2019 EVO Summer Tyre Test

Dry BrakingContinental Premium Contact 6: 35.2 MFalken Azenis FK510: 37.3 M
Dry HandlingPirelli P Zero PZ4: 87.3 sGoodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5: 89.3 s
Subj. Dry HandlingPirelli P Zero PZ4: 63 PointsFalken Azenis FK510: 47 Points
Wet BrakingPirelli P Zero PZ4: 37.5 MDunlop SportMaxx RT 2: 40.8 M
Wet HandlingPirelli P Zero PZ4: 82.1 sNokian PowerProof: 84.4 s
Subj. Wet HandlingPirelli P Zero PZ4: 59 PointsGoodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5: 49 Points
Straight AquaGoodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5: 77.5 Km/HContinental Premium Contact 6: 75.3 Km/H
Subj. ComfortContinental Premium Contact 6: 24 PointsFalken Azenis FK510: 18.5 Points
Rolling ResistanceDunlop SportMaxx RT 2: 8.58 kg / tPirelli P Zero PZ4: 10.16 kg / t
The excellent UK automotive magazine EVO always seems to publish their summer tyre test late in the season, but it shouldn't be ignored as it's one of the best in Europe if you care as much about steering feel and feedback as you do ultimate grip.

This year, EVO have tested seven 225/40 R18 UHP tyres using a VW Golf GTI at the Pirelli test facility in Vizzola, Italy, and while the volume of tyres is surprisingly small for such a common size, the breath of testing was as vast as any European tyre test.

Dry

As ever, the dry testing was close, but this test showed a return to form by Pirelli.

During dry handling the P Zero had a huge advantage, finishing nearly a second over the second placed Michelin Pilot Sport 4, with both tyres scoring well subjectively by demonstrating quick, accurate steering, and good feedback.

The Michelin also had nearly a second advantage over the third place Dunlop SportMaxx RT2, with the older Dunlop lacking the traction and steering feel of the best on test. Fourth place was joint awarded to the Continental PremiumContact 6 and Falken FK510. While they finished with matching lap times, subjectively the Continental was much better around the lap, with the Falken feeling light and inaccurate. The Nokian PowerProof and new Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 rounded out the results, with the Goodyear scoring slightly better subjectively.

 

Dry braking had a similar overall result, this time with Continental leading Michelin and Pirelli.

Wet

Once again, Pirelli dominated wet testing at their home track, with an unusually large 1.2 second advantage over just 1.8km. Michelin and Continental finished second and third place for both the timed lap, and subjective handling scores.

Dunlop and Falken placed fourth and fifth respectively in both timed and subjective handling, and the new Goodyear had another poor result finishing sixth in time, and last subjectively. This isn't something that's been shown in other testing.

Wet braking again showed the dominance of the Pirelli, finishing a meter ahead of the Falken and 1.5 meters ahead of third placed Michelin.

Aquaplaning resulted in a rest bite for Goodyear, winning the straight aquaplaning test.

Environment

EVO Magazine doesn't test NVH in a normal way, instead they run a road route on the tyre which looks at noise and comfort levels, along with steering weight, feel and feedback on the road.

In this testing, the Continental proved to be the best on the road tyre, largely thanks to its excellent refinement over all types of road surface.

If you'd prefer a little more steering feel over comfort, the Pirelli and Michelin both offered more feedback, with the Michelin doing a better job than the Pirelli of combining comfort and steering feel.

Surprisingly the Falken, which is often rated in other testing as having excellent levels of comfort at the expense of subjectively handling, was last in this test.

Rolling resistance was the weak point of the Pirelli, finishing last.

 

Results

Don't forget to go and pick up the magazine or check out www.evo.co.uk for the full test details!

1st: Pirelli P Zero PZ4

Pirelli P Zero PZ4
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd35.5 M35.2 M+0.3 M99.15%
Dry Handling1st87.3 s100%
Subj. Dry Handling1st63 Points100%
Wet Braking1st37.5 M100%
Wet Handling1st82.1 s100%
Subj. Wet Handling1st59 Points100%
Straight Aqua4th75.7 Km/H77.5 Km/H-1.8 Km/H97.68%
Subj. Comfort2nd23.5 Points24 Points-0.5 Points97.92%
Rolling Resistance7th10.16 kg / t8.58 kg / t+1.58 kg / t84.45%
There may be a slight home advantage in tyre testing, but with no fewer than six top spots, the PZ4 P Zero totally dominated this test. The tyre dominated in both wet and dry testing, objectively and subjectively.

