2019 17 inch Track Day Tire Test

Track day tire tests are always a welcome read, as those of us who use our cars on track are often super switched on to the differences the tires can make.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson

May 8, 2019 4 min read Updated January 8, 2025

Tire shortlist Read the test

Tires tested: 5
Tested size: 225/45 R17
Disciplines: 4

At a glance

Tire shortlist

5 Tires tested

Published finishing positions, with the strengths and considerations from this test. Owner reviews cover other sizes and driving conditions.

1^st

Yokohama Advan A052

+Forgiving of mistakes, greatest cornering grip, good wet grip.

−Expensive, high wear, not designed for heavy rain.

15 owner reviews Test Results

2^nd

Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R

+Universal tire for different weather conditions, less overheating than Hankook RS3.

−Average feedback, high price, moderate lateral cornering.

46 owner reviews Test Results

3^rd

Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222

+Steer reactions to steering, good lap time for a low price, good wear resistance.

−Relatively quick overheating, softer sidewalls, low wet grip.

2 owner reviews Test Results

4^th

Continental Premium Contact 6

+Lowest rolling resistance, good lap time, short braking in the dry and wet.

−High wear on track.

139 owner reviews Test Results

5^th

Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R

+Fastest dry lap time, good overheating resistance, quick steering speed.

−Not good on the road, long wet braking.

3 owner reviews Test Results

Tire shortlist

Compare selected tires

2019 17 inch Track Day Tire Test · 225/45 R17

Tire	Yokohama Advan A052	Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R	Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222	Continental Premium Contact 6	Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
Position	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th
Category scores (% of best)
Dry	100%	95%	92.5%	98.3%	90.9%
Wet	100%	95.4%	82.1%	93.8%	93.8%
Keep researching	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results

Explore the complete results →

The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

Track day tire tests are always a welcome read, as those of us who use our cars on track are often super switched on to the differences the tires can make. This year AutoMail.Ru have tested four track day tires in 225/45 R17 using a Mazda MX5 Cup car, and included the Continental PremiumContact 6 as a reference "normal" tire.

It's worth remembering the MX5 is a light, relatively low powered car, so the results from this test might be different on something heavier.

Dry

As proven in previous tests, for all out pace the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R is hard to beat, and it again sets the quickest dry handling time of the test. Curiously, even though the Russian track Magnitogorsk is a long lap, the road-bias PremiumContact 6 is on pace with the track tires, which they've said was due to the lower rolling resistance allowing a higher top speed on the straights...

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R	90.24 s	Best
2Yokohama Advan A052	90.3 s	+0.06 s
3Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R	91.53 s	+1.29 s
3Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222	91.53 s	+1.29 s
5Continental Premium Contact 6	91.8 s	+1.56 s

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

The dry braking tests were done when the tires were cold, to replicate how they'd be used on the road, not track. This is why the Continental PremiumContact 6 placed so well. Once warm, the track day tires should have a significant advantage over the road bias tire.

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Yokohama Advan A052	79 ft	Best
1Continental Premium Contact 6	79 ft	Best
3Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R	82 ft	+3 ft
4Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222	87 ft	+8 ft
5Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R	96 ft	+17 ft

The difference between best and worst was 21.6% (17 ft ≈ 1.2 Car Lengths).

Subjectively, the Yokohama A052 scored the best, but again interestingly the Continental matched the Trofeo R and beat the other two track tires on test. A curious result, but then the PremiumContact 6 is proving to be an excellent handling tire.

Subj. Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Yokohama Advan A052	10 Points	Best
2Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R	9 Points	-1.00 Points
2Continental Premium Contact 6	9 Points	-1.00 Points
4Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R	7 Points	-3.00 Points
4Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222	7 Points	-3.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 30% (3 Points).

Wet

The wet braking data wasn't conducted on a proper wet braking surface, and had very little water depth, meaning these results should be taken as a guide rather than gospel. With any actual water depth, the track day tires would have performed much worse, for example the A052 starts with 4.4mm tread depth where as the PremiumContact 6 is 7.4mm, with the lower tread depth vastly reducing the tires ability to clear standing water.

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Yokohama Advan A052	54 ft	Best
2Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R	57 ft	+3 ft
3Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R	58 ft	+4 ft
3Continental Premium Contact 6	58 ft	+4 ft
5Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222	66 ft	+12 ft

The difference between best and worst was 21.8% (12 ft ≈ 0.8 Car Lengths).

Results

Similar handling to the Trofeo R, but very novice friendly as it forgives over driving. The A052 doesn't require a strong warmup, and it keeps its peak grip for 2-3 laps before settling into its race pace. Even when worn to the limit the pace remains strong!

Very high treadwear for a 200 tire, 100-120 seems more realistic.

Dry100%

Wet100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (4)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	1^st / 5	79 ft	Best in this discipline
Dry HandlingLower is better	2^nd / 5	90.3 s	+0.06 s
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	1^st / 5	10 Points	Best in this discipline
Wet BrakingLower is better	1^st / 5	54 ft	Best in this discipline

Nicely balanced on the Mazda, but poor reactions to large steering lock so not ideal for beginners. The tire doesn't overheat much, and allows for constant laptimes. A good wet performance means this tire could be a good choice as an everyday tire, but for the price you could get the Hankook for track and Continental for road.

Dry95%

Wet95.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (4)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 5	82 ft	+3 ft
Dry HandlingLower is better	3^rd / 5	91.53 s	+1.29 s
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	4^th / 5	7 Points	-3.00 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 5	57 ft	+3 ft

The Hankook is very good at high speed turning, but as the speeds decrease and the steering angle increases the softer sidewall shows itself.

A great time attack tire but overheats after a couple of laps.

Dry92.5%

Wet82.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (4)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	4^th / 5	87 ft	+8 ft
Dry HandlingLower is better	3^rd / 5	91.53 s	+1.29 s
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	4^th / 5	7 Points	-3.00 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	5^th / 5	66 ft	+12 ft

While the tire has more understeer and less steering speed than the track day tires, it still provides an excellent laptime.

Dry98.3%

Wet93.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (4)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	1^st / 5	79 ft	Best in this discipline
Dry HandlingLower is better	5^th / 5	91.8 s	+1.56 s
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	2^nd / 5	9 Points	-1.00 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 5	58 ft	+4 ft

The Trofeo R has the sharpest steering in all conditions, and unlike the other tires on test, showed no signs of overheating. Needed a lot of warm up, hence not being the ideal tire to also be used on the road.

Dry90.9%

Wet93.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (4)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	5^th / 5	96 ft	+17 ft
Dry HandlingLower is better	1^st / 5	90.24 s	Best in this discipline
Subj. Dry HandlingHigher is better	2^nd / 5	9 Points	-1.00 Points
Wet BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 5	58 ft	+4 ft