EVO Tyre tests

[IceHanger]

Conducted by EVO on an S3, some interesting results!!

(copyied from RS246)

If you can't be ***** buying it I'll post the results here which are:
10th - Accelera PHI - Generally ok but stopping distance was scary in the wet
9th Khumo ECSTA KU39 - Very average and bad in the wet
8th Vredestein Ultrac Cento - Bottom of table for dry, lateral G and subjective score - Not good
7th Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT - On the pace in a number of areas, good in the wet but dry handing poor
6th Bridgestone Potenza S001 - Good in the wet and the dry but has sharp noisy ride and high rolling resistance
5th Pirelli P Zero - A whisker ahead of the Bridgestone with same high rolling resistance, did well but never topped a table with poor turn-in charachteristics
4th Michelin PS3's - Subjectively it was in the middle of the table but offered good blend of comfort and precision on the road - Good Tyre
3rd Goodyear Assymetric 2 - Very few weaknesses, outstanding in dry, shortest wet braking dist, highest lateral G recorded, lowest roll resist, very good Tyre
2nd Hankook Ventus S1 Evo - top for subjective dry handling, mid table for wet but good elsewhere. "Direct & precise with a lovely grippy feel through the wheel
1st Conti Sport Contact 3 - This was run very close by the Hankook and also the Goodyear - all 3 were separated but only 0.4 points. Great lateral G, very good wet and dry handling. Wet handling was described as 'Masterful'. Sure footed, smooth and feelsome with an impressive complete performance.

 

[S3Alex]

It was interesting as well as helpful.

I use PS3s as my winter tyre and Toyo R1Rs in summer and the Michelin is a decent all rounder without being exceptional in any area.

 

[benppl]

Good knows how conti came on top!

I have them on mine, there ok but the wear rate is shocking.

 

[BigBird]

I thought it was interesting to test them on the S3 - having had GY Eagle F1 Asy 1s / Conti 3s / Michelin PS3s on mine, all were pretty decent as the review said, but the PS3s wore out very quickly...

My current GY Asy 2s are certainly better than the Asy 1s, which I found great anyway...

 

[box500]

Good knows how conti came on top!

I have them on mine, there ok but the wear rate is shocking.

The testing was done at Continentals test track.

Make the assumption that most magazines are being paid by somebody to say something..

 

[Dandle]

The testing was done at Continentals test track.

Make the assumption that most magazines are being paid by somebody to say something..

It was done at Mira testing grounds in Warwick not the Contidrome so nothing to do with Continental.

 

[cloughy]

I've got CSC3's on mine, they're awesome

 

[MattyW19]

I'm getting due a change after 8500 miles on contis and they are shocking at the moment for grip! Even on a 1.4 tfsi they are struggling to put the power down..

Anyone had any experience with the good years?

 

[marknjayne]

when i need new tyres i have already decided on the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo,this review confirms i made a good choice

 

[Brett Butler]

I will almost go for hankooks next I have Hankook Ice bear on my car for winter, they are just fantastic costing £106 + VAT a corner

 

[marknjayne]

when i need new tyres i have already decided on the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo,this review confirms i made a good choice

my bad,i am looking at getting these not the Ventus S1

 

[razza1]

Goodyear f1 a2's every time

 

[Minstadave]

Good knows how conti came on top!

I have them on mine, there ok but the wear rate is shocking.

They're good tyres because they're a soft grippy compound, so the trade off for good performance is crap wear rates.

 

[marknjayne]

They're good tyres because they're a soft grippy compound, so the trade off for good performance is crap wear rates.

It is , I go through tyres in 3-5 k miles but that includes track and drag days along with general use , went through toyo 888,s very quick lol

 

[legin]

The conti 5 mo is even better than the 3. Interestingly I had old conti 2 (not bald) mixed with new conti 3 and the difference is the biggest I have ever experienced in 35 yrs of tyres the 2 was absolute junk but could be old age ? the conti 5 mo is staggeringly good. I have tried the goodyear and good as its is the conti does edge it in the dry imo. Test result for top 4 align with my experience as I run the Hankook on another car.

 

[crunchie]

Surprised to see the SC3's in 1st place.
Funny they are testing SC3's tho and not 5's?
PS2's all the way for me although they are getting quite hard t get them now.
Might have to get another set and stash them in the loft.

 

[Cheese]

I read the article and saw that they were testing 235/40 tyres. My car, a 2010 S3, actually came with 225/40 tyres. The wheels are 18".

