Autobild Sports have tested seven premium and budget offerings in a staggered fitment of 245/35 R20 front and 295/30 R20 rear. Using a Lotus Emira as their test vehicle, Auto Bild Sportscars put these high-performance tires through their paces across dry and wet conditions to determine which delivers the best balance for demanding sports car applications.
The results should be no surprise, with the Continental Sportcontact 7 winning overall, ahead of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. The interesting part of the test is the fact the new Falken Azenis RS820 was included, and while the testers enjoyed the handling, it couldn't place overly well, finishing behind the older Nexen. This is the second full test of the new RS820, and the second time it has slightly under performed.
The full data and notes on each tire can be found below.
Dry
Dry Braking
Dry Braking
Dry braking in meters (100 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
Continental SportContact 7
31.20 M
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
33.00 M
Falken Azenis RS820
33.10 M
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
34.10 M
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
34.40 M
Vredestein Ultrac Pro
35.20 M
Gripmax SuperGrip Pro Sport
36.50 M
Dry Handling
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed (Higher is better)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
104.30 Km/H
Continental SportContact 7
104.00 Km/H
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
103.70 Km/H
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
101.90 Km/H
Falken Azenis RS820
101.60 Km/H
Vredestein Ultrac Pro
100.80 Km/H
Gripmax SuperGrip Pro Sport
100.00 Km/H
Wet
Wet Braking
Wet Braking
Wet braking in meters (100 - 0 km/h) (Lower is better)
The Continental SportContact 7 emerges as the test winner with exemplary performance. Continental's sporty tire sets the benchmark for braking on both dry and wet surfaces, providing substantial safety benefits. Testers praised its stable, balanced handling characteristics on dry roads. On wet surfaces, it was described as "harmonious" with the best wet grip despite showing slight oversteer tendencies. The SportContact 7 delivers remarkable wet braking performance with the best stopping distances in the test, though it registered slightly louder rolling noise compared to some competitors.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S was described as the "winner of hearts" due to its perfectly balanced steering and handling characteristics. With its perfectly tuned steering feel and handling behavior, the Michelin excels on dry surfaces, achieving the best time in dry handling tests and impressive short braking distances. Testers specifically highlighted its well-balanced behavior that made it a standout performer. On wet roads, it maintained harmonious dynamic qualities, though it showed some weakness in longitudinal aquaplaning conditions. Overall, the Pilot Sport 4S impressed with its exceptional precision and balanced performance.
The Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport had excellent grip and perfect handling characteristics on dry roads. Testers were impressed by its confident performance on dry surfaces, where it showed excellent traction and cornering stability. In wet conditions, Goodyear's sporty tire still delivered harmonious dynamic qualities and good stability. While it offers short braking distances for good safety reserves, the Goodyear suffers slightly in one area - it ranked last in rolling resistance tests, suggesting it might impact fuel consumption more than its competitors.
The Nexen N'Fera Sport SU2 surprised testers as a well-rounded all-rounder with impressive capabilities. Described as having good steering precision and secure handling on dry surfaces, this Korean tire proved to be a pleasant surprise, especially with its outstanding wet performance. The Nexen particularly impressed in aquaplaning tests, where it most effectively displaced water under the tread. Testers noted its balanced character with good braking performance on both wet and dry surfaces, though it became slightly unstable during wet braking. Overall, it delivers strong performance at a competitive price point.
The Falken Azenis RS820 delivers convincing curve stability and secure driving characteristics with short braking distances on dry roads. Testers appreciated its harmonious handling with smooth transitions when pushing the limits. On wet surfaces, Falken reacted somewhat more aggressively to load changes compared to the top performers. The tire showed particularly strong performance on dry surfaces with impressive cornering stability, though it struggled slightly with aquaplaning issues, where it ranked last in the curved aquaplaning test. Slightly louder rolling noise was also noted as a minor drawback.
The Vredestein Ultrac Pro features a harmoniously balanced driving behavior with short braking distances on dry roads. The tire impressed with pleasant rolling comfort and low rolling resistance, making it the quietest tire in the test. However, it showed a tendency to oversteer on wet surfaces, which affected its overall rating. While it performed well in aquaplaning tests, the Vredestein lacked stable lateral guidance on dry surfaces compared to the top performers. Its excellent rating for low noise and rolling resistance make it a good choice for those prioritizing comfort and efficiency.
The Gripmax SureGrip Pro Sport from China struggles to keep up with established brands, particularly in wet conditions. While offering good aquaplaning reserves in wet conditions and functioning as a quiet tire with low rolling resistance, the Gripmax showed serious weaknesses. It produced dangerously long braking distances and insufficient grip on wet surfaces, with testers noting pronounced oversteer and lack of directional stability during quick lane changes. The chief tire tester explicitly warned against using this tire due to its dangerous wet performance, despite its attractive price point and decent dry weather characteristics.
