Tyre Tests-How Accurate-Motor June 16

[asagaai]

Just got Motor magazine June 2016.

They did a test with tyres- with good rubber, to cheaper, as follows:

• Michelin Pilot Super Sport
• Pirelli P Zero
• Continental Contisportcontact 5P
• Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 3
• Dunlop Sport Maxx RT
• Toyo Proxes T1 Sport
• Nitto Invo
• Nexen N Fera SU1
• Hifly HF805 Challenger

The surprise is that the Dunlop Sport wiped the field, consistently, and by an incredible margin over the Michelins, Pirelli and F1's.

This surprises me as other tests done of the Dunlop Sport by other testers including for instance Evo Tyre Test 2015 have not rated the Dunlop as so outstanding.

Could it be that the specific Dunlop that Motor used, built in Germany, was a good run and an outstanding batch? Just does not add up.

In terms of the cheaper tyres, the Nexen came second last, and in my experience, although it is a significantly better tyre than the OEM Dunflops on the FGX XR8, it is a bit soft and squiggly at the rear end at high speed on corners which is unsettling- if you are wanting to do 180 kph on corners-look elsewhere.

I am already looking for what rubber to replace my rear with, and was almost sold on the incredible results of the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT in the Motor Magazine test, but now looking at other tests I wonder whether specific manufacturing batch runs are in play.

The Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2 appear to be a very good tyre, not best, but mixing it with the premium stuff, with not a premium price. Think I may run with a 285/35/19 Hanook at half the price of the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT next.

Has anybody tried the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT real world, and does anyone have any clarification on tyre testing done by Motor when the results are sooo different from other tests of the same tyre type?

[sexyxe]

What did the tests involve? Through tyre life?

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by sexyxe

What did the tests involve? Through tyre life?

Tests as follows:

• Dry Slalom-seconds

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
9.70 10.10 9.90 10.10 10.00 10.03 10.13 10.30 10.53

• Dry Braking-metres

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
34.75 36.66 37.10 37.67 38.19 37.50 39.39 41.75 40.81

• Motorkhana-seconds

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
79.14 80.73 80.27 81.55 80.98 80.26 82.33 82.57 84.18

• Lateral G Force

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
1.07 1.04 1.02 1.01 1.03 1.02 0.99 0.98 0.97

• Wet braking- metres

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
13.96 14.00 15.37 15.57 14.97 15.04 15.73 16.54 15.88

• TreadWear

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
240 240 300 300 280 320 240 220 300

[sexyxe]

Originally Posted by asagaai

Tests as follows:

• Dry Braking-metres

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
34.75 36.66 37.10 37.67 38.19 37.50 39.39 41.75 40.81

Wow that's a huge increase from 34.75 to 41.75m - 20%!

I think new tyre performance is only, very much, part of the game. Put 15k km on them and run the same tests again. Then you'll find which tyres earn their keep.

[JC]

Originally Posted by asagaai

Tests as follows:

• Dry Slalom-seconds

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
9.70 10.10 9.90 10.10 10.00 10.03 10.13 10.30 10.53

• Dry Braking-metres

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
34.75 36.66 37.10 37.67 38.19 37.50 39.39 41.75 40.81

• Motorkhana-seconds

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
79.14 80.73 80.27 81.55 80.98 80.26 82.33 82.57 84.18

• Lateral G Force

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
1.07 1.04 1.02 1.01 1.03 1.02 0.99 0.98 0.97

• Wet braking- metres

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
13.96 14.00 15.37 15.57 14.97 15.04 15.73 16.54 15.88

• TreadWear

Dunlop Continental Michelin F1 Hankook Pirelli Toyo Nitto Nexen
240 240 300 300 280 320 240 220 300

Interesting that the difference between 1st to last is around 10% for most of those tests. The one they didn't do was 0-100 dry, and 0-100 wet. Given the small performance difference for a huge difference in price, I reckon you'd have to be happy, on the street, with any of those tyres, even the cheaper ones.

[98TLS]

Originally Posted by JC

Interesting that the difference between 1st to last is around 10% for most of those tests. The one they didn't do was 0-100 dry, and 0-100 wet. Given the small performance difference for a huge difference in price, I reckon you'd have to be happy, on the street, with any of those tyres, even the cheaper ones.

Thats what i was thinking,Toyo Proxes T1 Sport on my GTP and all good so far though there down the bottom re the tests.More than adequate for purely street driven car.

[Full_Monty]

Nothing wrong with the Toyo T1's I had them on my xr6T, and they performed better than the previous 2 sets of Yokohama V103's. Was pleasantly surprised

Now on new MPSS on the GT, very happy - astounding grip, only downside is they're a little noisy on coarse chip.

[Blem]

Originally Posted by asagaai

Just got Motor magazine June 2016.

