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2026 Sport Auto Summer Tire Test

Overall test winnerBridgestone Potenza Sport Evo

In issue 4/2026, German magazine sport auto tested seven summer tires in size 205/45 R 17 on a Mazda MX-5.

Tires tested
7
Tested size
205/45 R17
Test vehicle
Mazda MX5

At a glance

Tire shortlist

7 Tires tested

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

1st

Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo

+The Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo is fastest on the wet handling track and the wet circle with the best subjective wet rating, shares the fastest dry lap and the top dry rating, and has the second-shortest dry braking.

−Its comfort shares the lowest rating and it is the second-loudest tire.

2nd

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6

+The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 is the most comfortable and the quietest tire, shares the fastest dry lap, is second on both wet handling tests and has the second-lowest rolling resistance.

−Its wet braking is only joint fourth, and the car gets nervous with mid-corner weight transfer in the wet.

3rd

Falken Azenis FK520

+The Falken Azenis FK520 has the shortest dry braking and shares the shortest wet braking, with good comfort, low noise and the best value.

−It is last for aquaplaning in bends and second from last in a straight line and on the wet handling track, and its steering response is somewhat sluggish.

4th

Continental PremiumContact 7

+The Continental PremiumContact 7 is the most balanced tire: best for straight-line aquaplaning and second in bends, third on both wet handling tests and the dry handling course, with precise steering.

−It has no single standout grip result, its dry braking is fifth and its rolling resistance is the second highest.

5th

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

+The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 shares the best subjective dry handling rating, with impressive precision and agility on dry roads, and has the third-lowest rolling resistance.

−Wet grip is its weak point: second-longest wet braking, last for straight-line aquaplaning and a sudden step-out at the rear in wet corners. It is also the most expensive tire.

6th

Linglong Sport Master

+The Linglong Sport Master shares the shortest wet braking, is the second-quietest tire and by far the cheapest.

−It has the lowest subjective dry handling rating, with sluggish steering and sudden rear breakaway, the slowest wet circle time and the highest rolling resistance.

7th

Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN

+The Firestone Roadhawk 2 Enliten is the best tire for aquaplaning in bends, second in a straight line, and has the lowest rolling resistance.

−It has the longest wet and dry braking, the slowest wet and dry handling laps, and it is the loudest tire.

Tire shortlist

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2026 Sport Auto Summer Tire Test · 205/45 R17

The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

In issue 4/2026, German magazine sport auto tested seven summer tires in size 205/45 R 17 on a Mazda MX-5. The field included a mix of premium sport, touring, and budget options: Bridgestone Potenza Sport evo, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, Falken Azenis FK520, Continental PremiumContact 7, Michelin Pilot Sport 5, Linglong Sport Master, and Firestone Roadhawk 2. Tires were evaluated across wet and dry performance tests as well as comfort and efficiency.

Bridgestone's new Potenza Sport Evo took the overall win with the only "outstanding" rating in the test, scoring well in almost every area. Goodyear earned the title of sportiest tire, with the highest cornering grip and a neutral balance that rewards experienced drivers. Falken picked up the price-performance recommendation at 107 euros, largely on the strength of the shortest braking distances in both wet and dry conditions. At the other end of the table, Firestone Roadhawk 2 finished last with an "adequate" rating after a score penalty for excessive wet braking distances - though it did post the best rolling resistance and lateral aquaplaning results. The budget Linglong showed a similar pattern of lopsided development: strong wet braking but poor handling stability and abrupt breakaway behavior.

Dry Braking

Falken stopped shortest at 110 ft, just ahead of Bridgestone at 111 ft - the top four are separated by less than a meter. Firestone trailed at 116 ft, nearly two meters behind the leader.

Dry Braking

Dry braking in feet

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Dry Braking
Position / TireResult
100 %
99 %
98 %
97 %
97 %
96 %
95 %

The difference between best and worst was 5%.

Dry Handling

Goodyear and Bridgestone tied for the fastest lap at 70.7 mph, with Continental and Michelin close behind. Firestone was slowest at 68.7 mph - over 2 mph off the pace, a significant gap on a 6,234 ft track.

Dry Handling

Dry Handling Average Speed

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Dry Handling
Position / TireResult
100 %
100 %
99 %
99 %
98 %
98 %
97 %

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

Subjective Dry Handling

Bridgestone and Michelin both scored a perfect 10, though for different reasons - the Bridgestone for its safe, controllable understeer and broad reserves, the Michelin for its precision and agility. Goodyear was rated the most demanding to drive, with very neutral balance that rewards a skilled driver. Linglong scored lowest at 6, let down by sluggish steering response and poor stability under weight transfer.

