Test setup & methodology

The test setting, the conditions recorded and how the results contribute to the score.

Recorded test conditions

Dry Braking: 62.1 → 0.0 mph
Wet Braking: 62.1 → 0.0 mph

The 2022 Autobild Sportscars summer tire test has tested eleven 225/45 R18 sizes using a BMW 3 Series, but has also tested four of the SAME sets in a staggered 225/45 R18 front and 255/4 R18 rear size to compare the two different options.

First up, the main test. Sadly the test was missing Goodyear and Pirelli, and interestingly the testers found the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 not only to be the best, but also to have the sportiest handling, something we're don't see often.

Even more surprising was that the Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+ finished joint first, beating every tire in the wet handling test and ending up with enough points to match the Pilot Sport 4.

It was the test of ties, with the Falken FK510 and Toyo Proxes Sport A finishing joint third and the Bridgestone Potenza Sport and Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 finishing joint fifth.

Square vs Staggered Setup

The most interesting part of the test was the square vs staggered setup. Unfortunately the Tire Reviews database can't list both results, just the square, so we'll have to explain the differences below referencing the square data we have already.

The tires tested in both square and staggered were the Michelin Pilot Sport 4, the Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+, Falken FK510 and Nexen N'Fera Sport.

In the dry, the staggered setup with the wider rear tire stopped 0 feet worse for the Falken and 1ft behind for Michelin and Vredestein which is certainly counter intuitive, but the Nexen was 1 foot better with the wider rear tire.

Dry handling made no more sense with the Michelin finishing 0.5 mph faster with the wider rear tire, 0.8 mph faster for the Vredestein, 0.9 mph faster for the Nexen, but 0.8 mph slower for the Falken.

Wet braking had the Michelin stopping the BMW 2 feet shorter with the wider rear, 4 feet shorter for Nexen but exactly the same for Vredestein and 0.5 longer for the Falken!

Finally, every set of tires was significantly slower in the wet with the wider rear tire.

What can we conclude regarding square vs staggered tires? The data shows that there's not a huge amount of difference with the extra 20 mm of rear tire width, and whether you get better or worse performance varies between what test is being tested, and the tire brand used!

There's more information in the full Auto Bild test, so we suggest you check that out if you're interested in further information.

Below is all the data from the 225/45 R18 square test.

Dry

Bridgestone, Hankook and Toyo had an impressive lead in dry braking.

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Bridgestone Potenza Sport	118 ft	Best	0 mph
2Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	118 ft	0 ft	4 mph
2Toyo Proxes Sport A	118 ft	0 ft	4 mph
4Continental Premium Contact 6	120 ft	+2 ft	11 mph
5Falken Azenis FK510	121 ft	+3 ft	13 mph
6Michelin Pilot Sport 4	122 ft	+4 ft	14 mph
7Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	123 ft	+5 ft	15 mph
8Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+	123 ft	+5 ft	16 mph
9Tomket Sport 3 Series 3	124 ft	+6 ft	17 mph
9GT Radial SportActive 2	124 ft	+6 ft	17 mph
11Fulda SportControl 2	124 ft	+6 ft	17 mph

The difference between best and worst was 5% (6 ft ≈ 0.4 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Fulda SportControl 2 would still be travelling at 17 mph when the Bridgestone Potenza Sport had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

Michelin aced the dry handling test with the quickest lap time and the sportiest handling.

Dry Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Michelin Pilot Sport 4	64.7 mph	Best
2Toyo Proxes Sport A	64.6 mph	-0.1 mph
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	64.3 mph	-0.4 mph
4Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+	64.1 mph	-0.6 mph
5Falken Azenis FK510	63.9 mph	-0.8 mph
6Continental Premium Contact 6	63.8 mph	-0.9 mph
7Bridgestone Potenza Sport	63.5 mph	-1.2 mph
8Fulda SportControl 2	63.4 mph	-1.3 mph
9Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	62.8 mph	-1.9 mph
10GT Radial SportActive 2	61.6 mph	-3.1 mph
11Tomket Sport 3 Series 3	61.5 mph	-3.2 mph

The difference between best and worst was 4.9% (3.2 mph).

Wet

Bridgestone again led the way in wet braking.

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Residual speed
1Bridgestone Potenza Sport	150 ft	Best	0 mph
2Michelin Pilot Sport 4	156 ft	+6 ft	16 mph
3Falken Azenis FK510	157 ft	+7 ft	17 mph
4Toyo Proxes Sport A	160 ft	+10 ft	20 mph
5Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	162 ft	+12 ft	22 mph
5Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+	162 ft	+12 ft	22 mph
7Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	166 ft	+16 ft	25 mph
8Fulda SportControl 2	172 ft	+22 ft	29 mph
9Continental Premium Contact 6	172 ft	+22 ft	29 mph
10GT Radial SportActive 2	187 ft	+37 ft	36 mph
11Tomket Sport 3 Series 3	215 ft	+65 ft	44 mph

The difference between best and worst was 43.5% (65 ft ≈ 4.4 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Tomket Sport 3 Series 3 would still be travelling at 44 mph when the Bridgestone Potenza Sport had stopped.

