Ceat SportDrive review
Poor performance in the wet, acceptable elsewhere and refined, but represents very poor value for money.
We had no previous experience of Ceat, but the SportDrive performed tolerably well overall, yet it was well off the pace of its rivals in the wet. In the crucial straight-line wet braking test, it took more than 6m longer to stop than the best – 33.6 metres versus 27.5m. It was more than 2.5m adrift of the eighth-placed tyre. On the wet handling circuit, the shortfall in performance was less acute but inescapable.
In contrast to all the other tyres, the Volkswagen Golf GTI felt light at the wheel on the Ceat tyres, generating little cornering grip and scrabbling for traction. It was very tentative, offering little to work with, demanding gentle throttle and steering inputs to maintain balance.
The Ceat was last in all the objective tests except curved aquaplaning, where it was sixth. In dry braking it took more than 4m longer than the best to stop, and it was two seconds off the pace on the dry handling circuit. It struggled for traction out of the hairpins, but could be cajoled onto the right lines. It was quite refined and delivered the lowest rolling resistance, despite its EU label saying it had the highest. Yet the Ceat cost more than every tyre we tested, bar the Michelin and Pirelli.
Blackcircles.com says…
“We are unable to provide any insight into the tyre’s popularity or performance with our customers at present.”
Results
| Ceat SportDrive | ||
| Overall | 95.2% | |
| Price | £112 | |
| Wet braking | 82.0 | 9th |
| Wet handling | 92.1 | 9th |
| Wet cornering | 95.8 | 9th |
| Straight aquaplaning | 92.4 | 9th |
| Curved aquaplaning | 91.0 | 6th |
| Dry braking | 88.7 | 9th |
| Dry handling | 97.9 | 9th |
| Noise and refinement | 90.0 | 4th |
| Rolling resistance | 100 | 1st |
