PS sports tire test 2014

Table of contents

PS sports tire test 2014
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PS sports tire test 2014

PS sports tire test 2014

PS sports tire test 2014

PS sports tire test 2014

20th pictures

PS sports tire test 2014
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1/20
Under adverse conditions, i.e. wet, cold or the nasty combination of these two weather situations, the tires even decide about pleasure and frustration in the saddle, about bare nerves or trust and driving pleasure.

PS sports tire test 2014
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2/20
Scenes from a tire test: the pilots at the handover.

PS sports tire test 2014
Jahn

3/20
After the test drives with each tire, the HP4 was refueled to ensure the same conditions.

PS sports tire test 2014
Jahn

4/20
The effort of a wear test is enormous. Each pair of tires must be on a motorcycle of the same model. These must then be driven at the same time on the same route under the same conditions at the same speed.

PS sports tire test 2014
mps photo studio

5/20
The Continental Sport Attack 2 landed in 5th place. Contis Sport Attack 2 are the absolute recommendation for everyone who takes to the road to burn when it is dry.

PS sports tire test 2014
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6/20
The Dunlop Sportsmart 2 also share 5th place with the Continental tires. After the preliminary test, there were great expectations for the new Sport-smart 2. Unfortunately, they were not met because he still needs time to get up to temperature.

PS sports tire test 2014
mps photo studio

7/20
4th place went to the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa. Another specialist is taking the test with the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa. The uncompromising sports tire withstands use on the circuit best and also works great on the country road after some warm-up time.

PS sports tire test 2014
mps photo studio

8/20
The Metzeler Sportec M7-RR came in second. Like the Contis, the M7-RRs are quick starters and give you a good driving experience within a very short time, although they do not provide crystal-clear feedback
deliver.

PS sports tire test 2014
mps photo studio

9/20
The Michelin Pilot Power 3 also landed in 2nd place. The Pilot Power 3 was named rain god last year. Nothing changed in 2014. No tire goes more sloping in the wet, none faster. However, the Michelin weakens in the dry when it comes to the right thing.

PS sports tire test 2014
Jahn

10/20
Tonio assembles the skins in Nettuno. Our thanks go to all of you. The same goes for BMW, who left us the test HP4.

PS sports tire test 2014
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11/20
Lucca helps with tire fitting in Alcarràs, Spain.

PS sports tire test 2014
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12/20
The adhesion potential of modern road sports tires can only be explored in a reasonably safe manner on the racetrack.

PS sports tire test 2014
Jahn

13/20
Just because the socket is full doesn’t mean the limit is reached. The wet test separates the wheat from the chaff.

PS sports tire test 2014
PS

14/20
On the Spanish race track in Alcarràs near Lleida, PS drove out the dry rating in this sports tire test.

PS sports tire test 2014
PS

15/20
The reference area drawn, for example, is a fast downhill section, where stability is particularly important. Here the semi-racing tire Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa (Vmax 154 km / h) really takes the unstable Michelin Pilot Power 3 (Vmax 139.4 km / h) from meters.

PS sports tire test 2014
PS

16/20
The 1530 meter long wet course is located on the Bridgestone test site near Rome.

PS sports tire test 2014
PS

17/20
The speed differences are sometimes striking. So the Michelin not only enables a higher top speed, but also drives the Conti around the ears, especially in the long left-hand bend (reference area).

PS sports tire test 2014
Jahn

18/20
Without helpers, nothing works in the tire test. Here Jorg recording the tire weights.

PS sports tire test 2014
Jahn

19/20
The reliable colleague Dell, who makes the recordings of the incorruptible 2D data recordings visible.

PS sports tire test 2014
mps photo studio

20/20
The Bridgestone S20 Evo secure 1st place. The Evo version of the S20 is characterized by a harder tread in the middle of the rear tire, which is supposed to improve durability. Otherwise, the S20 Evo remained unchanged, which is still reflected in its balance.

accesories

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PS sports tire test 2014

PS sports tire test 2014
Six sports tires in comparison

Content of

In the 2014 sports tire test, PS compared the six sports tires Bridgestone S20 Evo, Continental Sport Attack 2, Dunlop Sportsmart 2, Metzeler Sportec M7-RR, Michelin Pilot Power 3 and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa in the wet, dry and in the 4000 km country road marathon.

