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Test Charts / Auto Zeitung

2025 AZ Summer 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
225/45 R18
Tires tested
10
Disciplines
12

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

2

Dry Braking

Dry braking in feet (62 - 0 mph)

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestResidual speed
1Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 108 ft Best 0 mph
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 109 ft +1 ft 8 mph
3Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 110 ft +2 ft 10 mph
4Continental PremiumContact 7
 110 ft +2 ft 11 mph
4Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 110 ft +2 ft 11 mph
6Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 111 ft +3 ft 13 mph
7Falken Azenis FK520
 112 ft +4 ft 15 mph
8Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 115 ft +7 ft 19 mph
9Triangle EffeXSport
 118 ft +10 ft 23 mph
10Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 121 ft +13 ft 26 mph

The difference between best and worst was 11.8% (13 ft ≈ 0.9 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Mastersteel Super Sport 2 would still be travelling at 26 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.

Dry Handling

Dry handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 68.7 s Best
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 68.8 s +0.10 s
3Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 69.1 s +0.40 s
4Continental PremiumContact 7
 69.3 s +0.60 s
5Falken Azenis FK520
 69.4 s +0.70 s
6Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 69.5 s +0.80 s
7Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 69.6 s +0.90 s
7Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 69.6 s +0.90 s
9Triangle EffeXSport
 70.9 s +2.20 s
10Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 71.5 s +2.80 s

The difference between best and worst was 4.1% (2.8 s).

Wet

4

Wet Braking

Wet braking in feet (62 - 0 mph)

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestResidual speed
1Continental PremiumContact 7
 137 ft Best 0 mph
2Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 139 ft +2 ft 10 mph
3Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 142 ft +5 ft 15 mph
4Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 146 ft +9 ft 19 mph
5Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 148 ft +11 ft 22 mph
6Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 153 ft +16 ft 26 mph
7Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 155 ft +18 ft 27 mph
8Falken Azenis FK520
 158 ft +21 ft 29 mph
9Triangle EffeXSport
 171 ft +34 ft 35 mph
10Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 173 ft +36 ft 36 mph

The difference between best and worst was 26.1% (36 ft ≈ 2.4 Car Lengths). From 80 mph, the Mastersteel Super Sport 2 would still be travelling at 36 mph when the Continental PremiumContact 7 had stopped.

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

Wet Handling

Wet handling time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 69.7 s Best
2Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 69.9 s +0.20 s
3Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 70.2 s +0.50 s
3Continental PremiumContact 7
 70.2 s +0.50 s
5Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 70.8 s +1.10 s
6Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 72.6 s +2.90 s
7Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 72.8 s +3.10 s
8Falken Azenis FK520
 74 s +4.30 s
9Triangle EffeXSport
 74.9 s +5.20 s
10Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 77 s +7.30 s

The difference between best and worst was 10.5% (7.3 s).

Wet Circle

Wet Circle Lap Time in seconds

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 11.11 s Best
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 11.13 s +0.02 s
3Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 11.18 s +0.07 s
4Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 11.2 s +0.09 s
5Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 11.37 s +0.26 s
6Falken Azenis FK520
 11.51 s +0.40 s
7Continental PremiumContact 7
 11.52 s +0.41 s
8Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 11.71 s +0.60 s
9Triangle EffeXSport
 11.93 s +0.82 s
10Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 12.58 s +1.47 s

The difference between best and worst was 13.2% (1.47 s).

Straight Aqua

Float Speed in mph

Higher is better ↑
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 47.6 mph Best
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 47.2 mph -0.4 mph
3Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 47.0 mph -0.6 mph
4Falken Azenis FK520
 46.8 mph -0.8 mph
5Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 46.7 mph -0.9 mph
6Triangle EffeXSport
 46.4 mph -1.2 mph
7Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 45.8 mph -1.8 mph
8Continental PremiumContact 7
 45.5 mph -2.1 mph
9Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 45.4 mph -2.2 mph
10Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 44.0 mph -3.6 mph

The difference between best and worst was 7.6% (3.6 mph).

Comfort

2

Subj. Comfort

Subjective Comfort Score

Higher is better ↑
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Continental PremiumContact 7
 10 Points Best
2Falken Azenis FK520
 8 Points -2.00 Points
2Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 8 Points -2.00 Points
4Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 7 Points -3.00 Points
4Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 7 Points -3.00 Points
4Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 7 Points -3.00 Points
4Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 7 Points -3.00 Points
8Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 6 Points -4.00 Points
8Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 6 Points -4.00 Points
8Triangle EffeXSport
 6 Points -4.00 Points

The difference between best and worst was 40% (4 Points).

