255/40 R18 - Best winter tyres 2026 - market overview, tests, reviews

#1
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

225/40 R18 Rank: 1 (Exemplary)

275/35 R19 Rank: 1 (Outstanding)

245/45 R19 Rank: 2 (Highly recommended)

225/40 R18 Rank: 2 (Good)

225/40 R18 Rank: 2 (-)

Tests from 2024

235/35 R19 Rank: 1 (Exemplary)

245/45 R18 Rank: 1 (Exemplary)

235/35 R19 Rank: 1 (Test winner)

Tests from 2023

225/45 R18 Rank: 1 (Test winner)

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

5/5

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.

50%

Snow braking

Dry braking

Snow traction

Dry handling

Exterior noise

Snow handling

Wet handling

Comfort

Wet circle cornering

Wet braking

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 ( 255/40 R18 99H XL, MO ) - In stock £250	Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 ( 255/40 R18 99H XL, MO )		In stock	Free shipping	£250	Buy mytyres.co.uk

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 ( 255/40 R18 99V XL, with rim protection ridge (FSL) ) - In stock £238	Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 ( 255/40 R18 99V XL, with rim protection ridge (FSL) )		In stock	Free shipping	£238	Buy mytyres.co.uk

4.75/5

#3
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

225/40 R18 Rank: 1 (Good)

215/55 R17 Rank: 1 (Exemplary)

245/45 R19 Rank: 1 (Highly recommended)

215/55 R17 Rank: 2 (Good)

225/45 R17 Rank: 2 (-)

275/35 R19 Rank: 3 (Very good)

225/40 R18 Rank: 3 (-)

235/50 R19 Rank: 4 (Good)

225/40 R18 Rank: 5 (Good)

Tests from 2024

215/55 R17 Rank: 1 (Good)

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

4.75/5

The UltraGrip Performance 3 is one of the best tyres we have seen in the tests and on top of that it's top discipline is snow performance while maintaining great properties on wet, which makes it a great candidate for snowy climates.

50%

Snow braking

Wet handling

Wet circle cornering

Exterior noise

Aquaplaning - cross

Dry braking

Snow traction

Wet braking

Dry handling

Snow handling

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 ( 255/40 R18 99V XL EVR, with rim protection (MFS) ) - In stock £174	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 ( 255/40 R18 99V XL EVR, with rim protection (MFS) )		In stock	Free shipping	£174	Buy mytyres.co.uk

4.55/5

#7
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

235/50 R19 Rank: 1 (Test winner)

275/35 R19 Rank: 2 (Very good)

225/45 R17 Rank: 3 (-)

215/55 R17 Rank: 3 (Good)

225/40 R18 Rank: 3 (Exemplary)

225/40 R18 Rank: 3 (Good)

245/45 R19 Rank: 4 (Highly recommended)

225/40 R18 Rank: 6 (-)

215/55 R17 Rank: 6 (Very good)

215/55 R17 Rank: 7 (Good)

Bridgestone Blizzak 6

4.55/5

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.

50%

Wet circle cornering

Comfort

Snow traction

Wet braking

Snow handling

Wet handling

Aquaplaning - cross

Dry handling

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Dry braking

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Bridgestone Blizzak 6 ( 255/40 R18 99V XL Enliten / EV, with rim protection (MFS) ) - In stock £189	Bridgestone Blizzak 6 ( 255/40 R18 99V XL Enliten / EV, with rim protection (MFS) )		In stock	Free shipping	£189	Buy mytyres.co.uk
Blizzak 6 Enliten XL - In stock £228	Blizzak 6 Enliten XL		In stock	Free shipping	£228	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk

4.5/5

#9
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

215/55 R17 Rank: 2 (Outstanding)

Tests from 2023

225/45 R17 Rank: 3 (Good)

205/60 R16 Rank: 3 (Good)

Tests from 2022

215/60 R16 Rank: 3 (Good)

215/55 R17 Rank: 3 (Exemplary)

215/55 R17 Rank: 4 (-)

Tests from 2021

235/55 R18 Rank: 1 (Exemplary)

225/50 R17 Rank: 3 (Good)

225/45 R17 Rank: 3 (-)

225/40 R18 Rank: 5 (-)

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+

4.5/5

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

50%

Snow traction

Aquaplaning - cross

Snow handling

Wet handling

Interior noise

Comfort

Wet circle cornering

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Dry braking

Wet braking

4.65/5

#6
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

215/55 R17 Rank: 1 (Good)

215/55 R17 Rank: 1 (Outstanding)

235/50 R19 Rank: 1 (Exemplary)

215/55 R17 Rank: 3 (Exemplary)

245/45 R19 Rank: 5 (Highly recommended)

225/40 R18 Rank: 6 (Good)

225/40 R18 Rank: 7 (Good)

225/40 R18 Rank: 13 (-)

Tests from 2024

215/55 R17 Rank: 2 (Highly recommended)

235/55 R18 Rank: 2 (Very good)

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

4.65/5

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.

50%

Snow braking

Aquaplaning - cross

Dry handling

Interior noise

Exterior noise

Comfort

Dry braking

Snow handling

Wet circle cornering

Wet braking

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
WinterContact TS 870 P EV MO XL - In stock £204	WinterContact TS 870 P EV MO XL		In stock	Free shipping	£204	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P ( 255/40 R18 99H XL EVc, MO, with kerbing rib ) - In stock £207	Continental WinterContact TS 870 P ( 255/40 R18 99H XL EVc, MO, with kerbing rib )		In stock	Free shipping	£207	Buy mytyres.co.uk

4.7/5

#4
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

245/45 R19 Rank: 3 (Highly recommended)

Tests from 2024

235/35 R19 Rank: 1 (Test winner)

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2

4.7/5

50%

Wet braking

Wet handling

Wet circle cornering

Comfort

Exterior noise

Snow traction

Snow handling

Dry braking

•••

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 ( 255/40 R18 99V XL, with rim protection (MFS) ) - In stock £208	Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 ( 255/40 R18 99V XL, with rim protection (MFS) )		In stock	Free shipping	£208	Buy mytyres.co.uk

4.15/5

#14
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

215/65 R17 Rank: 2 (Good)

225/40 R18 Rank: 9 (Good)

225/40 R18 Rank: 10 (-)

Barum Polaris 6

4.15/5

Barum unveils the Polaris 6, a budget-friendly winter tyre from the Czech Republic that adopts design elements from Continental’s TS series, including a V-shaped tread for better snow performance. The Polaris 6 improves on the Polaris 5 with enhanced durability, reduced rolling resistance, and quieter operation, while maintaining solid wet and dry performance. Priced about 20% higher, it leverages Continental’s technology to offer greater value and reliable winter traction for cost-conscious drivers.

50%

Comfort

Exterior noise

Snow traction

Dry braking

Snow handling

Wet handling

Wet braking

Wet circle cornering

Dry handling

Aquaplaning - cross

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Barum Polaris 6 ( 255/40 R18 99V XL EVc, with kerbing rib ) - In stock £132	Barum Polaris 6 ( 255/40 R18 99V XL EVc, with kerbing rib )		In stock	Free shipping	£132	Buy mytyres.co.uk
Polaris 6 EV XL FR - In stock £143	Polaris 6 EV XL FR		In stock	Free shipping	£143	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk

4.3/5

#12
Winter tires