After a long break, the German tire experts Auto Bild are back with a fresh trackday tire test.
Testing 225/45 R18 semi slicks on a VW Golf GTI, Auto Bild eschewed their usual thorough testing of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and concentrated on the only important factors required from a track day tire; grip and feedback. Awarding 80% of the overall result to dry grip, Auto Bild have ensured the best tire here, will be the best tire on track.
For good measure, Auto Bild also included a slick, and normal UHP summer road tire in the test. Unsurprisingly, the slick won all the dry handling tests, and was consistently poor in the wet tests, but the best semi slicks got extremely close in dry braking and dry cornering speed. In the wet, the Continental Force Contact edged out the UHP summer tire during aquaplaning, and a number of the semi slicks beat the road tire in the wet handling tests, proving a track tire doesn't have to be bad in the wet. Auto Bild did note however, the semi slicks snapped into over steer much more quickly, which required more driver skill to keep the car on track.
Results
The racer of the semi slicks on test. Perfect cornering and impeccable handling, the Michelin is consistently great in the dry. In the wet, the tire is a little less convincing but provides sufficient safety margins
Average aquaplaning qualities
Total: 13
Dry
8
Wet
5
Top racing tires with best braking on a dry track. The Direzza reacts quickly to steering inputs and provides very good feedback. The handling characteristics are balances and safe enough to work on a wet track
Average aquaplaning resistance, very loud road noise
Total: 12
Dry
7
Wet
5
The wet specialist amongst semi slicks. Dynamic and sporty driving qualities on wet and dry roads make the Trofeo almost an all rounder. Thanks to precise steering and good feedback, the slight bias towards oversteer is still easy to control
Average aquaplaning qualities
Total: 13
Dry
6
Wet
7
The Force Contact is a very balanced tire. Shortest wet braking distance, best aquaplaning results
In the dry the Force Contact pushes at the front wheels early, comparatively slow response to steering inputs
Total: 12
Dry
5
Wet
7
Safe and balanced handling on a dry track, strong cornering and braking
Slow steering and reduced feedback in both the wet and dry. Average wet performance all round
Total: 8
Dry
5
Wet
3
Good braking in the dry, and compared to the road tire on test good cornering
The R888 is getting old, it reacts too slowly to steering inputs, pushes through the front wheels and has loud road noise. In the wet, it lacks safety reserves
Total: 6
Dry
5
Wet
1