Subj. Dry Handling

Subjective Dry Handling Score

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Subj. Dry Handling
Position / TireResult
100 %
100 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
70 %
60 %

The difference between best and worst was 40%.

Wet Braking

Falken and Linglong shared the shortest stopping distance at 106 ft - a strong result for the budget tire. Firestone was a clear outlier at 126 ft, more than six meters behind the leaders, enough to trigger a score penalty in the final rating.

Wet Braking

Wet braking in feet

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Wet Braking
Position / TireResult
100 %
100 %
97 %
97 %
97 %
94 %
84 %

The difference between best and worst was 16%.

Wet Handling

Bridgestone led with 35.0 mph, followed closely by Goodyear and Continental. The spread from first to last is only 1.0 mph, making this one of the tighter tests in the group. Firestone was again slowest at 34.0 mph.

Wet Handling

Wet Handling Average Speed

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Wet Handling
Position / TireResult
100 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
98 %
98 %
97 %

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

Subjective Wet Handling

Bridgestone scored a clear 10, praised for its easy-to-read understeer character and wide grip reserves even when sliding. Goodyear and Falken shared second place at 8, though Goodyear's nervous weight-transfer response and narrow limit range on wet roads kept it from matching the Bridgestone. Linglong and Firestone both scored 6, with the Linglong prone to sudden rear-end breakaway and the Firestone lacking feedback and stability.

Subj. Wet Handling

Subjective Wet Handling Score

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Subj. Wet Handling
Position / TireResult
100 %
80 %
80 %
80 %
70 %
60 %
60 %

The difference between best and worst was 40%.

Wet Circle

Bridgestone posted the highest lateral grip at 8.58 m/s², ahead of Goodyear at 8.49 m/s². Despite its strong wet braking, Linglong finished last here at 8.31 m/s² - a sign that it was optimized more for straight-line grip than cornering. The full spread is 0.27 m/s², a meaningful difference on a car as light and responsive as the MX-5.

Wet Circle

Lateral wet grip in m/s squared

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Wet Circle
Position / TireResult
100 %
99 %
98 %
98 %
97 %
97 %
97 %

All the tires in the Wet Circle test finished less than 3% apart.

Straight Aquaplaning

Continental resisted aquaplaning longest, floating at 52.1 mph. Michelin was most vulnerable at 50.3 mph. The spread is relatively narrow at under 2 mph, suggesting all tires handle standing water in a straight line reasonably well at this width.

Straight Aqua

Float Speed in mph

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Straight Aqua
Position / TireResult
100 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
99 %
97 %
97 %

All the tires in the Straight Aqua test finished less than 3% apart.

Curved Aquaplaning

This test produced the widest relative spread of any wet test. Firestone held the most lateral grip when aquaplaning at 2.44 m/s², while Falken - the wet braking leader - was weakest at just 2.02 m/s². That trade-off between braking grip and aquaplaning resistance is a recurring theme across several tires in this test.

Curved Aquaplaning

Remaining lateral acceleration

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Curved Aquaplaning
Position / TireResult
100 %
95 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
87 %
83 %

The difference between best and worst was 17%.

Subjective Comfort

Goodyear scored highest at 10, offering the softest ride and quietest cabin of the group. Bridgestone and Firestone both scored 7, the lowest in the field - the Bridgestone's firmer ride is the main trade-off for its strong grip performance.

Subj. Comfort

Subjective Comfort Score

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Subj. Comfort
Position / TireResult
100 %
90 %
90 %
90 %
80 %
70 %
70 %

The difference between best and worst was 30%.

Noise

Goodyear was the quietest tire at 68.1 dB(A), well clear of the field. Firestone was loudest at 71.8 dB(A), a gap of 3.7 dB(A) - easily perceptible. Linglong was a surprise second place at 69.5 dB(A), one of its better results in the test.

Noise

External noise in dB

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Noise
Position / TireResult
100 %
98 %
97 %
96 %
96 %
95 %
95 %

The difference between best and worst was 5%.

Rolling Resistance

Firestone recorded the lowest rolling resistance at 8.0 kg/t, making it the most fuel-efficient option - offsetting some of its grip shortcomings with lower running costs. Linglong was highest at 9.7 kg/t, over 20% more than the Firestone. The premium performance tires clustered between 8.4 and 8.9 kg/t.

Rolling Resistance

Rolling resistance in kg t

relative index, 100 = best in test ↑
Rolling Resistance
Position / TireResult
100 %
95 %
94 %
92 %
91 %
90 %
82 %

The difference between best and worst was 18%.

Results

Bridgestone takes the overall win with the highest score of 9.2, rated "outstanding" - strong across nearly every test with no major weakness. Goodyear and Falken share second at 8.6, offering sport and value respectively. Continental rounds out the recommended group at 8.3. At the bottom, Firestone's safety-relevant deficits in wet braking triggered a penalty that dropped it to 5.7, rated only "adequate."

