Summer tyre test 225/40 R18 - Autobild 2025

Summer

2025

Year

52

Tyres

Winner

Bridgestone Potenza Sport

Best Value

Linglong Sport Master

Test Vehicle

VW Golf GTD

Tested tyres

52

article

AUTO BILD Summer Tire Braking Test 2025: Tight Competition with Surprising Standouts

The first round of AUTO BILD’s Summer Tire Test 2025 has turned more than a few heads with its focus on braking performance in both wet and dry conditions. Using a VW Golf GTD as the test vehicle, 52 different tire models in size 225/40 R18 went head-to-head, and while it was no shock to see Bridgestone’s Potenza Sport leading the field, the presence of several mid-range and budget brands near the top was a genuine surprise.

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Price vs Quality

See how tyre price relates to test performance at a glance

Results

Agenda:

Best value in test

Better than average value

Worse than average value

Worst value in test

1

Bridgestone Potenza Sport

Rating: -

£121

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92Y · £121

Stopping distance on dry32.6

Stopping distance on wet27.6

2

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Rating: -

£107

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry33.5

Stopping distance on wet27.7

3

Hankook Ventus Evo

Rating: -

£78

mytyres.co.uk

+2 More sizes →

92Y · £78 92Y

Stopping distance on dry34.0

Stopping distance on wet27.4

4

Kumho Ecsta PS71

Rating: -

£78

88 Y

tyres.pneus.online.uk

+3 More sizes →

92Y · £78 92Y · £95 92Y

Stopping distance on dry34.2

Stopping distance on wet27.4

5

Linglong Sport Master

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry34.2

Stopping distance on wet27.4

6

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6

Rating: -

£83

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92Y · £87

Stopping distance on dry34.1

Stopping distance on wet28.3

7

Falken Ziex ZE320

Rating: -

£83

92 W

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry33.0

Stopping distance on wet29.5

8

Continental PremiumContact 7

Rating: -

£89

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry34.6

Stopping distance on wet28.3

9

Sailun Atrezzo ZSR 2

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry34.3

Stopping distance on wet28.7

10

Maxxis Victra Sport 5

Rating: -

£82

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry33.9

Stopping distance on wet29.2

11

Toyo Proxes Comfort

Rating: -

£77

92

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92W · £115

Stopping distance on dry34.0

Stopping distance on wet30.4

12

Laufenn S Fit EQ+ LK01

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry34.9

Stopping distance on wet29.7

13

Nokian Powerproof 1

Rating: -

£124

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry34.8

Stopping distance on wet30.4

14

Yokohama Advan Sport V107

Rating: -

£81

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry33.8

Stopping distance on wet31.8

15

Firestone Firehawk Sport

Rating: -

£80

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry34.6

Stopping distance on wet31.1

16

Nexen N Fera Sport

Rating: -

£61

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

+2 More sizes →

92Y · £67 92Y · £84

Stopping distance on dry35.0

Stopping distance on wet30.9

17

Giti Gitisport S2

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry35.4

Stopping distance on wet30.9

18

Vredestein Ultrac Pro

Rating: -

£92

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92W · £92

Stopping distance on dry35.0

Stopping distance on wet31.2

19

Dunlop SP Sport MAXX RT2

Rating: -

£85

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry35.2

Stopping distance on wet31.5

20

Pirelli P Zero PZ4

Rating: -

£106

92 V

mytyres.co.uk

+5 More sizes →

92H 92V · £132 92Y +2

Stopping distance on dry34.6

Stopping distance on wet32.3

22

GT Radial SportActive 2

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry36.0

Stopping distance on wet31.7

23

Uniroyal RainSport 5

Rating: -

£70

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry37.4

Stopping distance on wet30.3

24

BFGoodrich Advantage

Rating: -

£72

92 W

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92Y · £72

Stopping distance on dry36.2

Stopping distance on wet31.9

25

Petlas Velox Sport PT 741

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry35.4

Stopping distance on wet33.1

26

Semperit Speed-Life 3

Rating: -

£85

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry37.4

Stopping distance on wet31.2

27

Syron Premium Performance

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry36.9

Stopping distance on wet31.9

28

Debica Presto UHP 2

Rating: -

£68

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92Y · £104

Stopping distance on dry36.4

Stopping distance on wet33.1

29

Ceat SportDrive

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry35.8

Stopping distance on wet34.0

30

Leao Nova-Force Acro

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry36.8

Stopping distance on wet32.9

31

Fulda SportControl 2

Rating: -

£77

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92Y

Stopping distance on dry36.2

