Gary@Ronal

I thought I would share with you a recent test report, featuring a comparitive test of 225/40/ZR18 tires on the new Audi TT 1.8 Quattro, w. rear spoiler and functioning ESP.
This test was conducted by the German Magazine "Rallye Racing" published 7/2000. It features a comparitive test of NINE Hi-performance tires all driven on Ronal 18x8" R-7 wheels on the Audi TT.
The tires tested were all 225/40/ZR18
Bridgestone Pole SO2
Continental Sport Contact
Dunlop SP9000
Falken GRFK451
Fulda Caret Extremo
Michelin Pilot Sport
Pirelli PZero Rosso
Toyo Proxes TS 1
Yokohama AVS Sport

I thought this might be of interest to some of you, so I have taken the time to translate and summarize it for your review. Remember, this test was conducted by "professionals" featuring a TT Quattro coupe, equipped as stated. Some vehicles might respond differently to these tests. A series of nine tests were performed comparing the tires on the same car, with the same wheel, in the same conditions.

I. Outside Microphone Test: This test featured a microphone on the ground outside, as the car was driven past at a speed of 80 Km/h and then the motor shut off---Testing for outside noise created by the tires.
Yokohama and Falken were leaders, and Fulda and Toyo brought up the rear.

II. ABS brakes-DRY: Brake test from 100 KM/h to stop in dry weather. Leaders were Falken and Yokohama @ 37.25 and 37.48 meters. Continental brought up the rear w. a difference of more than 3 meters.

III. SLALOM-dry: A course was set up 180 meters long, w. pylons spaced 18 meters apart. Pirelli PZero Rosso finished first here while Dunlop SP9000 finished last.

IV.Dry Handling: Pirelli PZero Rosso finished first here while Dunlop and Falken finished last.

V.ABS Braking WET: This test featured braking from 80 km/h to 20 km/h. Bridgestone finished first @27.52 meters w. Yokohama a close second. Michelin finished last, needing 3.5 Meters more distance.

VI. Aquaplaning-curves: Featured driving the same curves and progressive speeds factoring at which speed the car broke loose and more importantly how quickly: Bridgestone,Falken led the field while Yokohama and Fulda brought up the rear.

VII. Aquaplaning-long: Featured a course saturated w. 7 mm of water. Dunlop and Falken led the field, while Continental brought up the rear, nearly 10 km/h slower.

VIII. Wet driveability: Pirelli led this test w. Dunlop a close second while Continental and Fulda brought up the rear.

IX. Wet Handling: Dunlop showed its forte in this test while Falken brought up the rear.

Overall 3 tires were highly recommended:
The Bridgestone Pole SO 2
Pirelli PZero Rosso
Yokohama AVS Sport,
While Continental , Dunlop, and Fulda were not recommended.

Some of the major points that were tested were how the tires handled weight shifts, long radius turns, short turns, quick evasive maneuvers-----and consequently what inputs did they create--oversteer, understeer, or neutral tendencies. Times were not only taken into consideration, but more importantly what handling characteristics the tires transmitted back to the drivers and the vehicle.

Hope this helps. As always, as OEM for Audi,etc.
you can see our wheels on the cars at www.ronalusa.com, Index of cars, Audi sections. WE offer complete wheel/tire packages and again will feature snow/wheel and tire packages for all Audi's inc. S4, A62.7t, 4.2, TT, and A8's.

Audiablo

<i> the car was driven past at a speed of 80 Km/h and then the motor shut off</i>

If the manual's warnings carry any truth, this is a great way to kill your catalytic converters and/or the powertrain. Though I assume they're always on the overcautious side of the fence...<p><img src=http://www.vizsoft.com/~oliver/A6spin.gif>

Cameron

... it definitely isn't going to make your cats happy if you suddenly cut power after hitting 80km/h at full throttle on a 0-100km/h run, but I doubt it would do any damage to the transmission, presuming the engine was shut off at idle in neutral at 80km/h.

I do not recommend or endorse the practice of driving around at significant speeds with the car in a shutdown condition, and presume this test was completed in a controlled environment.

Gary@Ronal

..

JeeRS

contrary to what most people think, i happen to think the 040s are a pretty good all-around max. tire (winter driving not included). of course, i wouldn't buy a set again just b/c there are better tires; SO2 being one of them.

thanks for the info.

Audiboy

get the G-Force KD's over the Yoko AVS Sports as I was looking for the best dry tire (with a tread wear rating over 150). Now if the Fed Ex truck will just show up with my tires as it has been a week already - Tire Rack to reimburse shipping cost

SIR VBall

<p>Alan deJesus
'00 S4 Black/alcantara AEZ Bimo CF trim MTM Brullen UUC Porterfield H&R race coilovers smoked tail lights oettinger grill
AND... the new and improved boot

broadbandjim

the Toyos are as quiet as the Bridgestones, and more quiet than the Michelins, so I don't get this part of the test (I have them on different cars, so that may be part of the difference).

While they may be a tad less "ultimate" in their performance, I have been very pleased with the Toyo T1S's on my A4 for what it's worth.

Reggie3

Thanks Gary - always appreciate your inputs here.

eharleq

Apples and oranges. G-force is easily the best non-R dry tire on the market.