255/40 R21 - Best winter tyres 2026 - market overview, tests, reviews

Winter

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Tyres

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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

£268

Price from£268

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

Wear

100%

Gravel traction

100%

Sand traction

100%

+29

Wet handling - objective

38%

Ice lateral guidance

33%

Price/value

8%

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)

255/40 R21 102 V

C C 71dB

£268

mytyres.co.uk

£268

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

tyres-pneus-online.co.uk

£321

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

2

Premium

UltraGrip Performance 3

'26#6

'25#1

9.3

Price from

£299

Price from£299

Expert summary

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.

Recommended

#5

2026

theTyre Lab.comRecommended#5 Winter tires 2026

Performance

Dry driving behavior

100%

Wet side guide

100%

Gravel traction

91%

+27

Interior noise

62%

Rolling resistance

58%

Price/value

53%

Test results

2026205/55 R16#6(-)

2025225/40 R18#1(Good)

2025215/55 R17#1(Exemplary)

2025245/45 R19#1(Highly recommended)

2025215/55 R17#2(Good)

2025225/45 R17#2(-)

2025275/35 R19#3(Very good)

2025225/40 R18#3(-)

2025235/50 R19#4(Good)

2025225/40 R18#5(Good)

View full review

Price variants (8)

255/40 R21 102 T

C C 72dB

£299

tyres-pneus-online.co.uk

£299

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

255/40 R21 102 H

C C 72dB

£313

tyres-pneus-online.co.uk

£313

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

3

Premium

Blizzak 6

'26#4

'25#1

'25#2

9.0

Price from

£211

Price from£211

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

Snow safety

100%

Lateral guidance on snow

96%

Gravel traction

91%

+26

Interior noise

49%

Dry braking

49%

Price/value

34%

Test results

2026205/55 R16#4(-)

2025235/50 R19#1(Test winner)

2025275/35 R19#2(Very good)

2025225/40 R18#3(Exemplary)

2025225/40 R18#3(Good)

2025225/45 R17#3(-)

2025215/55 R17#3(Good)

2025245/45 R19#4(Highly recommended)

2025225/40 R18#6(-)

2025215/55 R17#6(Very good)

View full review

Price variants (1)

255/40 R21 102 W

B C 72dB

£211

mytyres.co.uk

£211

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

tyres-pneus-online.co.uk

£255

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

4

Premium

WinterContact TS 870 P

'25#1

9.4

Price from

£233

Price from£233

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

#4

2026

theTyre Lab.comRecommended#4 Winter tires 2026

Performance

Dry handling - objective

93%

Rolling resistance

92%

Mud traction

91%

+26

Gravel traction

46%

Sand traction

46%

Price/value

4%

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 (4)

255/40 R21 102 T XL

B B 72dB

£233

mytyres.co.uk

£233

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

tyres-pneus-online.co.uk

£253

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

255/40 R21 102 T BSW XL

B B 72dB

£299

mytyres.co.uk

£299

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

tyres-pneus-online.co.uk

£317

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

255/40 R21 102 V

B B 73dB

£239

mytyres.co.uk

£239

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

tyres-pneus-online.co.uk

£268

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

5

Premium

WinterContact 8 S

'25#5

7.8

Price from

£232

Price from£232

Performance

Dry handling

100%

Rolling resistance

100%

Snow cornering

80%

+13

Aquaplaning - cross

20%

Wet handling - objective

0%

Wet handling

0%

Test results

2025275/35 R19#5(Good)

View full review

Price variants (1)

255/40 R21 102 V XL EVc

B B 73dB

£232

mytyres.co.uk

£232

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

6

Premium

Wintrac Pro+

'25#4

7.2

Price from

£246

Price from£246

Performance

Wet handling - objective

90%

Wet circle cornering

89%

Wet handling

83%

+22

Price/value

21%

Dry lane changing

16%

Dry driving behavior

11%

Test results

2025215/55 R17#4(Exemplary)

2025215/55 R17#4(Good)

2025235/50 R19#4(Good)

2025215/55 R17#5(Very good)

2025225/45 R17#6(-)

2025245/45 R19#6(-)

2025275/35 R19#6(Good)

2025225/40 R18#13(Satisfactory)

2025225/40 R18#17(-)

View full review

Price variants (1)

255/40 R21 102 V £246

tyres-pneus-online.co.uk

£246

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

7

Budget

Speed-Grip 5

'25#11

'25#14

'25#15

8.0

Price from

£227

Price from£227

Expert summary

We really like the new Speed-Grip 5 - it's not expensive, it's very good on snow and on top of that, it's got very low rolling resistance. What it lacks compared to the premium tyres is better wet performance, but given it's price it's definitely recommendable.

