2017 Auto Bild UHP Tire Test

Wet

In the wet, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 came out best overall. It won the aquaplaning tests and was joint fastest during the wet handling lap. The Firestone tire lost both categories.

Under wet braking, the Michelin only managed sixth position, but when you consider the gap between the test winning Dunlop and sixth placed Michelin was just 0.4 meters, you realise the order of the top tires could fall within the variance of the testing. The now-dated Continental Sport Contact 5 struggled, but not as much as the Firestone tire, a full ten meters behind the winning Dunlop.

Dry

As in the wet, the Michelin was the fastest tire in the dry, with Vredestein a close second.

The dry braking test verified Vredesteins dry ability, with Vredestein convincingly winning the test. Firestone once again finished last, rounding out last place in every test of grip performed.

The rolling resistance test was won by Goodyear, with the first five places close enough not to make a huge impact in overall fuel use. The excellent dry grip of the Vredestein does have a trade off, the Ultrac Vorti had the worst efficiency of all tires on test.

The quietest tires on test were Hankook and Vredestein. Firestone once again ranks last, but is the cheapest tire on test.

Results

Below are the overall results. Auto Bild place a higher score weighting on the wet results, which is why the total scores aren't in sequence with the order of results.

1^st

Michelin Pilot Sport 4

245/40 R18

Very good handling on dry and wet surfaces, precise steering response, good feedback and short braking distances in all conditions. High level of comfort

None mentioned

Exemplary / Test Winner

Total: 35

Dry 8

Wet 7

Comfort 7

Rolling Resistance 7

Noise 6

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2^nd

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3

245/40 R18

Good handling and a short stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces, high lateral stability on wet roads, low rolling resistance

None mentioned

Exemplary

Total: 35

Dry 7

Wet 7

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 9

Noise 6

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2^nd

Vredestein Ultrac Vorti

245/40 R18

Good handling and a short stopping distance on wet and dry roads, low noise

Slightly high rolling resistance

Exemplary

Total: 30

Dry 7

Wet 7

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 4

Noise 7

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4^th

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2

245/40 R18

Good handling on dry roads, short stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces, good levels of comfort

A tendency to oversteer on wet roads

Good

Total: 33

Dry 6

Wet 7

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 8

Noise 6

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4^th

Hankook Ventus S1 evo2

245/40 R18

High lateral stability and good handling on dry roads, short stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces, high resistance to aquaplaning, low noise

Strong tendency to understeer in the wet

Good

Total: 31

Dry 7

Wet 6

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 6

Noise 7

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6^th

Falken Azenis FK510

245/40 R18

High lateral stability and good handling on dry roads, short stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces, high resistance to aquaplaning

A tendency to oversteer on wet roads

Good

Total: 29

Dry 6

Wet 6

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 6

Noise 6

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6^th

Nokian zLine

245/40 R18

Short stopping distance on wet and dry surfaces, high lateral stability on wet roads

Delayed response to steering and the tendency to oversteer, average comfort level

Good

Total: 29

Dry 6

Wet 6

Comfort 4

Rolling Resistance 8

Noise 5

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8^th

Continental Sport Contact 5

245/40 R18

Good resistance to aquaplaning, low rolling resistance, good levels of comfort

Average braking, slow steering, low stability on wet roads

Average

Total: 30

Dry 5

Wet 5

Comfort 6

Rolling Resistance 8

Noise 6

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9^th

Firestone Firehawk SZ90

245/40 R18

Acceptable resistance to aquaplaning

Unbalanced handling and long braking distances on wet and dry roads. High noise levels

Not recommended

Total: 18

Dry 4

Wet 1

Comfort 5

Rolling Resistance 5

Noise 3

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