The BEST UHP Tyre 2023

Within a fresh, brand-new 2023 test, Steve Sutcliffe takes us through five premium ultra-high performance (UHP) tyres from five premium brands: Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, Continental and Bridgestone. The tyres tested in today's video are the:

- Bridgestone Potenza Sport
- Continental SportContact 7
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- Pirelli P Zero

Each tyre will be tested in both wet and dry conditions on our Italian track. Steve will be looking at and analysing five specific areas of each tyre's performance. This includes:

- Handling
- Braking
- Cornering
- Aquaplaning
- Track speed

The test car Steve will use is a Mercedes AMG A35, while the tyre sizes are 235/40/R18.

All tyres tested within the video have been sourced from an independent retailer to ensure complete neutrality.

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== Chapters ==

** Chapters **
00:00 Introduction
00:30 The Tyres
01:24 Wet Handling Overview
03:48 Wet Track Results
04:22 Sponsor
04:55 Dry Handling Overview
07:23 Dry Track Results
07:45 Conclusion

[ResizeFilms]

I recently got a new set of Pirelli P Zero for my Mercedes.
They offer excellent grip, handling, and responsiveness, which really complement the sporty nature of the car. I truly enjoy the traction that they provide in various conditions.
Amazing tires, totally worth the high price tag. I recommend. 👌🏽

[FlipDeRiviera]

In my experience the Pirelli P Zero deliver truly exceptional performance, precise steering feel, cornering stability, and braking performance, which for me are essential characteristics. You can have real fun driving with these tires.
Had the Bridgestone in the past but they are not quite as good overall. I prioritize performance and handling in my driving experience, that’s why for me the Pirelli P Zero tires are the best choice hands down.

[cobaltpica]

Thanks for the review! I’m on the pzero pz4 and their threadwear are bad. Only 18, 000 km in and the tyres are down to the wear mark. My previous set of Eagle F1A5s lasted 34, 000 km before reaching the wear mark. Tyres are rotated every 6000 -8000km. Replacing the pzero pz4s with F1A6s in the next couple of days. They were fun but short lived.

[RaySqw]

the only tester which find strange results compared to 95% of other testers! 😆

[kadanskapoulicni]

Just looking for new set of tires for next season for my N Performance. So lets see what I am going to buy 😁

[systemyt]

I just had Continental SC7 put on my XJR since they finally released the size for the rears - totally transformative compared to the OE P-Zero. It's the first time since owning the car that full acceleration on a slip road was fully stable with no slip or shimmy of any kind. So far delighted but it hasn't rained yet, so we shall see!

I'm, not a fan of the P-Zero at all I'm afraid, 4 successive Jaguars have been fitted with them (S-Type R, XFR, XJR, XJR575) and every one had: problems with grip especially in the damp or cold, problems with tramlining in lorry ruts, problems with sidewall cracks inside of 3 years, problems with skewing and slipping on hard lock at slow speeds like pulling out of a driveway. One set of replacements weren't even round and turned into a warranty nightmare.

[philshain]

Just ordered the Potenza Sport for my meg4 Megane RS300 based on Sutcliffe advice. I'm lucky enough to have 2 set of wheels so one for the road with road tyres and 1 for the track with RE71RS semi slicks. Can't wait to see how the Potenza sport go in wet and dry road conditions. I always rate Steve Sutcliffe advice on cars and tyres. By far the best UK journalist there is and by god... can that man pedal a fast car on circuit!

[fiddszh]

I was under the impression that the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 was not really an UHP tire, pending the 5S or S5 and the current UHP is the 4S. Given its ubiquity, I would have loved to seen the 4S in this test. Much obliged if you would include the 4S in the next test.

[G.]

Unless you're doing regular track days, just stick with the Michelin's, they'll outlast all the others.

[terryarthurs]

I've got p zero (pz4) runflats on my bmw. Are these the same rubber and tread as the ones on test?
Not sure if i should get the conti's

[Jggu]

Hi. I love your content. Can you makes a video about all Pirelli tyres and which are which? There’s so many like PZ4, PZ4 E, PZ4 Corsa, PS4 Corsa system, Trofeo R/RS, Cinturato, etc. it’s hard to choose which one for my car. And other brands too.

[James-RJM]

Short and sweet 😊
Always enjoy uhp or uuhp summer tyre tests.

No major flaws highlighted and all doing a reasonable job.
But, temperature in wonderful Italy at the time of testing, might be favouring the Bridgestone and pirelli somewhat...?

I know the current pzeros, presumably still labelled pz4's, aren't verging on shite vs the previous mould when it comes to rain. I had them on a '67 i30N performance pack 😮 They were atrocious when in cooler conditions too!
I replaced with ps4s's. Arguably one of the best uuhp summer tyres when hovering just above 0 celcius!!Significantly better in the wet, but still rubbish re bunny hopping on that chassis.😡😂

My replacement GR Yaris, convenience pack, was stripped from the average dunlop sp sport maxx 050's, lol..., before collection! Assymetric 5's shodded and brilliant dry and wet.
I wish I'd actually put them on the N for better steering feel/firmer sidewalls vs the replacement ps4s's!

For my GR4, with the nicer daily standard suspension and the far better convenience pack spec as a daily😉, they were great.

I'm now on Assymetric 6's, which aren't any better in the dry, imo, but definitely superior in the wet!!
All, very enthusiastic road driving as a daily, but leaving esc on.
It flashes at times in the dry, much less when wet.