Is it better to run 235/40 as I am due to cahnge tall 4 tyres in the coming month? Does this cause problems if the car is lowered? Once I get my new tyres I am going to get the car dropped by about 30mm at the front and 25mm at the back.

 

[warren_S5]

They've always used 225/40/18's on S3 8P so god only knows why they are testing 235's????

I've run Conti SC2's from factory on 8P2; not much cop. Wear very fast, exceptional at nothing.
Then Mich Pilot Sport 2's and they were immense, better in EVERY condition, good noise levels and sublime on track at Combe, beautifully balanced tyre.

I then switched to 19's and got Toyo T1R as part of wheel/tyre deal. Fair in dry, good for standing water, cack in snow. Under duress (Ring!) they became very unstable with a good dose of heat in them

Next was Uniroyal RainSport 2's. (19" tyre deal at Camskill). As I'm doing no track driving these slightly softer tyre walled tyres take the sting out of the 19's so you get comfort level of 18's. Wet weather kings (which is why I'm running them from Oct - Apr), but less successful in dry. Very good cornering grip, but compound is wearing fast.

I had Bridgestone Potenza RE050A from factory on 8P3, but didn't get enough mileage to test tyre feel other than they're rock solid.

Next: ??? Goodyear or Hankooks I think.

 

[box500]

Next was Uniroyal RainSport 2's. (19" tyre deal at Camskill). As I'm doing no track driving these slightly softer tyre walled tyres take the sting out of the 19's so you get comfort level of 18's. Wet weather kings (which is why I'm running them from Oct - Apr), but less successful in dry. Very good cornering grip, but compound is wearing fast.

That's exactly what I am doing Warren, got uniroyal rainsports on now myself, 4wd and UK weather makes for lots of grin factor when going past other cars at warp speed in the wet.

They don't have the ultimate dry grip but a very worthwhile compromise. I think I paid £122 inc vat fully fitted per tyre so not bad value at all.

Just trying to decide what premium summer tyre to go for next..

 

[Adamantium]

why would anyone use PS3s as a winter tyre?

If you bother to distinguish between summer and winter tyres, why not get a full on proper winter tyre and a full on proper summer tyre like an R888 or a michelin pilot super sport?

 

[Shadowman]

I have Conti SC3's on the TTS and haven't had any issues, but it is a bit of a toy so they don't tend to see much rain or mileage !

Had some Sport Maxx GT's on my 19' Speedlines and they didn't provide me with much confidence in the wet or the dry to be honest.....just felt a bit weird, and although they still have plenty of tread left, they have started to split on the sidewall ( 225/35's on 19 x 8.5 ) which shouldn't happen so I have ordered some of the Goodyear Assymetric 2's for Nath to fit for me when he has refurbed my wheels over the next couple of weeks.

I'll feed back on how they go.

 

[warren_S5]

why would anyone use PS3s as a winter tyre?

If you bother to distinguish between summer and winter tyres, why not get a full on proper winter tyre and a full on proper summer tyre like an R888 or a michelin pilot super sport?

To be honest with Haldex I've managed to limp about in deep snow on just legal Toyo's which are poor in snow.

I see the point of snow tyres if you like in a place that has high snowfall annually, but with the S3 if you abide by the road conditions you will be as safe as cars using snow tyres if you have a decent amount of tread depth and you're not running Sunny's or Nankangs ditchfinder specials! BM's or Merc's, or ridiculously powered hot hatches with front drive will benefit from snow tyres, but I can't really see the S3 delivering much more safety on snow tyres down here in the mild Saaaaarf! I'm just glad that if those morons who only have one driving style (rain, snow or sun) have got them they're less likely to mount my back bumper.

Snow tyres are supposed to be worse in some disciplines than summer tyres when it's not snowing, even under 7 degrees or whatever temp they quote. I guess the tyre block pattern is less stable as it's build to cut / shed snow rather than grip like the proverbial to a blanket, hence the low speed ratings.

 

[Cheese]

I had Bridgestone Potenza RE050A from factory on 8P3, but didn't get enough mileage to test tyre feel other than they're rock solid.

Yeah - I am not impressed by the hardness or road noise on the Bridgestone. Hence why I want to change. I've got 3mm on the fronts and 4mm and 6mm (replaced recently after a puncture) on the rears. I have just got to be patient now because I want to drop my car, probably on B14 coilovers, and will change all 4 tyres first. If only I could find a way to wear them down quickly...

