Test Charts / Auto Bild Sportscars

2018 Auto Bild 20 inch 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: 245/30 R20
Tires tested: 8
Disciplines: 7

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

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	118 ft	Best
2Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R	120 ft	+2 ft
3Continental Sport Contact 6	121 ft	+3 ft
4Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2	121 ft	+3 ft
5Hankook Ventus S1 evo	123 ft	+5 ft
6Kumho Ecsta PS71	125 ft	+7 ft
7Bridgestone Potenza S001	127 ft	+9 ft
8Nankang Noble Sport NS20	131 ft	+13 ft

The difference between best and worst was 11.1% (13 ft ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths).

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R	55.7 mph	Best
2Hankook Ventus S1 evo	55.4 mph	-0.3 mph
2Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	55.4 mph	-0.3 mph
4Continental Sport Contact 6	55.0 mph	-0.7 mph
5Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2	54.5 mph	-1.2 mph
6Bridgestone Potenza S001	54.4 mph	-1.3 mph
7Kumho Ecsta PS71	53.1 mph	-2.6 mph
8Nankang Noble Sport NS20	52.9 mph	-2.8 mph

The difference between best and worst was 4.9% (2.8 mph).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	148 ft	Best
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2	153 ft	+5 ft
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo	155 ft	+7 ft
4Continental Sport Contact 6	159 ft	+11 ft
5Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R	162 ft	+14 ft
6Kumho Ecsta PS71	169 ft	+21 ft
7Bridgestone Potenza S001	170 ft	+22 ft
8Nankang Noble Sport NS20	185 ft	+37 ft

The difference between best and worst was 24.8% (37 ft ≈ 2.5 Car Lengths).

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	46.8 mph	Best
2Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R	46.4 mph	-0.4 mph
3Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2	46.2 mph	-0.6 mph
4Continental Sport Contact 6	46.2 mph	-0.6 mph
5Hankook Ventus S1 evo	45.9 mph	-0.9 mph
6Bridgestone Potenza S001	44.2 mph	-2.6 mph
7Kumho Ecsta PS71	43.2 mph	-3.6 mph
8Nankang Noble Sport NS20	41.4 mph	-5.4 mph

The difference between best and worst was 11.6% (5.4 mph).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Nankang Noble Sport NS20	46.9 mph	Best
2Kumho Ecsta PS71	45.5 mph	-1.4 mph
3Bridgestone Potenza S001	43.7 mph	-3.2 mph
3Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	43.7 mph	-3.2 mph
5Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2	43.3 mph	-3.6 mph
6Continental Sport Contact 6	42.9 mph	-4.0 mph
7Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R	42.4 mph	-4.5 mph
8Hankook Ventus S1 evo	42.1 mph	-4.8 mph

The difference between best and worst was 10.2% (4.8 mph).

Comfort

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental Sport Contact 6	73.3 dB	Best
2Nankang Noble Sport NS20	73.4 dB	+0.10 dB
3Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R	73.6 dB	+0.30 dB
4Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2	73.8 dB	+0.50 dB
5Hankook Ventus S1 evo	74.2 dB	+0.90 dB
5Bridgestone Potenza S001	74.2 dB	+0.90 dB
5Kumho Ecsta PS71	74.2 dB	+0.90 dB
8Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	74.5 dB	+1.20 dB

All the tires in the Noise test finished less than 3% apart.

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Kumho Ecsta PS71	9.38 kg/t	Best	$0
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2	9.58 kg/t	+0.20 kg/t	$6
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo	9.61 kg/t	+0.23 kg/t	$7
4Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R	9.79 kg/t	+0.41 kg/t	$13
5Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S	9.83 kg/t	+0.45 kg/t	$14
6Nankang Noble Sport NS20	9.88 kg/t	+0.50 kg/t	$16
7Bridgestone Potenza S001	10.13 kg/t	+0.75 kg/t	$23
8Continental Sport Contact 6	10.64 kg/t	+1.26 kg/t	$39

The difference between best and worst was 13.4% (1.26 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Continental Sport Contact 6 uses about 11 gal ($39) more fuel than the Kumho Ecsta PS71.

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.

Gas/Diesel Electric

Annual Mileage

12,000 mi

km (L)

miles (US gal)

Fuel Price

$3.60/gal

GBP (£)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Set my vehicle consumption

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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