The 2018 Auto Motor Und Sport (AMS) summer tire test uses an Audi A3 to test eleven 225/45 R17 tire patterns.
As in previous years, AMS have included subjective handling data in their testing, which is important to help us understand how a tire feels. Even with this extra element of testing, the winning tire was no surprise - the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 takes its eighth win out of eight tests thanks to a dominant performance in the dry and wet.
Second place was tied between the new Continental Premium Contact 6 and Falken FK510, which both had very balanced results.
Full data and details below.
Dry
The test winning Michelin had a significant advantage during dry braking, with the rival Continental tire excelling during dry handling. Interestingly, the budget Giti tire managed the second fastest dry lap time, which impressive for the cheapest tire on test.
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- Nokian Line
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Giti GitiSport S1
- Toyo Proxes Sport
- Nankang AS2
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Giti GitiSport S1
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- Nankang AS2
- Toyo Proxes Sport
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Nokian Line
Subjectively, Pirelli led the pack, with Continental a close second place.
- Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Giti GitiSport S1
- Toyo Proxes Sport
- Nankang AS2
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Nokian Line
Wet
During the wet testing, the Michelin once again asserted its dominance, winning both wet braking and handling testing, and finishing third in the straight aquaplaning tests.
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Nokian Line
- Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Toyo Proxes Sport
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Giti GitiSport S1
- Nankang AS2
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- Nankang AS2
- Nokian Line
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Toyo Proxes Sport
- Giti GitiSport S1
- Toyo Proxes Sport
- Nankang AS2
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Nokian Line
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Giti GitiSport S1
- Pirelli P Zero PZ4
Subjectively, the Michelin was again the best on test.
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Nokian Line
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Toyo Proxes Sport
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Nankang AS2
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Giti GitiSport S1
Environment
The rolling resistance testing was close between the top six tires on test, with only the Nankang having a standout poor result.
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Giti GitiSport S1
- Nokian Line
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Continental Premium Contact 6
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Toyo Proxes Sport
- Nankang AS2
Surprisingly, the Continental Premium Contact 6 was the loudest tire on test.
- Nankang AS2
- Giti GitiSport S1
- Toyo Proxes Sport
- Falken Azenis FK510
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4
- Cooper Zeon CS8
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Nokian Line
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
- Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- Continental Premium Contact 6
Results
Full results below, as always check out the AMS website for all the extra details.
A very balanced tire with excellent dry and wet braking.
None mentioned.
Highly recommended.
Good handling in the wet, precise reaction to steering and good grip in the dry.
Average ride comfort.
Recommended
Good handling in the wet, short braking distances in the wet and dry.
Slower steering response in the dry.
Recommended.
Good grip in the dry and wet, accurate steering and good balance.
Nervous at the limit during weight transfer, relatively weak resistance to aquaplaning, high rolling resistance.
Recommended.
Good handling in the dry and wet, very safe handling balance.
Relatively long wet braking.
Recommended.
Good in the wet.
High levels of understeer in the dry, low comfort and high noise.
Conditionally recommended.
Very good stability and handling in the dry, low rolling resistance, good levels of comfort, low noise level.
Weak wet grip, understeer and oversteer.
Conditionally recommended.
Predictable handling, good comfort.
Understeer in the dry and wet.
Conditionally recommended.
Best resistance to aquaplaning, good comfort, acceptable in the dry.
Long braking distances and poor handling in the wet, very high rolling resistance.
Conditionally recommended.
Acceptable in the dry and wet.
Very high rolling resistance, strong understeer in the wet, poor steering response.
Conditionally recommended.
In general a predictable balance.
Long braking distances in the wet, weak resistance to aquaplaning, high rolling resistance, low ride comfort.
Conditionally recommended.
In this size it´s the old P Zero, not PZ4
Thanks for the note, I'll look into this :)