Tire test: Kenda Vezda UHP Max KR20A

Yokohama Advan Neova AD09

• Fastest Lap: 1:27.8

As a veteran of several of our recent comparisons, the Yokohama Advan Neova AD09 served nicely as a baseline to properly rank the acquired data from our two newcomers. It’s the latest in a long line of category-leading products that began with 2005’s launch of the AD07. 

On the Road: The AD09’s focus on street performance was immediately apparent, as it was the most athletic-feeling of the bunch here. Responsive but not overly so–very natural. And while some washboard surfaces did elicit harshness, elsewhere the ride was typical of a 200tw tire.

On the Track: The AD09 required a lot of steering input and was edgy at the limit–but recovery was quick and intuitive. Taking a full lap to come in, ultimate grip was strong, but that edginess made it hard to hit all of our marks every circuit. You can see this in the lap time progression as we dialed in our driving over the session. Still, the tire itself hung in there, losing no performance throughout. 

Audible feedback was ever-present once the tire was up to temp, clearly announcing pushes to the limit. Toward the end of the session, the intensity of the feedback increased as energy built up in the tire.

Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02

• Fastest Lap: 1:27.0

Continental has been making one of the best do-it-all tires for many years now. It all began with the ExtremeContact DW back in 2009. The DW stands for Dry-Wet, with its unique molded tread void design featuring an indicator that wears away to signal when the tread is at a depth where wet performance is no longer optimal. 

The original DW found a home on performance cars for street duty with occasional track or autocross use. It was also perfect for competition wet use, either on track or around cones. All that excess traction meant it was the tire we chose to install on our kids’ cars to keep them safe in a variety of conditions.

Twice now, Continental has revised that tire with new technology to improve its weak points relative to the competition–most notably, the Michelin PS4S and its predecessors. Renamed the ExtremeContact Sport in 2017, that update delivered improved dry grip to match its category-leading wet performance. However, over time Michelin still garnered the lion’s share of that market. Now with the latest revision, the ExtremeContact Sport 02, Continental gives us even more dry grip but also enhanced handling dynamics. 

On the Road: Compared to the outgoing ExtremeContact Sport, the new ExtremeContact Sport 02 produces much more direct steering, with only a small dead zone straight ahead–just enough to keep from having to constantly react. Movement beyond that zone causes an immediate and very satisfying response. Initially we found ourselves turning in too much and having to adjust, but we learned to love this trait soon thereafter. 

And the ride quality? Of all the high-performance tires we’ve ever tested, this one is the smoothest on the street with zero road noise. It’s a great solution to mitigating a stiff suspension on a dual-use vehicle.

On the Track: Those handling traits were magnified on the track, with responsiveness ramping up the more we loaded the tire. Even as the edge of adhesion approaches, the tire says, “Give me more!” Breakaway was smooth and predictable, aided by moderate audible feedback. 

Our first lap was the quickest, but some heat soak soon set in, lowering the overall grip level a bit. Subsequent laps were very consistent. Note that the ExtremeContact Sport 02 is molded to a much deeper tread depth than the others, so the heat soak characteristic caused by tread squirm should be less of a factor as the tread wears down. Remember that DW mark? As the W goes away, the D improves.

Kenda Vezda UHP Max KR20A

• Fastest Lap: 1:28.8

Kenda’s motorsports involvement has mostly centered on off-road and drifting. In 2023, the brand announced a new compound, KR20A, to make its Vezda UHP Max drifting tire more compatible with amateur circuit and autocross use. Premium performance at a value price is the goal with this model, as a set here will save you more than $400 over the Yokohamas. 

On the Road: Our highway drive with the Kenda was surprisingly pleasant considering the low price point. Response was somewhat dull, but not vague, and was progressive in nature. It’s not nearly as sporty as either the AD09 or ECS02, but still quite good. Our only complaint was the whirring noise that got louder as speeds climbed on the highway. This is typical of V-shaped tread designs.

On the Track: That steering dead zone became much larger, with more and more steering angle required as load increased–pretty much the opposite of the ExtremeContact Sport 02. Grip limits were similarly vague, but breakaway was very smooth and predictable. 

After one solid lap, though, the Kenda quickly heat soaked and performance dropped off drastically. At the same time, the tire went from moderately talkative at the limit to a howling squall at every turn of the wheel or application of the brakes.

Yokohama Advan Neova AD09 (retest)

• Fastest Lap: 1:27.7

With lunchtime approaching, we remounted our baseline AD09s for a bracketing session to measure any track evolution or driver improvement. As it turns out, there was none. Lap times were very similar from start to finish. Satisfied, we put the car on the trailer and returned home to study the data.

What Did We Learn?

Photography Credit: Andy Hollis

If you’re working to a budget, the Kenda could be your tire, especially if street use is primary. It certainly can tolerate the track, but it’s not going to set any records in that venue. As Kenda’s first foray into this segment, we expect it will continue to improve as it has in other markets.

For those favoring longer sessions and more consistent lap times, the Yokohama AD09 is your clear choice. We’ve run this one for 30 minutes straight, consistently putting in laps all within a tenth of each other. In fact, it’s an ideal candidate for endurance racing, where it can last a full weekend of abuse. Quick, durable, consistent on track and athletic on the street, the AD09 delivers.

Our big takeaway from this comparison was just how good the Continental has become. Its handling characteristics are a standout, and dry grip is substantially improved. While we didn’t test it here, its wet performance is known to be among the best. Add in the silent treatment on the road, and you have the perfect tire to mount on every car you own, especially ones that see some occasional track time or cone dodging. 

It’s no wonder that the ExtremeContact Sport 02 is one of the most popular tire choices for the Tire Rack One Lap of America presented by Grassroots Motorsports, where durability and consistency are just as important as wet and dry performance. Your move, Michelin.