265/35 R18 - Best summer tyres 2026 - market overview, tests, reviews

The Pilot Sport range from Michelin is now almost legendary, with the Cup variants being the fastest road legal tyres available. But the ‚ordinary‘ Pilot Sport 5 not as spory as it’s name suggest - it’s incredibly well balanced, with the priority being low rolling resistance and high mileage over sporty handling. It’s still a Michelin tire, so higher price is to be expected.

The Turanza T005 was introduced in 2018, but still stands as a great tyre, offered in incredible 350 different sizes. It’s universal also in it’s properties - it’s a balanced mix of wet and dry performance with above-average rolling resistance.

The Kumho Ecsta PS71 has been around for a while and keeps showing up well in tests. Strong aquaplaning resistance, short braking distances, and balanced handling across conditions make it a dependable choice. Comfort and noise are where it compromises.

We really like the new Potenza Sport, as it’s more sporty and dynamic than the usual tyre in this category, but still perfectly usable and safe for everyday driving, which makes it unique. It’s rolling resistance, mileage and overall comfort are also on a good level, except for a slighty higher noise.

The Turanza 6 is quite a new addition to Bridgestone’s lineup, being introduced in 2023. Featuring the new ENLITEN technology, it should be lighter and have positive effect on fuel efficiency. In the tests, the efficiency is confirmed alongside with higher mileage. That being said, it somehow lacks the performance of other premium tyres, so we would recommend it only when the price is lower.

A budget tyre with real wet grip — that's rare. The Maxxis Victra Sport 5 handles wet roads confidently, brakes well, and stays quiet. The delayed steering response takes getting used to, but at this price point, the overall safety package is hard to argue with.

Hankook Ventus tyres are designed to offer a very sporty experience for affordable price, which is also the case for evo3. It’s also safe on wet and got short braking distances, the only drawback being lower mileage.

One of the cheaper tyres that can be recommended as it hasn't failed a single test and is often rated as a economical choice. It's surprisingly quiet, so if you are looking for a good and comfortable tyre, Azenis FK520 could be a tyre for you.

If rolling resistance is your priority, the Firehawk Sport is hard to beat — it topped the charts. Add short braking distances and low noise, and you get an efficiency-focused tyre that doesn't sacrifice safety basics. Wet handling and aquaplaning are the compromises.

Hankook tyres are getting better with every new generation and the Ventus Evo is the latest evolution. It aims for the stars with excellent dry and wet handling, best-in-test wet braking and top aquaplaning speed, while producing very low exterior noise. The only notable weakness is higher rolling resistance. Still, it is a premium tyre for slightly less than a premium price.

Being usually one of the cheaper tyres in the test, the japanese Falken still delivers very safe characteristics for everyday driving. It suffers a bit in the efficiency department, with higher rolling resistance and limited mileage.

The SportControl 2 is a safe tire, but the lower price comes with below average mileage.

The Yokohama Advan Sport V107 is a summer tyre. It has been homologated as original equipment (MO1) for the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic+ Coupe. This tyre model is approved for this vehicle in sizes 265/35ZR20 and 295/30ZR20.

The Kumho ECSTA Sport S PS72 is a summer tyre aimed at good performance at an affordable price. It has been benchmarked against premium competitors, including the Continental SportContact 7. The model targets reliable performance while remaining a cost-effective option for drivers.