EVO selected 10 tyres in 235/40 R18 to test on a 261bhp Audi S3:
The Results:
As always our coverage doesn’t do the test justice, so make sure you pick up EVO issue 166 for the full write up and the detailed results breakdown.
1st: Continental Sport Contact 3
Total: 669.9 / Dry: 197.6 / Wet: 200 / Subjective: 200 / Rolling Resistance: 72.3
Overall: The ContiSportContact 3s only weakness was a little subjective feel on the road. It dominated the wet tests and was extremely strong in the dry. EVO commented as "an impressively complete performance". The Sport Contact 3 has now been replaced by the Sport Contact 5, which should be an even more impressive tyre.
2nd: Hankook Ventus S1 evo
Total: 666.4 / Dry: 196.4 / Wet: 194.5 / Subjective: 190.4 / Rolling Resistance: 85.1
Overall: Although the Hankook S1 Evo only managed a single top place (its subjective feel on the dry track) the rest of its results were strong enough to give it a close second behind the Conti and a whisker ahead of the Goodyear.
3rd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2
Total: 674.8 / Dry: 199.4 / Wet: 196.2 / Subjective: 187.9 / Rolling Resistance: 91.3
Overall: Outstanding in the dry, pulling the highest lateral G and shortest dry braking. Also very good in the wet just 0.8% slower than the Conti. Highly rated subjectively, a great all round tyre.
4th: Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3
Total: 649.1 / Dry: 193 / Wet: 194.4 / Subjective: 179.5 / Rolling Resistance: 82.2
Overall: The new Pilot Sport 3 scored well objectively in all tests. Slightly let down by its subjective feel, EVO still recommend it as a great all round tyre, having the best blend of comfort and precision on the road.
5th: Pirelli P Zero
Total: 641.8 / Dry: 195.4 / Wet: 197.7 / Subjective: 178.1 / Rolling Resistance: 70.6
Overall: Slightly ahead of the Bridgestone, the Pirelli P Zero offered a good all round performance - not the best in any test but usually in the top half in every test.
6th: Bridgestone Potenza S001
Total: 644.2 / Dry: 197.9 / Wet: 195.4 / Subjective: 180.3 / Rolling Resistance: 70.6
Overall: Unlike when we tested the S001 and found it a little numb, this version of the new Bridgestone echoes Bridgestones of old. Good dry grip with excellent feedback, average grip the wet but the excellent subjective scores make the tyre uncomfortable and bumpy on the road.
7th: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT
Total: 648.4 / Dry: 197.7 / Wet: 196.4 / Subjective: 176.6 / Rolling Resistance: 77.7
Overall: Echoing our own long term test findings, while the Dunlop Sport Maxx GT offers excellent grip in the wet and dry, it's somewhat let down by the average steering feel it provides.
8th: Vredestein Ultrac Cento
Total: 620.2 / Dry: 190.4 / Wet: 189.9 / Subjective: 161.6 / Rolling Resistance: 78.3
Overall: Slowest tyre in the dry with a poor subjective score to boot, and almost as poor in the wet. The Ultrac Cento might just be starting to show its age.
9th: Kumho Ecsta KU39
Total: 594 / Dry: 192.6 / Wet: 174.4 / Subjective: 140.3 / Rolling Resistance: 86.7
Overall: A very average performance from the Kumho KU39 left Kumhos flagship tyre in 9th. Like the Accelera in 10th, the Kumho was ok in the dry, but struggled in the wet.
10th: Accelera PHI
Total: 584.8 / Dry: 194.6 / Wet: 165.7 / Subjective: 124.5 / Rolling Resistance: 100
Overall: Finishing bottom of the table in nearly every test secured the Accelera its last place, however EVO noted it wasn't as bad as some of the other budgets tested in previous years. As is the norm with budget tyres, it was capable in the dry but lacked grip, composure and safety when the surface changed to wet.
