June 21, 2021
Every year, the Tire Rack test team looks forward to our Extreme Performance Summer tire test. These are the highest-performing category of true "street" tires, and they’re the only street tires Tire Rack recommends for use on the track. With big personalities on the road, immense grip in the dry, and sometimes surprising capability in the wet, Extreme Performance Summer tires are fun to drive, fun to test, and the results are fun to debate with fellow enthusiasts after the fact.
With that in mind, it’s always exciting when new products are launched in the category, and in 2021 we were fortunate to have two untested competitors. The Continental ExtremeContact Force is designed with a focus on endurance, so while outright speed is a priority, consistent performance and durability during track use are at the top of the list. Additionally, the ExtremeContact Force features tread depth pins in the shoulders to allow drivers to monitor remaining life, which is a very "racy" feature for a street tire and especially helpful during endurance events.
The Kumho Ecsta V730 is designed for maximum traction and performance handling. Both the high-grip compound and low-void pattern with its expansive outboard shoulder element put grip first and foremost. While Kumho hasn’t advertised a specific focus of the Ecsta V730, based on our experience with the tire, it seems well-suited for track and autocross use alike.
We were excited to find out how these two new competitors stacked up against the best and fastest in the category, so we decided to compare them to the Falken Azenis RT660 and Yokohama ADVAN A052. Our evaluation used 2020 BMW F36 430i Gran Coupes 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.
In our dry track testing, the four tires in this group were separated by the narrowest of margins, with only a .07 second difference between the top and the bottom. The Azenis RT660 earned that victory, with the other three competitors in what was essentially a three-way tie for second place. In addition to razor-thin margins in average lap time, our team’s subjective scores for all four tires were only separated by .06, as well.
Not only did the Azenis RT660 set the fastest lap time, it also tied for the top score from our drivers. The quick, precise steering made the front end feel alive and eager, lending an athleticism to the vehicle that the other tires couldn’t quite match. Some slight rear-end rotation was easily usable to help the vehicle turn, and the solid lateral grip and confident braking behavior completed the on-track package. The Ecsta V730 was the other half of our subjective tie at the top, and the tire proved itself very easy to drive quickly and was also the most consistent performer for all of our drivers. While the turn-in wasn’t as immediate as with the Falken, once the driver’s input was added the front end felt locked in place, almost as if the vehicle was being pulled through the turn. The authority impressed our drivers and made us wish we could try the Ecsta V730 on a larger track with higher-speed turns. Ultimate lateral grip and braking were very strong, though not test-leading, and the balanced nature and intuitive feel made it so easy to maximize and drive at a very high level. The ExtremeContact Force provided exceptional steering characteristics, even among this incredibly talented group. The combination of weight, precision, responsiveness, and feel were as close to ideal as our team could ask for. Every motion felt smooth, fluid, and intuitive, like the vehicle was an extension of the driver. When driving the ExtremeContact Force, our testers could make the car rotate at will; it was nimble through the slalom; and it was poised and balanced around the long, steady-state left hand turn of our skid pad. Our team’s only minor concern was that if the driver tried to lean on the outside front tire too hard, it felt as if it was "rolling over" on itself and pushing a bit more than the other tires here. Avoid overdriving the front end, though, and the experience was sublime. With the shortest 50-0 mph braking distance and lateral grip only .01g behind the leader, the ADVAN A052 had undeniably strong traction, and that was apparent in every element of our track. As we’ve found in previous tests, its ability to put the power down through turns and at corner exit was unmatched, as was the speed our drivers could carry into turns. If there was anywhere our team would have liked some improvement from the ADVAN A052, it was the steering. Compared to the rest of the group, it was a little vague, lacking the precision and direct nature of the competition. Additionally, it wasn’t quite as responsive as we would like, though the traction and outright speed are likely enough to overcome those concerns for nearly every driver.
