In issue 4/2026, German magazine sport auto tested seven summer tires in size 205/45 R 17 on a Mazda MX-5. The field included a mix of premium sport, touring, and budget options: Bridgestone Potenza Sport evo, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, Falken Azenis FK520, Continental PremiumContact 7, Michelin Pilot Sport 5, Linglong Sport Master, and Firestone Roadhawk 2. Tires were evaluated across wet and dry performance tests as well as comfort and efficiency.
Bridgestone's new Potenza Sport Evo took the overall win with the only "outstanding" rating in the test, scoring well in almost every area. Goodyear earned the title of sportiest tire, with the highest cornering grip and a neutral balance that rewards experienced drivers. Falken picked up the price-performance recommendation at 107 euros, largely on the strength of the shortest braking distances in both wet and dry conditions. At the other end of the table, Firestone Roadhawk 2 finished last with an "adequate" rating after a score penalty for excessive wet braking distances - though it did post the best rolling resistance and lateral aquaplaning results. The budget Linglong showed a similar pattern of lopsided development: strong wet braking but poor handling stability and abrupt breakaway behaviour.
Test Publication:
205/45 R17
7 tires
4 categories
Images courtesy of Sport Auto
Test Publication:
Images courtesy of Sport Auto
Test Size:
205/45 R17
Tires Tested:
7 tires
Dry Braking
Falken stopped shortest at 33.6 m, just ahead of Bridgestone at 33.8 m - the top four are separated by less than a metre. Firestone trailed at 35.4 m, nearly two metres behind the leader.
Dry Handling
Goodyear and Bridgestone tied for the fastest lap at 113.8 km/h, with Continental and Michelin close behind. Firestone was slowest at 110.6 km/h - over 3 km/h off the pace, a significant gap on a 1900 m track.
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- Linglong Sport Master
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
Subjective Dry Handling
Bridgestone and Michelin both scored a perfect 10, though for different reasons - the Bridgestone for its safe, controllable understeer and broad reserves, the Michelin for its precision and agility. Goodyear was rated the most demanding to drive, with very neutral balance that rewards a skilled driver. Linglong scored lowest at 6, let down by sluggish steering response and poor stability under weight transfer.
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
- Linglong Sport Master
Wet Braking
Falken and Linglong shared the shortest stopping distance at 32.2 m - a strong result for the budget tire. Firestone was a clear outlier at 38.3 m, more than six metres behind the leaders, enough to trigger a score penalty in the final rating.
Wet Handling
Bridgestone led with 56.3 km/h, followed closely by Goodyear and Continental. The spread from first to last is only 1.6 km/h, making this one of the tighter tests in the group. Firestone was again slowest at 54.7 km/h.
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Linglong Sport Master
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
Subjective Wet Handling
Bridgestone scored a clear 10, praised for its easy-to-read understeer character and wide grip reserves even when sliding. Goodyear and Falken shared second place at 8, though Goodyear's nervous weight-transfer response and narrow limit range on wet roads kept it from matching the Bridgestone. Linglong and Firestone both scored 6, with the Linglong prone to sudden rear-end breakaway and the Firestone lacking feedback and stability.
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- Linglong Sport Master
- Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
Wet Circle
Bridgestone posted the highest lateral grip at 8.58 m/s², ahead of Goodyear at 8.49 m/s². Despite its strong wet braking, Linglong finished last here at 8.31 m/s² - a sign that it was optimised more for straight-line grip than cornering. The full spread is 0.27 m/s², a meaningful difference on a car as light and responsive as the MX-5.
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
- Linglong Sport Master
Straight Aquaplaning
Continental resisted aquaplaning longest, floating at 83.8 km/h. Michelin was most vulnerable at 81.0 km/h. The spread is relatively narrow at under 3 km/h, suggesting all tires handle standing water in a straight line reasonably well at this width.
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
- Linglong Sport Master
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Curved Aquaplaning
This test produced the widest relative spread of any wet test. Firestone held the most lateral grip when aquaplaning at 2.44 m/s², while Falken - the wet braking leader - was weakest at just 2.02 m/s². That trade-off between braking grip and aquaplaning resistance is a recurring theme across several tires in this test.
- Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
- Linglong Sport Master
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- Falken Azenis FK520
Subjective Comfort
Goodyear scored highest at 10, offering the softest ride and quietest cabin of the group. Bridgestone and Firestone both scored 7, the lowest in the field - the Bridgestone's firmer ride is the main trade-off for its strong grip performance.
