After many tests focusing on sustainability and EVs, we have an “old-school” test of tires with the main focus on sporty driving and safety. In the starting field, there are the usual sporty premium models as well as some cheaper models and even 2 chinese tires to get the full picture.
The test was conducted on a Audi TT, but the results will be very similar for all tires with width of 245 and 235 mm. The winner is the great Continental SportContact 7 (â 100), which showed weaknesses only in rolling resistance and comfort parts of the test. Second place goes to Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 (â 93) and the third is Pirelli P Zero PZ4.
Interesting takeaways from the test:
1. Big Performance Gaps in Wet Braking
⢠The difference between the best and worst tire in wet braking stretched to nearly 30 meters (from 100 km/h). Thatâs a massive safety marginâenough to be the difference between a near miss and a serious collision.
⢠The Double Coin tire stood out (in a bad way) with the longest wet braking distance (almost 70 meters), making it a real risk factor in wet conditions.
2. Budget Tire Surprises
⢠Not all budget tires performed equally poorly. The Triangle Effexsport TH202 showed surprisingly good resistance to aquaplaning, outpacing even some premium brands in this specific test.
⢠However, that same Triangle model fell behind significantly in wet braking, where it needed more than ten extra meters compared to top performers. So, while budget tires can occasionally excel in one category, they can still lag badly in others.
3. Premium Brands Still Dominate Overall
⢠Continentalâs SportContact 7 took top honors with extremely consistent grip in both wet and dry. Interestingly, the Continental tread showed some wear (âchunkingâ) after about five to six intense laps, but overall performance remained best-in-class.
4. Aquaplaning vs. Cornering Grip
⢠You might assume a tire great at resisting aquaplaning would also ace wet handling, but thatâs not always the case. Some tires (like the cheaper Triangle) can channel away water effectively in a straight line yet struggle to offer sufficient lateral grip in corners.
5. Rolling Resistance Matters
⢠Firestone turned out to be the biggest fuel-saver, with the lowest rolling resistance of the bunch. Compared to the highest rolling-resistance tire (Triangle), Firestone could help you save around five percent on fuel. For frequent drivers, thatâs a noticeable difference over time.
6. Noise Levels Arenât Always Tied to Performance
⢠The test measured both interior perception and pass-by noise (dB). Interestingly, Goodyear scored very well for quiet operation, yet still ranked among the top for performance.
⢠Double Coin was quiet from the outside (lowest measured pass-by noise) but failed in critical safety areas, proving that silence doesnât necessarily mean quality.