205/40 R18 - Best zimni tyres 2026 - market overview, tests, reviews

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Best tyres in tests (2026)

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1

Premium

Pilot Alpin 5

'25#1

'25#1

'25#2

10.0

Price from

£198

Price from£198

Expert summary

This is currently the best rated tyre we have and there is a reason for it - it combines sportiness on snow and dry and very good safety margins on the wet. It’s designed to maintain the joy of driving, even on winter tyres, but still manages to be safe at all times. 100% recommended.

Recommended

#1

2026

theTyre Lab.comRecommended#1 Winter tires 2026

Performance

Snow braking

100%

Dry braking

99%

Snow traction

95%

+7

Aquaplaning - longitudal

66%

Aquaplaning - cross

55%

Interior noise

47%

Test results

2025225/40 R18#1(Exemplary)

2025275/35 R19#1(Outstanding)

2025245/45 R19#2(Highly recommended)

2025225/40 R18#2(Good)

2025225/40 R18#2(-)

2024235/35 R19#1(Exemplary)

2024245/45 R18#1(Exemplary)

2024235/35 R19#1(Test winner)

2023225/45 R18#1(Test winner)

View full review

Price variants (1)

205/40 R18 86 V

B D 70dB

£198

mytyres.co.uk

£198

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

2

Premium

Blizzak 6

'25#1

'25#2

'25#3

9.1

Price from

£160

Price from£160

Expert summary

Blizzak has always been a winter tire focused on wet conditions, but with its sixth model, Bridgestone has promised improved snow performance and reduced rolling resistance. Early tests suggest they have delivered on these promises—Blizzak 6 is unmatched in wet conditions and excels on snow, making it ideal not just for city climates.

Recommended

#7

2026

theTyre Lab.comRecommended#7 Winter tires 2026

Performance

Wet circle cornering

79%

Comfort

78%

Snow traction

76%

+6

Dry braking

53%

Exterior noise

52%

Interior noise

29%

Test results

2025235/50 R19#1(Test winner)

2025275/35 R19#2(Very good)

2025225/45 R17#3(-)

2025215/55 R17#3(Good)

2025225/40 R18#3(Exemplary)

2025225/40 R18#3(Good)

2025245/45 R19#4(Highly recommended)

2025225/40 R18#6(-)

2025215/55 R17#6(Very good)

2025215/55 R17#7(Good)

View full review

Price variants (1)

205/40 R18 86 V

B C 70dB

£160

mytyres.co.uk

£160

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

Tyres Pneus Online UK

£180

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

3

Premium

UltraGrip Performance+

'25#2

'23#3

9.0

Price from

£164

Price from£164

Expert summary

A typical premium tyre - very well balanced, great on all surfaces with low rolling resistance. Proven by many tests.

Recommended

#9

2026

theTyre Lab.comRecommended#9 Winter tires 2026

Performance

Snow traction

91%

Aquaplaning - cross

90%

Snow handling

81%

+6

Wet braking

62%

Exterior noise

58%

Dry handling

52%

Test results

2025215/55 R17#2(Outstanding)

2023225/45 R17#3(Good)

2023205/60 R16#3(Good)

2022215/60 R16#3(Good)

2022215/55 R17#3(Exemplary)

2022215/55 R17#4(-)

2021235/55 R18#1(Exemplary)

2021225/50 R17#3(Good)

2021225/45 R17#3(-)

2021225/40 R18#5(-)

View full review

Price variants (1)

205/40 R18 86 W

B D 71dB

£164

mytyres.co.uk

£164

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

4

Premium

WinterContact TS 870 P

'25#1

9.3

Price from

£172

Price from£172

Expert summary

Continental winter tires have been winning tire tests for many years, and the 870P is no exception. The “P” stands for performance, but don’t be mistaken, its rolling resistance is also praised, making it ideal for EVs. A well-balanced tire.

Recommended

#6

2026

theTyre Lab.comRecommended#6 Winter tires 2026

Performance

Snow braking

100%

Aquaplaning - cross

84%

Dry handling

83%

+7

Aquaplaning - longitudal

68%

Snow traction

67%

Wet handling

66%

Test results

2025215/55 R17#1(Good)

2025215/55 R17#1(Outstanding)

2025235/50 R19#1(Exemplary)

2025215/55 R17#3(Exemplary)

2025245/45 R19#5(Highly recommended)

2025225/40 R18#6(Good)

2025225/40 R18#7(Good)

2025225/40 R18#13(-)

2024215/55 R17#2(Highly recommended)

2024235/55 R18#2(Very good)

View full review

Price variants (1)

205/40 R18 86 V BSW XL

B C 72dB

£172

mytyres.co.uk

£172

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

Tyres Pneus Online UK

£183

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

5

Premium

Cinturato Winter 2

'25#6

'25#7

'25#8

6.5

Price from

£161

Price from£161

Expert summary

The Cinturato Winter 2 is enjoyable to drive and offers safety in all conditions. However, some tests have described its dry handling as sluggish.

Performance

Exterior noise

74%

Snow handling

72%

Wet circle cornering

70%

+7

Aquaplaning - cross

38%

Dry handling

36%

Snow braking

0%

Test results

2025215/55 R17#6(Good)

2025215/55 R17#7(Good)

2025215/55 R17#8(Good)

2025225/40 R18#10(Good)

2024205/55 R16#4(-)

2024215/55 R17#6(-)

2024215/55 R17#7(Satisfactory)

2024205/55 R16#11(Sufficient)

2024205/55 R16#13(Satisfactory)

2023225/45 R17#5(-)

View full review

Price variants (1)

205/40 R18 86 V

B D 71dB

£161

mytyres.co.uk

£161

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

Tyres Pneus Online UK

£182

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

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205/40 R18 — Also available in

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Did you know ...?

205/40 R18 doesn't belong to the most popular dimensions for winter tyres - there are tyre models available, which can be compared to 325/30 R21, 155/60 R15, 155/65 R13. Let's break down the sizing - 40 is height of the tyre, which is calculated as 40% of the tyre width (205mm), which means the sidewall height has 82 mm. The wheel diameter is R18, which means it fits to a 18 inch/457.2mm diameter wheel. The total circumference of the tyre is mm, which is very similar to 160/60 R14(1720.34 mm), 245/40 R18(2052.09 mm), 165/65 R14(1791.02 mm), 245/50 R18(2206.03 mm), 175/60 R14(1776.88 mm), 245/75 R16(2431.28 mm), 175/80 R14(1996.8 mm).