255/55 R18 - Best winter tyres 2026 - market overview, tests, reviews

#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 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVR ) - In stock £153	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVR )		In stock	Free shipping	£153	Buy mytyres.co.uk
Ultragrip Performance 3 EV XL - In stock £181	Ultragrip Performance 3 EV XL		In stock	Free shipping	£181	Buy tyres.pneus.online.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 Enliten XL - In stock £173	Blizzak 6 Enliten XL		In stock	Free shipping	£173	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk
Bridgestone Blizzak 6 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL Enliten / EV ) - In stock £184	Bridgestone Blizzak 6 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL Enliten / EV )		In stock	Free shipping	£184	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

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance + ( 255/55 R18 105T (+), EDT, SealTech ) - In stock £145	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance + ( 255/55 R18 105T (+), EDT, SealTech )		In stock	Free shipping	£145	Buy mytyres.co.uk

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance + ( 255/55 R18 105T (+), EDT ) - In stock £135	Goodyear UltraGrip Performance + ( 255/55 R18 105T (+), EDT )		In stock	Free shipping	£135	Buy mytyres.co.uk
Ultragrip Performance Plus (*) - In stock £191	Ultragrip Performance Plus (*)		In stock	Free shipping	£191	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk

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 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVc, with kerbing rib ) - In stock £185	Continental WinterContact TS 870 P ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVc, with kerbing rib )		In stock	Free shipping	£185	Buy mytyres.co.uk
WinterContact TS 870 P FR XL - In stock £189	WinterContact TS 870 P FR XL		In stock	Free shipping	£189	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk

4.15/5

Tests from 2025

235/50 R19 Rank: 4 (Good)

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

4.15/5

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

50%

Interior noise

Wet circle cornering

Dry braking

Exterior noise

Snow handling

Wet braking

Wet handling

Dry handling

Snow traction

Comfort

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL ) - In stock £198	Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL )		In stock	Free shipping	£198	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 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVc, with kerbing rib ) - In stock £140	Barum Polaris 6 ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVc, with kerbing rib )		In stock	Free shipping	£140	Buy mytyres.co.uk
Polaris 6 EV XL - In stock £143	Polaris 6 EV XL		In stock	Free shipping	£143	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk

3.95/5

Tests from 2025

225/40 R18 Rank: 5 (-)

225/40 R18 Rank: 8 (Good)

225/40 R18 Rank: 12 (Satisfactory)

Tests from 2024

205/55 R16 Rank: 7 (-)

205/55 R16 Rank: 9 (Good)

Tests from 2023

225/45 R18 Rank: 11 (-)

225/45 R18 Rank: 12 (Satisfactory)

205/60 R16 Rank: 14 (Satisfactory)

Tests from 2022

245/45 R19 Rank: 7 (Sufficient)

215/60 R16 Rank: 14 (Satisfactory)

Uniroyal WinterExpert

3.95/5

Very good traction on snow for a nice price in a wide range of dimensions. Could use shorter braking distance on dry and better traction on the wet.

50%

Snow traction

Exterior noise

Aquaplaning - cross

Wet circle cornering

Aquaplaning - longitudal

Wet braking

Comfort

Snow handling

Interior noise

Dry braking

Shop	Product	Stock	Availability	Shipping	Price	Action
Winter Expert XL - In stock £145	Winter Expert XL		In stock	Free shipping	£145	Buy tyres.pneus.online.uk
Uniroyal WinterExpert ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVc, with kerbing rib ) - In stock £147	Uniroyal WinterExpert ( 255/55 R18 109V XL EVc, with kerbing rib )		In stock	Free shipping	£147	Buy mytyres.co.uk

4.25/5

#13
Winter tires