In the wet, the ADVAN A052 was a superstar, delivering some of the best performance of any tire we’ve tested, regardless of performance category. The highest praise we can aim at the ADVAN A052 was that our team could drive it the same way in the wet as we would the dry. Where most tires require the driver to "manage" certain traits or behaviors in wet testing, the only adjustment the ADVAN A052 required was a slight reduction in pace due to the lower traction of the wet surface. As has always been the case, our test track features relatively shallow water depth and lower speeds than would be encountered on a full-size road course, so it rarely challenges tires’ hydroplaning resistance. Care should always be taken at high speeds or when standing water is present while driving any Extreme Performance Summer tire. The Azenis RT660 delivered outright grip that was strong when considered on its own but was a sizable step back from the Yokohama. The immediately-responsive front end could feel as though it might overpower the available traction at the rear, which, combined with some twitchiness under acceleration and braking, made the vehicle feel a little nervous. While our test team enjoyed the challenge and satisfaction of "taming" the tire, a less-experienced driver may not be as comfortable with its traits. Even though the Ecsta V730 trailed the group in outright traction in our objective testing, its average lap times and subjective score were both good for third of four. Both categories likely would have been better if it weren’t for the crippling understeer it exhibited if the driver wasn’t careful to avoid overstepping the available front-end traction. Driven within the limits of the front tires, the Ecsta V730 was capable, responsive, and nice to drive. Once it started to understeer, however, it took a significant amount of time to recover. The ExtremeContact Force provided reasonable traction in our objective testing, but it fell to the back of the pack subjectively and in average lap times. Both of those shortcomings stemmed from the tire’s relative lack of forward longitudinal traction. Whether at corner exit, powering out of the slalom, or on our relatively short straightaways, the driver had to be careful with the throttle to avoid wheelspin. Once the rear tires started spinning, the rear end often would slowly step sideways, and it required nearly full release of the throttle to regain traction. Otherwise, the tire provided enough capability to work with, but it wasn’t a standout performer in the wet.
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.
If you’ve never driven an Extreme Performance Summer tire on the road, it’s quite the experience. Their focus on dry traction and track-worthiness often leaves much to be desired in terms of on-road manners, which is part of what earned the "Extreme" portion of the category’s moniker.
Since its release, the ADVAN A052 has been known for its surprisingly, and relatively, refined manners on the road. The ride was the most cushioned over impacts, even isolating the vehicle’s occupants from some bumps that were noticeable on other tires. Similarly, the noise quality was decent, as well, creating a medium-volume, broad tone without any distinct notes. The Continental ExtremeContact Force was very firm, revealing all of the road’s imperfections, and it was very stiff over large bumps. Even so, it was no more than is expected from the category. Noise was basically the same story; it created arguably the highest-volume noise from the tread, but it was a constant tone that didn’t really vary or draw significant attention. The Ecsta V730 was about equally stiff as the Continental. Over smooth surfaces or asphalt, it was relatively quiet, but the tread interacted with textured roads and concrete in a way that created a grind reminiscent of a bad wheel bearing. Also, impacts created the most noise of any tire in the group, which hurt the Ecsta V730’s score with our team. The Azenis RT660 felt the most like a "traditional" Extreme Performance Summer tire on the road. The ride was reasonable over small bumps, but spiked over big hits in a way that made them more noticeable than in other products. The noise consisted of a high-volume ruckus that varied over surfaces of different textures, materials, and treatments.
The excellent steering and light handling typically delivered by Extreme Performance Summer tires are the tradeoff for their often-abysmal road manners, and here the ExtremeContact Force led the show. Featuring just the right weight and resistance to movements; the ideal, intuitive amount of response to inputs; and a smoothness and precision that gave the steering a fluid feel, it was satisfying to pilot the vehicle equipped with the Continental. The Azenis RT660 was also very satisfying, though it felt much more high strung. The wheel had the most heft and required the most physical effort to turn, which was good because every twitch elicited a quick, decisive response from the vehicle. Thanks to the weight of the helm, it was precise and easy to meter out exactly the response desired, but the urgency required an adjustment when compared to the other three tires in the group. The Ecsta V730 was also precise and direct in its response, though it was lighter and not quite as fast. Additionally, it didn’t provide as much self-aligning torque as the Continental or Falken, which is something our team likes from a tire in such a high-performance category. While the steering of the ADVAN A052 was sporty and athletic by most standards, it was vague compared to the other tires here. Where the best in the category felt like they metered our every millimeter of input and response, when driving the ADVAN A052, the driver turned the wheel to the general area, and the vehicle responded appropriately, but it wasn’t as satisfying as the others here.
The results from the four incredible competitors in our test are some of the closest we have ever experienced, both objectively and subjectively. The Yokohama ADVAN A052’s wet performance is the exception, and its dominant wet traction and relative comfort on the road are what helped secure a narrow victory here. The dry traction is immense, allowing the driver to apply more throttle, sooner, than any other tire in the test. Continental’s new ExtremeContact Force is focused on endurance and longevity, but on our track, on our test vehicles, with our drivers, it keeps up with the pack in our autocross-style testing, as well. On the road, it’s expectedly stiff and loud, and our team would like some additional wet traction, particularly for acceleration and braking on the track. The Kumho Ecsta V730 has incredible cornering grip, pulling the vehicle through turns with an urgency that is missing from the other three competitors. It’s reasonably comfortable on the road and reasonably capable in the wet, as long as you avoid the understeer. The Falken Azenis RT660 is our test leader in dry lateral grip and dry lap times. It has strong wet traction but is a little tricky to drive at the limit. The noise on the road is definitely "extreme," but enthusiast drivers will likely think it’s an acceptable sacrifice to be made for the performance capabilities it provides.
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