The latest trend of combining two tire tests into a single result seems to be continuing, with the brilliant German publication Sport Auto combining six ultra high performance tires and three track day tires into a single test!
Using a BMW M2, Sport Auto used the M2 OE sizes of 245/35 R19 front and 265/35 R19 rear, and objectively tested wet and dry performances while also scoring the subjective handling and feel of a tire.
As you would expect, the track day tires dominated in the dry, were the weakest in the wet, and generally had the highest rolling resistance and were the nosiest. Some of the road tires were surprisingly close to the track day rubber during dry testing, and they were leagues ahead in the wet testing.
Read on for the full results!
Dry
The Pirelli Trofeo R was perhaps the most confusing tire in the dry. It was the strongest during dry handling, both in speed and subjective feel, but it could only manage fifth place overall in dry braking, being beaten by both the Michelin and Continental road tires!
The track oriented Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 was second in both braking and handling, while the road going Michelin, the Pilot Sport 4S, proved to be the best road tire for dry laptime, braking and subjective feel.
The cheapest tire on test, the Nankang NS20 had the slowest lap time, the longest dry braking, and the poorest subjective handling.
Dry Braking
Dry braking in feet
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 93 % | |
| 93 % | |
| 89 % | |
| 87 % |
The difference between best and worst was 13%.
Dry Handling
Dry Handling Average Speed
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 98 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 94 % | |
| 94 % | |
| 92 % |
The difference between best and worst was 8%.
Wet
In the wet, the order was quite different. The Falken FK510 proved to be the best wet weather tire, winning the wet braking test and scoring second in wet handling. Confusingly, the Nankang NS20 which usually scores very poorly in the wet, proved to be the fastest wet handling tire on test. This could be down to a compound update or a size irregularity, but with the NS20 proving to be the slowest in the 2018 Auto Bild 19" and 20" tests, this is a very unexpected result.
Of the track day tires, the Michelin was the fastest on the wet handling lap, and had quite a subjective lead compared to the other two track day tires. The Toyo R888 stopped the car the quickest just 1 foot ahead of the Michelin, with the Pirelli Trofeo R struggling a further 10 feet on.
Wet Braking
Wet braking in feet
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 94 % | |
| 90 % | |
| 82 % | |
| 77 % | |
| 77 % | |
| 77 % | |
| 68 % |
The difference between best and worst was 32%.
Wet Handling
Wet Handling Average Speed
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 92 % | |
| 91 % | |
| 86 % | |
| 86 % | |
| 86 % |
The difference between best and worst was 14%.
There are few surprises in the aquaplaning test results, other than the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 out performing the other track day tires significantly.
Straight Aqua
Float Speed in mph
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 87 % | |
| 79 % | |
| 79 % |
The difference between best and worst was 21%.
Environmental
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S had the lowest fuel use.
Rolling Resistance
Rolling resistance in kg t
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 93 % | |
| 93 % | |
| 87 % | |
| 86 % |
The difference between best and worst was 14%.
While the Toyo R888 had the lowest drive-by noise, internally it was the least comfortable tire on test highlighting the EU external label score for noise doesn't directly relate to the internal noise or comfort levels.
Noise
External noise in dB
relative index, 100 = best in test ↑| Position / Tire | Result |
|---|---|
| 100 % | |
| 99 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 97 % | |
| 96 % | |
| 95 % | |
| 93 % |
The difference between best and worst was 7%.
The Michelin pair of tires were by far the most expensive on test, with the Nankang less than half the price of the Michelin in the 265/35 R19 size.