Robert luck

04/22/2014

Yes, yes, sports tires are black, round and far too expensive … Everyone knows this saying – and some unsuspecting people even believe it. Everyone else is sick of it, because the majority know about the importance of the right rubbers when riding a motorcycle. After all, they not only ensure that we get to where we want, but they also have a relatively large influence on the driving behavior of our vehicles and thus on our subjective driving experience. Under adverse conditions, i.e. wet, cold or the nasty combination of these two weather situations, you can even decide whether you want to be in the saddle, whether you are nervous or have confidence and driving pleasure.

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So there are reasons enough to take a close look at the sports tire segment, which has been refreshed with several new products, and to stretch the skin not just under the magnifying glass, but under the microscope. We tested the 120/70 ZR 17 dimension on the front wheel, which is becoming more and more common on powerful motorcycles, in conjunction with a 190/55 ZR 17 rear wheel. After all, it is no longer just superbikes, but also the scene’s bestsellers, the mighty Aprilia Tuono V4 R, KTM 1290 Super Duke R or BMW S 1000 R naked bikes Touring sports tires in the dimensions 120/70 ZR 17 at the front and 180/55 ZR 17 at the rear. But back to the current topic, the 2014 sports tire test.

PS sports tire test 2014

tire


6 pairs of touring tires in the test


Touring tires on Suzuki GSX-S 750


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The test field

The who’s who of sports tires this year consists of three established sizes, a revised tire and two completely new developments. The first newcomer (and already on the market for four months) is the Dunlop Sportsmart 2. The developers had written the improvement of the wet grip, a faster warm-up and a smoother rolling to increase the driving comfort in the specifications. The Metzeler M7-RR replaces the aging Sportec M5 Interact and wants to top it in all respects.

The winner of the last test, the Bridgestone S20 Evo, has been slightly revised. A harder mixture in the middle strip of the rear wheel tread should give it better durability without negatively affecting the remaining qualities. The sports tires Continental Sport Attack 2 and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa at the start. And with them two proven drying specialists who oppose the first four “all-rounders”.

PS sports tire test 2014

tire


PS knowledge tire lexicon


The ABC of tires


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The test procedure: wet, dry and 4000 km endurance run

This year wet and dry tests were carried out at two different locations. As in 2012, the first part of the test, the wet test, was carried out on the permanently irrigated test track at the European development center of Bridgestone in Nettuno, near Rome. This was also where the “wear and tear team” joined them, moving a second set of the six sports tires over 4000 kilometers on public roads. And that under controlled, practical conditions. Five BMW S 1000 RR and one BMW HP4 were driven. The distance traveled corresponded to an active motorcycle vacation and led from Stuttgart via Genoa to Sardinia, and after several days on the island from there via Rome back to Stuttgart.

During the trip, the riders changed bikes in a rotating system in order to rule out any influence of personal riding style on wear and tear. The driving was fast, but never too far outside of the StVO limits. In addition, a round, soft driving style was maintained and the speed limit on the foreign motorways was only exceeded within the measurement tolerance. The wear measurements themselves were measured and logged several times a day at previously marked points around the sports tires. A time-consuming but all the more important procedure.


PS sports tire test 2014


Jahn

Without helpers, nothing works in the tire test. Here Jorg recording the tire weights.

The dry test took place one week after the wet test on the Spanish race track in Alcarràs, near Lleida. Both in Alcarràs and in the wet test in Nettuno, the sports tires were assessed according to a uniform procedure. After the two test pilots had retired, there was an out lap and two quick laps to assess handling, steering precision, set-up torque and target accuracy. This was followed by two “full throttle” laps to determine adhesion, feedback and behavior in the limit area. The first sports tire in each test series was run again at the end in order to rule out a “learning effect”.

