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Best tyres 2015: ultimate tyre test - pictures

by: Auto Express team
17 Jun 2015
  • Best tyres 2015 header

    Our experts push the top eleven best-selling tyres to the limit to help you pick the best for your car.

  • Ultimate tyre test - side

    We tested the popular 225/45 R17 size again found on many family cars.

  • Ultimate tyre test - rear wet

    We assessed each tyre's performance across nine criteria before reaching our verdict. 

  • Ultimate tyre test - front wet

    'Wet handling' was a measured performance criteria whereby an average time over several laps were recorded on a flooded circuit.

  • Ultimate tyre test - wet testing

    'Wet cornering' was a test lined around the edge of a 55-meter cricle. Average lap times were recorded, with strong stomachs required.

  • Ultimate tyre test - wet testing 2

    'Wet braking' is an unnerving test where steering isn't even allowed. The Uvalde rail system ensures that the car always runs over the same strip of tarmac, whilst allowing the tester to concentrate on speed and braking point.

  • Ultimate tyre test - side wet

    'Straight aquaplaning' required the unnerving rail once again, where the car would accelerate hard with one wheel in the flooded section. 

  • Ultimate tyre test - back wet testing

    As safety is the main priority when it comes to choosing a tyre, price was factored separately as a more minor role.

  • Ultimate tyre test - front wet test
  • Ultimate tyre test - inside car
  • Ultimate tyre test - action
  • Ultimate tyre test - changing tyre
  • Ultimate tyre test - lift
  • Ultimate tyre test - dry action
  • Ultimate tyre test - dry rear

    The Dry handling test combined rapid direction changes with long sweeps, having each lap of the track timed. An average of three attempts was recorded.

  • Ultimate tyre test - Kim Adams
  • Ultimate tyre test - roof
  • Ultimate tyre test - braking side

    Unlike the 'Wet braking' test, the 'Dry braking' test requires no rail system here.  

  • Ultimate tyre test - braking rear

    The brakes have time to cool down each time we brake from 65mph.

  • Ultimate tyre test - nose on

    An average of runs is used to rate the tyres.

  • Ultimate tyre test - noise

    The level of cabin noise was measured at 50mph over three varying road surfaces. An average of all three runs provided the final rating.

  • Ultimate tyre test - blur
  • Ultimate tyre test - splash

    'Curved aquaplaning' was a test that required the driver to really be on form. The car is accelerated through a flooded curve section of track, with the lateral g-force measured whilst the car is brought back into control.

  • Bridgestone Turanza T001 91 Y

    The Bridgestone Turanza T001 did show touring credentials after producing a good result with the cabin noise test. However, it was another disappointing performance elsewhere as it lagged behind its premium rivals.

  • Continental ContiSportContact 5 94 Y

    The Continental ContiSportContact 5 performed dominantly in both wet and dry conditions, even if it did produce a disappointing rolling resistance figure.

  • Dunlop Sport BluResponse 94 W

    The Dunlop Sport BluResponse impressed during the wet braking, handling and cornering tests, but stood out particularly well with its fuel-efficiency.

  • Falken Azenis FK453 94 Y

    The Falken Azenis FK453 did demonstrate good balance in the dry track conditions, but this deteriorated on the wet surfaces. Its rolling resistance resulted in poor fuel efficiency as well.

  • Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 94 Y

    Our previous winner, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2, remains a sound choice even though its rivals have moved the game on.

  • GT Radial Champiro HPY 94 Y

    The chinese branded GT Radial Champiro HPY tyre really struggled in the deep water of our aquaplaning tests. What was a demonstration of progress last time was not repeated this year.

  • Hankook Ventus evo 2 94 Y

    The Hankook Ventus evo 2 proved a good performer in both wet and dry conditions, with aquaplaning being its forte.

  • Michelin Pilot Sport 3 94 Y

    The Michelin Pilot Sport 3 proves that the brand is making improvements. Previous struggles in the wet, was replaced with strong performances during aquaplaning.

  • Pirelli P Zero 94 Y

    The Pirelli P Zero has improved since our last assessment , with excellent cornering and braking in the wet. The level of rolling resistance is yet to improve though.

  • Toyo Proxes T1 Sport 94 Y

    The ageing Toyo Proxes T1 Sport tyres found it tough against the competiton this year, finding itself at the bottom half of the table in most of the tests.

  • Yokohama Advan Sport V105 94 Y

    The Yokohama Advan Sport V105 tyres proved effective in the dry braking tests, but proved an expensive tyre to trun with its rolling resistance far down the table.

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