Noise

External noise in dB

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 67 dB Best
2Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 68 dB +1.00 dB
2Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 68 dB +1.00 dB
4Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 69 dB +2.00 dB
4Falken Azenis FK520
 69 dB +2.00 dB
4Triangle EffeXSport
 69 dB +2.00 dB
7Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 70 dB +3.00 dB
7Continental PremiumContact 7
 70 dB +3.00 dB
7Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 70 dB +3.00 dB
10Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 71 dB +4.00 dB

The difference between best and worst was 6% (4 dB).

Value

4

Wear

Predicted tread life in KM

Higher is better ↑
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 31,069 miles Best
2Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 27,962 miles -3,107 miles
3Continental PremiumContact 7
 26,408 miles -4,661 miles
4Falken Azenis FK520
 24,855 miles -6,214 miles
5Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 21,748 miles -9,321 miles
6Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 20,195 miles -10,874 miles
6Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 20,195 miles -10,874 miles
8Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 18,641 miles -12,428 miles
9Triangle EffeXSport
 12,427 miles -18,642 miles
9Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 12,427 miles -18,642 miles

The difference between best and worst was 60% (18,642 miles).

Value

Euros/1000km based on cost/wear

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestcost per 1,000 miles
1Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 13.3 Price/1000 Best €29.44
2Falken Azenis FK520
 14.38 Price/1000 +1.08 Price/1000 €33.75
3Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 15 Price/1000 +1.70 Price/1000 €29.77
4Triangle EffeXSport
 15.5 Price/1000 +2.20 Price/1000 €40.40
5Continental PremiumContact 7
 15.88 Price/1000 +2.58 Price/1000 €33.41
6Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 16.67 Price/1000 +3.37 Price/1000 €38.00
7Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 17.85 Price/1000 +4.55 Price/1000 €40.86
8Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 18 Price/1000 +4.70 Price/1000 €48.37
9Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 19 Price/1000 +5.70 Price/1000 €42.71
10Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 21.38 Price/1000 +8.08 Price/1000 €45.11

The difference between best and worst was 60.8% (8.08 Price/1000). Over 25,000 miles the cheapest tire to own (Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6) works out €473 cheaper than the most expensive (Bridgestone Potenza Sport).

How this is calculated

Assumes a typical car doing 29 mpg (rolling resistance causing 20% of fuel use), fuel at €6.25 per gallon and €70 fitting per set of four. Purchase prices are from the time of the 2025 test; financing costs are excluded.

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to bestExtra fuel / year
1Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 7.35 kg/t Best $0
2Continental PremiumContact 7
 8.25 kg/t +0.90 kg/t $36
3Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 8.35 kg/t +1.00 kg/t $40
4Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 8.6 kg/t +1.25 kg/t $50
5Falken Azenis FK520
 8.7 kg/t +1.35 kg/t $54
6Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 8.8 kg/t +1.45 kg/t $58
7Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 8.85 kg/t +1.50 kg/t $60
7Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 8.85 kg/t +1.50 kg/t $60
9Triangle EffeXSport
 9.05 kg/t +1.70 kg/t $68
10Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 10.15 kg/t +2.80 kg/t $112

The difference between best and worst was 38.1% (2.8 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport uses about 31 gal ($112) more fuel than the Mastersteel Super Sport 2.

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.

12,000 mi
$3.60/gal
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.

Abrasion

Millimeter of tread lost per 1000km driven

Lower is better ↓
Position / TireResultGap to best
1Michelin Pilot Sport 5
 0.09 mm/1000km Best
1Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
 0.09 mm/1000km Best
3Falken Azenis FK520
 0.1 mm/1000km +0.01 mm/1000km
4Bridgestone Potenza Sport
 0.11 mm/1000km +0.02 mm/1000km
4Continental PremiumContact 7
 0.11 mm/1000km +0.02 mm/1000km
4Vredestein Ultrac Pro
 0.11 mm/1000km +0.02 mm/1000km
7Toyo Proxes Sport 2
 0.12 mm/1000km +0.03 mm/1000km
8Mastersteel Super Sport 2
 0.13 mm/1000km +0.04 mm/1000km
9Pirelli P Zero PZ4
 0.15 mm/1000km +0.06 mm/1000km
10Triangle EffeXSport
 0.19 mm/1000km +0.10 mm/1000km

The difference between best and worst was 111.1% (0.1 mm/1000km).

Test setup & methodology

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

Recorded test conditions

Recorded test conditions

Dry Braking
62.1 → 0.0 mph
Wet Braking
62.1 → 0.0 mph
Tire shortlist →Read the test →

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