Performance

Interior noise

100%

Dry handling - objective

88%

Aquaplaning - cross

84%

+17

Wet handling

36%

Wet handling - objective

25%

Snow handling - objective

25%

Test results

2025225/40 R18#11(Good)

2025225/40 R18#14(Satisfactory)

2025225/40 R18#15(-)

2024205/55 R16#3(Exemplary)

2024215/55 R17#4(Satisfactory)

2024205/55 R16#6(-)

2023225/45 R17#6(Satisfactory)

2023225/45 R18#16(Satisfactory)

2023225/45 R18#19(-)

2022185/65 R15#3(Good)

View full review

Price variants (1)

255/40 R21 102 V

C B 73dB

£227

mytyres.co.uk

£227

In stock · Free shipping

Buy

255/40 R21 tyre test

Personalize →

Best tyres in your size

Dry

1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

92%

2. Continental Wintercontact Ts 870 P

78%

3. Bridgestone Blizzak LM-005

77%

4. Kumho WinterCraft WP52

73%

5. Kumho WinterCraft WP52+

71%

6. Falken EuroWinter HS02 Pro

70%

7. GoodYear UltraGrip Performance 3

70%

8. Semperit Speed-Grip 5

65%

9. Vredestein Wintrac Pro

65%

10. Imperial SnowDragon UHP

64%

11. Bridgestone Blizzak 6

64%

12. Linglong Sport Master Winter

61%

13. Vredestein Wintrac Pro+

51%

14. Nokian Snowproof 2 SUV

37%

Wet

1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM-005

87%

2. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

77%

3. Vredestein Wintrac Pro+

73%

4. Kumho WinterCraft WP52+

71%

5. Bridgestone Blizzak 6

70%

6. Continental Wintercontact Ts 870 P

70%

7. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

67%

8. Vredestein Wintrac Pro

67%

9. Nokian Snowproof 2 SUV

66%

10. Semperit Speed-Grip 5

59%

11. Kumho WinterCraft WP52

56%

12. Falken EuroWinter HS02 Pro

49%

13. Linglong Sport Master Winter

35%

14. Imperial SnowDragon UHP

29%

Snow

1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

87%

2. Bridgestone Blizzak 6

73%

3. GoodYear UltraGrip Performance 3

69%

4. Continental Wintercontact Ts 870 P

68%

5. Kumho WinterCraft WP52+

68%

6. Bridgestone Blizzak LM-005

66%

7. Semperit Speed-Grip 5

57%

8. Vredestein Wintrac Pro

55%

9. Vredestein Wintrac Pro+

51%

10. Kumho WinterCraft WP52

50%

11. Nokian Snowproof 2 SUV

46%

12. Linglong Sport Master Winter

40%

13. Falken EuroWinter HS02 Pro

31%

14. Imperial SnowDragon UHP

29%

Comfort

1. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5

91%

2. Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

74%

3. Continental Wintercontact Ts 870 P

73%

4. Falken EuroWinter HS02 Pro

65%

5. Semperit Speed-Grip 5

64%

6. Bridgestone Blizzak LM-005

61%

7. Kumho WinterCraft WP52+

53%

8. Nokian Snowproof 2 SUV

51%

9. Vredestein Wintrac Pro

51%

10. Bridgestone Blizzak 6

40%

11. Vredestein Wintrac Pro+

40%

12. Linglong Sport Master Winter

38%

13. Kumho WinterCraft WP52

37%

This is a preview of our comprehensive tyre test. The full test includes:

Detailed breakdowns

Interactive sorting

Side-by-side comparisons

View Full Test Results

Price vs Quality

See how tyre price relates to test performance at a glance

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I'm looking for ...

Best snow tyres

Best tyres for EVs

Best ice tyres

Best dry-handling tyres

Best rain tyres

Quietest tyres

Most economical tyres

Best anti-aquaplaning tyres

Customer reviews

136 customer reviews for tyres in this size

Michelin PILOT ALPIN 5 3.8/5 (28)

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 4/5 (26)

Pirelli Scorpion Winter 3.5/5 (20)

GoodYear UltraGrip Performance 3 3.9/5 (14)

Michelin PILOT ALPIN 5 SUV 3.8/5 (12)

Pirelli P Zero Winter 3.6/5 (9)

Nokian WR SUV 4 3.5/5 (8)

Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 SUV 3/5 (7)

Falken EuroWinter HS02 Pro 3.7/5 (6)

Nokian Snowproof 2 SUV 3/5 (6)

Other popular sizes

215/65 R16156 Tyres 205/55 R16141 Tyres 225/55 R17128 Tyres 215/60 R17126 Tyres 225/45 R17123 Tyres 0/0 R0118 Tyres 225/50 R17115 Tyres 215/60 R16113 Tyres

255/40 R21 — Also available in

Summer(79)All season(11)

Top brands in 255/40 R21

Did you know ...?

255/40 R21 doesn't belong to the most popular dimensions for winter tyres - there are 4 tyre models available, which can be compared to 155/60 R15, 170/60 R17, 160/60 R14. Let's break down the sizing - 40 is height of the tyre, which is calculated as 40% of the tyre width (255mm), which means the sidewall height has 102 mm. The wheel diameter is R21, which means it fits to a 21 inch/533.4mm diameter wheel. The total circumference of the tyre is 2316.61 mm, which is very similar to 255/45 R20(2316.92 mm), 235/65 R17(2316.3 mm), 255/50 R19(2317.24 mm), 255/55 R18(2317.55 mm), 255/60 R17(2317.87 mm), 255/65 R16(2318.18 mm), 255/70 R15(2318.5 mm). There are multiple speed indexes available for winter tyres in 255/40 R21: H(210km/h), T(190km/h), V(240km/h), W(270km/h). The same goes for weight indexes: 102, 105.