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- Linglong Sport Master
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
Noise
Goodyear was the quietest tire at 68.1 dB(A), well clear of the field. Firestone was loudest at 71.8 dB(A), a gap of 3.7 dB(A) - easily perceptible. Linglong was a surprise second place at 69.5 dB(A), one of its better results in the test.
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- Linglong Sport Master
- Falken Azenis FK520
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- Continental PremiumContact 7
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
- Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
Rolling Resistance
Firestone recorded the lowest rolling resistance at 8.0 kg/t, making it the most fuel-efficient option - offsetting some of its grip shortcomings with lower running costs. Linglong was highest at 9.7 kg/t, over 20% more than the Firestone. The premium performance tires clustered between 8.4 and 8.9 kg/t.
Results
Bridgestone takes the overall win with the highest score of 9.2, rated "outstanding" - strong across nearly every test with no major weakness. Goodyear and Falken share second at 8.6, offering sport and value respectively. Continental rounds out the recommended group at 8.3. At the bottom, Firestone's safety-relevant deficits in wet braking triggered a penalty that dropped it to 5.7, rated only "adequate."
Bridgestone Potenza Sport evo is the test winner and performs well across nearly all tests. It delivers short braking distances on both wet and dry surfaces, strong lateral grip in the wet, and high cornering speed on track. The car remains easy to control with a tendency toward understeer and broad grip reserves when the limit is exceeded. It can be steered on the throttle via weight transfer without becoming nervous. Minor weaknesses show up in longitudinal aquaplaning and comfort - the ride is firmer than most rivals, and pass-by noise is on the higher side.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
2nd |
33.8 M |
33.6 M |
+0.2 M |
99.41% |
| Dry Handling |
1st |
113.8 Km/H |
|
|
100% |
| Subj. Dry Handling |
1st |
10 Points |
|
|
100% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
3rd |
33.1 M |
32.2 M |
+0.9 M |
97.28% |
| Wet Handling |
1st |
56.3 Km/H |
|
|
100% |
| Subj. Wet Handling |
1st |
10 Points |
|
|
100% |
| Wet Circle |
1st |
8.58 m/s |
|
|
100% |
| Straight Aqua |
3rd |
82.6 Km/H |
83.8 Km/H |
-1.2 Km/H |
98.57% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
3rd |
2.2 m/sec2 |
2.44 m/sec2 |
-0.24 m/sec2 |
90.16% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Subj. Comfort |
6th |
7 Points |
10 Points |
-3 Points |
70% |
| Noise |
6th |
71.5 dB |
68.1 dB |
+3.4 dB |
95.24% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
4th |
8.7 kg / t |
8 kg / t |
+0.7 kg / t |
91.95% |
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 is the sportiest tire in the test. It offers the highest lateral grip level and very neutral vehicle balance, demanding more from the driver but rewarding skilled inputs. Steering response is direct and precise, and ride comfort is the best in the group. On wet roads it doesn't quite match the Bridgestone's grip levels, and the car becomes nervous under mid-corner weight transfer with a narrow limit range. It also shows small deficits in lateral aquaplaning.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
3rd |
34.2 M |
33.6 M |
+0.6 M |
98.25% |
| Dry Handling |
1st |
113.8 Km/H |
|
|
100% |
| Subj. Dry Handling |
3rd |
9 Points |
10 Points |
-1 Points |
90% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
4th |
33.3 M |
32.2 M |
+1.1 M |
96.7% |
| Wet Handling |
2nd |
56 Km/H |
56.3 Km/H |
-0.3 Km/H |
99.47% |
| Subj. Wet Handling |
2nd |
8 Points |
10 Points |
-2 Points |
80% |
| Wet Circle |
2nd |
8.49 m/s |
8.58 m/s |
-0.09 m/s |
98.95% |
| Straight Aqua |
3rd |
82.6 Km/H |
83.8 Km/H |
-1.2 Km/H |
98.57% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
4th |
2.19 m/sec2 |
2.44 m/sec2 |
-0.25 m/sec2 |
89.75% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Subj. Comfort |