Results
Please note, Sport Auto also graded the track day tires with a "dry track grading", where the Pirelli won with 10.7, the Michelin was second with 10.3 and the Toyo third with 9.9. We've used the "road and track" ratings for each tire instead of the track only scorings. For full details please visit the Sport-Auto website and read the full test (in German)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
265/35 R19
All discipline results (8)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Subjective | — |
| Wet Subjective | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
| Overall | — |
- Price
- 304.00
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
265/35 R19
All discipline results (8)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Subjective | — |
| Wet Subjective | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
| Overall | — |
- Price
- 347.00
Continental Sport Contact 6
265/35 R19
All discipline results (8)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Subjective | — |
| Wet Subjective | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
| Overall | — |
- Price
- 272.00
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
265/35 R19
All discipline results (8)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Subjective | — |
| Wet Subjective | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
| Overall | — |
- Price
- 254.00
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
265/35 R19
All discipline results (8)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Subjective | — |
| Wet Subjective | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
| Overall | — |
- Price
- 213.00
Toyo R888
265/35 R19
All discipline results (8)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Subjective | — |
| Wet Subjective | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
| Overall | — |
- Price
- 187.00
Falken Azenis FK510
265/35 R19
All discipline results (8)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Subjective | — |
| Wet Subjective | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
| Overall | — |
- Price
- 175.00
Toyo Proxes Sport
265/35 R19
All discipline results (8)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Subjective | — |
| Wet Subjective | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
| Overall | — |
- Price
- 187.00
Nankang Noble Sport NS20
265/35 R19
All discipline results (8)
| Test | % |
|---|---|
| Dry | — |
| Wet | — |
| Subjective | — |
| Wet Subjective | — |
| Comfort | — |
| Rolling Resistance | — |
| Noise | — |
| Overall | — |
- Price
- 125.00
These tests are all over the place, I've seen 5 tests and they all say different things. Also users rate Contact 6 as unbelievable in the wet and I can testify to that, they stick like shit to fur and I have a 700Hp car.
why are the wet braking numbers lower than the dry? are the starting speeds the same?
That's how Sport Auto scored it, check out their website for the full test
Not a good idea to mix UHP and track tire results.
Btw, hard to believe the R888 measured most 'quiet'. The lowest drive-by noise, while internally it was the loudest in the cabin? This is at least highly misleading. I had a set of these it was no less than unbearable. It wouldn't recommend using it on a daily.
Drive By noise is largely generated by tread pattern moving air, so it makes sense the semi slicks with less tread pattern are quieter for drive by testing. Internal noise is much worse due to hard construction.
I see this test did not include many popular track day tires such as proxes r800r, nankang ar-1, or yokohama advan series.
How do these tires compare to the always mentioned cup 2's as the go to tire?
Are there any tests which put the major track day tires against each other?
I'm not sure how they compare as no one has done it, but I'm going to try my best to find out :)
Hats down for the proper test with all the major track day tires compared
Is there a particular tire which works better when starting from the go, like a short hill climb, or a slalom event (autocross in US) ?
We have many events where there's not enough time for the tire to heat up. So even though the cup 2 is apparently the best tire on TRACK, it's not an optimal tire from the start as it haven't got the time to reach it's optimum temperature.
I know in US they have Potenza RE-71R which dominates American autocross events, but I do struggle to find information about equivalent tires available in Europe?
How should I approach this? Ask manufacturers for the equivalent in europe?
As far as I understand the RE71R takes a little while to warm in too. I've been super impressed with the Pilot Sport 4S warm up time, so it might be worth looking at that. That said, even with a small amount of warm up time the Cup 2 would be stronger, so if the runs are over 1 minute the Cup2 might still be the better tire.
Would looking for a tire with the lowest UTQG rating be a good start?
Pirelli P ZERO TROFEO R is 60, and CUP 2 is 180 so even though these numbers are not hard and fast rule, it could be a good indication I suppose?
We don't really pay any attention to the UTQG ratings in Europe so I'm not educated enough to answer. Treadwear rating and warm up time would be a logical link, but there's so much else happening in a tire it is no way a direct correlation
Simply amazing that in all these UHP tire tests 2017 and so far 2018 that the Pirelli's new P-Zero Corsa hasn't been included....esp against the Michelin PS4S.....maybe it doesn't exist...a well used PR tactic
I can't speak with certainty for the European tire tests, but usually the testing magazine invites the tire manufacturer to submit a tire pattern in the size they want to test, so it's likely the lack of the tire being tested is down to Pirelli.