So it begins, the 2025 summer tyre test season is upon is, and it's going to be an interesting year!
To start things off, Autobild have published their annual 52 tyre shootout, where they test the wet and dry braking of pretty much every tyre they can get their hands on to work out the best 20 to take through to the full tyre test, this year in the sporty 225/40 R18 size.
There's no big surprises in the dry - the Bridgestone Potenza Sport is the best, closely followed by the Falken ZE320 and Michelin Pilot Sport 5.
The wet is a little more interesting, with a three way tie for shortest braking distance! The new Hankook Ventus Evo is one of the best, impressive from the new product, and the Kumho Ecsta PS71 also does well, but third tyre was the Linglong Sport Master, ahead of Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental and Goodyear! This is very impressive from the traditionally budget Chinese manufacturer, so it will be interesting to see how it fairs in the full test, which will include wear.
Keep an eye on AutoBild or the Tyre Reviews website in the coming weeks to see the full test.
Test Publication:
225/40 R18
52 tyres
2 categories
Images courtesy of Auto Bild
Test Publication:
Images courtesy of Auto Bild
Test Size:
225/40 R18
Tyres Tested:
52 tyres
Dry
Bridgestone Potenza Sport Falken ZIEX ZE320 Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Yokohama Advan Sport V107 Maxxis Victra Sport 5 Toyo Proxes Comfort Hankook Ventus Evo Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 Linglong Sport Master Kumho Ecsta PS71 Sailun Atrezzo ZSR2 Continental PremiumContact 7 Firestone Firehawk Sport Pirelli P Zero PZ4 Nokian Powerproof 1 Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 Vredestein Ultrac Pro Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 Giti GitiSportS2 Petlas Velox Sport PT741 Ceat SportDrive Sava Intensa UHP 2 GT Radial SportActive 2 Fulda SportControl 2 BFGoodrich Advantage Debica Presto UHP2 Windforce Catchfors UHP PRO Kormoran Ultra High Performance Leao Nova Force Acro Riken Riken UHP Syron Premium Performance Ovation VI 588 Sport Lanvigator Catch Power Plus Semperit Speed Life 3 Uniroyal RainSport 5 Rockblade ROCK 525 Z Max Zealion Star Performer Interstellar Viking Protech Newgen Gislaved Ultra Speed 2 Tigar Tigar UHP Barum Bravuris 6 Matador Hectorra 5 Iris Sefar Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco Event Potentem UHP Arivo Ultra ARZ 5 Autogreen Smart Chaser SC1 Royal Black Explorer II Radar Dimax R8 plus Tourador X Speed TU1
Wet
Hankook Ventus Evo Kumho Ecsta PS71 Linglong Sport Master Bridgestone Potenza Sport Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Continental PremiumContact 7 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 Sailun Atrezzo ZSR2 Maxxis Victra Sport 5 Falken ZIEX ZE320 Laufenn S Fit EQ Plus Uniroyal RainSport 5 Nokian Powerproof 1 Toyo Proxes Comfort Giti GitiSportS2 Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 Firestone Firehawk Sport Vredestein Ultrac Pro Semperit Speed Life 3 Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 GT Radial SportActive 2 Radar Dimax R8 plus Yokohama Advan Sport V107 Syron Premium Performance BFGoodrich Advantage Pirelli P Zero PZ4 Leao Nova Force Acro Petlas Velox Sport PT741 Debica Presto UHP2 Viking Protech Newgen Star Performer Interstellar Event Potentem UHP Fulda SportControl 2 Ceat SportDrive Matador Hectorra 5 Gislaved Ultra Speed 2 Sava Intensa UHP 2 Barum Bravuris 6 Goodride Z 107 ZuperEco Iris Sefar Ovation VI 588 Sport Kormoran Ultra High Performance Windforce Catchfors UHP PRO Lanvigator Catch Power Plus Tourador X Speed TU1 Riken Riken UHP Arivo Ultra ARZ 5 Z Max Zealion Rockblade ROCK 525 Tigar Tigar UHP Royal Black Explorer II Autogreen Smart Chaser SC1
Results
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
1st
32.6 M
100%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
4th
27.6 M
27.4 M
+0.2 M
99.28%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
3rd
33.5 M
32.6 M
+0.9 M
97.31%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
5th
27.7 M
27.4 M
+0.3 M
98.92%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
6th
34 M
32.6 M
+1.4 M
95.88%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
1st
27.4 M
100%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
9th
34.2 M
32.6 M
+1.6 M
95.32%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
1st
27.4 M
100%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
9th
34.2 M
32.6 M
+1.6 M
95.32%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
1st
27.4 M
100%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
8th
34.1 M
32.6 M
+1.5 M
95.6%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
6th
28.3 M
27.4 M
+0.9 M
96.82%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
2nd
33 M
32.6 M
+0.4 M
98.79%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
10th
29.5 M
27.4 M
+2.1 M
92.88%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
12th
34.6 M
32.6 M
+2 M
94.22%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
6th
28.3 M
27.4 M
+0.9 M
96.82%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
11th
34.3 M
32.6 M
+1.7 M
95.04%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
8th
28.7 M
27.4 M
+1.3 M
95.47%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
5th
33.9 M
32.6 M
+1.3 M
96.17%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
9th
29.2 M
27.4 M
+1.8 M
93.84%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
6th
34 M
32.6 M
+1.4 M
95.88%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
13th
30.4 M
27.4 M
+3 M
90.13%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
16th
34.9 M
32.6 M
+2.3 M
93.41%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
11th
29.7 M
27.4 M
+2.3 M
92.26%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
15th
34.8 M
32.6 M
+2.2 M
93.68%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
13th
30.4 M
27.4 M
+3 M
90.13%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
4th
33.8 M
32.6 M
+1.2 M
96.45%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
23rd
31.8 M
27.4 M
+4.4 M
86.16%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
12th
34.6 M
32.6 M
+2 M
94.22%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
17th
31.1 M
27.4 M
+3.7 M
88.1%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
