Not a lot of grip in the dry and wet compared to a summer tire. Especially in corners the tire is not really predictable and does understeer a lot. tread depth is great and has almost not decreased over one winter season.
Best Tires for the Ford Focus ST
Ford Focus ST drivers have left 151 tire reviews on Tire Reviews, covering 1,192,331 miles of real world driving. Every tire they rated is ranked below, so you can see what actually works on this car. The numbers include 4 Focus ST variants, listed further down.
This page covers the Ford Focus ST specifically. For the full picture, the Ford Focus page combines 1,003 reviews from every variant. All Ford Focus reviews →
- 151owner reviews
- 1,192,331 milescovered on them
- 84different tires rated
- 74%average tire score
The quick answer
| Season | Owners' pick | Owner rating | Our category test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Matador MP 46 Hectorra 2 8.6 | 96% from 3 reviews | Best Summer Tires |
Highest weighted owner score from Ford Focus ST drivers. Full rankings and the evidence behind them below.
The best rated tires for the Ford Focus ST
Rated only by drivers of this car. Each tire needs at least 3 reviews from the Ford Focus ST to be ranked; the order weights a tire's score by how many reviews back it, so one glowing review cannot top a table.
Summer tires
The highest rated tire in the Summer category for the Ford Focus ST is the Matador MP 46 Hectorra 2 - 96% from 3 owner reviews across 25,000 miles.
| # | Tire | Owner rating | Reviews | Distance reviewed | TR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Matador MP 46 Hectorra 2
|
96% | 3 | 25,000 miles | 8.6 |
| 2 |
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2
Replaced by Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
|
83% | 15 | 122,457 miles | 8.5 |
| 3 |
Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta
Replaced by Vredestein Ultrac Pro
|
82% | 8 | 58,700 miles | 9.2 |
| 4 |
Uniroyal RainSport 3
Replaced by Uniroyal RainSport 5
|
87% | 3 | 4,500 miles | 7.7 |
| 5 |
Pirelli P Zero
Replaced by Pirelli P Zero PZ5
|
86% | 3 | 26,000 miles | 8.8 |
| 6 |
Nexen N6000
|
79% | 3 | 20,000 miles | 7.6 |
| 7 |
Continental Sport Contact 2
Replaced by Continental SportContact 7
|
75% | 5 | 53,000 miles | 7.5 |
| 8 |
Toyo T1R
Replaced by Toyo Proxes T1 Sport+
|
71% | 3 | 17,000 miles | 7.6 |
| 9 |
Continental Sport Contact 3
Replaced by Continental SportContact 7
|
70% | 4 | 42,800 miles | 8 |
| 10 |
Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3
Replaced by Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
|
66% | 3 | 65,000 miles | 7.6 |
| 11 |
Uniroyal RainSport 5
|
53% | 3 | 8,200 miles | 8 |
| 12 |
Goodyear Excellence
Replaced by Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
|
59% | 6 | 83,000 miles | 7.4 |
| 13 |
BCT S800
|
41% | 3 | 9,000 miles | 3.9 |
Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best Summer Tires →
TR Score is the tire's overall Tire Reviews rating out of 10, built from independent test results and every owner review of that tire - not just the reviews from this car. The owner rating column is this car only.
The best rated tires that fit the Ford Focus ST
The rankings above can only speak for tires a Ford Focus ST driver has already reviewed. These are the highest rated tires we hold that are actually manufactured in the sizes these drivers run - 225/40 R18, 235/40 R18, 225/45 R17 and 235/35 R19 - whether or not anyone here has fitted them yet. They are ranked on the TR Score, which is built from independent test results and every owner review of that tire.
Summer tires
Our highest rated tire in the Summer category, in this car's sizes, is the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, at 9.7 out of 10.
| # | Tire | TR Score | Made in | Ford Focus ST reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
|
9.7 | All your sizes | Be the first → |
| 2 |
Continental SportContact 7
|
9.7 | 225/40 R18, 235/40 R18, 235/35 R19 | 2 |
| 3 |
Bridgestone Potenza Sport Evo
|
9.5 | All your sizes | Be the first → |
| 4 |
Continental PremiumContact 7
|
9.5 | 225/40 R18, 235/40 R18, 225/45 R17 | Be the first → |
| 5 |
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
|
9.4 | All your sizes | 2 |
| 6 |
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
|
9.4 | All your sizes | 2 |
Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best Summer Tires →
Winter tires
No Ford Focus ST driver has reviewed a tire in the Winter category yet. Of the ones made in this car's sizes, the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 is our highest rated, at 9.8 out of 10.