While the tire pressures recommended by BMW for sports tires of 2.5 bar at the front and 2.9 bar at the rear (measured cold) were used in Nettuno and on the country road, we used the air pressures recommended by the tire manufacturers for use on the racetrack (measured cold) on the racetrack front / rear: Bridgestone S20 Evo: 2.2 / 1.9 bar; Continental Sport Attack 2: 2.2 / 1.8 bar; Dunlop Sportsmart 2: 2.1 / 1.9 bar; Metzeler Sportec M7-RR: 2.5 / 2.7 bar; Michelin Pilot Power 3: 2.1 / 1.9 bar; Pirelli Diablo Rossi Corsa: 2.3 / 2.3 bar). On the test motorcycle BMW HP4, the suspension setting was left in the standard setting and the slick mode was used. In the wet with a traction control correction of “plus 7”, in the dry of “minus 4”. The braking distance was determined by applying two full brakes for both pilots, the measured values ​​of which were then averaged.

In the tire tests of the last few years, PS ordered the sports tires directly from the manufacturers for the purpose of “tire test”. In order to rule out tampering with the tires, we exchanged all the tires we delivered for those that were already on the shelves of our trusted dealers.

This year we had to forego the tried and tested procedure, as Bridgestone and Metzeler were only able to deliver their sports tires to the editorial office two days before the start of the test. So is there a risk of having received particularly “good” test tires? In theory yes, but both manufacturers know that neither the customer nor the press can be fooled forever.

PS sports tire test 2014

tire


The 2013 PS sports tire test


6 sports tires in the horsepower test


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PS sports tire test 2014

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6 sports tires tested (120/70 ZR 17 and 190/55 ZR 17)


High-tech import from racing


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PS sports tire test 2014

Accessories A-Z


14 air pressure gauges in the test


The devices are so reliable


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Result and evaluation

As already mentioned, the test field consists of two drying specialists and four all-weather tires. Is that unfair from the start? No, because Continental does not have any other road sports tire in its range, and Pirelli intentionally sends the very adhesive Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa. In addition, every buyer of a sports tire has his preferences and knows his own “movement profile” best. So if you almost never drive in the rain, why not consciously forego wet grip? Or the other way around: Why buy extra grip when the skin never has to hit the racetrack anyway?

As a magazine for sporty motorcyclists, PS attaches great importance to grip. And since we cannot always be out in the dry, we rate this criterion very high, both in the dry and in the wet. Although the grip of all six sports tires is sufficient for a trip to the racetrack, an appearance on this stage should be left to the real racing tires. But even hard rides on the country road can push the sports tires to their limit. If they heat up too much, which can happen to motorcycles with over 150 hp, they lose stability and thus accuracy. But really only at high summer temperatures and speeds outside of the StVO.


PS sports tire test 2014


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Scenes from a tire test: the pilots at the handover.

Much greater differences become apparent when wet. Hit here Michelin and Bridgestone put real stakes in, even the new ones from Dunlop and Metzeler swim away. In doing so, they convey such a confident and trustworthy driving experience that your heart will open. And the Dunlop Sportsmart 2 and the Michelin Pilot Power 3 prove that wet grip does not have to affect durability per se. In the wear test, these two sports tires shine, while the Bridgestone S20 Evo, despite its evolution and the tougher, medium-sized rubber in the rear tread leaves feathers quite violently. While the new Metzeler Sportec M7-RR still pulls itself out of the affair in this category, the Continental Sport Attack 2 and the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa fight in the corner of the Bridgestone, also wear out quite a lot.

Advice and action

So how do you choose the next sports tire for your own motorcycle? The best thing to do is to sit down and think hard about your own driving habits and preferences. This analysis automatically results in your own movement profile. With this in mind, finally set your sights on the scoring or scoring and wear table and choosing your potential favorite rubber.

Approvals or clearance certificates for the innovations are already available on the manufacturers’ websites for a large number of motorcycles. In the end, all you have to do is call the trusted tire dealer. And it doesn’t matter which sports tire you choose – none has been as good as this vintage.

This is how PS tests


PS sports tire test 2014


Jahn

After the test drives with each tire, the HP4 was refueled to ensure the same conditions.

