Wet circle kept the Bridgestone at the top, with the Continental moving up a little.

The Giti GitiSportS2 was the best in straight aquaplaning, with the Goodyear and Michelin tied for second place.

Dry

The braking master Sport Contact 7 once again topped the braking test, this time in the dry, narrowly beating the Bridgestone.

Bridgestone and Continental traded top spots in dry handling, with the Pirelli a close third.

Environment

The Goodyear proved to have the lowest external noise with the Potenza Sport trailing the field.

The new Firestone Firehawk Sport had a crazy lead in rolling resistance, with the Continental and Goodyear the best of the named tires. The Pirelli and Bridgestone both faltered in this test, being significantly harder to roll than their key rivals.

As always, the Michelin was the most expensive and the budget tire the cheapest.

Results

View Results as a single table and adjust the score weighting

1st: Continental SportContact 7
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/72	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 1st 100% Dry Handling 2nd -0.3 Km/H 99.74% Wet Braking 1st 100% Wet Handling 6th -2.2 Km/H 97.47% Wet Circle 5th +0.05 s 99.55% Straight Aqua 9th -3 Km/H 96.18% Curved Aquaplaning 10th -0.61 m/sec2 79.39% Noise 6th +1 dB 98.52% Price 11th +175 61.54% Rolling Resistance 2nd +1.33 kg / t 84.13% The new SportContact 7 is completely convincing in its first test: dynamic cornering, stable cornering, precise steering behavior with very good feedback, convincingly safe braking performance on wet and dry slopes. Moderate safety reserves for curve aquaplaning. Exemplary. Read Reviews    Buy from £125.70
2nd: Bridgestone Potenza Sport
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: D/A/72	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 2nd +0.2 M 99.4% Dry Handling 1st 100% Wet Braking 5th +2.4 M 94.17% Wet Handling 1st 100% Wet Circle 1st 100% Straight Aqua 4th -0.8 Km/H 98.98% Curved Aquaplaning 6th -0.24 m/sec2 91.89% Noise 13th +2.5 dB 96.38% Price 12th +180 60.87% Rolling Resistance 13th +2.85 kg / t 71.21% The Potenza Sport has excellent handling qualities on wet and dry roads, good balance, precise steering behavior with good feedback, short wet and dry braking distances, decent safety reserves in the event of aquaplaning. Increased rolling resistance, average comfort. Exemplary. Read Reviews    Buy from £78.99
3rd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/70	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 3rd +1 M 97.08% Dry Handling 9th -1.4 Km/H 98.79% Wet Braking 4th +2 M 95.1% Wet Handling 2nd -0.7 Km/H 99.19% Wet Circle 4th +0.04 s 99.64% Straight Aqua 2nd -0.7 Km/H 99.11% Curved Aquaplaning 7th -0.3 m/sec2 89.86% Noise 1st 100% Price 9th +150 65.12% Rolling Resistance 4th +1.45 kg / t 82.94% The Asymmetric 6 is a premium tire without fault and reproach, safe driving behavior on wet and dry slopes, sporty and direct steering behavior with good feedback, well-balanced, good safety reserves in the event of aquaplaning, short wet and dry braking distances, quiet passing noise, fuel-saving rolling resistance. None mentioned. Exemplary. Read Reviews    Buy from £95.00
3rd: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A72	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 6th +1.4 M 95.97% Dry Handling 4th -0.9 Km/H 99.22% Wet Braking 3rd +0.3 M 99.23% Wet Handling 5th -2.1 Km/H 97.58% Wet Circle 7th +0.09 s 99.19% Straight Aqua 2nd -0.7 Km/H 99.11% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 100% Noise 12th +1.8 dB 97.36% Price 13th +220 56% Rolling Resistance 6th +1.57 kg / t 81.79% the PS5 is a top-class sports tires with dynamic handling qualities on wet and dry roads, agile handling with good balance, precise steering, very good safety reserves in the event of aquaplaning, short braking distances in the wet, good comfort, quiet rolling noise. High price level. Exemplary. Read Reviews    Buy from £104.77
3rd: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: D/A/68	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 5th +1.2 M 96.52% Dry Handling 3rd -0.4 Km/H 99.65% Wet Braking 6th +2.5 M 93.95% Wet Handling 3rd -1.7 Km/H 98.04% Wet Circle 2nd +0.01 s 99.91% Straight Aqua 6th -1.1 Km/H 98.6% Curved Aquaplaning 4th -0.21 m/sec2 92.91% Noise 4th +0.4 dB 99.4% Price 10th +155 64.37% Rolling Resistance 12th +2.78 kg / t 71.72% The P Zero PZ4 has excellent handling qualities on both dry and wet roads, good aquaplaning properties, precise steering behavior, balanced dynamic balance, high level of grip, short wet and dry braking distances, quiet passing noise. Increased rolling resistance, average comfort. Exemplary. Read Reviews
6th: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/72	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 6th +1.4 M 95.97% Dry Handling 5th -1.1 Km/H 99.05% Wet Braking 2nd +0.1 M 99.74% Wet Handling 4th -2 Km/H 97.7% Wet Circle 9th +0.2 s 98.22% Straight Aqua 11th -4.2 Km/H 94.66% Curved Aquaplaning 11th -0.7 m/sec2 76.35% Noise 11th +1.7 dB 97.51% Price 6th +100 73.68% Rolling Resistance 5th +1.5 kg / t 82.46% The Ventus S1 evo 3 is a balanced sports tire with dynamic handling qualities on wet and dry roads, very good braking performance on wet slopes, agile steering behavior, fuel-saving rolling resistance, very good price-performance ratio. Satisfactory safety reserves for curve aquaplaning. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £75.39