1st |
10 Points |
|
|
100% |
| Noise |
1st |
68.1 dB |
|
|
100% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
2nd |
8.4 kg / t |
8 kg / t |
+0.4 kg / t |
95.24% |
Falken Azenis FK520 stands out for its braking performance, posting the shortest stopping distances on both wet and dry surfaces. It understeers safely but has limited steering angle reserves, meaning the front tends to push wide rather than allowing the driver to tighten a line. Steering response is somewhat sluggish compared to the sportier options. On the positive side, it offers good ride comfort and low noise. Lateral aquaplaning resistance is a weak point. It earns the price-performance recommendation at 107 euros.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
1st |
33.6 M |
|
|
100% |
| Dry Handling |
5th |
112 Km/H |
113.8 Km/H |
-1.8 Km/H |
98.42% |
| Subj. Dry Handling |
3rd |
9 Points |
10 Points |
-1 Points |
90% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
1st |
32.2 M |
|
|
100% |
| Wet Handling |
6th |
55.3 Km/H |
56.3 Km/H |
-1 Km/H |
98.22% |
| Subj. Wet Handling |
2nd |
8 Points |
10 Points |
-2 Points |
80% |
| Wet Circle |
4th |
8.37 m/s |
8.58 m/s |
-0.21 m/s |
97.55% |
| Straight Aqua |
6th |
81.6 Km/H |
83.8 Km/H |
-2.2 Km/H |
97.37% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
7th |
2.02 m/sec2 |
2.44 m/sec2 |
-0.42 m/sec2 |
82.79% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Subj. Comfort |
2nd |
9 Points |
10 Points |
-1 Points |
90% |
| Noise |
3rd |
69.9 dB |
68.1 dB |
+1.8 dB |
97.42% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
5th |
8.8 kg / t |
8 kg / t |
+0.8 kg / t |
90.91% |
Continental PremiumContact 7 is the most balanced tire in the test, sitting right in the middle between sport and comfort. It delivers high steering precision, quick turn-in response, safe balance, and low sensitivity to weight transfer, all paired with pleasant ride comfort. Aquaplaning protection is good in both directions. It has no major weaknesses, but equally no single standout result - it does everything well without excelling in any one area. Pass-by noise is slightly elevated.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
5th |
34.6 M |
33.6 M |
+1 M |
97.11% |
| Dry Handling |
3rd |
113.1 Km/H |
113.8 Km/H |
-0.7 Km/H |
99.38% |
| Subj. Dry Handling |
3rd |
9 Points |
10 Points |
-1 Points |
90% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
4th |
33.3 M |
32.2 M |
+1.1 M |
96.7% |
| Wet Handling |
3rd |
55.8 Km/H |
56.3 Km/H |
-0.5 Km/H |
99.11% |
| Subj. Wet Handling |
2nd |
8 Points |
10 Points |
-2 Points |
80% |
| Wet Circle |
3rd |
8.4 m/s |
8.58 m/s |
-0.18 m/s |
97.9% |
| Straight Aqua |
1st |
83.8 Km/H |
|
|
100% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
2nd |
2.33 m/sec2 |
2.44 m/sec2 |
-0.11 m/sec2 |
95.49% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Subj. Comfort |
2nd |
9 Points |
10 Points |
-1 Points |
90% |
| Noise |
5th |
71.3 dB |
68.1 dB |
+3.2 dB |
95.51% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
6th |
8.9 kg / t |
8 kg / t |
+0.9 kg / t |
89.89% |
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is at its best on dry roads, where it delivers impressive steering precision, high agility, and clear, trustworthy vehicle balance. It posts the best subjective dry handling scores alongside the Bridgestone. However, wet grip is its weak point - lateral grip drops noticeably on damp surfaces, and the car reacts abruptly to weight transfer in wet corners with a sudden step-out at the rear. It also shows small deficits in longitudinal aquaplaning and produces slightly more pass-by noise.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
4th |
34.5 M |
33.6 M |
+0.9 M |
97.39% |
| Dry Handling |
4th |
112.9 Km/H |
113.8 Km/H |
-0.9 Km/H |
99.21% |
| Subj. Dry Handling |
1st |
10 Points |
|
|
100% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
6th |
34.3 M |
32.2 M |
+2.1 M |
93.88% |
| Wet Handling |
5th |
55.4 Km/H |
56.3 Km/H |
-0.9 Km/H |
98.4% |
| Subj. Wet Handling |
5th |
7 Points |
10 Points |
-3 Points |