Stopping distance on wet33.9

32

Radar Tyres Dimax R8+

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry38.6

Stopping distance on wet31.7

33

Sava Intensa UHP 2

Rating: -

£69

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92Y

Stopping distance on dry35.9

Stopping distance on wet34.4

34

Viking ProTech NewGen

Rating: -

£63

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry37.6

Stopping distance on wet33.5

35

Star Performer Interstellar

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.5

Stopping distance on wet33.7

36

Event Potentem UHP

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.9

Stopping distance on wet33.8

37

Gislaved Ultra Speed 2

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.6

Stopping distance on wet34.2

38

Matador Hectorra 5

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.7

Stopping distance on wet34.1

39

Ovation VI-588 Sport

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.1

Stopping distance on wet35.2

40

Barum Bravuris 6

Rating: -

£67

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry37.6

Stopping distance on wet34.8

42

Kormoran Ultra High Performance

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry36.6

Stopping distance on wet36.2

43

Yartu ZuperEco Z-107

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.9

Stopping distance on wet34.9

44

Iris Sefar

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.9

Stopping distance on wet35.1

45

Windforce Catchfors UHP PRO

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry36.5

Stopping distance on wet36.7

46

Lanvigator Catch Power Plus

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.2

Stopping distance on wet36.7

47

Riken Ultra High Performance

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry36.9

Stopping distance on wet37.5

48

Z Max Zealion

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.5

Stopping distance on wet38.0

49

Rockblade ROCK 525

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.5

Stopping distance on wet38.1

50

Arivo Ultra ARZ-5

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry38.1

Stopping distance on wet37.6

51

Tigar Ultra High Performance

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry37.6

Stopping distance on wet38.4

52

Tourador X Speed TU1

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry38.9

Stopping distance on wet37.1

53

RoyalBlack Explorer II

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry38.4

Stopping distance on wet38.6

54

Autogreen Smart Chaser SC1

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry38.3

Stopping distance on wet43.6

Same size tyres not featured in the test

Tests usually don't cover the whole market - here is our selection what not to miss when shopping for tyres in this size.

#	Name	Our rating	Segment	Price
1	Premium Continental Sportcontact 7 100%	100%	Premium	£88 92 Y
2	Premium Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S 97%	97%	Premium	£152 92 Y
3	Premium Bridgestone POTENZA SPORT EVO 93%	93%	Premium	£87 92 Y
4	Premium Hankook ION Evo 85%	85%	Premium	£98 92 Y
5	Premium Michelin Primacy 5 84%	84%	Premium	£102 92 Y
6	Premium Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 84%	84%	Premium	£97 92 Y +4 More
7	Premium Bridgestone Turanza T005 83%	83%	Premium	£89 92 Y +14 More
8	Upper-middle Kumho Ecsta Sport (PS72) 83%	83%	Upper-middle	£79 92 Y +1 More

9	Premium Bridgestone Turanza 6 78%	78%	Premium	£82 92 Y +1 More
10	Upper-middle Nokian Powerproof 2 78%	78%	Upper-middle	£95 0 Y
11	Upper-middle Firestone Roadhawk 2 75%	75%	Upper-middle	£72 92 Y
12	Premium Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 K127 75%	75%	Premium	£93 92 Y +1 More
13	Premium GoodYear Eagle F1 Supersport 73%	73%	Premium	£92 92 Y +6 More
14	Premium Hankook Ventus Prime 4 73%	73%	Premium	£85 92 Y +2 More
15	Premium Continental PremiumContact 6 71%	71%	Premium	£90 92 W +3 More
16	Premium Michelin Pilot Sport CUP 2 71%	71%	Premium	£171 92 Y +1 More

17	Premium Michelin Primacy 4+ 71%	71%	Premium	£115 92 Y
18	Premium Pirelli Cinturato P7 70%	70%	Premium	£119 92 Y +2 More
19	Upper-middle Falken Azenis FK520 70%	70%	Upper-middle	£82 92 Y +1 More
20	Upper-middle Toyo Proxes Sport 2 64%	64%	Upper-middle	£105 +1 More
21	Upper-middle Falken ZIEX ZE310 ECORUN 62%	62%	Upper-middle	£104 92 W +2 More
22	Upper-middle BF Goodrich Advantage 2 61%	61%	Upper-middle	£89 88 Y +2 More
23	Premium Continental Ecocontact 6 56%	56%	Premium	£92 92 Y +7 More
24	Upper-middle Cooper Summer 55%	55%	Upper-middle	£72 92 Y

25	Upper-middle Firestone Roadhawk 52%	52%	Upper-middle
26	Budget Maxxis Premitra HP6 52%	52%	Budget	£84 92 0
27	Upper-middle Kleber Dynaxer HP5 51%	51%	Upper-middle	£93 +2 More
28	Upper-middle Nokian Hakka Black 3 48%	48%	Upper-middle	£180 92 Y
29	Budget Sailun Atrezzo ZSR2 47%	47%	Budget
30	Upper-middle Kleber Dynaxer UHP 38%	38%	Upper-middle
31	Budget Maxxis Premitra HP5 37%	37%	Budget
32	Premium Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 33%	33%	Premium	£83 92 W

33	Upper-middle Cooper Zeon CS8 28%	28%	Upper-middle	£88 0 W +2 More
34	Budget Barum Bravuris 5 HM 25%	25%	Budget
35	Upper-middle Kumho Ecsta PS91 11%	11%	Upper-middle
36	Budget Imperial EcoSport 2 1%	1%	Budget