The first round of AUTO BILD\u2019s 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\u2019s Potenza Sport leading the field, the presence of several mid-range and budget brands near the top was a genuine surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a dry stopping distance of 32.6 meters and a wet stopping distance of 27.6 meters, Bridgestone set the bar high. Michelin, Hankook, and Goodyear, as usual, weren\u2019t far behind. The real intrigue, though, came from names like Kumho, Linglong, Sailun, and Maxxis, which ended up in striking distance of these established premium players. Kumho\u2019s Ecsta PS71, for instance, recorded 34.2 meters in the dry and 27.4 meters in the wet\u2014numbers that edge remarkably close to some well-known \u201cflagship\u201d tires. Meanwhile, Linglong\u2019s Sport Master, not typically viewed as a high-end choice, matched Kumho\u2019s braking in both dry and wet stops and even earned a \u201cBest Value\u201d distinction. Sailun also secured a top-10 finish, and Maxxis further demonstrated it\u2019s a force to be reckoned with, rounding out the upper ranks at 10th place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, some household names found themselves lower on the list than many would have predicted. Continental\u2019s PremiumContact 7, long regarded as a go-to premium tire, finished in eighth place\u2014still strong but surprising nonetheless for a brand that usually contends for the top spot. Nokian\u2019s Powerproof 1 landed in 13th, demonstrating that the competition in the summer category leaves little room for even slight underperformance. Perhaps most eyebrow-raising is Pirelli\u2019s P Zero PZ4 in 20th, showing a braking distance of 34.6 meters in the dry and 32.3 meters in the wet, which doesn\u2019t align with Pirelli\u2019s usual standing in such tests. However, it\u2019s important to remember that all of these rankings are based solely on braking so far. Tires often reveal other strengths\u2014like handling finesse, longevity, or comfort\u2014once the tests broaden to include more challenging scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s also striking to look at the overall spread. The shortest dry stopping distance of 32.6 meters stood in stark contrast to a longest of 38.9 meters, marking a difference of more than six meters\u2014enough to matter in a real-world emergency. For wet braking, the gap was even more dramatic: some tires stopped within 27.4 meters, while others needed up to 43.6 meters to come to a halt, a margin that could mean the difference between avoiding a collision and suffering serious damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, the story isn\u2019t done yet. While braking remains a vital indicator of safety, it doesn\u2019t paint the full picture. The final rankings will factor in steering precision, stability under lateral loads, ride comfort, noise, fuel efficiency, and wear. That blend of attributes is often where certain premium tires climb in the standings, and where some of the lower-cost surprises may reveal potential weaknesses\u2014or confirm that their performance is truly all-around impressive. Ultimately, these initial results serve as a reminder that the summer tire market continues to evolve and that price alone isn\u2019t always a reliable predictor of stopping power. Once all the data is in, consumers will have a clearer idea of which models best balance safety, performance, and value for the coming summer season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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