They did a test with tyres- with good rubber, to cheaper, as follows:

• Michelin Pilot Super Sport
• Pirelli P Zero
• Continental Contisportcontact 5P
• Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 3
• Dunlop Sport Maxx RT
• Toyo Proxes T1 Sport
• Nitto Invo
• Nexen N Fera SU1
• Hifly HF805 Challenger

if you are wanting to do 180 kph on corners-look elsewhere.

Mate if you are doing this on public roads I hope you get caught & don't take out anyone else when you eventually loose it.
Put your car on a track.
Way more fun.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by Blem

Mate if you are doing this on public roads I hope you get caught & don't take out anyone else when you eventually loose it.
Put your car on a track.
Way more fun.

Who said this speed was, or ought be done, on public roads....

But back to the original thread, anyone got any comment on why the Dunlops performed so well in the Motor test, and markedly better than other top tyres like Michelin Super Sports, when they did not perform well in other tests......

[AussieCJ7]

Think you will find they are fairly new model in the Dunlop family so might not have been available for previous tests, they are not available in sizes to suit the Falcon and the testing was done using a relatively light awd euro that has good dynamics and great electronics assistance. Often the testing is done with larger rwd or small fwd, all of which will have different tyres come out on top.

For me a tyre test needs to use a variety of cars to give a better indication

[Whitey-AMG]

Tyre tests are like DYNO results......
They only show a result on a specific day on a specific car with a specific set up.
Most of the time it isn't repeatable and will show vastly different results on a different car on different day with a different set up. Not to mention how different tyres behave after 5-10,000 Klm on them.
All tyre tests do is try to sell magazines IMHO. Use the results at your own discretion. It certainly isn't definitive or conclusive for every car or situation.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by AussieCJ7

Think you will find they are fairly new model in the Dunlop family so might not have been available for previous tests, they are not available in sizes to suit the Falcon and the testing was done using a relatively light awd euro that has good dynamics and great electronics assistance. Often the testing is done with larger rwd or small fwd, all of which will have different tyres come out on top.

For me a tyre test needs to use a variety of cars to give a better indication

I think you can get these Dunlops in 285/30 19 inch, which should fit on the rears...

[AussieCJ7]

Originally Posted by asagaai

I think you can get these Dunlops in 285/30 19 inch, which should fit on the rears...

http://www.dunloptyres.com.au/dotCMS...&from=nPerPage


not according to their website no 19's

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by AussieCJ7

http://www.dunloptyres.com.au/dotCMS...&from=nPerPage


not according to their website no 19's

Yeah- but according to Jax tyres they are available in 285 30 19 inch????

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by AussieCJ7

Think you will find they are fairly new model in the Dunlop family so might not have been available for previous tests, they are not available in sizes to suit the Falcon and the testing was done using a relatively light awd euro that has good dynamics and great electronics assistance. Often the testing is done with larger rwd or small fwd, all of which will have different tyres come out on top.

For me a tyre test needs to use a variety of cars to give a better indication

Just to comment on the esc - that system was turned off in the Motor test to take out that variable.

Take your comment though about apples with oranges- the Nexen performed on the figures poorly, but seems that the Falcon turbo guys like them on how they hook up the power, and they perform pretty well in real life on my FGX XR8, especially in the wet.

[PepeLePew]

Well hope Dunlop have lifted their game as per the test....shame they couldn't have done this some time ago and produced rubber for our Dunlop shod Falcon

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

Well hope Dunlop have lifted their game as per the test....shame they couldn't have done this some time ago and produced rubber for our Dunlop shod Falcon

I always found the Dunlop to be a decent tyre in the 245 /35 /19 size. Had 2 sets on the GT with fresh manufacture dates and found them to be just as good as the eagle f1 asym 2 that I tried. The dunlops performed awesome on the FPV drive day with tons of laps around sandown.

[M&Ms]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

I always found the Dunlop to be a decent tyre in the 245 /35 /19 size. Had 2 sets on the GT with fresh manufacture dates and found them to be just as good as the eagle f1 asym 2 that I tried. The dunlops performed awesome on the FPV drive day with tons of laps around sandown.

No problems here with my factory fit Dunlops on the XR8. I would go as far as saying I'm pleasantly surprised with them, after reading all the negatives about them on here; they hook up quite well and on the freeway are quieter than the Pilot Super Sports I had on the GT. In saying that, I did notice the 275 rear Dunlops are made in Germany, dunno if that's a running change or has been the case all along. Front 245's are made in Japan.

[DFB FGXR6]

Most of the comments and experiences about Dunlop's on Falcon's being bad are related to the Sport Maxx, not the Sport Maxx RT tested by Motor.

The Sport Maxx is an entry level sport tyre chosen by Ford for cost control. The 18'' versions come from China with "engineered in Europe" stamped on the sidewall.

I think the fact that the Sport Maxx is so lacking puts people off trying another Dunlop such as the Sport Maxx RT or TT and go straight to a Michelin/Continental/Goodyear when replacement comes up.

