255/45 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 ( 255/45 R18 103V XL, with rim protection ridge (FSL) ) - In stock £222	Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 ( 255/45 R18 103V XL, with rim protection ridge (FSL) )		In stock	Free shipping	£222	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

4.65/5

#5
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

225/40 R18 Rank: 1 (-)

225/40 R18 Rank: 2 (Exemplary)

Dunlop Winter

4.65/5

50%

Snow traction

Comfort

Exterior noise

Wet braking

Snow handling

Aquaplaning - cross

Dry braking

Wet handling

Wet circle cornering

Dry handling

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Dunlop Winter ( 255/45 R18 103V XL EVs, with rim protection (MFS) BLK ) - In stock £209	Dunlop Winter ( 255/45 R18 103V XL EVs, with rim protection (MFS) BLK )		In stock	Free shipping	£209	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
Blizzak 6 XL - In stock £210	Blizzak 6 XL		In stock	Free shipping	£210	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk
Bridgestone Blizzak 6 ( 255/45 R18 103V XL Enliten / EV, with rim protection (MFS) ) - In stock £220	Bridgestone Blizzak 6 ( 255/45 R18 103V XL Enliten / EV, with rim protection (MFS) )		In stock	Free shipping	£220	Buy mytyres.co.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
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P ( 255/45 R18 103V XL EVc, with kerbing rib ) - In stock £234	Continental WinterContact TS 870 P ( 255/45 R18 103V XL EVc, with kerbing rib )		In stock	Free shipping	£234	Buy mytyres.co.uk
WinterContact TS 870 P XL EV - In stock £274	WinterContact TS 870 P XL EV		In stock	Free shipping	£274	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk

4.3/5

#11
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

225/40 R18 Rank: 4 (Good)

Tests from 2024

215/55 R17 Rank: 2 (Good)

235/35 R19 Rank: 4 (Exemplary)

205/55 R16 Rank: 5 (Satisfactory)

205/55 R16 Rank: 7 (Good)

205/55 R16 Rank: 11 (-)

Tests from 2023

205/60 R16 Rank: 1 (Good)

225/45 R17 Rank: 4 (Good)

225/45 R18 Rank: 7 (Good)

225/45 R18 Rank: 15 (-)

Dunlop Winter Sport 5

4.3/5

While being somehow dated as it was introduced back in 2015, it received some midlife updates and still holds up with the current models, at least in smaller dimensions. At the right price, it could be a great choice.

50%

Aquaplaning - cross

Comfort

Snow traction

Wet circle cornering

Snow handling

Interior noise

Wet handling

Wet braking

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Dry handling

4.3/5

#12
Winter tires