| Test Summary | |
| Wet Braking |
Continental Sport Contact 6 |
| Dry Braking |
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 |
| Rolling Resistance |
Pirelli P Zero PZ4 Firestone Firehawk SZ90 Rotalla RU01 S Pace |
| Noise |
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 |
| Snow Handling |
Rotalla RU01 S Pace |
Testing nine 235/35 R19 maximum performance tires using a Focus ST, Auto Bild have focused on the raw performance of these tires, weighting the score heavily in favour of wet and dry handling.
The Top Three
Sadly, the new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S is missing from this test, which means it was a fairly easy win for the Continental Sport Contact 6. The Continental dominated in both dry braking and dry handling, won the wet handling test, but could only manage mid pack for wet braking. The testers also noted the Continental gave them the most driving pleasure from all tires on test, something which is important from a performance tire.
Second place was awarded to the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 K117. Like the Continental, it proves to be a very balanced tire, with just a little understeer in the wet the only negative point. The top three were rounded out by the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 which is again a very balanced tire, with a hint of understeer in the wet.
The Rest
Falken will be pleased with fourth place, beating the more expensive Dunlop tire in fifth. The Falken FK510 proved to have short wet braking and good dry braking and handling characteristics, but when compared to the best on test the rolling resistance was high, comfort low and the steering was slightly sluggish. The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 won the aquaplaning tests, which were combined with excellent wet and dry braking results, but had a poor dry handling score leaving it in fifth overall.
Sixth to last place all had their individual issues which can be seen in the full results below. Only two tires on test, the mid-range Firestone and budget Rotalla were deemed to be "not recommended", both due to poor wet performances.
The Results
Dry score weighting - 60% dry handling, 40% dry braking.
Wet score weighting - 15% longitudinal aquaplaning, 5% cross aquaplaning, 40% wet handling, 10% lateral stability, 30% wet braking