The current tire test was done on a BMW HP4. The functional test in the wet on a permanently watered test track from Bridgestone, the dry test on the Spanish race track in Alcarràs. There, the limit of sports tires was explored at a sporty, ambitious pace. The following was assessed:

Cold running behavior
How long does a sports tire take to reach operating temperature, how does it feel when it warms up??
Handling What steering force is required to tilt the bike or to keep it in line in slow / fast alternating curves?

Accuracy *
It is determined in passages at different speeds with different curve radii and provides information on how the motorcycle is following the desired course, which is specified by the steering forces, or whether significant line corrections are required.

Cornering stability
How stable is the motorcycle in (changing) bends, over bumps and when accelerating in an inclined position? It is tested in different speed ranges at a great incline when accelerating, in which sports tires can rock.

Grip *
Is the sum of the total liability of a sports tire. Contains the lateral grip, i.e. the lateral guidance in maximum inclination on wet and dry asphalt, and the grip when accelerating on the straight. A tightrope walk that is only possible on a closed route.

Behavior in the border area *
Controllability of the sports tire in the limit area of ​​adhesion. The test is carried out in the wet and dry.

Erection moment
When braking in an inclined position, the motorcycle straightens up differently depending on the deceleration and tire contour. This reaction must be compensated by the driver with a counterforce (pressure) on the inside of the handlebar end.

Feedback
What feedback does a sports tire provide to the driver? The clearer the feedback, the easier it is to drive in the limit area.

* The chapters marked with an asterisk can be transferred to motorcycles with a geometry similar to that of the BMW HP 4.

Test tracks Alcarràs and Rome


PS sports tire test 2014


PS

The tests took place in Alcarràs, Spain (left) and in Rome (right).

Alcarràs / Spain: On the Spanish race track in Alcarràs near Lleida, PS drove out the dry rating in this sports tire test. Traditionally, we pulled the cable very tightly in order to push the sports tires to their limit and to draw conclusions about their driving behavior in angry country road battles. The 3743 meter long mountain and valley railway offers a perfect test area for this, as it has non-slip, but also very wavy asphalt. This places high demands on the tires. The reference area drawn, for example, is a fast downhill section, where stability is particularly important. Here the semi-racing tire Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa (Vmax 154 km / h) really takes the unstable Michelin Pilot Power 3 (Vmax 139.4 km / h) from meters.

Rome / Italy: The 1530 meter long wet course is located on the Bridgestone test site near Rome. The data recording shows the fastest wet skin (Michelin Pilot Power 3, red) compared to the slowest (Continental Sport Attack 2, blue). The speed differences are sometimes striking. The Michelin Pilot Power 3 not only enables a higher top speed, but also drives the Continental Sport Attack 2 around its ears, especially in the long left-hand bend (reference area). While the Michelin thunders through the radius at 73.0 km / h, the Conti is at its limit at 65.5 km / h. The Power 3 achieves a maximum incline of 26.3 degrees, the Sport Attack 2 only 22.2 degrees. The Michelin sports tire also swims through the subsequent long meander faster. On the lap he outdoes the Conti by 6.6 seconds.

Tire wear


PS sports tire test 2014


Jahn

The effort of a wear test is enormous. Each pair of tires must be on a motorcycle of the same model. These must then be driven at the same time on the same route under the same conditions at the same speed.

The effort of a wear test is enormous. Each pair of tires must be on a motorcycle of the same model. These must then be driven at the same time on the same route under the same conditions at the same speed. To compensate for differences in driving style, the six drivers rotate between the motorcycles. This leads to a group tour like ours, in which five BMW S 1000 RR and one BMW HP4 were driven by six drivers at a well-groomed, but not too hot-blooded pace. The 4,000 test kilometers were scrubbed down in a third mix of the motorway, well-developed country road and narrow side streets. If you pull harder on the cable or often burn at full throttle on the motorway, the mileage of the sports tires will be dramatically reduced. Anyone who is 90 percent within the StVO and only occasionally on the road should also achieve the mileage determined by us.