Residual speed is calculated from the measured braking distances, assuming constant deceleration; it is not a separate measurement.

But couldn't quite beat Vredestein for the top place in wet handling.

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+	55.2 mph	Best
2Bridgestone Potenza Sport	55.2 mph	0.0 mph
3Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	54.4 mph	-0.8 mph
4Toyo Proxes Sport A	54.4 mph	-0.8 mph
5Michelin Pilot Sport 4	54.0 mph	-1.2 mph
6Falken Azenis FK510	53.7 mph	-1.5 mph
7Continental Premium Contact 6	53.3 mph	-1.9 mph
8Fulda SportControl 2	52.9 mph	-2.3 mph
9Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	51.5 mph	-3.7 mph
10GT Radial SportActive 2	48.6 mph	-6.6 mph
11Tomket Sport 3 Series 3	46.7 mph	-8.5 mph

The difference between best and worst was 15.4% (8.5 mph).

GT Radial and Toyo led the way in the aquaplaning testing.

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Toyo Proxes Sport A	61.8 mph	Best
2GT Radial SportActive 2	61.4 mph	-0.4 mph
3Michelin Pilot Sport 4	61.0 mph	-0.8 mph
4Falken Azenis FK510	60.9 mph	-0.9 mph
5Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+	60.8 mph	-1.0 mph
6Fulda SportControl 2	60.3 mph	-1.5 mph
7Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	59.9 mph	-1.9 mph
8Bridgestone Potenza Sport	59.5 mph	-2.3 mph
9Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	59.4 mph	-2.4 mph
10Continental Premium Contact 6	59.0 mph	-2.8 mph
11Tomket Sport 3 Series 3	58.8 mph	-3.0 mph

The difference between best and worst was 4.8% (3 mph).

Curved Aquaplaning
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1GT Radial SportActive 2	12.1 ft/s²	Best
2Fulda SportControl 2	11.8 ft/s²	-0.3 ft/s²
2Toyo Proxes Sport A	11.8 ft/s²	-0.3 ft/s²
4Falken Azenis FK510	11.6 ft/s²	-0.5 ft/s²
5Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+	11.0 ft/s²	-1.1 ft/s²
6Michelin Pilot Sport 4	10.7 ft/s²	-1.4 ft/s²
7Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	10.4 ft/s²	-1.7 ft/s²
8Bridgestone Potenza Sport	10.0 ft/s²	-2.1 ft/s²
9Continental Premium Contact 6	9.5 ft/s²	-2.6 ft/s²
10Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	9.4 ft/s²	-2.7 ft/s²
11Tomket Sport 3 Series 3	9.3 ft/s²	-2.8 ft/s²

The difference between best and worst was 23.6% (2.8 ft/s²).

Environment

The budget Tomket had the lowest external noise on test.

Noise
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Tomket Sport 3 Series 3	70.8 dB	Best
2Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	72.2 dB	+1.40 dB
3GT Radial SportActive 2	72.3 dB	+1.50 dB
4Michelin Pilot Sport 4	72.8 dB	+2.00 dB
4Fulda SportControl 2	72.8 dB	+2.00 dB
6Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	72.9 dB	+2.10 dB
7Falken Azenis FK510	73.2 dB	+2.40 dB
8Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+	73.3 dB	+2.50 dB
9Toyo Proxes Sport A	73.5 dB	+2.70 dB
10Continental Premium Contact 6	74.1 dB	+3.30 dB
10Bridgestone Potenza Sport	74.1 dB	+3.30 dB

The difference between best and worst was 4.7% (3.3 dB).

And the lowest rolling resistance.

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Tomket Sport 3 Series 3	8.18 kg/t	Best	$0
2Michelin Pilot Sport 4	8.42 kg/t	+0.24 kg/t	$9
3GT Radial SportActive 2	8.62 kg/t	+0.44 kg/t	$16
4Continental Premium Contact 6	8.71 kg/t	+0.53 kg/t	$19
5Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3	8.76 kg/t	+0.58 kg/t	$21
6Fulda SportControl 2	8.77 kg/t	+0.59 kg/t	$21
7Falken Azenis FK510	9.01 kg/t	+0.83 kg/t	$30
8Toyo Proxes Sport A	9.47 kg/t	+1.29 kg/t	$46
9Bridgestone Potenza Sport	9.7 kg/t	+1.52 kg/t	$55
10Nexen N Fera Sport SU2	9.85 kg/t	+1.67 kg/t	$60
11Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+	10 kg/t	+1.82 kg/t	$65

The difference between best and worst was 22.2% (1.82 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+ uses about 18 gal ($65) more fuel than the Tomket Sport 3 Series 3.

