Wheel-Size.com - Entries for the category Tire Performance Reviews

Sportauto 2024: Summer Tire Test R18

alexander.zagvozdin@gmail.com (Alexander) — Thu, 02 May 2024 06:15:52 +0000

In SportAuto's 2024 tire testing series, the focus is centered on evaluating high-performance summer tires sized 215/40R18, using the Hyundai i20 N as a test vehicle. Known for its robust handling and performance, the i20 N provided a consistent basis for assessing these tires under controlled conditions.

The lineup for this evaluation featured notable competitors. Participants included the Bridgestone Turanza T005 touring tire, and although the newly anticipated Potenza Sport was not available at the time testing began, the lineup was still strong. Competitors included the Continental PremiumContact 7, Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2, Maxxis Victra Sport 5, and Michelin Pilot Sport 5. To provide a comprehensive comparison, Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 tires were also tested to benchmark their performance against the summer tires

The testing sessions took place near Rome, under optimal conditions—variable cloudiness and temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius. To ensure fairness and accuracy, each set of tires was preconditioned by running them for approximately 100 kilometers to wear in the tread surface adequately. This step was crucial for the tires to exhibit their true performance characteristics.

Each testing round began with a run on the reference tire, followed by the subsequent sets. The reference tire was retested before switching to the next set to account for any variables such as changes in asphalt temperature, wind direction, or moisture levels on the track. These factors were meticulously considered when interpreting the final results to ensure a precise and unbiased evaluation of each tire's capabilities.

Testing of Tire Performance Across Disciplines

During the tire testing series, the initial evaluation focused on braking performance from 80 km/h on wet asphalt and from 100 km/h on dry asphalt. On the dry surface, the Continental PremiumContact 7 showcased superior stopping power, achieving the shortest braking distance. Conversely, the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT 2 lagged behind, with a stopping discrepancy of 1.6 meters compared to the Continental on dry asphalt and an even greater gap of 2.2 meters on wet surfaces.

Dry Braking

Continental: 35.5
Michelin: 35.5
Maxxis: 35.9
Bridgestone: 36.4
Dunlop: 37.1
Goodyear: 43.2

Info! Dry braking in meters, 100-0 km/h.

Dry Handling

Continental: 105.3
Michelin: 105.1
Maxxis: 103.8
Dunlop: 103.7
Bridgestone: 103.5
Goodyear: 101.4

Info! Dry handling average speed, km/h.

As anticipated, the all-season Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 tire performed less effectively than its summer counterparts. This result is attributed to the tire's more flexible tread blocks and rubber composition, which are designed to remain effective in cold temperatures and on snowy surfaces. For context, when summer tires enabled the vehicle to come to a complete stop, the vehicle fitted with the all-season Goodyear tires was still traveling at a significant speed of 33.7 km/h on dry asphalt. This demonstrates the trade-offs between all-season adaptability and the optimized performance of dedicated summer tires.

Rolling Resistance

Bridgestone: 7.8
Dunlop: 7.9
Continental: 8.2
Michelin: 8.2
Goodyear: 8.8
Maxxis: 9.2

Info! Rolling resistance, kg/t.

Noise

Goodyear: 71.0
Dunlop: 71.4
Maxxis: 71.5
Bridgestone: 71.8
Continental: 71.9
Michelin: 72.2

Info! Noise, dB.

In wet conditions, the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 all-season tires still managed to impress, despite inherent disadvantages in hydroplaning resistance, with a residual speed of 32.3 km/h. This figure underscores the tire's robust performance among all-season models but highlights a critical shortfall in water displacement capabilities. The lack of wide longitudinal grooves in the V-shaped tread pattern means that these tires do not channel water as effectively as summer tires, leading to earlier loss of contact with the road surface due to hydroplaning.

Michelin, Bridgestone, and Dunlop excelled in hydroplaning resistance, benefiting from deeper treads and optimized patterns that enhance water evacuation, significantly improving wet road adherence.

