The 2016 Auto Express summer tire test has just been published, and it's the first test to have the "holy 4"! The new Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and Pirelli P Zero PZ4 have finally been tested together at the same track, on the same car (VW Golf GTI), in the same 225/40 R18 size!
In a very close tire test, with all nine contenders seperated by less than 4% overall, Michelin will be proud that the new Pilot Sport 4 convincingly won, with a huge margin in both wet and dry braking, and with nine categories of testing the Michelin only finished lower than third onc (cabin noise test.)
It was also an excellent test for the brand new Pirelli P Zero (PZ4), where it managed to combine the best wet cornering and lowest rolling resistance scores, which are usually a balance of performance. Continental took third spot, with the now aging Sport Contact 5 still performing incredibly well, winning the dry and wet handling laps and only really struggling with fuel use.
Dunlop and Goodyear take fourth and fifth place, with both tires proving to be excellent all round performers, but with the overall result so close and the new competition so strong, they couldn't quite get on the podium.
Results
We have an agreement with Auto Express not to give their tire tests detailed coverage, but instead to encourage people to buy the magazine or visit their website which means below is just an overview of the full test. Buy Auto Express issue 1431 or visit www.autoexpress.co.uk for the full test!
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
225/40 R18
All discipline results (1)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Overall | 100 |
Total: 100
Pirelli P Zero
225/40 R18
All discipline results (1)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Overall | 99.1 |
Total: 99.1
Continental Sport Contact 5
225/40 R18
All discipline results (1)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Overall | 98.9 |
Total: 98.9
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
225/40 R18
All discipline results (1)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Overall | 98.7 |
Total: 98.7
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
225/40 R18
All discipline results (1)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Overall | 98.4 |
Total: 98.4
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
225/40 R18
All discipline results (1)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Overall | 98.1 |
Total: 98.1
Falken Azenis FK510
225/40 R18
All discipline results (1)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Overall | 97.7 |
Total: 97.7
Yokohama Advan Sport V105
225/40 R18
All discipline results (1)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Overall | 97.4 |
Total: 97.4
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
225/40 R18
All discipline results (1)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Overall | 96.2 |
Total: 96.2
Don´t find this test at the hompage?
If it's not yet on the AE website, it will be on there this week once the magazine goes off sale.
OK. But I read somewhere there are only %-values and no brake distances or handling-times?
That is correct. The test is now live on the AE website!
Thanks for the info.
But I would like a review with more details than some %
I think we will sadly have to wait until next year now as the summer tests are over for 2016. The % difference between the top tires in wet and dry braking are tiny, which would naturally indicate the stopping distances are too.
Yeah, I hope for a review in sport auto (german), I also hope that new Yokohama Advan Fleva V701 get a review
So I still had 3 favorites for me, PS4 (IMHO to expensive compared to the competitors), F1 Asy.3, Dunlop RT2. Sadly, the new P Zero isn´t available in 225/45R17
Regarding difference in the "real" world driving between top 6, if I would take my experience with previous generation which I had on my cars PS3, Assymetric 2, CS3 and PZ3 - regarding wear Michelin would be far better then the rest, PZ with best feeling and grip and others in between.
With the new generation, after reading the tests and users experiences Michelin would stay on top regarding wear but regarding other "sportier" characteristics good and progressive grip, good steering feedback it overcomes the competition (PSS was the main contributor in this)
In my size 235/40R18, PS4 is 25% more expensive then the Assymetric 3, so it comes to personal preferences and driving style; with beter wear and the fact that is the best tire at the moment I will go with PS4; for less spirited drivers less expensive options seem more reasonable especially with the margins between top 6 being rather small.
Strange, because my experiences with the Assymetric 2 and PS-3 in terms of wear were the other way around. I am finding the Assymetric 2 is wearing better than the PS-3 did. I also had the Dunlop SportMaxx RT, and the wear on those was absolutely apalling.
Yep, Asy.2 wears better than PS3.
I think the Asy3 are very similar to Asy2, but the PS4 is very different to PS3
In the real world is there much difference between the Assymetric 3 and the PS4? Most people wouldn't notice a slight difference in grip, but they would notice an increase/decrease in noise, a difference in wear rates or a higher/lower price.
Sadly wear wasn't tested, and you can find prices above. As for noise, the Michelin was 98% of the quietest tire on test (Pirelli) and the Goodyear was 98.2%. This wouldn't be noticeable.
The overall results are so close between the premium manufacturers now, you're not going to make a bad choice with any of the top 6!
Finally!
Agreed. We've been running a set of MPS4's on a long term car and have found them incredible, it's nice to see some hard data to verify this!
Incredible? Can´t believe I feel a big difference to the competitos like P Zero series, Dunlop Sportmaxx or Goodyear F1
And yet the venerable SC5 beat it in both dry & wet handling disciplines. The wet score might be expected but I would have thought that newer tires like the PS4 would better it in the dry.