May 20, 2020
Extreme Performance Summer tires are the pinnacle of dry performance among street tires. Due to their focus and technology that often shares a lot with motorsports tires, Extreme Performance Summer is the only street tire category we recommend for track use. We’re happy to say, the tire manufacturers continue to release exciting products in this niche category, and with two new, untested tires for the 2020 test season, drivers are almost spoiled for choice.
Our first untested product this season comes from Falken. The manufacturer’s Azenis RT615 line spawned several variants, and all were known to be strong, consistent performers, but just off the pace of the fastest tires in the category. Released in early 2020, the Azenis RT660 looks to change that. With a new, directional tread pattern and specially-developed compound, Falken has their sights set at the top of the podium.
The Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 was initially developed for original equipment use on the Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE and ZL1 variants. From the outset, the tire was intended to harness an abundance of power and turn it into usable traction for high-performance vehicles. Not one to leave cutting-edge technology underutilized, Goodyear has expanded the Eagle F1 Supercar 3 lineup to include many popular sizes for enthusiast vehicles, and drivers are better off for it.
To see if these newcomers have what it takes to make a name for themselves in the hyper-competitive world of Extreme Performance Summer, we compared them to the two biggest players in the category, the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R and the Yokohama ADVAN A052. Our evaluation used 2020 BMW F36 430i sedans fitted with new, full tread depth 245/40R18 tires mounted on 18x8.0 wheels.
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.
The competition was fierce, and all four tires really pushed the envelope of street tire performance. When the dust settled and the lap times were tabulated, the Yokohama ADVAN A052 ended up on top for our second test in a row.
When it comes to track use, it’s hard to argue with monstrous grip, and that’s where the ADVAN A052 stood out from the pack. Admittedly, the steering was a little vague and not as satisfying as some of the other tires in the test. Similarly, the handling didn’t feel as balanced and slightly favored understeer, as the traction from the driven rear tires could sometimes overpower the grip at the front in turns. Even so, the Yokohama emerged as our team’s favorite. Amazing braking slowed the vehicle with authority, and, combined with equally-impressive lateral grip, meant drivers could brake late and carry big speed through turns. With enough traction to multitask well, our team could fully commit to the throttle at corner exit to propel the vehicle to the next target. The Azenis RT660 nearly matched the Yokohama for outright traction and added bright and responsive steering to the equation. Some of our drivers wished for slightly more heft to the steering, as sometimes it felt like it reacted a bit too abruptly to inputs. Yet the combination of reflexes and grip meant the slalom could be taken nearly flat-out, and the near-perfect front-to-rear balance made the tire feel poised, confident, and predictable. The Potenza RE-71R has always been a pinnacle of steering feel and precision, and our results in this test were no different. Every increment of steering input was met with commensurate response, allowing our drivers to hit their marks on the track with spot-on accuracy. Among the newer competition, however, the reflexes didn’t feel quite as immediate. The authoritative front end; strong, confident braking; and impressive traction were all in seemingly perfect harmony with one another, and when driving the Potenza RE-71R, it felt like the driver couldn’t put a foot wrong, unless it was intentional. The Eagle F1 Supercar 3 was a delight to drive around the track. The front end was as responsive to inputs as any other tire in the test, and it was also precise and linear, feeling very natural and intuitive in the way it reacted. Similarly, the handling was balanced, and when the tire’s limits were exceeded, the result was predictable and easily caught and corrected. The only place the Goodyear fell a small step behind the other tires was with outright traction. Driven back-to-back with the rest of the group, our drivers weren’t able to get back to the throttle as quickly or completely exiting a corner, and they couldn’t carry quite as much speed through turns or around the skid pad. While it was only a small deficit, it was noticeable, both to our test team and to the stopwatch.
When considering how well our test group performed in the dry, it’s genuinely impressive that tire manufacturers were able to incorporate so much wet traction, as well. With the relatively low speeds and limited standing water on our track, we are typically challenging the traction provided primarily by the compound, not the tread pattern’s ability to evacuate water. With this in mind, it’s important to drive with care on any Extreme Performance Summer tire used in the wet at higher speeds or where deeper, standing water is present.
