Sport tires for C-segment compact cars not only look nice and fat, they also make the difference in terms of safety and driving dynamics. However, there are only a few tires that are really recommendable, as this test shows.
The sporty models in the C-segment are very much alive. While the standard versions are 16-inch, the Cupra Leon, the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Audi S3 are delivered with 19-inch. This ensures precise turn-in behavior, sporty cornering dynamics and a true adrenaline boost at rapid course changes. These tires provide pure driving pleasure, as long as you buy the right tires. And that is not so easy, because the choice is also huge in this segment.
A wrong choice can have major consequences, because in the braking test with an initial speed of 100 km / h on wet roads, our test car with the cheap products from Syron and Berlin Tires only comes to a stop 16 meters later than shod with the impressively good braking rubber of Michelin. Approaching a traffic jam is the difference between a narrow escape and a clapper at a speed of more than 50 km / h. And then the fun is of course over. Good sports tires, on the other hand, offer an extra portion of safety in addition to driving pleasure. This is demonstrated by Michelin and Continental products in the dry braking test and Dunlop tires in the aquaplaning tests.
The advantages of large tires can also be taken advantage of by the less powerful models in the C-segment. These too can be fitted with 17-, 18- or (as tested) 19-inch wheels. Because these tires are flatter, the rolling comfort is a bit less, but on the other hand, sporty rides on winding roads with larger tires become a real party.
The Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 finishes in 5th place, a balanced sports tire with precise steering response. Only the rolling comfort is moderate. In 4th place we find the Pirelli P Zero PZ4, which shows convincing driving characteristics on both dry and wet roads. It’s just not the most economical band. Third is the popular Continental SportContact 6, which mainly has a lot of safety reserves. The high price is especially a bummer here. The number 2, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport, also shows a nice balance between safety and sporty steering behavior. Overall winner is the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, the best but also the most expensive tire in the test. The verdict: precise steering, dynamic handling, the shortest braking distance, including both dry and wet road surfaces, good comfort and low rolling resistance.
Price comparator
With the Techzle Car Tire Price Comparison we offer you a handy tool to find the best deals on summer tires. The price comparison site currently provides an overview of the full range of 18 different tire providers. Also here are the results all tire tests of the past 9 years.