Wet Braking

Continental: 29.8
Bridgestone: 30.6
Michelin: 30.8
Maxxis: 31.5
Dunlop: 32.0
Goodyear: 35.6

Info! Wet braking in meters, 80-0 km/h.

Lateral Stability

Continental: 8.72
Michelin: 8.71
Maxxis: 8.71
Bridgestone: 8.68
Dunlop: 8.54
Goodyear: 8.07

Info! Maximum lateral aceleration, km/h.

The test then moved to handling evaluations on a sports track, where experienced drivers conducted time trials over four laps. The Continental tires performed admirably on the wet track, clocking consistent laps in the 75-second range. The all-season tires were not far behind, with times around 79 seconds—only four seconds slower, illustrating that while all-season tires can be viable in summer, extra caution and increased following distances are necessary for safe emergency braking.

Wet Handling

Continental: 80.2
Michelin: 79.6
Maxxis: 79.1
Bridgestone: 79.1
Dunlop: 78.1
Goodyear: 76.6

Info! Wet handling average speed, km/h.

In their evaluation, Sportauto also focused on how the tires behaved when the driver eased off the throttle in a turn and the stability of the rear axle when it was no longer under load. They tested this in various scenarios, including both tight, slow corners and fast, sweeping curves, to assess the tires' tendency to understeer, their responsiveness, and how accurately they followed steering inputs.

For the dry asphalt tests, the team at Sportauto pushed the speeds higher to rigorously test the tires under more demanding conditions. They found that the rigidity of the tire’s tread blocks and the shoulder zone played a crucial role in achieving top speeds and maintaining stability in turns. Although the all-season tires were deemed safe, they showed noticeable wear when tested on rough, abrasive asphalt, indicating that while effective across various conditions, their longevity could be compromised in more challenging environments.

Straight Hydroplaning

Bridgestone: 77.2
Dunlop: 76.8
Michelin: 76.7
Continental: 76.4
Maxxis: 76.3
Goodyear: 71.2

Info! Float speed, km/h.

Lateral Hydroplaning

Continental: 8.45
Dunlop: 8.15
Bridgestone: 7.96
Maxxis: 7.95
Michelin: 7.76
Goodyear: 5.32

Info! Lateral acceleration, m/s².

Overall Verdict

The Continental PremiumContact 7 emerged as the clear victor in Sportauto's comprehensive testing, excelling across nearly all categories and demonstrating impressive safety margins on wet surfaces. The Michelin Pilot Sport 5, although slightly less adept in wet conditions, redeemed itself with strong performance on dry asphalt. The Bridgestone Turanza T005, while cost-effective, couldn't quite match the performance of its sportier counterparts, landing it in third place. Maxxis trailed in fourth, with its performance significantly hampered by poor traction on wet pavement. In fifth place, the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 demonstrated solid performance with excellent dry braking and handling but showed areas for improvement in wet conditions. Rounding out the test, the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3, despite being versatile, struggled with wet braking and handling, typical challenges for all-season tires.

Result summary. Sportauto Summer Tire Test— 215/40R18 Places 1–6. (click to enlarge)

