Tyrereviews Test of summer UHP tyres 225/45 R17 2022

The summer Ultra High Performance (UHP) tire market has new rivals. A major test of nine sets of tires in the 225/45 R17 size on a VW Golf GTI pitted long-awaited newcomers against each other: the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6. Established names such as Continental, Hankook, and Yokohama also joined the battle.

The result showed a clash of two completely different philosophies – while Goodyear bet on maximum sportiness and feedback, Michelin dominates in aquaplaning resistance, durability, and overall balance.

The relatively low temperatures have, until now, given drivers the impression that they could drive on winter tires all year round. Dr. Andreas Topp, head of winter tire development at the Continental Group, points out this misconception: "In warmer periods of the year, winter tires achieve longer braking distances than summer tires."

• Sporty character: The fastest and sportiest tire on dry surfaces was the Continental PremiumContact 6, thanks to its lightning-fast steering response. Right behind it came the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, which offered fantastic braking and an excellent dynamic feel.
• The real sporty surprise: The older Yokohama Advan Sport V105 took 3rd place, demonstrating exemplary precise steering.
• Michelin Pilot Sport 5: Finished in 4th place. It offered a huge amount of grip and safety, but compared to the Goodyear, it lacked a sharper sporty feel through the steering wheel.
• Comfortable middle: Bridgestone and Hankook felt too soft on the track, twisted at the sidewalls, and lost grip due to overheating after the first lap. The worst braking and slowest reactions were shown by the cheap Rotalla tire.

• Balanced top performers: The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 fought a brutal battle on water. Goodyear was faster and sportier in the first lap, but Michelin, thanks to consistent performance and stability, dominated the overall average.
• Aquaplaning: Michelin absolutely dominated in resistance to aquaplaning in a straight line, where the new Goodyear, on the other hand, slightly lagged behind.
• Wet braking: The king of wet braking was the Hankook Ventus S1 evo3, which stopped 1.6 meters sooner than the second-placed Continental.
• Test surprise: Semperit (a subsidiary brand of Continental) demonstrated excellent grip and skid resistance on wet surfaces. The unpredictable Rotalla once again finished at the bottom.

• Noise: The quietest tire when driving was the Goodyear. Surprisingly, the loudest was the Bridgestone.
• Comfort and damping: Bridgestone filtered out bumps and uneven surfaces the best, with Michelin close behind. Continental and Yokohama had the harshest and least comfortable ride.
• Consumption (Rolling Resistance): Bridgestone achieved extremely low rolling resistance. Among the pure-bred UHP tires, however, Goodyear and Michelin excelled, combining high grip with low consumption.

• For lovers of sporty driving and sharp steering response: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 (or Continental PremiumContact 6).
• For maximum safety on water, durability, and comfort: Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
• Best braking performance on water: Hankook Ventus S1 evo3.
• Budget warning: Avoid the Rotalla tire due to its poor braking and zero feedback.