17th
35 M
32.6 M
+2.4 M
93.14%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
15th
30.9 M
27.4 M
+3.5 M
88.67%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
20th
35.4 M
32.6 M
+2.8 M
92.09%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
15th
30.9 M
27.4 M
+3.5 M
88.67%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
17th
35 M
32.6 M
+2.4 M
93.14%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
18th
31.2 M
27.4 M
+3.8 M
87.82%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
19th
35.2 M
32.6 M
+2.6 M
92.61%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
20th
31.5 M
27.4 M
+4.1 M
86.98%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
12th
34.6 M
32.6 M
+2 M
94.22%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
26th
32.3 M
27.4 M
+4.9 M
84.83%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
24th
36 M
32.6 M
+3.4 M
90.56%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
21st
31.7 M
27.4 M
+4.3 M
86.44%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
35th
37.4 M
32.6 M
+4.8 M
87.17%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
12th
30.3 M
27.4 M
+2.9 M
90.43%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
25th
36.2 M
32.6 M
+3.6 M
90.06%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
24th
31.9 M
27.4 M
+4.5 M
85.89%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
20th
35.4 M
32.6 M
+2.8 M
92.09%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
28th
33.1 M
27.4 M
+5.7 M
82.78%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
35th
37.4 M
32.6 M
+4.8 M
87.17%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
18th
31.2 M
27.4 M
+3.8 M
87.82%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
31st
36.9 M
32.6 M
+4.3 M
88.35%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
24th
31.9 M
27.4 M
+4.5 M
85.89%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
27th
36.4 M
32.6 M
+3.8 M
89.56%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
28th
33.1 M
27.4 M
+5.7 M
82.78%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
22nd
35.8 M
32.6 M
+3.2 M
91.06%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
34th
34 M
27.4 M
+6.6 M
80.59%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
30th
36.8 M
32.6 M
+4.2 M
88.59%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
27th
32.9 M
27.4 M
+5.5 M
83.28%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
25th
36.2 M
32.6 M
+3.6 M
90.06%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
33rd
33.9 M
27.4 M
+6.5 M
80.83%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
51st
38.6 M
32.6 M
+6 M
84.46%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
21st
31.7 M
27.4 M
+4.3 M
86.44%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
23rd
35.9 M
32.6 M
+3.3 M
90.81%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
37th
34.4 M
27.4 M
+7 M
79.65%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
40th
37.6 M
32.6 M
+5 M
86.7%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
30th
33.5 M
27.4 M
+6.1 M
81.79%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
37th
37.5 M
32.6 M
+4.9 M
86.93%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
31st
33.7 M
27.4 M
+6.3 M
81.31%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
45th
37.9 M
32.6 M
+5.3 M
86.02%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
32nd
33.8 M
27.4 M
+6.4 M
81.07%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
40th
37.6 M
32.6 M
+5 M
86.7%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
36th
34.2 M
27.4 M
+6.8 M
80.12%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
44th
37.7 M
32.6 M
+5.1 M
86.47%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
35th
34.1 M
27.4 M
+6.7 M
80.35%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
33rd
37.1 M
32.6 M
+4.5 M
87.87%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
41st
35.2 M
27.4 M
+7.8 M
77.84%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
40th
37.6 M
32.6 M
+5 M
86.7%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
38th
34.8 M
27.4 M
+7.4 M
78.74%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
29th
36.6 M
32.6 M
+4 M
89.07%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
42nd
36.2 M
27.4 M
+8.8 M
75.69%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
45th
37.9 M
32.6 M
+5.3 M
86.02%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
39th
34.9 M
27.4 M
+7.5 M
78.51%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
45th
37.9 M
32.6 M
+5.3 M
86.02%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
40th
35.1 M
27.4 M
+7.7 M
78.06%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
28th
36.5 M
32.6 M
+3.9 M
89.32%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
43rd
36.7 M
27.4 M
+9.3 M
74.66%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
34th
37.2 M
32.6 M
+4.6 M
87.63%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
43rd
36.7 M
27.4 M
+9.3 M
74.66%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
31st
36.9 M
32.6 M
+4.3 M
88.35%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
46th
37.5 M
27.4 M
+10.1 M
73.07%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
37th
37.5 M
32.6 M
+4.9 M
86.93%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
48th
38 M
27.4 M
+10.6 M
72.11%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
37th
37.5 M
32.6 M
+4.9 M
86.93%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
49th
38.1 M
27.4 M
+10.7 M
71.92%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
48th
38.1 M
32.6 M
+5.5 M
85.56%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
47th
37.6 M
27.4 M
+10.2 M
72.87%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
40th
37.6 M
32.6 M
+5 M
86.7%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
50th
38.4 M
27.4 M
+11 M
71.35%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
52nd
38.9 M
32.6 M
+6.3 M
83.8%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
45th
37.1 M
27.4 M
+9.7 M
73.85%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
50th
38.4 M
32.6 M
+5.8 M
84.9%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
51st
38.6 M
27.4 M
+11.2 M
70.98%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
49th
38.3 M
32.6 M
+5.7 M
85.12%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
52nd
43.6 M
27.4 M
+16.2 M
62.84%