Adjust the assumptions

Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions.

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.

And the lowest price.

Results

Dry98.5%

Wet95.8%

Comfort97.3%

Rolling Resistance97.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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	6^th / 11	122 ft	+4 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	1^st / 11	64.7 mph	Best in this discipline
Wet BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 11	156 ft	+6 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	5^th / 11	54.0 mph	-1.2 mph
Wet CircleLower is better	7^th / 11	12.01 s	+0.54 s
Straight AquaHigher is better	3^rd / 11	61.0 mph	-0.8 mph
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	6^th / 11	10.7 ft/s²	-1.4 ft/s²
NoiseLower is better	4^th / 11	72.8 dB	+2.00 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	2^nd / 11	8.42 kg/t	+0.24 kg/t

Price: 660.00

Dry97.6%

Wet96%

Comfort96.6%

Rolling Resistance81.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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	8^th / 11	123 ft	+5 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	4^th / 11	64.1 mph	-0.6 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	5^th / 11	162 ft	+12 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	1^st / 11	55.2 mph	Best in this discipline
Wet CircleLower is better	4^th / 11	11.82 s	+0.35 s
Straight AquaHigher is better	5^th / 11	60.8 mph	-1.0 mph
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	5^th / 11	11.0 ft/s²	-1.1 ft/s²
NoiseLower is better	8^th / 11	73.3 dB	+2.50 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	11^th / 11	10 kg/t	+1.82 kg/t

Price: 485.00

Dry98.1%

Wet96.4%

Comfort96.7%

Rolling Resistance90.8%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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 / 11	121 ft	+3 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	5^th / 11	63.9 mph	-0.8 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 11	157 ft	+7 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	6^th / 11	53.7 mph	-1.5 mph
Wet CircleLower is better	6^th / 11	11.95 s	+0.48 s
Straight AquaHigher is better	4^th / 11	60.9 mph	-0.9 mph
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	4^th / 11	11.6 ft/s²	-0.5 ft/s²
NoiseLower is better	7^th / 11	73.2 dB	+2.40 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	7^th / 11	9.01 kg/t	+0.83 kg/t

Price: 570.00

Dry99.8%

Wet97.1%

Comfort96.3%

Rolling Resistance86.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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	2^nd / 11	118 ft	0 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	2^nd / 11	64.6 mph	-0.1 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	4^th / 11	160 ft	+10 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	4^th / 11	54.4 mph	-0.8 mph
Wet CircleLower is better	2^nd / 11	11.73 s	+0.26 s
Straight AquaHigher is better	1^st / 11	61.8 mph	Best in this discipline
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	2^nd / 11	11.8 ft/s²	-0.3 ft/s²
NoiseLower is better	9^th / 11	73.5 dB	+2.70 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	8^th / 11	9.47 kg/t	+1.29 kg/t

Price: 495.00

Dry99.1%

Wet97.7%

Comfort95.6%

Rolling Resistance84.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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 / 11	118 ft	Best in this discipline
Dry HandlingHigher is better	7^th / 11	63.5 mph	-1.2 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	1^st / 11	150 ft	Best in this discipline
Wet HandlingHigher is better	2^nd / 11	55.2 mph	0.0 mph
Wet CircleLower is better	1^st / 11	11.47 s	Best in this discipline
Straight AquaHigher is better	8^th / 11	59.5 mph	-2.3 mph
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	8^th / 11	10.0 ft/s²	-2.1 ft/s²
NoiseLower is better	10^th / 11	74.1 dB	+3.30 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	9^th / 11	9.7 kg/t	+1.52 kg/t

Price: 560.00

Dry99.6%

Wet94.1%

Comfort98.1%

Rolling Resistance93.4%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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	2^nd / 11	118 ft	0 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	3^rd / 11	64.3 mph	-0.4 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	5^th / 11	162 ft	+12 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	3^rd / 11	54.4 mph	-0.8 mph
Wet CircleLower is better	3^rd / 11	11.76 s	+0.29 s
Straight AquaHigher is better	9^th / 11	59.4 mph	-2.4 mph
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	10^th / 11	9.4 ft/s²	-2.7 ft/s²
NoiseLower is better	2^nd / 11	72.2 dB	+1.40 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	5^th / 11	8.76 kg/t	+0.58 kg/t

