255/55 R18 - Best winter tyres 2025 - market overview, tests, reviews

#6
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

215/55 R17 Rank: 1 (Good)

Tests from 2024

245/45 R18 Rank: 2 (Exemplary)

235/55 R18 Rank: 2 (Very good)

215/55 R17 Rank: 2 (Highly recommended)

235/35 R19 Rank: 3 (Exemplary)

235/35 R19 Rank: 4 (Recommended)

215/55 R17 Rank: 6 (Satisfactory)

Tests from 2023

235/60 R18 Rank: 1 (Test winner)

225/60 R18 Rank: 1 (Test winner)

225/40 R18 Rank: 3 (Exemplary)

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

4.7/5

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

Dry braking

Exterior noise

Wet circle cornering

Wet braking

Snow handling

Comfort

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVc ) - In stock £161	Continental WinterContact TS 870 P ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVc )		In stock	Free shipping	£161	Buy mytyres.co.uk
WinterContact TS 870 P FR XL - In stock £162	WinterContact TS 870 P FR XL		In stock	Free shipping	£162	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk

4.75/5

#4
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

215/55 R17 Rank: 2 (Good)

Tests from 2024

215/55 R17 Rank: 1 (Good)

205/55 R16 Rank: 2 (Exemplary)

245/45 R18 Rank: 2 (Exemplary)

235/35 R19 Rank: 2 (Exemplary)

205/55 R16 Rank: 2 (Good)

215/55 R17 Rank: 3 (Recommended)

235/35 R19 Rank: 3 (Highly recommended)

205/55 R16 Rank: 9 (-)

Tests from 2023

225/40 R18 Rank: 1 (Test winner)

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

Aquaplaning - cross

Dry braking

Comfort

Snow traction

Dry handling

Exterior noise

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVR ) - In stock £159	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVR )		In stock	Free shipping	£159	Buy mytyres.co.uk

4.55/5

#3
Winter tires

Tests from 2024

235/55 R18 Rank: 1 (Very good)

Tests from 2023

225/60 R18 Rank: 1 (Test winner)

235/60 R18 Rank: 2 (Highly recommended)

235/55 R18 Rank: 3 (Recommended)

255/45 R20 Rank: 3 (Very good)

Tests from 2021

235/55 R18 Rank: 2 (Exemplary)

235/55 R18 Rank: 2 (Highly recommended)

Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV

4.55/5

If you enjoy sporty driving in winter conditions, the PA5 SUV is the go-to tyre. It's usually the best in the snow in all the tests, while maintaining balance and safety in other conditions. Only downside is high rolling resistance, which is why it hasn't won all the tests it was in.

50%

Snow traction

Exterior noise

Interior noise

Snow handling

Comfort

Dry braking

Dry handling

Wet handling

Wet braking

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL, SUV ) - In stock £164	Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL, SUV )		In stock	Free shipping	£164	Buy mytyres.co.uk
Pilot Alpin 5 SUV XL - In stock £194	Pilot Alpin 5 SUV XL		In stock	Free shipping	£194	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk

4.7/5

#5
Winter tires

Tests from 2025

215/55 R17 Rank: 3 (Good)

Tests from 2024

205/55 R16 Rank: 1 (-)

235/55 R18 Rank: 3 (Very good)

205/55 R16 Rank: 4 (Exemplary)

245/45 R18 Rank: 4 (Exemplary)

Bridgestone Blizzak 6

4.7/5

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

Wet braking

Wet handling

Snow traction

Dry handling

Comfort

Aquaplaning - cross

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Interior noise

Snow handling

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Bridgestone Blizzak 6 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL Enliten / EV ) - In stock £162	Bridgestone Blizzak 6 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL Enliten / EV )		In stock	Free shipping	£162	Buy mytyres.co.uk
Blizzak 6 Enliten XL - In stock £173	Blizzak 6 Enliten XL		In stock	Free shipping	£173	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk

4.4/5

#9
Winter tires

Tests from 2024

215/55 R17 Rank: 1 (Test winner)

235/35 R19 Rank: 5 (Good)

Tests from 2023

225/40 R18 Rank: 1 (Very good)

225/45 R18 Rank: 1 (-)

235/55 R18 Rank: 1 (Highly recommended)

255/45 R20 Rank: 1 (Outstanding)

225/45 R18 Rank: 1 (Test winner)

225/45 R17 Rank: 2 (Recommended)

235/60 R18 Rank: 3 (Highly recommended)

225/40 R18 Rank: 5 (Good)

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-005

4.4/5

A great winter tyre with balanced handling characteristics. Great in the wet, but slightly less durable than newer models.

50%

Snow braking

Wet braking

Wet circle cornering

Wet handling

Dry handling

Comfort

Aquaplaning - cross

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Interior noise

Snow traction

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Bridgestone Blizzak LM 005 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVc ) - In stock £219	Bridgestone Blizzak LM 005 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVc )		In stock	Free shipping	£219	Buy mytyres.co.uk

4.4/5

#8
Winter tires

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 (-)

Tests from 2022

215/60 R16 Rank: 2 (Good)

Dunlop Winter Sport 5

4.4/5

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%

Comfort

Aquaplaning - cross

Snow traction

Wet circle cornering

Snow handling

Interior noise

Wet handling

Wet braking

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Dry handling

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Dunlop Sport Response ( 255/55 R18 109V XL ) - In stock £126	Dunlop Sport Response ( 255/55 R18 109V XL )		In stock	Free shipping	£126	Buy mytyres.co.uk

3.9/5

#14
Winter tires

Tests from 2024

235/55 R18 Rank: 4 (Very good)

Tests from 2023

225/60 R18 Rank: 3 (Exemplary)

235/60 R18 Rank: 6 (Recommended)

235/55 R18 Rank: 7 (Recommended)

Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2

3.9/5

Winter-focused tyre that is enjoyable to drive on snow, while being safe on wet and dry.

50%

Interior noise

Dry handling

Dry braking

Exterior noise

Wet circle cornering

Snow traction

Wet braking

Snow handling

Wet handling

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL ) - In stock £179	Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL )		In stock	Free shipping	£179	Buy mytyres.co.uk
Scorpion Winter 2 XL - In stock £216	Scorpion Winter 2 XL		In stock	Free shipping	£216	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk

3.1/5

Tests from 2024

215/55 R17 Rank: 3 (Good)

245/45 R18 Rank: 6 (Good)

215/55 R17 Rank: 7 (-)

235/35 R19 Rank: 7 (Good)

235/55 R18 Rank: 10 (Good)

Tests from 2023

225/40 R18 Rank: 5 (Good)

225/60 R18 Rank: 5 (Good)

225/45 R17 Rank: 5 (Satisfactory)

255/45 R20 Rank: 6 (Good)

225/45 R17 Rank: 7 (-)

Vredestein Wintrac Pro

3.1/5

Wintrac Pro is a winter option from a dutch manufacturer that is getting a bit outdated, but on wet and dry roads it still holds up with the premium segment. It has some minor weaknesses on snow, but for a lower than premium price it could be a good deal.

50%

Wet circle cornering

Dry braking

Wet handling

Interior noise

Snow traction

Wet braking

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Aquaplaning - cross

Snow handling

Dry handling

4.15/5

#11
Winter tires