70% |
| Wet Circle |
5th |
8.34 m/s |
8.58 m/s |
-0.24 m/s |
97.2% |
| Straight Aqua |
7th |
81 Km/H |
83.8 Km/H |
-2.8 Km/H |
96.66% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
6th |
2.13 m/sec2 |
2.44 m/sec2 |
-0.31 m/sec2 |
87.3% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Subj. Comfort |
5th |
8 Points |
10 Points |
-2 Points |
80% |
| Noise |
4th |
71.1 dB |
68.1 dB |
+3 dB |
95.78% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
3rd |
8.5 kg / t |
8 kg / t |
+0.5 kg / t |
94.12% |
Linglong Sport Master was clearly optimized for short wet braking distances, which it achieves effectively. Beyond that, it shows significant gaps in development. Steering response is very sluggish, and the car reacts sharply to weight transfer with a sudden loss of rear grip. Stability in lane changes is poor, and the limit range is narrow and hard to manage. On dry roads, braking distances are longer, and the handling lacks the predictability and forgiveness expected from an established product. It is produced in Serbia and is the cheapest tire in the test at 75 euros.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
6th |
35 M |
33.6 M |
+1.4 M |
96% |
| Dry Handling |
5th |
112 Km/H |
113.8 Km/H |
-1.8 Km/H |
98.42% |
| Subj. Dry Handling |
7th |
6 Points |
10 Points |
-4 Points |
60% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
1st |
32.2 M |
|
|
100% |
| Wet Handling |
4th |
55.5 Km/H |
56.3 Km/H |
-0.8 Km/H |
98.58% |
| Subj. Wet Handling |
6th |
6 Points |
10 Points |
-4 Points |
60% |
| Wet Circle |
7th |
8.31 m/s |
8.58 m/s |
-0.27 m/s |
96.85% |
| Straight Aqua |
3rd |
82.6 Km/H |
83.8 Km/H |
-1.2 Km/H |
98.57% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
4th |
2.19 m/sec2 |
2.44 m/sec2 |
-0.25 m/sec2 |
89.75% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Subj. Comfort |
2nd |
9 Points |
10 Points |
-1 Points |
90% |
| Noise |
2nd |
69.5 dB |
68.1 dB |
+1.4 dB |
97.99% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
7th |
9.7 kg / t |
8 kg / t |
+1.7 kg / t |
82.47% |
Firestone Roadhawk 2 finishes last, rated only "adequate." It shows weak grip reserves and poor steering feedback, particularly on wet surfaces where braking distances are too long - triggering a score penalty. Handling is sluggish and unstable under weight transfer on both wet and dry roads. It does hold two advantages: the best lateral aquaplaning resistance in the test and the lowest rolling resistance, making it the most fuel-efficient option. However, these strengths are not enough to offset the safety-relevant deficits elsewhere.
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Dry Braking |
7th |
35.4 M |
33.6 M |
+1.8 M |
94.92% |
| Dry Handling |
7th |
110.6 Km/H |
113.8 Km/H |
-3.2 Km/H |
97.19% |
| Subj. Dry Handling |
6th |
7 Points |
10 Points |
-3 Points |
70% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Wet Braking |
7th |
38.3 M |
32.2 M |
+6.1 M |
84.07% |
| Wet Handling |
7th |
54.7 Km/H |
56.3 Km/H |
-1.6 Km/H |
97.16% |
| Subj. Wet Handling |
6th |
6 Points |
10 Points |
-4 Points |
60% |
| Wet Circle |
6th |
8.33 m/s |
8.58 m/s |
-0.25 m/s |
97.09% |
| Straight Aqua |
2nd |
83.2 Km/H |
83.8 Km/H |
-0.6 Km/H |
99.28% |
| Curved Aquaplaning |
1st |
2.44 m/sec2 |
|
|
100% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Subj. Comfort |
6th |
7 Points |
10 Points |
-3 Points |
70% |
| Noise |
7th |
71.8 dB |
68.1 dB |
+3.7 dB |
94.85% |
| Test |
# |
Result |
Best |
Diff |
% |
| Rolling Resistance |
1st |
8 kg / t |
|
|
100% |
'the Bridgestone for its safe, controllable understeer and broad reserves, the Michelin for its precision and agility' a few years ago that was exactly the other way around! The Michelin used to be safe and secure and the Bridgestone precise and exciting. Still getting the Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo as replacement for the Goodyear's for my MX-5 ND :-) Nice to try something else. Once again thanks for sharing, Jonathan!
Maybe it's a size thing, but based on my own testing I think the old way of looking at things is still more accurate.