Residual profile
front in% 
Residual profile
back in% 
theoretical shelf life *
Bridgestone S20 Evo 41 19th 4930 km
Continental Sport Attack 2 30th 21 5070 km
Dunlop Sportsmart 2 46 39 6560 km
Metzeler Sportec M7 -RR 54 33 6000 km
Michelin Pilot Power 3 58 46 7400 km
Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa 32 24 5280 km
* until the first sports tire has worn down to the legal minimum

Bridgestone S20 Evo


PS sports tire test 2014


mps photo studio

Bridgestone S20 Evo.

Max.
Points
Points
Dry test
Dry lap time: 1.48.7 min
Cold running behavior 10 9
Handling 30th 26
Accuracy 30th 26
stability 30th 26
Grip 40 35
Ratio in the border area  20th 18th
Erection moment
when braking
10 9
Feedback 30th 27
Dry test result 200 176
Wetness test
Wet lap time: 1:14.3 min
Handling 10 9
Accuracy 10 9
Grip 30th 29
Ratio in the border area 20th 18th
Feedback 20th 18th
Braking distance *: 42.9 m 10 9
Result of the wetness test 100 92
Total 300 268
* From 100 km / h

Conclusion
The Evo version of the S20 is characterized by a harder tread in the middle of the rear tire, which is supposed to improve durability. Otherwise, the Bridgestone S20 Evo remained unchanged, which is still reflected in its balance. In the dry, it scores inconspicuously on country roads and racetracks, in the wet it really hits. Only the sports tire from Michelin is a little more adhesive in the wet. Overall, the S 20 Evo does not have any major weaknesses, which is why it collects the most points in the end and becomes the overall PS winner.

Continental Sport Attack 2


PS sports tire test 2014


mps photo studio

Continental Sport Attack 2.

Max.
Points
Points

Dry test
Dry lap time: 1.48.7 min
Cold running behavior 10 10
Handling 30th 29
Accuracy 30th 29
stability 30th 26
Grip 40 36
Ratio in the border area  20th 18th
Erection moment
when braking
10

9

Feedback 30th 27
Dry test result 200 184
Wetness test
Wet lap time: 1:14.3 min
Handling 10 10
Accuracy 10 8th
Grip 30th 19th
Ratio in the border area 20th 14th
Feedback 20th 16
Braking distance *: 42.9 m 10 7th
Result of the wetness test 100 74
Total
300
258
* From 100 km / h

Conclusion
The Continental Sport Attack 2 is the absolute recommendation for everyone who takes to the country road to burn when it is dry. The Conti starts very quickly and provides a great driving experience from the first meter. In addition, it angles precisely and very neutrally, which makes it a class A curve hunter. However, the sports tire from Continental still cannot compete with the big players in the industry when it is wet. The drying specialist has to allow himself to be left out in the rain due to a lack of grip and a tight border area. Even the longest braking distance costs points.

Dunlop Sportsmart 2


PS sports tire test 2014


mps photo studio

Dunlop Sportsmart 2.

Max.
Points
Points

Dry test
Dry lap time: 1.48.7 min
Cold running behavior 10 8th
Handling 30th 24
Accuracy 30th 26
stability 30th 25th
Grip 40 36
Ratio in the border area  20th 18th
Erection moment
when braking
10

8th

Feedback 30th 25th
Dry test result 200 170
Wetness test
Wet lap time: 1:14.3 min
Handling 10 8th
Accuracy 10 7th
Grip 30th 28
Ratio in the border area 20th 18th
Feedback 20th 18th
Braking distance *: 42.9 m 10 9
Result of the wetness test 100 88
Total
300
258
* From 100 km / h

Conclusion
After the preliminary test, there were great expectations for the new Dunlop Sportsmart 2. Unfortunately, they were not fulfilled because he still needs time to get up to temperature. Its handling is also more sluggish than that of other sports tires. In tough use, it lacks the previously cemented stability. In wet conditions, it scores with fast lap times, and its braking distance is on par with the Michelin – but not its accuracy. Overall, the Sportsmart 2 comes across as too inharmonious, which prevents a top ranking.