I did consider the csc7 but they were still limited in 225 40 18 at the time.
The previous pirelli experience has given me little confidence and I've seen too many Bridgestone sport reviews re horrendous tyre wear, albeit likely a track/heat issue only?!

Once the 6's are close to 2-3 mm, I'll reassess the latest offerings and, maybe, give the contis further research and a punt🙂

[STORMSHADOW]

Let's be honest. The Michelin PS5 is not the Sport or Super version like the previous gen PS4S which was exceptional. It would be a more level playing field to pit the Pilot Sport S 5(whenever it actually gets released) versus the SportContact7, Potenza Sport, and PZero.

[juhakivekas]

The one characteristics that was not dealt here is the mileage. We know traditionally that the Bridgestone UHPs do not last long and my own experience from Conti is the same. The longest lasting tyres under my 996 (18 inch wheels limit for me) seem to be Michelin PS2, say 15 000 km, Good Year As6 13 000 km (prediction after 1500 km). My all time favorite tyre has been Potenza S02A and they lasted appr. 10 000 km but the Conti SC2 only 6000 km. (A 911 always wears out its rear tyres, fronts seem to last over a forever).

How long tyres last is very very very important. The more limited your budget the more important it is. In practice it is much more important than if one tyre is 0.5 secs faster on a track than another. These really are not track tyres yet.

Traditionally the strong point of Bridgestone has been the sidewalls. Bridgestone seems to emphasize the bending and rotational stiffness of the tyre tube. This reflects as a very good steering feel and accuracy. The opposite end is usually considered to be Michelin with the traditional X-radial philosophy with soft sidewalls but very stable contact surface. The same level of grip but in a more sluggish way. To me the SC2 was a big big disappointment, very sluggish and inaccurate compared to even Michelin and then really poor mileage. Of course SC2 is not SC7. I can not feel much difference between PS2 and As6. I could not distinguish them from each other. I like both but I would prefer stiffer side wall for both. For my second set I will get next spring most likely PS4S whch should be a step from the PS2.

I hope Bridgestone will soon make a UHP/UUHP tyre in 18 size that last longer because their build philosophy is the right one for me. If I would go flat out to my (modest) limit I would say my accuracy with PS2 would be 10-20 cm. With a Bridgestone it is 10 cm give or take. Anyway, significantly more accurate. However, I can not tell which one has more grip. Both have plenty as do the As6.

I know Steve Sutchcliff is a fantastic top level tin top racer and car tester but frankly I don't know anyone else praising I know quite a few professional tyre testers and I have worked for at least three different customers in the field although Im a not tyre tester per ce but I know quite alot about tyres.

[yuliyanatanasov]

I had 225/45/17 Potenza Sport on 2013 Ford Focus ST (250 hp)--which i choose by the way after watching your videos :) Thanks

Good --> When NEW amazing, tried them in the WET with speeds straight and corner that NO ONE should attempt and no issue, in the dry amazing. Very SAFE tire, i have tried doing the WRONG things when i start, stop, turn into corner, exit from corner NO Problem. I told my wife EVEN if you do something stupid with these tires they will save you. YOU HAVE TO WANT to crash otherwise the tires move and stop like crazy....

Bad --> NOT FOR THE TRACK --IF you plan on taking them to the track, the WEAR was so bad that after 2 sessions my front right tire was looking very bad, they seem to not like it when you go to the track BUT i did have a pretty good time with them.

I did try zestino gredgre 07r on the track and they were AMAZING no issues with wear, i have been dailying them ever since i put them on as the steering feels so much better and they seem to absorb the bumps on regular roads much better than the Potenza Sport and the car feels better in every conceivable way. I tried the Zestinos in light rain ABSOLUTELY no issues, not sure about standing water and heavy rain though soooo.... I am the only driver now with these tires so i can test them in the WET as i dont trust them to let anyone drive them until i know what they are capable of. I will update once a proper RAIN comes....

I am looking forward to try the Potenza Race next year for a tire i can drive around and do around 4 track days per year ....

[fredericdonier]

the big problem with performance tires is that they wear out very quickly the pz4 and bad when it is too hot the potenza sport deteriorates quickly the Goodyear f1 supersport and bad in the rain and the continental sport Contact 7 and a tire superior to the others but lasted 1500km on the front axle of my leon cupra so which tires to choose? I tried all the sport tires and for me the continental sport Contact 7 and the best choice despite the very rapid wear in the mountains

[fredericdonier]

I have used the potenza sport very good tires but very very rapid wear because depth 6.5mm new the zero and medium p when it is too hot and the continental sport Contact 7 and the best but very rapid wear also maximum 2000km on the front axle on my leon cupra 310hp the tires now are less resistant than before softer rubber more grip but rapid wear I have tried all the tires and the continental sport Contact 7 and for me the best dry and rainy

[geobob]

i have 2 questions, is that pirelli p-zero the pz4? And second why at other tests Gdy eagle f1 as6 performs better than Michelin ps5, is the size playing a role?

[auert]

I've been watching tyre reviews for quite some time but thought id give another channel a try just for comparison.
I've watched a few of your videos and they are okay but theres a massive flaw in the way you review. You show unconscious bias by not blind testing.
I was with you when you spoke about how a tyres can transform a car. I have a TM3 and went from 18 inch PS4 to the CSC7 on 19s. I wanted a summer and all season set.
Im not sure how much difference an inch makes by CSC7s are just flipping amazing.
I didnt think there would be that much difference in tyres, not like switching motorcycle tyres but how wrong was I!
I will now what the rest of the video but without blind testing I'm not quite sure how good your review can be.

[ManmanYan]

It's Vizzola for wet. Good track！