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: -

£92

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92Y · £104

Stopping distance on dry32.6

Stopping distance on wet27.6

2

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Rating: -

£104

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 · £123

Stopping distance on dry34.0

Stopping distance on wet27.4

4

Kumho Ecsta PS71

Rating: -

£77

88 Y

tyres-pneus-online.co.uk

+3 More sizes →

92Y · £77 92Y 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: -

£78

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: -

£82

92 W

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry33.0

Stopping distance on wet29.5

8

Continental PremiumContact 7

Rating: -

£98

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: -

£87

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry33.9

Stopping distance on wet29.2

11

Toyo Proxes Comfort

Rating: -

£86

92

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92W · £95

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: -

£118

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry34.8

Stopping distance on wet30.4

14

Yokohama Advan Sport V107

Rating: -

£92

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry33.8

Stopping distance on wet31.8

15

Firestone Firehawk Sport

Rating: -

£74

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry34.6

Stopping distance on wet31.1

16

Nexen N Fera Sport

Rating: -

£72

mytyres.co.uk

+3 More sizes →

92Y 92Y · £72 92Y · £90

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: -

£87

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92W · £87

Stopping distance on dry35.0

Stopping distance on wet31.2

19

Dunlop SP Sport MAXX RT2

Rating: -

£77

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry35.2

Stopping distance on wet31.5

20

Pirelli P Zero PZ4

Rating: -

£98

92 V

mytyres.co.uk

+5 More sizes →

92H 92Y 92Y +2

Stopping distance on dry34.6

Stopping distance on wet32.3

22

GT radial Sport Active 2

Rating: -

Stopping distance on dry36.0

Stopping distance on wet31.7

23

Uniroyal RainSport 5

Rating: -

£73

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

Stopping distance on dry37.4

Stopping distance on wet30.3

24

BFGoodrich Advantage

Rating: -

£109

92 W

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92Y · £109

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: -

£70

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 UHP2

Rating: -

£79

92 Y

mytyres.co.uk

+1 More sizes →

92Y

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: -

£72

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: -

Stopping distance on dry35.9

Stopping distance on wet34.4

34

Viking ProTech NewGen

Rating: -

£79

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: -

£64

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	£89 92 Y
2	Premium Dunlop Blue Response TG 98%	98%	Premium	£99 92 W
3	Premium Hankook ION Evo 96%	96%	Premium	£85 92 Y
4	Premium Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S 96%	96%	Premium	£128 92 Y
5	Premium Bridgestone POTENZA SPORT EVO 93%	93%	Premium	£94 92 Y
6	Budget Giti GitiSport S2+ 89%	89%	Budget
7	Premium Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 88%	88%	Premium	£97 92 Y +4 More
8	Premium Bridgestone Turanza T005 88%	88%	Premium	£91 92 Y +13 More

9	Premium Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) 88%	88%	Premium	£83 92 Y
10	Upper-middle Kumho Ecsta Sport (PS72) 87%	87%	Upper-middle	£70 92 Y +1 More
11	Premium Michelin Primacy 5 86%	86%	Premium	£98 92 Y
12	Premium Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season 86%	86%	Premium	£119 92 H +1 More
13	Upper-middle Nokian Powerproof 2 84%	84%	Upper-middle	£78 0 Y
14	Premium Continental PremiumContact 6 83%	83%	Premium	£89 92 W +3 More
15	Upper-middle Firestone Roadhawk 2 81%	81%	Upper-middle	£73 92 Y
16	Premium Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 K127 81%	81%	Premium	£92 92 Y +2 More

17	Premium Bridgestone Turanza 6 81%	81%	Premium	£86 92 Y +1 More
18	Premium GoodYear Eagle F1 Supersport 81%	81%	Premium	£92 92 Y +6 More
19	Upper-middle Falken Azenis FK520 80%	80%	Upper-middle	£73 92 Y +1 More
20	Premium Pirelli Cinturato P7 80%	80%	Premium	£107 92 Y +2 More
21	Premium Michelin Pilot Sport CUP 2 79%	79%	Premium	£166 92 Y +1 More
22	Upper-middle Kumho ECSTA Sport S PS72 78%	78%	Upper-middle	£78 92 Y +1 More
23	Premium Michelin Primacy 4+ 78%	78%	Premium	£108 92 Y
24	Premium Continental Ecocontact 6 77%	77%	Premium	£92 92 Y +7 More

25	Upper-middle Cooper Summer 76%	76%	Upper-middle	£72 92 Y
26	Premium Hankook Ventus Prime 4 76%	76%	Premium	£153 92 W
27	Budget GT Radial SportActive 2 EVO 75%	75%	Budget
28	Premium Michelin e.Primacy 74%	74%	Premium	£100 92 Y +1 More
29	Premium Hankook K135 Ventus Prime4 74%	74%	Premium	£80 92 W +1 More
30	Upper-middle Toyo Proxes Sport 2 71%	71%	Upper-middle	£98 +1 More
31	Premium Continental UltraContact 70%	70%	Premium	£92 92 W
32	Upper-middle Falken ZIEX ZE310 ECORUN 69%	69%	Upper-middle	£100 92 W +2 More

33	Upper-middle BF Goodrich Advantage 2 67%	67%	Upper-middle	£85 88 Y +2 More
34	Upper-middle Kleber Dynaxer HP5 64%	64%	Upper-middle	£86 +2 More
35	Upper-middle Firestone Roadhawk 60%	60%	Upper-middle
36	Budget Maxxis Premitra HP6 59%	59%	Budget	£70 92 0
37	Upper-middle Kleber Dynaxer UHP 56%	56%	Upper-middle
38	Upper-middle Nokian Hakka Black 3 54%	54%	Upper-middle	£175 92 Y
39	Budget Maxxis Premitra HP5 52%	52%	Budget	£101 92 W +1 More
40	Premium Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 50%	50%	Premium	£82 92 W

41	Budget Delinte DS2 46%	46%	Budget
42	Budget Barum Bravuris 5 HM 44%	44%	Budget
43	B Landspider Sportraxx UHP 42%	42%	B
44	Budget Lassa Driveways Sport 42%	42%	Budget
45	Upper-middle Cooper Zeon CS8 38%	38%	Upper-middle	£94 0 W +2 More
46	Budget Radar Dimax R8+ 36%	36%	Budget
47	Upper-middle Kumho Ecsta PS91 36%	36%	Upper-middle
48	Budget Landsail RapidDragon 30%	30%	Budget

49	Budget Tracmax X-Privilo TX-3 23%	23%	Budget
50	Budget Westlake Z-107 23%	23%	Budget	£71 92 W +1 More
51	Budget Matador MP47 Hectorra 3 22%	22%	Budget
52	Budget Imperial EcoSport 2 17%	17%	Budget	£79 92 Y
53	Budget Tomason Sportrace 17%	17%	Budget
54	Budget Marshal MU12 6%	6%	Budget	£69