Whenever you talk about testing tyres, most people think it is all about having a brilliant time thrashing a car round a track cutting ultra-low lap times, enjoying plenty of petrolhead fun with lots of smoking rubber.

The reality couldn’t be further from the truth, and many of the assessments can be done safely on public roads. The joy of charging round a circuit quickly fades after nearly 200 laps trying to decide if set number 16 felt better than 15 or 14, all the time aiming to hit your braking and clipping points and keep to the same lines.

While ultimate grip is important, feel is what really counts, as most drivers rarely reach the limit of their tyres.