Metzeler Sportec M7-RR


PS sports tire test 2014


mps photo studio

Metzeler Sportec M7-RR.

Max.
Points
Points

Dry test
Dry lap time: 1.48.7 min
Cold running behavior 10 10
Handling 30th 27
Accuracy 30th 27
stability 30th 27
Grip 40 37
Ratio in the border area  20th 19th
Erection moment
when braking
10

9

Feedback 30th 25th
Dry test result 200 181
Wetness test
Wet lap time: 1:14.3 min
Handling 10 9
Accuracy 10 8th
Grip 30th 26
Ratio in the border area 20th 18th
Feedback 20th 16
Braking distance *: 42.9 m 10 8th
Result of the wetness test 100 85
Total
300
266
* From 100 km / h

Conclusion
Like the Conti, the Metzeler Sportec M7-RR is a quick starter that gives you a good driving experience within a very short time, although it does not provide crystal-clear feedback. Its grip level is on par with the best sports tires in the test in wet and dry conditions. With a forced driving style, the Metzeler is really fun, even if it lacks the agility of a Continental or a Pirelli. Like the Bridgestone, the M7-RR is an all-case friend that never lets you down. Solid, harmonious and predictable, it collects heaps of points.

Michelin Pilot Power 3


PS sports tire test 2014


mps photo studio

Michelin Pilot Power 3.

Max.
Points
Points

Dry test
Dry lap time: 1.48.7 min
Cold running behavior 10 9
Handling 30th 28
Accuracy 30th 26
stability 30th 24
Grip 40 35
Ratio in the border area  20th 16
Erection moment
when braking
10

9

Feedback 30th 26
Dry test result 200 173
Wetness test
Wet lap time: 1:14.3 min
Handling 10 9
Accuracy 10 9
Grip 30th 30th
Ratio in the border area 20th 18th
Feedback 20th 18th
Braking distance *: 42.9 m 10 9
Result of the wetness test 100 93
Total
300
266
* From 100 km / h

Conclusion
The Michelin Pilot Power 3 was named rain god last year. Nothing changed in 2014. No sports tire drives more obliquely in the wet, none faster. However, the Michelin weakens in the dry when it comes to the right thing. If it gets too much temperature in the rubber, it becomes crumple, the driving experience becomes uncomfortable and its accuracy deteriorates. In addition, the rear wheel begins to lubricate when the grip decreases early. Nevertheless, the rain specialist collects enough points for a podium.

Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa


PS sports tire test 2014


mps photo studio

Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa.

Max.
Points
Points

Dry test
Dry lap time: 1.48.7 min
Cold running behavior 10 7th
Handling 30th 27
Accuracy 30th 28
stability 30th 29
Grip 40 39
Ratio in the border area  20th 19th
Erection moment
when braking
10

9

Feedback 30th 29
Dry test result 200 187
Wetness test
Wet lap time: 1:14.3 min
Handling 10 8th
Accuracy 10 7th
Grip 30th 21
Ratio in the border area 20th 14th
Feedback 20th 16
Braking distance *: 42.9 m 10 8th
Result of the wetness test 100 74
Total
300
261
* From 100 km / h

Conclusion
Another specialist is taking the test with the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa. The uncompromising sports tire withstands use on the circuit best and also works great on the country road after some warm-up time. Like the Continental, however, it has to give up when it is wet. Too little grip lets the lap times tumble into the basement, the narrow border area is uncomfortable. Its wet braking distance is also not famous. We recommend the Pirelli to all those who go on the race every now and then and stay at home when it rains.

PS sports tire test final result


PS sports tire test 2014


PS

The final rating of the PS sports tire test.

1st place: Bridgestone S20 Evo (268 out of 300 points)

2nd place: Metzeler Sportec M7-RR (266 of 300 points)

2nd place: Michelin Pilot Power 3 (266 out of 300 points)

4th place: Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corso (261 of 300 points)

5th place: Continental Sport Attack 2 (258 of 300 points)

5th place: Dunlop Sportsmart 2 (258 out of 300 points)

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