September 21, 2021
Second chances can be hard to come by, particularly in the tire industry. With long development cycles and significant expense involved to get a product to market, it’s difficult to react quickly to consumer feedback. With that in mind, we feel it’s important to give credit where it’s due, and there are two such instances represented in our second Ultra High Performance All-Season test of the 2021 season.
When the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS was released, the wet traction set a new standard for Ultra High Performance All-Season tires. Light snow traction, however, was weak, even for the UHPAS category. Instead of deciding it was "good enough," Bridgestone quickly got to work developing a fix. The result is the Potenza RE980AS+, which features a new, upgraded compound that focuses on making a significant improvement in light snow traction with minimal sacrifices in other areas of performance.
Following a very similar pattern, Vredestein has made a running change improvement to the compound used on the Hypertrac All Season. The updated compound also is focused on improving traction in inclement weather, including both wet conditions and light snow. Without a visible name change on the sidewall or any other indicator, consumers have to check the date of manufacture to determine if they have the upgraded compound. Any tires manufactured in the 27th week of 2021 or later are the "plus" version. The DOT Tire Identification Number ends in 2721 or higher. Learn more here.
With all the work put into upgrades for the Potenza RE980AS+ and Hypertrac All Season, they deserve a second chance to prove their mettle against the best in Ultra High Performance All-Season. To that end, we put them to the test alongside the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus and the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4, two of the top tires in the category. Our evaluation used 2020 BMW F36 430i Gran Coupes fitted with new, full tread depth 245/40R18 tires mounted on 18x8.0 wheels.
Our 6.0-mile loop of expressway, state highway and county roads provides a great variety of road conditions that include city and highway speeds, smooth and coarse concrete, as well as new and patched asphalt. This route allows our team to experience noise comfort, ride quality and everyday handling, just as you would during your drive to school or work.
The ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus led the way in the Road Ride portion of our evaluation. The composed ride was fitting for an Ultra High Performance product, and it never felt overly harsh, even on some of the worst sections of our route. There was no significant noise to mention, simply some minor tread growl and cavity noise that, once again, was expected and commendably low for the category. The steering had nice weight, with a solid sense of on-center and quick, precise response to inputs. As we have found in previous testing, our drivers wished for more build-up of effort as steering input was added, but that was a minor complaint when weighed against an overall impressive performance on the road. The Hypertrac All Season also had a solid showing on the road, with test-leading ride quality that was every bit as composed as the Continental, plus additional cushion over impacts that made it more comfortable overall. Sound quality was a very small step behind the test leader, due to impact noise that was a touch louder. The steering felt firm on-center, tracking straight ahead with ease. It wasn’t quite as quick to react to inputs as the rest of the group, though it was accurate and naturally linear in its responses. Bridgestone’s Potenza RE980AS+ was sporty and athletic, with a taut ride that had a performance-focused quality. Some minor tread noise and a slight resonance over smooth asphalt were the only audible distinctions from the leaders of the group. Steering was a particularly strong trait for the Bridgestone, helping the tire earn the highest subjective handling score. Solid on-center feel gave way to quick, crisp response to inputs from the driver. While part of our team longed for slightly more heft, the alertness and precision more than made up for it. Michelin’s Pilot Sport All Season 4 delivered a blend of characteristics that was familiar to our team, including a firm ride that felt a touch unsettled over repetitive impacts. The all-season tread pattern interacted with the road surface to create some noticeable tones that, while not unbearable, stood out to our drivers more than any other product in the test. The steering felt a little light on-center and wanted to wander a small amount, and it responded quickly to the driver’s inputs. A gentle touch was all it required to elicit a change in the vehicle’s trajectory, and effort built nicely with additional steering input.
Our 1/3-mile per lap test track course includes 90-degree street corners, a five-cone slalom and simulated expressway ramps. Run in both dry and wet conditions, the test track allows our team to experience the traction, responsiveness, handling and drivability normally only encountered during abrupt emergency avoidance maneuvers or competition events.
It’s important to note that Ultra High Performance All-Season tires aren’t intended for track use, or even in an autocross environment, and the severe wear we always experience following our somewhat limited track testing is a testament to that fact. Even so, it’s undeniable that these premium UHPAS products are fast and fun to drive when pushed to their limits.
Continental’s ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus led our dry testing in average lap times, 50-0mph braking distances, and the subjective evaluation from our test team. When pushed to the limit, the Continental responded skillfully. It felt taut and reacted deftly to all the driver’s inputs. The strong traction and balanced, neutral handling meant the tire never seemed to put a foot wrong, always placing the car right where intended. Objectively, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 was just a breath behind in most metrics, and it surpassed the Continental in lateral traction. Subjectively, it felt a little bit softer and slightly vague. While the objective results clearly demonstrate the tire’s impressive capabilities, it didn’t feel quite as adept on the track as the test leader. The Potenza RE980AS+ was balanced in its characteristics, with no one trait that stood out. This allowed our drivers to quickly learn what the tire had to offer and maximize its performance potential. Its objective figures and lap times trailed the group by a small margin, indicating lower outright traction and ability, but it was easy to drive and capable within the window it provided. The Hypertrac All Season led the test in lateral traction and took a mere two feet longer to come to a stop from 50mph compared to the test-leading Continental. Subjectively, it allowed our drivers to easily flow and blend all sectors of our track, but with a slightly soft feel and steering that wasn’t as immediately responsive as some of the other tires, it didn’t seem as confident or athletic on the track.
The ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus delivered an impressive performance in the wet, leading all objective metrics and earning the highest subjective score once again. The test-leading traction was undeniable on the track, allowing our drivers to carry more speed everywhere and building confidence in the tire’s abilities. The Pilot Sport All Season 4 was a step back objectively, though still very capable. Even though the limits, and therefore the pace, weren’t as high, our drivers praised the tire’s athleticism and the way it easily connected one element to the next. The Hypertrac All Season was essentially in the middle of our test group, with solid objective figures that would feel confident in rainy-day driving. It was somewhat free at the rear axle, with a balance that leaned toward mild, easily-controllable oversteer. Like in the dry, the Potenza RE980AS+ was nice to drive and predictable in the wet, but it was limited by traction that trailed the rest of the pack by a significant margin. Aside from a tendency to push at the front axle if the driver didn’t respect its lower threshold of grip, our team didn’t have any complaints concerning the tire’s behavior, but we wished it gave us more to work with.
The four tires in our test represent the pinnacle of light snow traction for the Ultra High Performance All-Season category. They firmly demonstrate the category’s newfound focus on all-season capabilities and are a monumental departure from what used to be seen as "acceptable" light snow traction for an Ultra High Performance All-Season tire. All four were very close in objective acceleration and braking, with only two feet separating the entire group in both metrics. There was more-significant separation between them in lap times on the handling track and in our testers’ subjective evaluation, but drivers who are accustomed to using an Ultra High Performance All-Season tire year-round would be happy with the performance from any member of this test group.
Even though the results were close, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 deserves credit for leading every objective metric and tying for the highest subjective score from our test drivers. Between its strong acceleration and braking traction and its balanced, confident handling up to and at the limit, it set the standard for the test, and ultimately for the category. The Hypertrac All Season trailed the group by a small amount in acceleration and braking, and it was third of four in lap times. Despite that, it tied with the Michelin for the highest subjective score in the test. In practical use and at speed, the longitudinal traction felt every bit as strong as the other tires, and our drivers liked the handling. As we’ve found in previous testing, the Hypertrac All Season’s balance leans toward slight, controllable oversteer. In the snow, this attribute is a very useful cornering tool, allowing both the front and rear axles to contribute to rotation and helping to eliminate frustrating understeer. The ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus received a lot of praise for its balanced performance in the snow. Acceleration, braking, and cornering traction were all strong and present in equal measure. There was never any unpredictable or unexpected behavior from the tire, just well-rounded and confidence-inspiring capability. The Potenza RE980AS+ was a very close second place in lap times and braking distance, and it offered strong grip around the track, as well. The steering was a little vague compared to the competition, and the Bridgestone moved around a bit more, never feeling quite as planted as the Continental. This required more trust from the driver that the tire would have the traction to perform the task being asked of it, which took some adjustment and slightly hurt the subjective score.
On the ice, the Bridgestone and Continental split the top spot, with the Bridgestone leading the group in 12-0 mph braking and the Continental requiring the least amount of time to accelerate 60 feet. The Vredestein was third in both metrics, and the Michelin trailed the group slightly, though once again the margins between all four were rather small. It would likely be a challenge to discern the performance difference without back-to-back testing, and as always, the performance offered by even these top-performing Ultra High Performance All-Season tires is nowhere near the ice traction capabilities of a dedicated winter tire.
More often than not, when we test four top-tier competitors, the results are very close. While that is the case here, it could be argued the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus distinguishes itself somewhat. With less than a tenth of a point separating the other three tires’ overall scores, the Continental’s three- to four-tenths gap on the group is at least worth noting. It delivers a composed, quiet experience on the road with responsive and accurate steering. Wet traction is top-notch and competitive with the best in Ultra High Performance All-Season, as is its performance in the snow and on ice. It feels confident and athletic when pushed in the dry, and our team’s only small complaint is the somewhat synthetic-feeling steering. The upgrades Vredestein made to their Hypertrac All Season make it a viable alternative to some of the biggest names in the category. With surprisingly good ride and noise comfort on the road, it would be a great choice for drivers with a long commute. Wet traction is mid-pack in this star-studded group, but the well-rounded, controllable behavior would be appreciated on the road. Similarly, its capabilities in the snow and on the ice are right in the mix with the top-tier competition in this test. While its dry track prowess isn’t a standout feature, it’s sporty enough to feel athletic on the road, and it leads our test in lateral traction on the skid pad. The Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 performs at a high level across the board, delivering objective traction figures that are close to the best in both the dry and the wet and that lead our light snow testing. The steering and light handling feel great on the street or the track, though our team would like some additional refinement in the form of improved ride quality and a reduction in overall tread noise, particularly over coarse surfaces. Bridgestone’s Potenza RE980AS+ is a solid all-around option. The "+" version’s updated compound has made a monumental improvement in light snow traction, propelling the new tire to parity with the best in the category. The steering feels crisp and alert on the street, with quick reflexes and accurate response to inputs. The ride is quite firm, though impacts are succinct and handled with poise. Road noise consists of some perceptible, but minor tones along with impact noise that is only slightly more noticeable than the test leaders. While the wet traction is good overall, and the handling and balance are commendable when driven within the tire’s limits, it’s undeniable the Potenza RE980AS+ has less grip than the other tires here. Similarly, it’s a small step behind in the dry, as well, trailing just a touch objectively and not feeling quite as adept at hustling around our track as the best of the group.
Need help choosing the right products for your vehicle? Our team of highly trained experts has the knowledge and passion to help. Just pick up the phone and give us a ring. Or let's chat via email. We love solving problems and lending a hand (or an ear).
Contact Us