| # | Tire | TR Score | Made in | Ford Focus ST reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pirelli P Zero Winter 2
|
9.8 | 235/40 R18, 235/35 R19 | 1 |
| 2 |
Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 4
|
9.6 | 225/40 R18, 235/40 R18, 235/35 R19 | Be the first → |
| 3 |
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
|
9.5 | All your sizes | Be the first → |
| 4 |
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
|
9.5 | 225/40 R18, 235/40 R18, 235/35 R19 | Be the first → |
| 5 |
Michelin Alpin 7
|
9.5 | 225/45 R17 | Be the first → |
| 6 |
Bridgestone Blizzak 6
|
9.4 | All your sizes | Be the first → |
Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best Winter Tires → Test winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
All Season tires
No Ford Focus ST driver has reviewed a tire in the All Season category yet. Of the ones made in this car's sizes, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 is our highest rated, at 9.6 out of 10.
| # | Tire | TR Score | Made in | Ford Focus ST reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
|
9.6 | All your sizes | 1 |
| 2 |
Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport
|
9.6 | 225/40 R18, 235/40 R18, 235/35 R19 | Be the first → |
| 3 |
Continental AllSeasonContact 2
|
9.5 | All your sizes | Be the first → |
| 4 |
BFGoodrich Advantage All Season
|
9.5 | All your sizes | Be the first → |
| 5 |
Michelin CrossClimate 3
|
9.5 | 225/40 R18, 225/45 R17 | Be the first → |
| 6 |
Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
|
9.4 | All your sizes | Be the first → |
Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best All Season Tires → Test winner: Goodyear Vector All Season 4
All Weather tires
No Ford Focus ST driver has reviewed a tire in the All Weather category yet. Of the ones made in this car's sizes, the Vredestein Quatrac is our highest rated, at 9.5 out of 10.
| # | Tire | TR Score | Made in | Ford Focus ST reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Vredestein Quatrac
|
9.5 | 225/40 R18, 225/45 R17 | Be the first → |
| 2 |
Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV
|
8.3 | 225/45 R17 | Be the first → |
| 3 |
Vredestein Quatrac Pro+
|
8.1 | All your sizes | Be the first → |
Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best All Weather Tires →
Fitment comes from each tire's manufactured size list, and the sizes are the ones drivers reported when they reviewed. Check the size, load index and speed rating on your own doorplate before buying - a size a previous owner ran is not always the size your car left the factory on.
How long do tires last on the Ford Focus ST?
Across 17 end of life reviews from Ford Focus ST drivers, a typical set of tires was worn out after 6,500 miles. Half of all worn-out sets lasted between 6,000 miles and 12,427 miles.
Distances are self-reported by drivers whose review marked the set as worn out; figures are medians, so a single unusual report cannot move them.
Every tire reviewed on the Ford Focus ST
The complete record, including discontinued tires and tires with too few reviews to rank, ordered by the amount of evidence. A further 53 tires have a single review each; they count toward the totals but are not listed.
| Tire | Season | Owner rating | Reviews | Distance reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 Replaced by Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | Summer | 83% | 15 | 122,457 miles |
| Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta Replaced by Vredestein Ultrac Pro | Summer | 82% | 8 | 58,700 miles |
| Goodyear Excellence Replaced by Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 | Summer | 59% | 6 | 83,000 miles |
| Continental Sport Contact 2 Replaced by Continental SportContact 7 | Summer | 75% | 5 | 53,000 miles |
| Continental Sport Contact 3 Replaced by Continental SportContact 7 | Summer | 70% | 4 | 42,800 miles |
| Matador MP 46 Hectorra 2 | Summer | 96% | 3 | 25,000 miles |
| Uniroyal RainSport 3 Replaced by Uniroyal RainSport 5 | Summer | 87% | 3 | 4,500 miles |
| Pirelli P Zero Replaced by Pirelli P Zero PZ5 | Summer | 86% | 3 | 26,000 miles |
| Nexen N6000 | Summer | 79% | 3 | 20,000 miles |
| Toyo T1R Replaced by Toyo Proxes T1 Sport+ | Summer | 71% | 3 | 17,000 miles |
| Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 Replaced by Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | Summer | 66% | 3 | 65,000 miles |
| Uniroyal RainSport 5 | Summer | 53% | 3 | 8,200 miles |
| BCT S800 | Summer | 41% | 3 | 9,000 miles |
| Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 Replaced by Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | Summer | 95% | 2 | 13,000 miles |
| Uniroyal RainSport 2 Replaced by Uniroyal RainSport 5 | Summer | 95% | 2 | 0 miles |
| Kumho Ecsta KU31 | Summer | 92% | 2 | 20,000 miles |
| Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 Replaced by Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | Summer | 92% | 2 | 3,500 miles |
| Continental SportContact 7 | Summer | 87% | 2 | 16,563 miles |
| Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S Replaced by Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 | Summer | 85% | 2 | 26,427 miles |
| Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric Replaced by Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | Summer | 84% | 2 | 50,000 miles |
| Toyo R1R | Summer | 82% | 2 | 14,500 miles |
| Barum Bravuris 2 Replaced by Barum Bravuris 3 | Summer | 82% | 2 | 19,000 miles |
| Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | Summer | 81% | 2 | 6,900 miles |
| Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ | Winter | 70% | 2 | 11,214 miles |
| General Altimax Sport Replaced by General Altimax One S | Summer | 69% | 2 | 10,000 miles |
| Nankang NS2 Replaced by Nankang Noble Sport NS20 | Summer | 66% | 2 | 2,020 miles |
| Federal SS595 SUPER STEEL | Summer | 61% | 2 | 45,000 miles |
| Toyo Proxes 4 Replaced by Toyo Proxes 4 Plus | Summer | 47% | 2 | 18,000 miles |
| Falken FK452 Replaced by Falken Azenis FK520 | Summer | 32% | 2 | 15,500 miles |
| Avon ZV7 | Summer | 21% | 2 | 16,000 miles |
| Event WL905 | Summer | 10% | 2 | 3,000 miles |
Tire sizes Ford Focus ST drivers run
The sizes fitted in the reviews on this page. Each one links to the top rated tires in that size, across every car.