7th: Toyo Proxes Sport 2
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: D/A/71	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 4th +1.1 M 96.8% Dry Handling 5th -1.1 Km/H 99.05% Wet Braking 9th +4.2 M 90.23% Wet Handling 6th -2.2 Km/H 97.47% Wet Circle 3rd +0.03 s 99.73% Straight Aqua 8th -2.3 Km/H 97.07% Curved Aquaplaning 8th -0.47 m/sec2 84.12% Noise 6th +1 dB 98.52% Price 7th +105 72.73% Rolling Resistance 9th +1.99 kg / t 77.99% The new Toyo Proxes Sport 2 has well-balanced, safe handling qualities on wet and dry roads, good grip and short braking distances on dry roads, good ride comfort, low rolling resistance, good value for money. Slightly longer wet braking distances, average safety reserves when aquaplaning in curves. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £88.20
7th: Falken Azenis FK520
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/70	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 8th +1.7 M 95.14% Dry Handling 7th -1.2 Km/H 98.96% Wet Braking 10th +4.4 M 89.81% Wet Handling 8th -3.1 Km/H 96.43% Wet Circle 10th +0.21 s 98.13% Straight Aqua 5th -1 Km/H 98.73% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd -0.14 m/sec2 95.27% Noise 2nd +0.1 dB 99.85% Price 5th +95 74.67% Rolling Resistance 8th +1.75 kg / t 80.11% The new FK520 has convincing handling qualities on both dry and wet slopes, good aquaplaning properties, precise steering behavior, well-balanced dynamic balance, high level of grip, short wet and dry braking distances, quiet pass-by noise. Increased rolling resistance, average comfort Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £95.95
9th: Firestone Firehawk Sport
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: B/A/70	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 9th +1.8 M 94.87% Dry Handling 7th -1.2 Km/H 98.96% Wet Braking 7th +3.4 M 91.94% Wet Handling 11th -5.3 Km/H 93.9% Wet Circle 8th +0.15 s 98.66% Straight Aqua 10th -4 Km/H 94.91% Curved Aquaplaning 9th -0.51 m/sec2 82.77% Noise 5th +0.5 dB 99.25% Price 4th +85 76.71% Rolling Resistance 1st 100% The new Firehawk Sport has agile handling behavior on dry slopes, short wet and dry braking distances, exceptionally low rolling resistance, low price level. Average aquaplaning properties, delayed steering response and clearly understeering cornering behavior on wet roads. Fair. Read Reviews    Buy from £114.30
10th: Giti GitiSportS2
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: D/A/70	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 11th +2.2 M 93.8% Dry Handling 10th -1.6 Km/H 98.61% Wet Braking 11th +4.7 M 89.2% Wet Handling 9th -3.9 Km/H 95.51% Wet Circle 11th +0.36 s 96.84% Straight Aqua 1st 100% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd -0.12 m/sec2 95.95% Noise 6th +1 dB 98.52% Price 8th +120 70% Rolling Resistance 10th +2.1 kg / t 77.05% The GitiSportS2 has convincing aquaplaning properties, stable dry handling, pleasantly quiet passing noise. Limited level of grip on wet roads, delayed steering response and understeering when cornering on wet roads, slightly longer wet braking distances, higher price level. Fair. Read Reviews
10th: Maxxis Victra Sport 5
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/72	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 10th +2 M 94.33% Dry Handling 11th -2.8 Km/H 97.58% Wet Braking 8th +3.6 M 91.51% Wet Handling 10th -4 Km/H 95.4% Wet Circle 5th +0.05 s 99.55% Straight Aqua 7th -1.7 Km/H 97.84% Curved Aquaplaning 4th -0.21 m/sec2 92.91% Noise 9th +1.1 dB 98.37% Price 3rd +75 78.87% Rolling Resistance 11th +2.17 kg / t 76.46% The Victra Sport 5 has good safety reserves for aquaplaning, short braking distances on wet roads, quiet passing noise, low travel. . Moderate grip level and clearly understeering handling on wet and dry slopes, delayed steering response, limited ride comfort. Fair. Read Reviews    Buy from £79.00
12th: Linglong Sport Master
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/A/69	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 12th +2.8 M 92.24% Dry Handling 12th -3.3 Km/H 97.14% Wet Braking 12th +4.8 M 88.99% Wet Handling 12th -8.2 Km/H 90.56% Wet Circle 12th +0.51 s 95.58% Straight Aqua 12th -5.8 Km/H 92.62% Curved Aquaplaning 12th -0.72 m/sec2 75.68% Noise 3rd +0.2 dB 99.7% Price 2nd +30 90.32% Rolling Resistance 7th +1.63 kg / t 81.22% Inexpensive sports tire with low rolling resistance and quiet rolling noise. Moderate grip on wet and dry roads, limited safety reserves in the event of aquaplaning, delayed steering response and understeering handling on wet and dry roads, longer wet and dry braking distances. Conditionally Recommended. Read Reviews
13th: Superia Ecoblue UHP
225/40 R18 92Y EU Label: C/B/70	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 13th +5.3 M 86.27% Dry Handling 13th -6.2 Km/H 94.63% Wet Braking 13th +11.4 M 77.29% Wet Handling 13th -13.9 Km/H 84% Wet Circle 13th +0.62 s 94.68% Straight Aqua 13th -9.9 Km/H 87.4% Curved Aquaplaning 13th -0.82 m/sec2 72.3% Noise 10th +1.2 dB 98.23% Price 1st 100% Rolling Resistance 3rd +1.36 kg / t 83.83% Low price level, low rolling resistance, quiet rolling noise. Low-budget tires with poor grip and dangerously long braking distances on wet and dry roads, low safety reserves in the event of aquaplaning, delayed steering response, severe understeer in wet and dry handling. Not Recommended. Read Reviews