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Test Charts / Auto Bild Sportscars

2017 Auto Bild UHP Tire Test

Compare each discipline in the tested size. See the measured result, position and gap to the best tire, then read the verdict for the trade-offs behind the finishing order.

Tested size
245/40 R18
Tires tested
9
Disciplines
6

Read the measurements, not just the rank

Lower is better for braking distances and lap times; higher is better for subjective scores and aquaplaning speed. Bars start at zero. Read the gap alongside the position: adjacent tires can be separated by very different margins.

Positions and gaps always refer to the full test field within each group. Selecting tires does not recalculate rankings or change the best-in-test benchmark.

Dry

2

Dry Braking

Dry braking in feet

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
 117 ft Best
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
 118 ft +1 ft
3Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
 119 ft +2 ft
4Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
 119 ft +2 ft
5Nokian zLine
 119 ft +2 ft
6Michelin Pilot Sport 4
 120 ft +3 ft
6Falken Azenis FK510
 120 ft +3 ft
8Continental Sport Contact 5
 122 ft +5 ft
9Firestone Firehawk SZ90
 125 ft +8 ft

The difference between best and worst was 6.1% (8 ft ≈ 0.5 Car Lengths).

Dry Handling

Dry Handling Average Speed

Higher is better ↑
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Michelin Pilot Sport 4
 62.6 mph Best
2Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
 62.3 mph -0.3 mph
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
 62.0 mph -0.6 mph
4Falken Azenis FK510
 61.8 mph -0.8 mph
5Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
 61.6 mph -1.0 mph
6Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
 61.3 mph -1.3 mph
7Nokian zLine
 61.3 mph -1.3 mph
8Continental Sport Contact 5
 60.7 mph -1.9 mph
9Firestone Firehawk SZ90
 60.3 mph -2.3 mph

The difference between best and worst was 3.7% (2.3 mph).

Wet

2

Wet Braking

Wet braking in feet

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
 152 ft Best
2Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
 152 ft 0 ft
3Falken Azenis FK510
 152 ft 0 ft
4Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
 153 ft +1 ft
5Nokian zLine
 153 ft +1 ft
6Michelin Pilot Sport 4
 153 ft +1 ft
7Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
 154 ft +2 ft
8Continental Sport Contact 5
 165 ft +13 ft
9Firestone Firehawk SZ90
 185 ft +33 ft

The difference between best and worst was 21.8% (33 ft ≈ 2.2 Car Lengths).

Wet Handling

Wet Handling Average Speed

Higher is better ↑
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Michelin Pilot Sport 4
 53.3 mph Best
1Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
 53.3 mph Best
3Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
 53.2 mph -0.1 mph
4Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
 53.1 mph -0.2 mph
5Nokian zLine
 52.4 mph -0.9 mph
6Falken Azenis FK510
 52.3 mph -1.0 mph
7Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
 51.9 mph -1.4 mph
8Continental Sport Contact 5
 49.6 mph -3.7 mph
9Firestone Firehawk SZ90
 47.7 mph -5.6 mph

The difference between best and worst was 10.5% (5.6 mph).

Comfort

1

Noise

External noise in dB

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
 71.6 dB Best
2Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
 71.7 dB +0.10 dB
3Michelin Pilot Sport 4
 72 dB +0.40 dB
4Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
 72.1 dB +0.50 dB
5Continental Sport Contact 5
 72.2 dB +0.60 dB
6Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
 72.3 dB +0.70 dB
7Falken Azenis FK510
 72.6 dB +1.00 dB
8Nokian zLine
 73.2 dB +1.60 dB
9Firestone Firehawk SZ90
 75.1 dB +3.50 dB

The difference between best and worst was 4.9% (3.5 dB).

Value

1

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestExtra fuel / year
1Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
 8.39 kg/t Best $0
2Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
 8.67 kg/t +0.28 kg/t $10
3Continental Sport Contact 5
 8.7 kg/t +0.31 kg/t $11
4Nokian zLine
 8.77 kg/t +0.38 kg/t $13
5Michelin Pilot Sport 4
 9.02 kg/t +0.63 kg/t $22
6Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
 9.48 kg/t +1.09 kg/t $38
7Falken Azenis FK510
 9.59 kg/t +1.20 kg/t $42
8Firestone Firehawk SZ90
 9.92 kg/t +1.53 kg/t $54
9Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
 10.24 kg/t +1.85 kg/t $65

The difference between best and worst was 22.1% (1.85 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Vredestein Ultrac Vorti uses about 18 gal ($65) more fuel than the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3.

Adjust the assumptions

Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions. These calculators use the full test field, independently of your tire selection above.

12,000 mi
$3.60/gal
Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tire age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.
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