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.
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’t 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’s Ecsta PS71, for instance, recorded 34.2 meters in the dry and 27.4 meters in the wet—numbers that edge remarkably close to some well-known “flagship” tires. Meanwhile, Linglong’s Sport Master, not typically viewed as a high-end choice, matched Kumho’s braking in both dry and wet stops and even earned a “Best Value” distinction. Sailun also secured a top-10 finish, and Maxxis further demonstrated it’s a force to be reckoned with, rounding out the upper ranks at 10th place.
On the other hand, some household names found themselves lower on the list than many would have predicted. Continental’s PremiumContact 7, long regarded as a go-to premium tire, finished in eighth place—still strong but surprising nonetheless for a brand that usually contends for the top spot. Nokian’s 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’s 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’t align with Pirelli’s usual standing in such tests. However, it’s important to remember that all of these rankings are based solely on braking so far. Tires often reveal other strengths—like handling finesse, longevity, or comfort—once the tests broaden to include more challenging scenarios.
It’s 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—enough 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.
Of course, the story isn’t done yet. While braking remains a vital indicator of safety, it doesn’t 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—or 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’t 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.