[Sioso]

I actually bought that mag right as I was up for new tyres.
Remember that the size and vehicle type would also change some results, i.e, traction would be less noticeable in an AWD.
I was surprised at the Dunlop RT result also.
I had planned on getting MPSS but as the Dunlop RT's were cheaper than the MPSS from my local tyre shop I thought I would give them a go.
The size they tested was the same size as I needed and it was even a similar vehicle, RS3 - Golf R.
I've done around 400k's (dry) on them so far and am very impressed - it gets driven swiftly on tight steep roads for my daily commute.
I still need to try them in the wet.
Treadwear of 240 for the RT's is softer than MPSS (300) but still better than the factory Bridgestone RE050 - 140 treadwear - they had canvas coming through at 19,000k's - but that did include a trackday.

[Sioso]

Originally Posted by Sioso

I actually bought that mag right as I was up for new tyres.
Remember that the size and vehicle type would also change some results, i.e, traction would be less noticeable in an AWD.
I was surprised at the Dunlop RT result also.
I had planned on getting MPSS but as the Dunlop RT's were cheaper than the MPSS from my local tyre shop I thought I would give them a go.
The size they tested was the same size as I needed and it was even a similar vehicle, RS3 - Golf R.
I've done around 400k's (dry) on them so far and am very impressed - it gets driven swiftly on tight steep roads for my daily commute.
I still need to try them in the wet.
Treadwear of 240 for the RT's is softer than MPSS (300) but still better than the factory Bridgestone RE050 - 140 treadwear - they had canvas coming through at 19,000k's - but that did include a trackday.

Update on the Dunlop RT's:
I've covered 4,000k's on these tyres now and they are a great tyre wet or dry but do not like the cold weather.
The weather is one variable that doesn't come into the tyre test and something I hadn't thought of.
It's been dropping below zero some mornings and these new RT's lack the grip of the factory RE050's or the Kumho PS91's I had on my XR6T ute.
If you live somewhere that regularly falls below 5 degrees I would look elsewhere, I won't be buying them again (unless I move to somewhere warmer).

[mcnews]

Some of those latter ones last a lot longer too as much higher treadwear rating.

[MrEL]

Nitto Invos for me. Great tyre.

[GO FURTHER]

I never trust magazine reviews, there will always be bias towards those brands and companies that spend money with them on advertising.
Magazines are not going to "bite the hand that feeds them".
And then there's always "cheque book" journalism.

[FG50T]

Haha no wouldn't trust that test. Good on them for taking the treadwear rating into consideration I've had the Dunlop RT's, Super Sports, F1's and Invo's. I strongly disagree with their results.

You need to spend more than 5 minutes in the car driving around some cones to be able to judge a tyre.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by FG50T

Haha no wouldn't trust that test. Good on them for taking the treadwear rating into consideration I've had the Dunlop RT's, Super Sports, F1's and Invo's. I strongly disagree with their results.

You need to spend more than 5 minutes in the car driving around some cones to be able to judge a tyre.

Care to give us your experience as to what is the better rubber we should be looking at?

Cheers

[Silver']

+1 for wanting to know how a tyre will perform over its life compared to new. Impossible to do, but so critical to your decision. So tyre tests I almost ignore.

It makes sense to me to favour the tyres put on premium cars by the manufacturer. Because the manufacturers of these cars do full life testing.

So pick a (very) expensive car that matches your car's basics and who's intended use matches the way you use yours, and buy the tyres fitted to those OEM.

Which is how I ended up with Michelin PS2's for the last set. They were amazing, but short life on the rear so I've switched to PS3's this time around (and because I now have a second car for playing).

$1200 from Tempe Tyres. 245/40-18 and 275/35-18.

[Silver']

Added a picture because pictures make me happy.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by Silver'

Added a picture because pictures make me happy.
image

Ha ha- would make a great advertisement for the tyre- "Not only your life is in the grip of your tyres....." and the shot of your daughter behind the tyre in a baby chair- priceless ....

Yeah- the Michelins Pilot SS look a good tyre, just exy if you have a v8 that chews them up under 20,000.

[2011G6E]

Yes, expensive sports tyres are great.

Expensive.

Sports tyre.

Sadly they don't last as well as "normal" tyres.
It's honestly hard to buy a bad tyre these days. And yes, I'd like to see the same tests when they've been driven around for more than five minutes straight off the shelf.
I know with my motorbike tyres that they tell you to ride carefully for a while on the first day you have them fitted and if it's raining, ride like a little old lady. I certainly wouldn't be slapping them straight on the bike and doing braking and cornering tests straight away...

For my Celica (which I enjoy chucking around the bends vigorously) I've been using good old Bob Jane All-Rounders for years...we've always used them on all sorts of cars. They last well, they handle perfectly adequately, and they are good wet or dry or dirt. Am I concerned they don't have a fancy brand name on the side? Not a bit. They are priced right, work fine, and seem to suit cars big or small.