Tyre Reviews has released its big summer tyre test for 2026, putting 12 tyres through a comprehensive evaluation in the popular 225/45 R17 size on a Volkswagen Golf GTI. All tyres were purchased anonymously from the open market. Nine individual disciplines were tested across four main categories: wet, dry, comfort/noise, and economy.
The result: two joint test winners, one highly recommended, three recommended, and some surprisingly large performance gaps — especially in wet conditions, where the spread between best and worst was nearly 24%.
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Top 3 at a Glance
Joint Winners: Pirelli Cinturato C3 and Continental PremiumContact 7 (★97)
In a rare outcome, Tyre Reviews awarded joint first place to two tyres that excel in different ways. The Pirelli Cinturato C3 delivered top-level grip in both dry and wet, with the shortest dry braking distance of all 12 tyres (35.75 m from 100 km/h) and a confidence-building, easy balance. Its only notable weaknesses were exterior noise (worst in test at 74.1 dB) and mid-pack standing-water performance.
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Pirelli Cinturato (C3)
Dimensions: 205/35R16 - 265/65R20
Number of sizes: 31
Number of tests: 5
The Continental PremiumContact 7 (★97) took a different path to the top, dominating the wet category with the fastest wet handling time (67.70 s) and strong curved aquaplaning resistance (3.85 m/s²). It combined very short wet braking with excellent aquaplaning results, making it the strongest wet-weather tyre in the group. The trade-offs are below-average rolling resistance (8.33 kg/t) and noise.
Continental PremiumContact 7
Dimensions: 205/35R16 - 315/65R21
Number of sizes: 62
Number of tests: 5
Highly Recommended: Hankook Ventus Evo (★99)
Third place went to the Hankook Ventus Evo (★99), which earned the Highly Recommended badge with the best wet safety credentials: shortest wet braking at 27.66 m and highest straight aquaplaning speed at 78.81 km/h. It offered a sporty, confidence-inspiring feel at the limit with impressively low exterior noise (70.7 dB). The price to pay is high rolling resistance (8.76 kg/t), one of the worst in the group.
Hankook Ventus Evo
Dimensions: 205/25R17 - 345/55R22
Number of sizes: 108
Number of tests: 5
Recommended Trio: Kumho, Bridgestone, Michelin
Three tyres earned Recommended status. The Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 impressed with sporty, predictable steering and the third-fastest dry handling time (73.15 s), though aquaplaning resistance was near the bottom. The Bridgestone Turanza 6 (★78) earned an Eco Specialist designation with easily the best rolling resistance in the test (6.32 kg/t) — a clear 10% lead over the next best tyre — but wet handling was well behind the leaders. The Michelin Primacy 5 (★84) delivered a quiet, comfortable, efficient all-round package with the second-best rolling resistance (7.00 kg/t) and strong aquaplaning protection, though outright grip was mid-pack.
The Dry Handling Surprise
A notable outlier was the Maxxis Premitra HP6 (★52), which posted the fastest dry handling time of all 12 tyres (72.83 s) — beating every premium brand. Its sporty, track-friendly feel was impressive, but wet confidence at the limit was low, and noise was below average. The Debica Presto UHP2 also surprised with the best comfort score and best curved aquaplaning resistance (3.92 m/s²) in the entire test.
Wet Braking: The Safety Story
The biggest safety takeaway is in wet braking. From 80 km/h, the best tyre (Hankook, 27.66 m) stopped 6.61 metres shorter than the worst (Davanti, 34.27 m). At 130 km/h, this difference translates to roughly 1.47 car lengths of additional stopping distance — a gap that can mean the difference between a near-miss and a collision.
The Davanti Protoura Sport finished last in almost every wet grip test, with a wet braking distance nearly 24% longer than the best. While it did record the quietest exterior noise (70.6 dB), its wet performance raises serious safety questions. The Goodride Solmax 1 fared slightly better but still showed the slowest dry handling and worst rolling resistance.
Efficiency vs Grip: The Eternal Trade-Off
Rolling resistance varied enormously in this test — from 6.32 kg/t (Bridgestone Turanza 6 (★78)) to 8.87 kg/t (Goodride Solmax 1), a 40% spread. The pattern was clear: the grippiest wet-weather tyres (Hankook, Continental) tended to have higher rolling resistance, while the most efficient (Bridgestone, Michelin) made compromises in outright grip. The Pirelli Cinturato C3 fell in between — excellent grip with merely average efficiency.
Key Takeaway
Wet performance differences are four times larger than dry differences in this test. Dry handling times varied by only 4.6%, while wet handling spread was 18%. This confirms that wet grip should be the primary factor when choosing summer tyres — and it is where premium brands still hold their biggest advantage over budget options.