1st

Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo

205/45 R17 88Y XL
Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
Sport Auto Test Winner / Outstanding Testsieger / überragend
Bridgestone Potenza Sport evo is the test winner and performs well across nearly all tests. It delivers short braking distances on both wet and dry surfaces, strong lateral grip in the wet, and high cornering speed on track. The car remains easy to control with a tendency toward understeer and broad grip reserves when the limit is exceeded. It can be steered on the throttle via weight transfer without becoming nervous. Minor weaknesses show up in longitudinal aquaplaning and comfort - the ride is firmer than most rivals, and pass-by noise is on the higher side.
Dry99.7%
Wet98.2%
Comfort82.6%
Rolling Resistance92%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (12)

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

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking2nd / 799.41%
Dry Handling1st / 7100%
Subj. Dry Handling1st / 7100%
Wet Braking3rd / 797.28%
Wet Handling1st / 7100%
Subj. Wet Handling1st / 7100%
Wet Circle1st / 7100%
Straight Aqua3rd / 798.57%
Curved Aquaplaning3rd / 790.16%
Subj. Comfort6th / 770%
Noise6th / 795.24%
Rolling Resistance4th / 791.95%
EU Label
C/A/72
Origin
Hungary
Weight
8.2 kgs
Tread
6.2 mm
Price
147.00
2nd

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6

205/45 R17 88W XL
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 is the sportiest tire in the test. It offers the highest lateral grip level and very neutral vehicle balance, demanding more from the driver but rewarding skilled inputs. Steering response is direct and precise, and ride comfort is the best in the group. On wet roads it doesn't quite match the Bridgestone's grip levels, and the car becomes nervous under mid-corner weight transfer with a narrow limit range. It also shows small deficits in lateral aquaplaning.
Dry98.3%
Wet96.2%
Comfort100%
Rolling Resistance95.2%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (12)

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

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking3rd / 798.25%
Dry Handling1st / 7100%
Subj. Dry Handling3rd / 790%
Wet Braking4th / 796.7%
Wet Handling2nd / 799.47%
Subj. Wet Handling2nd / 780%
Wet Circle2nd / 798.95%
Straight Aqua3rd / 798.57%
Curved Aquaplaning4th / 789.75%
Subj. Comfort1st / 7100%
Noise1st / 7100%
Rolling Resistance2nd / 795.24%
EU Label
C/A/69
Origin
Slovenia
Weight
7.9 kgs
Tread
6.9 mm
Price
132.00
3rd

Falken Azenis FK520

205/45 R17 88Y XL
Falken Azenis FK520
Sport Auto Best Value Tip / Very Good Preis-Leistungs-Tipp / sehr gut
Falken Azenis FK520 stands out for its braking performance, posting the shortest stopping distances on both wet and dry surfaces. It understeers safely but has limited steering angle reserves, meaning the front tends to push wide rather than allowing the driver to tighten a line. Steering response is somewhat sluggish compared to the sportier options. On the positive side, it offers good ride comfort and low noise. Lateral aquaplaning resistance is a weak point. It earns the price-performance recommendation at 107 euros.
Dry98.4%
Wet95.6%
Comfort93.7%
Rolling Resistance90.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (12)

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

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking1st / 7100%
Dry Handling5th / 798.42%
Subj. Dry Handling3rd / 790%
Wet Braking1st / 7100%
Wet Handling6th / 798.22%
Subj. Wet Handling2nd / 780%
Wet Circle4th / 797.55%
Straight Aqua6th / 797.37%
Curved Aquaplaning7th / 782.79%
Subj. Comfort2nd / 790%
Noise3rd / 797.42%
Rolling Resistance5th / 790.91%
EU Label
D/A/70
Origin
Turkey
Weight
8.3 kgs
Tread
6.7 mm
Price
107.00
4th

Continental PremiumContact 7

205/45 R17 88Y XL
Continental PremiumContact 7
Continental PremiumContact 7 is the most balanced tire in the test, sitting right in the middle between sport and comfort. It delivers high steering precision, quick turn-in response, safe balance, and low sensitivity to weight transfer, all paired with pleasant ride comfort. Aquaplaning protection is good in both directions. It has no major weaknesses, but equally no single standout result - it does everything well without excelling in any one area. Pass-by noise is slightly elevated.
Dry97.5%
Wet96.6%
Comfort92.8%
Rolling Resistance89.9%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (12)

