Auto Bild Sportscars Track Tyre Test — 2026
German magazine Auto Bild Sportscars conducted another tyre test, this time selecting semi-slicks designed primarily to maximise grip and improve lap times on a race track. The tested tyres were in sizes 275/35 R19 and 285/30 R20, which are standard fitments for the BMW M2 used in the tests. Alongside track-focused tyres, a UUHP-category Michelin tyre served as the "baseline" variant, while a full slick acted as the "joker". Testing took place at Italian tracks in Vizzola and Nardò.
Test participants:
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (UUHP, homologated for BMW M2)
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R (homologated for BMW M4 CSL)
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS (homologated for BMW M2 CS)
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo Track (slick)
Vitour Tempesta P1
Although one might assume that tyres of this type are completely ineffective on wet surfaces, during testing on a wet track at Vizzola, all participants except the slick managed the course without issues. A soft rubber compound is an advantage in such conditions, so experts expected strong performance from Yokohama simply by feeling the tyres before mounting. The Yokohamas lived up to expectations, taking first place with a clear margin over competitors. Theoretically, the Michelin UUHP tyres—with the highest void volume in the tread—could have been favourites, but that didn't happen. Instead, the French brand's tyres were outperformed by both budget-category semi-slicks, which impressed with their handling on wet surfaces. In contrast, the track-focused Michelin and Pirelli models lagged behind, though they still behaved safely with predictable oversteer.
Alright, handling was not an issue, but how did the semi-slicks perform in terms of braking on wet surfaces? Efficient water evacuation is crucial here as well. Once again, Yokohama emerged as a leader, achieving a braking distance surprisingly close to the "baseline" tyres. Additionally, testers were impressed by how well the ADVAN tyres worked with the car's ABS, keeping the M2 stable during hard braking—without pitching or sliding—making it hard to believe they were driving on semi-slicks. Nankang and Vitour followed closely behind the top performers, though they faced greater challenges with water dispersion. The semi-slick Pirelli and Michelin tyres performed even worse in this regard, but this did not eliminate their chances of winning, as wet-track performance accounted for only 20% of the overall evaluation.
In a previous track tyre test, Auto Bild Sportscars set a record for the shortest braking distance on dry tarmac: a Porsche 911 GT3 RS stopped from 100 km/h in just 26.79 meters, decelerating at 15.17 m/s². This time, Pirelli came close, achieving a braking distance of 28.8 meters with deceleration of 13.39 m/s², while Yokohama failed to repeat their excellent wet-track performance. The team also measured braking distance from 200 km/h. Pirelli again took the top spot (118.37 m), followed by Vitour and Michelin Cup 2 R. The remaining tyres failed to stay under 120 meters. The slicks delivered a surprise: they worked very poorly with ABS (experts noted the system seemed unable to cope with the extreme grip), stopping the car only after 137 meters.
In dry track lap times, the slicks predictably took the lead. However, it's notable that the gap to second-place Pirelli was only 0.8 seconds over a 6.2 km lap. The semi-slick Pirelli tyres impressed with extremely high grip and precise responses. This time, the Chinese Vitour tyres surprised testers, trailing the Trofeo RS by just one second and demonstrating excellent stability on both front and rear axles. At the bottom of the rankings were the "baseline" Michelin tyres, which felt somewhat stiff and prone to understeer, while the Yokohamas were overly soft, reducing steering responsiveness.
While a fast single lap is impressive, semi-slicks are usually expected to maintain consistent performance throughout a full track day. Therefore, testers evaluated how many laps each tyre could complete before grip dropped noticeably. Despite a harder compound compared to other participants, Michelin Cup 2 R failed to keep pace and began falling behind significantly from the second lap onward. In contrast, Pirelli delivered consistently strong results from the second to the sixth lap. Testers noted the Trofeo RS offered excellent feedback and a highly enjoyable driving experience—praise that also applied to Vitour, which was an unexpected result. As for the slicks, they never managed to deliver strong performance due to tendencies toward both understeer and oversteer.
Verdict
First place goes to the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS, which came close to slick performance during fast laps, resist wear well over extended use, and respond precisely to steering inputs. Wet-weather grip is average, but that's expected for semi-slicks.
Silver goes unexpectedly to the Vitour Tempesta P1, which proved highly competitive on both dry and wet tracks, closely approaching Pirelli in fast laps and offering excellent feedback. Wear is slightly faster than the Trofeo RS, and the tyres showed reduced stability during the final two laps of long runs. Additionally, Vitour tyres were the heaviest in the test.
Nankang CR-S impressed with strong handling in all conditions, although steering response under high loads isn't as precise as with Pirelli and Vitour. Additionally, ABS intervention on dry surfaces occurs more frequently than desired, and the tyre's weight is relatively high.
Yokohama ADVAN A052 stood out with the best grip on wet surfaces and delivered strong fast-lap performance. However, they wear quickly during extended use, becoming highly prone to wheelspin. Their soft compound also reduces steering precision.
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R delivered strong handling and lateral stability on dry surfaces. However, peak grip is only available on the first lap, followed by rapid wear. Wet-weather grip is average, and Michelin remains a very expensive option—even in Germany, let alone Russia.
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 performs well on wet surfaces and is somewhat more affordable, but it also wears quickly over long distances.
Finally, according to testers, the slick Pirelli P Zero Trofeo Track delivers "impressive, but not exceptional" grip on dry tracks, while on wet surfaces the car becomes nearly uncontrollable.
Source: Auto Bild