evo TYRE TEST 2020
IT’S THE TURN OF THE 19-INCH ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE (UHP) TYRE this year, in the best-selling 235/35 R19 size, a size that’s the most popular partly because it’s used by many of today’s high performance hatchbacks.
Most of the premium tyre brands are represented in our test, including Goodyear with its all-new Eagle F1 SuperSport, the notable exception being Bridgestone, which has a new Potenza set for launch in 2021. Of the other absentees, Yokohama couldn’t meet our request in time due to Covid-19 related staff layoffs, Hankook, Toyo and Falken all have revised tyres on the way, and Maxxis, which we included unofficially in last year’s test of 18-inch UHP tyres, unfortunately did not have any stock for this test.
As always in the evo test, the results are decided in part by objective testing and in part subjective. A tyre that delivers good numbers doesn’t necessarily feel good beneath you, and the reverse can also be true, so we rate them all for steering feel and feedback, for the confidence they inspire on track, and how refined and responsive they are in a general driving environment too. In this way we aim to provide a full and rounded view of each tyre to better inform your next purchase.
THE CAR
Once again, test car duties were ably filled by the Volkswagen Golf GTI, in this instance a Mk7.5 Performance version, with 242bhp and, more pertinently, a solid 273lb ft of torque from just 1600rpm, sent through the front wheels via a seven-speed DSG gearbox. As ever, the GTI provides a consistent and