 

[warren_S5]

Yeah - I am not impressed by the hardness or road noise on the Bridgestone. Hence why I want to change. I've got 3mm on the fronts and 4mm and 6mm (replaced recently after a puncture) on the rears. I have just got to be patient now because I want to drop my car, probably on B14 coilovers, and will change all 4 tyres first. If only I could find a way to wear them down quickly...

A few good laps at Castle Combe does wonders!

 

[Adamantium]

My winter tyres are dunlop wintersport 4ds.

They are blocked and so can be used in snow, but the compound is far mroe comfortable in our current temperatures than a proper summer tyre. I don't see them as snow tyres, I see them as cold temperature tyres. They are better in the cold and damp, and stopping distance at close to freezing temps when there is no snow in sight is in a different league from using summer tyres.

4wd is great when you are accelerating, but when you are braking, it doesn't give you any advantage.

Quattro (which I have) is no substitute for a proper cold weather tyre imho.

Just saying that if you are going to bother to swap twice a year, why not have the best of both worlds!

 

[moag]

I put a pair of the hankook s1's on my a3 and have been very happy with them. Great performance dry and wet, they were significantly cheaper than contisports or PS3s

 

[Dandle]

To be honest with Haldex I've managed to limp about in deep snow on just legal Toyo's which are poor in snow.

I see the point of snow tyres if you like in a place that has high snowfall annually, but with the S3 if you abide by the road conditions you will be as safe as cars using snow tyres if you have a decent amount of tread depth and you're not running Sunny's or Nankangs ditchfinder specials! BM's or Merc's, or ridiculously powered hot hatches with front drive will benefit from snow tyres, but I can't really see the S3 delivering much more safety on snow tyres down here in the mild Saaaaarf! I'm just glad that if those morons who only have one driving style (rain, snow or sun) have got them they're less likely to mount my back bumper.

Snow tyres are supposed to be worse in some disciplines than summer tyres when it's not snowing, even under 7 degrees or whatever temp they quote. I guess the tyre block pattern is less stable as it's build to cut / shed snow rather than grip like the proverbial to a blanket, hence the low speed ratings.

We aren't marketed snow tyres in this country, the winter tyres sold here are for our climate and conditions in the cold and damp, countries with lots of snow are sold totally different tyres. You have an odd history of tyres TBH with PS2 being an extremely good tyre but costing the earth then moving directly onto midrange tyres and ignoring the other premium UHP tyres (apart from the SC2 which is an incredibly old design now and probably OEM on the car). Uniroyal Rainsport 2s aren't the ultimate wet tyre, the have always been marketed as the rain tyre brand but Continental who own them in the EU use them as their midrange brand along with Barum and have kept the original marketing and branding. Continental branded tyres are their premium range and where the majority of investment and profit comes from. Rainsport 2s are a good tyre but they don't have the same ability in the wet as the SC3/SC5 or other UHP summer tyres that top the reviews regularly.

 

[crunchie]

PS2's in the snow are PANTS!! Luckily I bought a set of Michelin Alpins for the MK4, what a difference!
The braking didtance is less than halved! Never been stuck in the S3 but the braking is worrying on the white stuff.

 

[bigyin]

My winter tyres are dunlop wintersport 4ds.

They are blocked and so can be used in snow, but the compound is far mroe comfortable in our current temperatures than a proper summer tyre. I don't see them as snow tyres, I see them as cold temperature tyres. They are better in the cold and damp, and stopping distance at close to freezing temps when there is no snow in sight is in a different league from using summer tyres.

4wd is great when you are accelerating, but when you are braking, it doesn't give you any advantage.

Quattro (which I have) is no substitute for a proper cold weather tyre imho.

Just saying that if you are going to bother to swap twice a year, why not have the best of both worlds!

Couldn't agree with this more!

I have ps2's for the summer, an I bought marangoni meteo's for the winter. The ps2's are phenomenal summer tyres, I was very impressed with them. I changed over to the winters later than I'd have liked at the tail end of November. The difference in grip and braking performance in cold wet weather was considerably greater with the winters on. Up until this year I was very dismissive of winters, but now I'm a convert. I even bought winters for the wife's ford focus and she admitted she noticed a distinct difference.

My ps2's still have plenty life in them, so I'll get another summer out of them..... Thankfully.

 

[mrpeng]

Goodyear f1 a2's here gotta say there mint

 

[nluk100]

The Hankook gets a battering here ... Hankook Ventus S1 evo | Tyre Test 2011 | Auto Express

I think I'll stick to PS2's

 

[Cheese]

I think my next tyres will be GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 ASYMMETRIC 2.