Results

1st Place: Continental / PremiumContact 7

Quick Take

Continental PremiumContact 7

Passenger - Premuim Touring Summer

Type: / Summer

This tire replaced Continental / PremiumContact 6
Recommended Tire by Tests

Year Released: 2022
Regions for sale: Europe

Place	Brand / Model	Wet Braking	Dry Braking	Total
1	Bridgestone Weather Control A005 Evo	44,4	41,4	85,8
2	Vredestein Quatrac	47,1	41,7	88,8
3	Michelin CrossClimate 2	49,2	39,9	89,1
4	Kleber Quadraxer 3	49,4	40,3	89,7
5	Hankook Kinergy 4S2 H750	48,0	42,1	90,1
6	Goodyear Vector 4Seasons gen-3	46,8	43,9	90,7
7	Dunlop Sport All Season	46,6	44,6	91,2
8	Continental AllSeasonContact	48,9	45,8	94,7
9	Firestone Multiseason Gen 02	48,9	45,9	94,8
10	Maxxis Premitra All Season AP3	51,8	43,1	94,9
11	Falken EuroAll Season AS210	51,6	44,4	96,0
12	Kumho Solus 4S HA32+	51,9	44,4	96,3
13	Toyo Celsius AS2	53,2	43,5	96,7
14	Nexen N’Blue 4Season	54,5	43,7	98,2
15	Nokian Seasonproof	52,4	46,3	98,7
16	Laufenn G FIT 4S	53,9	45,2	99,1
17	CST Medallion All Season ACP1	53,0	46,6	99,6
18	GT Radial 4Seasons	51,3	49,3	100,6
19	Tristar All Season Power	57,6	43,1	100,7
20	Sebring All Season	58,3	42,5	100,8
21	Triangle SeasonX TA01	57,1	45,6	102,7
22	Minerva All Season Master	58,3	45,0	103,3
23	Ovation VI-782 AS	56,2	47,1	103,3
24	Kormoran All Season	61,0	42,4	103,4
25	Tracmax X-Privilio Trac Saver	58,0	45,7	103,7
26	Nankang AW-6	57,6	46,9	104,5
27	Hifly All-Turi 221	57,5	47,6	105,1
28	Torque TQ025	58,1	48,6	106,7
29	Fortuna Ecoplus 4S	63,1	43,9	107,0
30	Goodride All Season Elite Z-401	58,5	48,7	107,2
31	Fulda MultiControl	56,3	51,1	107,4
32	Superia Ecoblue 4S	63,6	44,2	107,8
33	Westlake All Season Elite Z-401	57,6	50,5	108,1
34	Ceat 4 SeasonDrive	63,7	44,9	108,6
35	Atlas Green 4S	66,2	45,0	111,2

Wheel-Size.com - Entries for the category Tire Performance Reviews

Sportauto 2024: Summer Tire Test R18

Testing of Tire Performance Across Disciplines

Dry Braking

Dry Handling

Rolling Resistance

Noise

Wet Braking

Lateral Stability

Wet Handling

Straight Hydroplaning

Lateral Hydroplaning

Overall Verdict

Results

Continental PremiumContact 7

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Bridgestone Turanza T005

Maxxis Victra Sport 5 VS5

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2

Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3

Autobild 2024: Summer Tire Test R16

Dry

Dry Braking

Dry Handling

Wet

Wet Braking

Wet Handling

Straight Hydroplaning

Lateral Hydroplaning

Other

Noise

Treadwear

Value

Rolling Resistance

Overall Verdict

Results

Michelin Primacy 4+

Continental PremiumContact 7

Bridgestone Turanza 6

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Firestone RoadHawk

Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 K135

Toyo Proxes Comfort

Dunlop Sport BluResponse

Fulda EcoControl HP2

BFGoodrich Advantage

Kleber Dynaxer HP4

GT Radial Champiro FE2

Giti GitiSynergy H2

Pirelli Cinturato P7 (P7C2)

Nexen N Fera Primus

Uniroyal RainSport 5

Maxxis Premitra 5 HP5

Vredestein Ultrac

ADAC: Test of 215/55 R17 Summer Tires for Compact Crossovers (2024)

Wet

Wet Braking

Wet Braking - Concrete

Straight Hydroplaning

Lateral Hydroplaning

Dry

Dry Braking

Treadwear and Value

Treadwear

Value

Fuel Efficiency, Abrasion and Noise

Fuel Efficiecny

Abrasion

Noise

Overall Verdict: Choosing the Right Tire

Results

Continental PremiumContact 7

Michelin Primacy 4+

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Debica Presto UHP 2

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2

Bridgestone Turanza 6

Fulda SportControl 2