The 11th July 2018 issue of Auto Express magazine tested ten 225/45 R17 summer tires, using a VW Golf at the Continental test facility in Uvalde, Texas. The end result was closer than ever, with the worst tire on test just 3.7% overall behind the test winner.
As always with the Auto Express tests, we recommend heading over to the excellent Auto Express website for the full results of the test, as we've only summarised the basic information below.
Highlights
There were three surprises in this years Auto Express test.
Firstly, the new Premium Contact 6 won the test, beating the Michelin Pilot Sport 4. This might not be a surprise in itself, but it also was rated as the best handling, and most sporty feeling tire in the group, something the Michelin has been known for until now.
The second surprise was the Dunlop SportMaxx RT2 finishing joint second. This must have had a mid-life update as it's now an older tire pattern, and didn't test that well across 2017.
The final surprise was the poor result of the new Bridgestone Turanza T005. This tire has generally performed well in the European tire tests, but Auto Express found it to be "too good" in the rolling resistance testing, which hurt its dry and wet performance.
Results
Continental Premium Contact 6
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 100 |
| Wet | 100 |
| Overall | 100 |
Total: 300
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 100 |
| Wet | 97.7 |
| Overall | 99.7 |
Total: 297.4
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 99 |
| Wet | 97.9 |
| Overall | 99.7 |
Total: 296.6
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 99.3 |
| Wet | 96.7 |
| Overall | 99.5 |
Total: 295.5
Falken Azenis FK510
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 99.2 |
| Wet | 96.9 |
| Overall | 99.3 |
Total: 295.4
Pirelli P Zero
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 99.6 |
| Wet | 99.4 |
| Overall | 99.3 |
Total: 298.3
Bridgestone Turanza T005
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 97.9 |
| Wet | 97.8 |
| Overall | 98.9 |
Total: 294.6
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 99.8 |
| Wet | 97.9 |
| Overall | 98.8 |
Total: 296.5
Nokian zLine
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 97.9 |
| Wet | 97.7 |
| Overall | 98.5 |
Total: 294.1
Avon ZV7
225/45 R17
All discipline results (3)
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dry | 98 |
| Wet | 93.6 |
| Overall | 96.3 |
Total: 287.9
SO on this review the Nokian dry performance is weak. But when i read the Consumer Reports they say the Dry performance is outstanding. Same with the Nexen Su1's. On American tire websites the tires are amazing but here not that great. Why is that ?
Different tire pattern or compound for american markets, or different competition
Why the tire with 2nd most points is on 5th place instead of 2nd?
In 225/45 R17only this old P zero is available.
Nice performance from the T005, but this touring-tire is a bit wrong in this review. But I´m sure Bridgestone knows how awful their "UHP"-tires will do against the competitors.
Score weighting usually
Still don´t clear
If wet count more: 2nd place
If dry: 3rd
Or many parameters are not listed.
As the owner of Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 215/45R17 91Y (very close to 225/45R17) mounted on an Opel Corsa, I confirm that sometimes I noticed a poor straight aquaplaning, but it must rain very strongly and there must be plenty of water on the roadway! But now is much better than when I had the Continental ContiEcoContact 5: in the same meteo conditions I felt like driving a boat! ;-)
Of service to readers would be a link to the original AE test (the AE website is technically incompetently designed for trying to search for tire tests).
I couldn't find it at time of publishing hence generic link, but it's now live here:
http://www.autoexpress.co.u...
I am surprised that the ZV7 was as close as it is to the top tires. Other tests seem to show it as average at best.
I assume that this was the PZ4 in the test. In which case your link is erroneous.
Nope, it was the original P Zero pattern pictured in the magazine.
It’s hard to believe the results of this test placing the PC6 ahead of the PS4 in wet tests; one of the many areas the PS4 excelled in.
Has there been a compound update for the PC6 or the Dunlop? Will this translate to similar results when you move up to 225/40/18 sizes? I’ve been hesitant in choosing my next set of tires (PC6 or PS4 for a Mk7.5 Golf GTi-P) and this result has only confused me more.
It's not a surprise to me the PC6 is best in wet, it replaces the PC5 and SC5 which are still beating Michelin products this year. It was more the sporty handling comments which surprised me.
Whether it translates to 18"... in theory yes, but you might find differences in the number of belts used in different sizes which can change the handling.
Of importance for crisp handling response is the speed with which a sidewall passes steering inputs from bead to tread. I have always recommended to people that they buy the XL option in a size because a common way of achieving that extra load rating is to have two, not one, polyester sidewall plies.
Like 4cvg my preference would be for the XL tire but at least AE have been consistent in going for the other option in every case here.
So when they mark down the Nokian saying "It lacked the sharpness of the best and required more lock than most rivals. It felt soft, too..." I know that wasn't really true of the ZLines that I had a couple of years ago (I thought that one of theIr best features was crispness of initial turn In) and put that down to them choosng the wrong tires. What I don't know is what this would have done to its competitors.
If you've ever handled a modern Nokian tire you will understand why they have fallen behind subjectively, the Nokian zLine will likely have the softest feeling sidewalls of all tires in this test. While sidewall stiffness doesn't always link to sporty handling, there's definitely a correlation
Yeah, I had Nokian H which were the best subjective tires Ive ever driven, wonderfully sharp and precise. They had very thin sidewalls too. Replaced them with Line, which were very soft with delayed response and a penchant for understeer, except in cold wet conditions where they sharpened up a LOT!...
I suspect nokians summer compound, developed by winter tire experts, struggles to maintain its composure in hot conditions (my line did anyway). The H didnt struggle in the heat but were a bit hard & 'waxy' to drive in the wet.