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Wet handling/wet cornering

SUV tyre test

Winter is a byword for wet, so how did the tyres fare on out wet handling course?

Wet handling/wet cornering

Date: October 2009

The test


The 1,535-metre soaked handling track brings together all the elements of our wet road tests. Consistent driving was vital, using the same braking points and lines, but trying to carry more speed through turns.

On the wet circle, we hugged the inner kerb and accelerated until the line could not be maintained.

Our results are from average lap times.

Michelin’s car tyres don’t usually excel in the wet, but it’s a different story for its SUV rubber. There was plenty of grip at all speeds, which really inspired confidence. There was none of the brake locking we experienced with rivals, and as the limit was reached, our test car broke traction progressively.

The French maker just shaded Continental by a tenth of a second, while wet specialist Goodyear was a fraction behind in third. There was a clear gap to Kumho and Pirelli, and a further five seconds behind was Hankook, which really struggled in the slow corners.

This also put paid to its chances on the 60-metre circle. Kumho led the way from Continental and Michelin, which swapped places from the handling track.

There was little to choose between Pirelli and Goodyear in this test, which puts the emphasis on pure wet grip.


Wet handling

Michelin        100.0
Continental   99.9
Goodyear      99.5
Kumho         98.6
Pirelli           98.1
Hankook      92.4


Wet cornering

Kumho          100.0
Continental    98.7
Michelin         97.4
Pirelli             96.8
Goodyear       96.5
Hankook        88.5

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