Price: 520.00

Dry98.4%

Wet91.4%

Comfort95.6%

Rolling Resistance93.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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 / 11	120 ft	+2 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	6^th / 11	63.8 mph	-0.9 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	9^th / 11	172 ft	+22 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	7^th / 11	53.3 mph	-1.9 mph
Wet CircleLower is better	9^th / 11	12.2 s	+0.73 s
Straight AquaHigher is better	10^th / 11	59.0 mph	-2.8 mph
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	9^th / 11	9.5 ft/s²	-2.6 ft/s²
NoiseLower is better	10^th / 11	74.1 dB	+3.30 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	4^th / 11	8.71 kg/t	+0.53 kg/t

Price: 590.00

Dry96.7%

Wet94.1%

Comfort97.3%

Rolling Resistance93.3%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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	11^th / 11	124 ft	+6 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	8^th / 11	63.4 mph	-1.3 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	8^th / 11	172 ft	+22 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	8^th / 11	52.9 mph	-2.3 mph
Wet CircleLower is better	5^th / 11	11.9 s	+0.43 s
Straight AquaHigher is better	6^th / 11	60.3 mph	-1.5 mph
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	2^nd / 11	11.8 ft/s²	-0.3 ft/s²
NoiseLower is better	4^th / 11	72.8 dB	+2.00 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	6^th / 11	8.77 kg/t	+0.59 kg/t

Price: 495.00

Dry96.6%

Wet92.7%

Comfort97.1%

Rolling Resistance83.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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	7^th / 11	123 ft	+5 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	9^th / 11	62.8 mph	-1.9 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	7^th / 11	166 ft	+16 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	9^th / 11	51.5 mph	-3.7 mph
Wet CircleLower is better	8^th / 11	12.02 s	+0.55 s
Straight AquaHigher is better	7^th / 11	59.9 mph	-1.9 mph
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	7^th / 11	10.4 ft/s²	-1.7 ft/s²
NoiseLower is better	6^th / 11	72.9 dB	+2.10 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	10^th / 11	9.85 kg/t	+1.67 kg/t

Price: 410.00

Dry95.4%

Wet89.8%

Comfort97.9%

Rolling Resistance94.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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	9^th / 11	124 ft	+6 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	10^th / 11	61.6 mph	-3.1 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	10^th / 11	187 ft	+37 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	10^th / 11	48.6 mph	-6.6 mph
Wet CircleLower is better	10^th / 11	12.34 s	+0.87 s
Straight AquaHigher is better	2^nd / 11	61.4 mph	-0.4 mph
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	1^st / 11	12.1 ft/s²	Best in this discipline
NoiseLower is better	3^rd / 11	72.3 dB	+1.50 dB
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	3^rd / 11	8.62 kg/t	+0.44 kg/t

Price: 490.00

Dry95.3%

Wet82.3%

Comfort100%

Rolling Resistance100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (9)

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	9^th / 11	124 ft	+6 ft
Dry HandlingHigher is better	11^th / 11	61.5 mph	-3.2 mph
Wet BrakingLower is better	11^th / 11	215 ft	+65 ft
Wet HandlingHigher is better	11^th / 11	46.7 mph	-8.5 mph
Wet CircleLower is better	11^th / 11	12.78 s	+1.31 s
Straight AquaHigher is better	11^th / 11	58.8 mph	-3.0 mph
Curved AquaplaningHigher is better	11^th / 11	9.3 ft/s²	-2.8 ft/s²
NoiseLower is better	1^st / 11	70.8 dB	Best in this discipline
Rolling ResistanceLower is better	1^st / 11	8.18 kg/t	Best in this discipline

Price: 335.00

Discussion

6 comments

Martini Qualini Apr 14, 2022 archived

Sadly missing weight :( Most important factor for me.

#7963
1. TireReviews Martini Qualini Apr 14, 2022 archived
  
  Out of interest, why? We have weights listed on our UHP test.
  
  #7964
Steve Wellen Mar 26, 2022 archived

The square vs staggered setup results leaves my thinking that tire technology is still a literal black art and no one can produce consistent results. It's like getting a TV with resolution between 1820and1990 x 1000and1160. It must make your job 20% frustrating and 80% fascinating.

#7920
1. TireReviews Steve Wellen Mar 26, 2022 archived
  
  The differences between the sizes was definitely too small to be meaningful in this test, it would have more affected balance rather than grip.
  
  #7921
Lukica Stipetić Mar 21, 2022 archived

Unfortunately, all the old models except Vredestsein and Bridgestone ... and yes, there is no GY!

#7915
1. TireReviews Lukica Stipetić Mar 22, 2022 archived
  
  This will have been tested back in September / October last year, hence last years models. It's difficult to do summer tests in the same year for publication around this time.
  
  #7916

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Test setup & methodology

Recorded test conditions

Square vs Staggered Setup

Dry

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