The British magazine evo has chosen the very popular size 225/40 R18 fitted on a Volkswagen Golf GTI for its 2019 tyre test. 7 UHP tyres were put through a series of tests in Italy to determine which one delivers the best performances and is most balanced.

By Published On: 3 June 2021Categories: Tyre reviews916 words5 min read
Tyre sets the road alight with its outstanding performance
What tyre for good performance on the road? The evo magazine tested 7 UHP tyres on the track. © Adobe Stock

7 tyres

The British magazine evo headed to Pirelli’s track in Vizzola, Italy to conduct various tyre tests on a Volkswagen Golf GTI. To choose the tyres tested, evo contacted tyre manufacturers to ask them to name a tyre in the size 225/40 R18, and then bought it from a retailer. If Bridgestone, Yokohama and Hankook declined the invitation, the following tyres reached the Milanese test centre.

  • Continental PremiumContact 6
  • Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2
  • Falken Azenis FK510
  • Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
  • Michelin Pilot Sport 4
  • Nokian Powerproof
  • Pirelli P Zero

An 8th tyre, the Maxxis Victra Sport 5 was also part of the comparison test. However, evo was unable to buy this tyre, and was obliged to conduct the test on a set of tyres sent by Maxxis. For fairness and objectivity, it is not included in the final ranking.

Find the best price for Maxxis Victra Sport 5

The evo magazine then set to work by subjecting these tyres to tests in different conditions: wet handling, wet braking, wet lateral grip, straight and curved aquaplaning, dry handling, dry braking, rolling resistance, track speed and finally a last test conducted on a road route.

Falken Azenis FK510 tyre test: evo’s opinion

The Falken Azenis FK510 tyre performs quite well according to evo. The Japanese manufacturer’s tyre obtains good results in most tests and is quite well balanced. It offers a better performance in wet conditions but is a little less incisive in dry conditions when it comes to handling. It is also the tyre with the longest braking distance on this surface, while it ranks second in wet braking tests.

Falken Azenis FK510
© Falken

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 tyre test: evo’s opinion

Best tyre in straight line aquaplaning tests, the new Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 is quite efficient according to evo. But, it lags behind the tyres which performed better during this comparison test. On a dry track, the Golf GTI fitted with these tyres recorded the slowest lap time. However, it has a low rolling resistance.

rezulteo’s test of the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 tyre on the Ascari track

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
The next generation of UHP tyre arrives with the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5. © Goodyear

Nokian Powerproof tyre test: evo’s opinion

Launched just one year ago, the Nokian Powerproof summer tyre is just starting to arrive in independent tyre tests. In this evo magazine tyre comparison test, the Finnish manufacturer’s tyre was perhaps not the best tyre in tests but it delivers a very satisfactory overall performance. evo underlines its skittish handling in wet conditions and its agility on dry surfaces. It offers a good compromise between sporty handling and refined comfort according to the magazine.

Discover the new SUV version of the Nokian Powerproof available from 2020

Nokian Powerproof tyre
rezulteo has tested the Nokian Powerproof UHP sumer tyre at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. © Nokian

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 tyre test: evo’s opinion

The Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 may be the most efficient tyre in aquaplaning tests, it obtains the poorest results in wet conditions. Nevertheless; it proves to be efficient and agile in handling tests on both wet and dry surfaces, despite a limited level of grip.

Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 tyre
© Dunlop

Continental PremiumContact 6 tyre test: evo’s opinion

The Continental PremiumContact 6 tyre impressed evo on the road. Best tyre on the “road route”, this tyre offers low noise and is the least affected by road imperfections. It persists in wet handling tests where it is efficient, just like in dry braking tests where it finishes in first placeOverall good results and a low rolling resistance which completes the assessment with evo underlining the strong performances of this tyre.

Continental PremiumContact 6 tyre
© rezulteo

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyre test: evo’s opinion

Today a standard in tyre tests, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 once again delivered very good performance in this comparison test. It is the tyre that delivered the most consistent performance in all the test workshops, always finishing in the top 3. Incisive and with a good steering response, evo sees no real weaknesses with this tyre which is slightly more expensive than the others. The price for performance says the British magazine.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyre
© Michelin

Pirelli P Zero tyre test: evo’s opinion

Best tyre in this 2019 comparison test, the Pirelli P Zero finished first in at least 6 of the test categories. It is particularly efficient in wet conditions and also offers the best steering feel. The P Zero was the fastest on both a wet and dry track delivering an outstanding level of grip. Only its rolling resistance, the highest of the tyres tested, undermines its performance. For evo, this is a necessary concession.

Pirelli P Zero tyre
Copyright – © Pirelli

Maxxis Victra Sport 5 tyre test: evo’s opinion

As mentioned above, the Maxxis Victra Sport 5 was the 8th tyre of this comparison test. Its performance, which was not taken into account in the final ranking, is nevertheless interesting. If it had been included, the Maxxis tyre quite simply beats all the other tyres. Efficient on both wet and dry surfaces, it is also the cheapest tyre of this comparison test. This is a tyre to look out for in the next independent tests providing that it can be acquired in the same way as for the other tyres in the comparison test.

Maxxis Victra Sport 5 tyre
© Maxxis
Tyre Ranking
Maxxis Victra Sport 5
Falken Azenis FK510 7
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 6
Nokian Powerproof 4=
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 4=
Continental PremiumContact 6 3
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 2
Pirelli P Zero 1

 

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