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

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking5th / 797.11%
Dry Handling3rd / 799.38%
Subj. Dry Handling3rd / 790%
Wet Braking4th / 796.7%
Wet Handling3rd / 799.11%
Subj. Wet Handling2nd / 780%
Wet Circle3rd / 797.9%
Straight Aqua1st / 7100%
Curved Aquaplaning2nd / 795.49%
Subj. Comfort2nd / 790%
Noise5th / 795.51%
Rolling Resistance6th / 789.89%
EU Label
C/A/71
Origin
France
Weight
8.6 kgs
Tread
7.2 mm
Price
148.00
5th

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

205/45 R17 88Y XL
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is at its best on dry roads, where it delivers impressive steering precision, high agility, and clear, trustworthy vehicle balance. It posts the best subjective dry handling scores alongside the Bridgestone. However, wet grip is its weak point - lateral grip drops noticeably on damp surfaces, and the car reacts abruptly to weight transfer in wet corners with a sudden step-out at the rear. It also shows small deficits in longitudinal aquaplaning and produces slightly more pass-by noise.
Dry98.4%
Wet93.7%
Comfort87.9%
Rolling Resistance94.1%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (12)

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

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking4th / 797.39%
Dry Handling4th / 799.21%
Subj. Dry Handling1st / 7100%
Wet Braking6th / 793.88%
Wet Handling5th / 798.4%
Subj. Wet Handling5th / 770%
Wet Circle5th / 797.2%
Straight Aqua7th / 796.66%
Curved Aquaplaning6th / 787.3%
Subj. Comfort5th / 780%
Noise4th / 795.78%
Rolling Resistance3rd / 794.12%
EU Label
C/A/72
Origin
Germany
Weight
8.6 kgs
Tread
6.4 mm
Price
175.00
6th

Linglong Sport Master

205/45 R17 88Y XL
Linglong Sport Master
Linglong Sport Master was clearly optimized for short wet braking distances, which it achieves effectively. Beyond that, it shows significant gaps in development. Steering response is very sluggish, and the car reacts sharply to weight transfer with a sudden loss of rear grip. Stability in lane changes is poor, and the limit range is narrow and hard to manage. On dry roads, braking distances are longer, and the handling lacks the predictability and forgiveness expected from an established product. It is produced in Serbia and is the cheapest tire in the test at 75 euros.
Dry93.8%
Wet94.9%
Comfort94%
Rolling Resistance82.5%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (12)

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

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking6th / 796%
Dry Handling5th / 798.42%
Subj. Dry Handling7th / 760%
Wet Braking1st / 7100%
Wet Handling4th / 798.58%
Subj. Wet Handling6th / 760%
Wet Circle7th / 796.85%
Straight Aqua3rd / 798.57%
Curved Aquaplaning4th / 789.75%
Subj. Comfort2nd / 790%
Noise2nd / 797.99%
Rolling Resistance7th / 782.47%
EU Label
D/A/69
Origin
Serbia
Weight
8.3 kgs
Tread
6.0 mm
Price
75.00
7th

Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN

205/45 R17 88W XL
Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
Firestone Roadhawk 2 finishes last, rated only "adequate." It shows weak grip reserves and poor steering feedback, particularly on wet surfaces where braking distances are too long - triggering a score penalty. Handling is sluggish and unstable under weight transfer on both wet and dry roads. It does hold two advantages: the best lateral aquaplaning resistance in the test and the lowest rolling resistance, making it the most fuel-efficient option. However, these strengths are not enough to offset the safety-relevant deficits elsewhere.
Dry93.7%
Wet91.9%
Comfort82.4%
Rolling Resistance100%

Category scores (% of best)

All discipline results (12)

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

TestPosition in discipline%
Dry Braking7th / 794.92%
Dry Handling7th / 797.19%
Subj. Dry Handling6th / 770%
Wet Braking7th / 784.07%
Wet Handling7th / 797.16%
Subj. Wet Handling6th / 760%
Wet Circle6th / 797.09%
Straight Aqua2nd / 799.28%
Curved Aquaplaning1st / 7100%
Subj. Comfort6th / 770%
Noise7th / 794.85%
Rolling Resistance1st / 7100%
EU Label
C/A/77
Origin
Hungary
Weight
8.1 kgs
Tread
7.2 mm
Price
102.00

Discussion

2 comments
  1. Roel archived

    'the Bridgestone for its safe, controllable understeer and broad reserves, the Michelin for its precision and agility' a few years ago that was exactly the other way around! The Michelin used to be safe and secure and the Bridgestone precise and exciting. Still getting the Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo as replacement for the Goodyear's for my MX-5 ND :-) Nice to try something else. Once again thanks for sharing, Jonathan!

    #10584
    1. TireReviews Roel archived

      Maybe it's a size thing, but based on my own testing I think the old way of looking at things is still more accurate.

      #10585
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