In a recent tyre review conducted by Jonathan Benson from Tyre Reviews, he goes above and beyond to delve into the depths of tyre performance. His latest assessment involves subjecting the latest ultra-high-performance tyres from renowned brands to rigorous wet and dry testing on a track. Notably, the evaluation now incorporates longevity and environmental impact considerations in the final ratings.
The six participants in this evaluation include:
· Michelin Pilot Sport 5
· Bridgestone Potenza
· Continental PremiumContact 7
· Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
· Yokohama Advan Sport V107
· Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
The chosen vehicle for the test is a splendid VW Golf GTI hot hatchback, and the precise location in France remains undisclosed, with expectations of sunny weather. Despite encountering substantial rainfall throughout the week of testing, Benson managed to gather significant data during the intermittent dry periods. It is worth mentioning that the Pirelli brand was excluded from the test due to time and space constraints, as well as the imminent release of a new P Zero model.
In his customary fashion, he conducts thorough tests on each tyre, subjecting them to various conditions. Going beyond the typical wet and dry scenarios, Benson meticulously records temperature readings of the tyres, the track, and the water to formulate his assessments. In essence, there are no clear losers among the group; Benson was genuinely impressed with all the tyres. Nevertheless, some tyres outperform others.
In terms of statistics, there was a five-second gap between the fastest tyre (Bridgestone) and the slowest one (Michelin) in wet weather. However, Benson mentions that the Bridgestone tyre was quite responsive but had a tendency to oversteer. Regarding braking on wet surfaces, Continental had a noticeable edge over the other brands. In dry conditions, the variation between the top-performing tyre (Goodyear) and the poorest performer (Yokohama) was only two percent. The difference in lap times was minimal, with just 1.5 seconds separating them, and the Yokohama tyre emerged as the winner.
Exclusive to this assessment is a durability examination. In order to conduct this test, Benson enlisted the services of Dekra, a renowned European organization renowned for their thorough evaluation of products. The tyres underwent experimental trials in authentic conditions, affixed to a fleet of vehicles that traveled together along a designated route. To ensure accuracy in the results, the tyres were regularly switched between cars to account for any potential variations in a vehicle configuration. Additionally, the drivers also exchanged cars during the test. Michelin utilized a laser scanner to meticulously record the most favorable wear attributes. However, there was a significant disparity between the best and worst performers this time. Yokohama and Bridgestone occupied the bottom ranks, displaying a 33% discrepancy compared to the Pilot Sport 5.
As part of this evaluation, an additional examination focused on the ecological footprint. Specifically, it assessed the amount of rubber particles emitted by tyres during typical driving situations. Once again, Michelin emerged as the top performer, registering a rate of 65.7 milligrams per kilometer, equivalent to 0.00014 pounds per six-tenths of a mile. It should be noted, however, that this figure would significantly increase if one were to engage in activities such as tyre burnouts.
Considering the evaluations’ outcomes, the Continental PremiumContact 7 emerged as the top performer. However, Benson provides personal viewpoints regarding alternative brands, which vary based on individual driving preferences. You can find further details in the featured video within the article.
Source and Images: Motor1 & Tyre Reviews