The ADVAN A052 led our objective and subjective testing in the wet, just like it did in the dry. With similar handling traits and strong traction available, our drivers were able to essentially drive in the same manner in the wet as they did the dry, just at lower speeds and with slightly tempered inputs to avoid breaking traction. There are a few spots on our track where water tends to pool a bit, and in these areas our drivers were able to detect some hydroplaning with the Yokohama, which was not a concern with the other three tires in the test. The Potenza RE-71R was once again balanced and confident, somehow always managing to feel planted and in control, despite the low friction of the wet surface. The outright traction delivered in our objective braking and skid pad testing wasn’t quite as high as the Yokohama, and the Bridgestone’s lap times were a small step back, as well. While the Eagle F1 Supercar 3 was slightly slower around the track than the Falken, our team preferred the Goodyear as a complete package. The total performance delivered by the Eagle F1 Supercar 3 was proportionate, with no single area that was stronger than others. Because of this, the tire clearly communicated its abilities, and our drivers were able to quickly and easily utilize everything it had to offer, even if that was slightly less than the other tires in the test. The Azenis RT660 felt a little less stable when pushed to the limit, delivering a somewhat edgy performance that was difficult for our drivers to maximize. The very fast reflexes could sometimes deliver more from the front end than the driver had anticipated, which tended to upset the rear end of the vehicle. Additionally, the breakaway under throttle could be abrupt, though easily caught. The result was a performance that, while never unpredictable or out of control, felt like a constant back-and-forth between under the limit and over the limit.
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.
Refinement and comfort during the daily drive are low priorities for Extreme Performance Summer tires, but what they lack in on-road manners, they make up for with their ability to make every drive an event. Whether going to the grocery store, pounding down a twisty canyon road or heading across the country to a national-level autocross, tires from the category typically deliver driving excitement in excess.
Just like we found in our last Extreme Performance Summer test, the ADVAN A052 delivered a reasonably acceptable blend of traits on the road. The ride was quite firm, as expected for the category, but it did a surprising job of cushioning small impacts and minimizing larger bumps. Noise from the tire is a medium-volume, broad tone that, while it won’t be mistaken for a touring tire, is quite reasonable for the category. The steering has nice heft, though a small dead spot on-center and some non-linearity in the response to inputs hurt its overall score with our team. With its roots in original equipment use, we weren’t sure what to expect from the Eagle F1 Supercar 3. What we experienced was a tire that neared the top of the test in refinement. The ride was firm, though not as stiff as the Bridgestone or the Falken. It did tend to transmit each impact through the cabin, and felt slightly jittery as it skipped over multiple impacts. Additionally, our testers noted the vehicle trajectory was upset over larger impacts, requiring steering corrections to maintain the intended path. Noise quality was acceptable, with what was likely the lowest-volume tread noise in the group, though it did register at a somewhat distinct frequency. The steering was taut and responsive, with solid on-center feel and no lag to dull the reflexes. As more input was added, the response seemed to taper off, but in all the steering earned a lot of compliments from our testers. The Azenis RT660 felt a bit more "traditional" as far as Extreme Performance Summer is concerned. The ride filtered out small impacts reasonably well, but larger hits were somewhat harsh and more noticeable due to the contrast between the two. A constant, but distant, tread drone accompanies the driver over all surfaces, and our team noticed a "sizzle" over sealed surfaces that will be familiar to those who have driven tires with a similar tread pattern. The steering was very heavy on-center, with confident straight-line tracking. After a dull first few degrees of input, the response ramped up rapidly, feeling quick and almost overly responsive. The Potenza RE-71R is a familiar partner at this point, and it delivered exactly what our team expected. The ride was controlled and composed, but very firm and somewhat harsh over larger impacts. The tread created a wide variety of noise over different surfaces, with varying tones and volumes at different speeds. The handling was sublime, with near-perfect response to inputs and incredible precision that earned a score with our team almost high enough to make up for the lack of refinement.
Due to the limited number of drivers participating in our 2020 testing as a result of the global pandemic, the sample size was not large enough to provide reliable fuel consumption data.
Matching what we found in our last test, the Yokohama ADVAN A052 has claimed the lead in the Extreme Performance Summer hierarchy. It led our test with the top objective figures and earned the highest score from our team in the dry and the wet, in addition to in the road ride portion of our testing. The Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R is still very fast in the dry, near the top in the wet, but maintains a distinct lack of refinement on the road. Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Supercar 3 delivers a surprising blend of features, with reasonable on-road civility, excellent driving dynamics in the dry, and a balanced, but slightly traction-limited performance in the wet. Falken’s Azenis RT660 is acceptably composed on the road, with average sound quality for the category and light, fast steering. In the dry, it has amazing front end authority and very impressive traction that delivered lap times very close to the test-leading Yokohama. In the wet, the combination of merely acceptable traction and some slightly tricky handling means it offers reasonable performance, but is not a favorite of our team.
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