**EVO Performance Tyre Test 2012**

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EVO 166 Collectors' Edition - Feb 2012

The right tyre can transform a car's handling, ride quality and safety, but which rubber should you fit to your car? John Barker puts ten tyres to the test to help you decide

All tyres were 235/40/18 92Y XL - Tested on an Audi S3

Results:

• 1st Continental ContiSportContact 3
• 2nd Hankook Ventus S1 Evo
• 3rd Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric 2
• 4th Michelin Pilot Sport 3
• 5th Pirelli P Zero
• 6th Bridgestone Potenza S001
• 7th Dunlop SP Sport MAXX GT
• 8th Vredestein Ultrac Cento
• 9th Kumho Ecsta KU39 LE Sport
• 10th Accelera PHI

Why didn't they test the Conti CSC5??? Apart from that it seems there was little to choose between the top 3. Personally I would still go for the Goodyear Eagle F1 Assy 2 as the best overall tyre.

 

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CS3 wins again!? Above the F1A2!?

Test in my front size as well. Hmmm.

I have CS3s fitted all round on mine. I can only compare them to Eagle F1 Assyms (as I haven't had Assym 2s on there yet). But overall I would actually rate Assym 1s above the CS3s (longer lasting, similar grip levels in the dry, Eagle F1 better in the rain).

The GEF1A2 has few weaknesses. It is outstanding in the dry, recording the highest lateral G and shortest braking distance, and also very good in the rain, with near-table-topping performance around the wet lap. And all this with a remarkably low rolling resistance. It was highly rated subjectively, too, in all conditions, and loses out to the top two by only a very small margin. A very good tyre

 

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Anyone got any experience with the CS5s?

 

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Can anyone who has this comment on the differences they found between the Goodyear and the Continental? I tried to buy it today but everyone still has the January edition.

My quote in post 6 is exactly what they said about the differences between the GY and the Conti.

Did they test at the continental testing grounds again as they did in previous years? If so it's no wonder, IMO of course, that a Tyre developed at the same place, over the same surfaces came first. I know they usually do a 'blind' road test but those roads are also well known to the continue engineers.

They tested at the MIRA grounds in Warwick.

 

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Better or worse rolling resistance than the Conti?

Sorry don't have the issue to hand (left it at home, doh!). I don't think they did a rolling resistance test.

Interestingly the Oct 2011 Evo Front wheel drive test showed the Hankooks to be ditch finders here

 

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Bizarre. So in that test they compare the SC5P with the old Eagle F1 Assymetric. In this test they compare the new Eagle F1 Assymetric 2 with the SC3. What on earth?

This was amusing mind:

Corrected

EDIT - Do you think Fox that rolling resistance is directly proportional to the amount of grip being generated? Sounds like the Hankooks had no rolling resistance as they basically were providing no traction!

 

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I have made up my mind, ordering two AS2s on Tuesday

 

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My Eagle F1AS2s arrived from Camskill today. They have been delivered to my home address, which I do not get to until Thurs. Was trying to get my mum to read out all the markings on the tyre to work out when it was made, but struggling a little with production dates and how they are encoded on there.

In the past its just been a 4 digit number on the sidewall (0411) pointing to the week and year, but this does not seem to be the case on these? Anyone have a set that can help?

 

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Dad just got home, mum was looking at the inside of the tyre! Outside states 3311 and Made In Germany!

 

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So I have CS3s on my car at the moment and the fronts are down to 2mm (hence the F1AS2 waiting to be put on).

This morning after finishing my night shift, it was about -1 C outside and I set off from work. Now I know the type of tyres we are talking about are not renowned for offering any sort of meaningful grip in the cold, but I must say the CSC3s were gripping seriously well even in the cold conditions. Usually with Eagle F1 Assym (1s) I am wheel spinning at the very thought of the turbo spooling but no such drama with the CSC3s.

On this car (MK5 GTi remapped to 240 bhp) I would put grip levels in the cold in this order (more at the top):

1. CSC3s
2. CSC2s
3. Eagle F1 Assym 1s
4. Eagle F1
5. Michelin PS2s (worst tyre I have had on the car for grip by some margin - would never entertain having it on a car I was driving remotely quickly - lasted a long time too!)

Im hoping the F1 Assym 2s have at least better grip than the Assym 1s in the cold!

EDIT - Also the Goodyears have always let me know when there is less than 3mm left at the front - more wheel spinning and aqua planing but again the CSC3s are maintaining their performance despite significant wear!

 

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Ok, I have a confession to make, several weeks ago I purchased winter tyres and a second set of wheels. My car left the factory on the 18" wheel upgrade with 225/45/18 tyres, I ran Goodyear F1A since buying the car.

I am fully responsible for the so far mild winter.

Also my thoughts so far, particularly with the last couple of days much colder, winter tyres suck!

My winter tyres are Vredestein SnowTrac, 205/50/16 (also a factory tyre size). I know they are a couple of cm narrower but I expected them to be better in cold conditions, this is not the case. I find it very easy to leave junctions sideways now without really trying, a couple of times I was scared as the rear tyres broke free.

I just hope we get some snow soon and they perform significantly better on it.

Confession over.

Wait how have you managed to put a 16" tyre on a 18" alloy

Seriously it must be a bedding in issue, I doubt that winter tyres, designed for cold weather will offer less grip then Temp AAA tyres!

 

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So talking to Dan (top bloke!) at Calthorpe Tyres in Olton, he suggested that his customers have pretty much all said that the CSC5 actually has a little less grip than the CSC3 and as a consequence seems to last longer too!

My F1 AS2s are bolted on the back now, the CSC3s (that were on the back) are now on the front and I am enjoying some uber grip all round. Went for a drive round some country roads earlier today in the wet and the car was planted (clearly not pushing it hard enough!). Will update my experiences with the F1s once I have them properly bedded in!

 

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Any update. How are the F1AS2 for stiffness ?

Well I cannot comment on the stiffness as such, as they are still bolted to the rear and my Conti's are lasting quite well (i.e. do not need replacing at the moment- also I have decreased the amount I am driving a lot!).

There was one episode of catching the sidewall of the F1AS2 on a sharp kerb at High Wycombe station which left a nice big tear in the sidewall. So that had to be replaced. Seems its not a very stiff sidewall, but to be fair the angle I hit the kerb at, driving out of a tight parking space I would be surprised if any tyre would not end up in the bin as a result.

Grip wise the F1AS2s have been awesome. Cannot comment on the wear rate as they are on the back, so not really being scrubbed hard.