Ford Focus ST variants, reviewed separately
These trims and body styles have pages of their own. Their reviews are already counted in the rankings above.
What Ford Focus ST drivers say
The most recent owner reviews from this car, in their own words.
In comparison with non sport tires like the Continental PremiumContact 6 the grip in dry conditions is outstanding and better like other tires I have driven (e.g. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric). The Wet-Grip is surprisingly good and did not fade with lower tread depth (yet). No disturbing noise while driving.
Great. For a low profile tire on a reasonably pokey car they did really well. Couldn’t really push them beyond limits in the dry, worked well in the wet and on small amounts of snow and ice were fantastic. Excellent driving past other sliding around on hills. I run winter tires all year round, find they generally last longer than summer tires (I know they shouldn’t but that’s my experience). I don’t see any real loss in dry grip and they are fantastic in ice and snow. I also drive in wet grass through the summer so find winter tires really help compared to standard summers here. These Michelin’s were great.
Focus ST with 280bhp. Commuting driving and occasional spirited drive. Heavy wear but great grip.
This tire wore out within 1 year/less than 10,000kms, from modest city drying. Don't waste your money, its wasn't even that enjoyable, felt spongy and wore out like a pencil rubber. Such a bad experience, cant believe a German brand ranges a tire like this.
Good tires, but due to 35 profile horrendous on potholes. Also Rim Protection useless, rims project beyond tire. Next time would get R18 on new wheels not R19, and 245 vs 235 on originals
My experience so far was great. The only thing they are missing is a bit more grip in the wet and more communicative sterring feel like you get on something like continental
First of all I would like to mention that I have switched cars and tires too. I went from an Audi A4 B8.5 Quattro on Continental Wintercontact 870Ps to a Ford Focus ST mk4 and I was a bit worried going from awd to fwd during the winter, but Pirelli have made a great tire. Dry, wet and snow grip are excellent, the only circumstance where I have found the tires to not overachieve my expectations are conditions when the roads are soaking wet and the ambient temperatures are above 3 degrees Celsius and that is only in longitudinal grip when accelerating. Braking is amazing, lateral grip is astonishing for a winter tire and ice and performance is very good and wear seems also good. I would definitely recommend this tire to anyone.
Had difficulty finding good winters for my 18x8 wheels and made the mistake of settling for these. I've had a great experience with nitto for my summer tires. But don't make the same mistake as I did and expect these to be particularly good in snow. They're an adequate all season tire. No more.
Good for a commuter in a moderate climate. But here in Minnesota they've been a bit sketchier that I would have liked.
Good for a commuter in a moderate climate. But here in Minnesota they've been a bit sketchier that I would have liked.
I live in a northern climate where summer tires are rarely a priority. But as an enthusiast, I wanted to find a performance option that could handle the wet of our spring and fall seasons. The neo gen fits that niche fabulously. Responsive, good road feel, and decent grip. But they really shine in the wet. Which gives me the confidence to enjoy the drive every day despite the weather.
The cons are road noise and comfort. So definitely more for enthusiasts than a typical commuter. I'd recommend them for a quick, fun, daily driver like my focus ST. As an added bonus, I think they look great too.
The cons are road noise and comfort. So definitely more for enthusiasts than a typical commuter. I'd recommend them for a quick, fun, daily driver like my focus ST. As an added bonus, I think they look great too.
Drive a Ford Focus ST?
Review your tires and help the next owner choose. It takes about five minutes, and every review on this page came from a driver who took them.
Where this data comes from
Every rating on this page was submitted by a driver through the review form on this site, naming the car, the tire, the size and the distance covered. Reviews are checked by hand before publication, and the page rebuilds automatically as new ones arrive.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, so you can check a car-specific ranking against the wider evidence.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.