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Evo magazine has a good group tyre test this month. For those of you that don't read it or subscribe then a brief summary...

The tyres were all 17" 225/45 R17 and fitted to a VW Golf GTI. The tyres involved were: 1. Bridgestone Potenza RE050-A £123 2. Continental contisport-contact 3 £125 3. Dunlop Sport Maxx £117 4. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric £116 5. Kumho Ecsta STP KU31 £89 6. Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 £133 7. Pirelli Pzero Nero £130 8. Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta £100 9. Yokohoma S.Drive £106 (Avon declined to take part as it is due to launch a new tyre and Toyo wanted to take part but couldn't supply a tyre in time).

Taking place at the new Bridgestone European Proving ground near Rome and consisted of a Wet handling test (Lap times-Goodyear, Lateral G-Goodyear, and Subjective-Vredestein), Aqua-planing (Straight line-Dunlop, and Cornering-Vredestein), Braking (Wet braking-Goodyear, Dry braking-Michelin, and Resistance-Yokohama), Dry handling (Lap times-Goodyear, Lateral G-Goodyear, and Subjective-Goodyear) and a Road route (subjective-Vredestein).

The results were as follows:

1. Goodyear 96.4
2. Vredestein 95.3
3. Continental 93.5
4. Bridgestone 92.7
5. Michelin 92.4
6. Pirelli 92.0
7. Kumho 88.7
8. Dunlop 86.0
9. Yokohama 82.0

An interesting note to the test was an 'is bigger better' surprise. For familiarisation laps of the wet circuit they used a GTI Anniversay on 18" rims with the Bridgestones fitted and it lapped 2.5 secs slower than it's 17" counterparts.....

Interesting stuff Adam, thanks. I'll be looking to go with the ContiSport Contact 3's in a month or two when my tyres need replacing.

In the wet, bigger may not be better as tyres are more prone to aquaplaning, but in the dry I think they should be.

I am currently on Continentals and I think they are better than the Pirellis I had before. Most immediate thing I noticed was just how incredibly quiet they are ...... much much less road noise ! and they break more progressively when hard cornering. Dont know about the Mich PS2 which everyone else raves on about though as never tried those. Definately would give the Conti a try and they are slightly cheaper than PS2 and PZeros.

I would also suggest that a tyre that goes well on one may not go well on another.