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2nd: Michelin Pilot Sport 4

Michelin Pilot Sport 4
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking2nd35.4 M35.2 M+0.2 M99.44%
Dry Handling2nd88.1 s87.3 s+0.8 s99.09%
Subj. Dry Handling2nd57.5 Points63 Points-5.5 Points91.27%
Wet Braking3rd39 M37.5 M+1.5 M96.15%
Wet Handling2nd83.3 s82.1 s+1.2 s98.56%
Subj. Wet Handling2nd56.5 Points59 Points-2.5 Points95.76%
Straight Aqua3rd76.7 Km/H77.5 Km/H-0.8 Km/H98.97%
Subj. Comfort2nd23.5 Points24 Points-0.5 Points97.92%
Rolling Resistance5th8.88 kg / t8.58 kg / t+0.3 kg / t96.62%
While the Pilot Sport 4 didn't win any test, it was almost always in the top three, having a very rounded balance of performances, and great steering feel in the wet and dry.

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3rd: Continental Premium Contact 6

Continental Premium Contact 6
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking1st35.2 M100%
Dry Handling4th89.1 s87.3 s+1.8 s97.98%
Subj. Dry Handling5th51 Points63 Points-12 Points80.95%
Wet Braking5th39.7 M37.5 M+2.2 M94.46%
Wet Handling3rd84.1 s82.1 s+2 s97.62%
Subj. Wet Handling3rd55.5 Points59 Points-3.5 Points94.07%
Straight Aqua7th75.3 Km/H77.5 Km/H-2.2 Km/H97.16%
Subj. Comfort1st24 Points100%
Rolling Resistance4th8.84 kg / t8.58 kg / t+0.26 kg / t97.06%
The best tyre on the road route, offering low noise and high comfort, and strong in the wet.

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4th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th36.9 M35.2 M+1.7 M95.39%
Dry Handling3rd89 s87.3 s+1.7 s98.09%
Subj. Dry Handling3rd52 Points63 Points-11 Points82.54%
Wet Braking7th40.8 M37.5 M+3.3 M91.91%
Wet Handling4th84.3 s82.1 s+2.2 s97.39%
Subj. Wet Handling4th53 Points59 Points-6 Points89.83%
Straight Aqua2nd76.9 Km/H77.5 Km/H-0.6 Km/H99.23%
Subj. Comfort6th21 Points24 Points-3 Points87.5%
Rolling Resistance1st8.58 kg / t100%
Lowest rolling resistance and best curved aquaplaning result, the Dunlop had mild traction issues in the dry and wet.

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4th: Nokian PowerProof

Nokian PowerProof
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking4th36.2 M35.2 M+1 M97.24%
Dry Handling6th89.2 s87.3 s+1.9 s97.87%
Subj. Dry Handling6th50.5 Points63 Points-12.5 Points80.16%
Wet Braking4th39.1 M37.5 M+1.6 M95.91%
Wet Handling5th84.4 s82.1 s+2.3 s97.27%
Subj. Wet Handling5th51 Points59 Points-8 Points86.44%
Straight Aqua5th75.6 Km/H77.5 Km/H-1.9 Km/H97.55%
Subj. Comfort4th23 Points24 Points-1 Points95.83%
Rolling Resistance3rd8.77 kg / t8.58 kg / t+0.19 kg / t97.83%
A solid balance of results for the Nokian resulted in joint fourth. "Agile and willing" in the dry, but a little skittish in the wet.

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6th: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking5th36.6 M35.2 M+1.4 M96.17%
Dry Handling7th89.3 s87.3 s+2 s97.76%
Subj. Dry Handling3rd52 Points63 Points-11 Points82.54%
Wet Braking6th39.9 M37.5 M+2.4 M93.98%
Wet Handling5th84.4 s82.1 s+2.3 s97.27%
Subj. Wet Handling7th49 Points59 Points-10 Points83.05%
Straight Aqua1st77.5 Km/H100%
Subj. Comfort5th22.5 Points24 Points-1.5 Points93.75%
Rolling Resistance2nd8.59 kg / t8.58 kg / t+0.01 kg / t99.88%
An unusually poor result for the Asym5, with a lack of steering feel and grip in the dry and wet testing.

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7th: Falken Azenis FK510

Falken Azenis FK510
  • 225/40 R18
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking7th37.3 M35.2 M+2.1 M94.37%
Dry Handling4th89.1 s87.3 s+1.8 s97.98%
Subj. Dry Handling7th47 Points63 Points-16 Points74.6%
Wet Braking2nd38.5 M37.5 M+1 M97.4%
Wet Handling5th84.4 s82.1 s+2.3 s97.27%
Subj. Wet Handling5th51 Points59 Points-8 Points86.44%
Straight Aqua6th75.4 Km/H77.5 Km/H-2.1 Km/H97.29%
Subj. Comfort7th18.5 Points24 Points-5.5 Points77.08%
Rolling Resistance6th9.08 kg / t8.58 kg / t+0.5 kg / t94.49%
Scored well in the wet tests, however it lacked subjective steering feel and refinement on the road route.

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