AutoBild didn’t just pick a handful of tires and test them. They started with 52 total models, all in size 225/40 R18. But there was a catch: these tires first had to “qualify” by showing solid braking performance on both wet and dry roads. Only 20 made the final cut, plus one tire included as a “worst-case scenario” to prove that the braking qualification makes sense and If a tire fails badly in basic wet/dry braking tests, it’s probably not going to magically shine in more nuanced areas like handling or aquaplaning.
As every year, some of the chinese brands were featured. In this test, both Sailun and Linglong actually made the final 20. Historically, budget brands would break hearts in safety categories—particularly wet braking—but these two showed they could at least hang in there. While they lost some ground in mileage/durability scores, the clear message is that certain Chinese tire makers are catching up fast in performance.
At the top of the test, Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 and Michelin’s Pilot Sport 5 shared first place. Their performance in wet and dry conditions was excellent, but here’s the real kicker: both also scored extremely well in the “cost per kilometer” calculation. In other words, you’re not necessarily paying a big premium for buying a “premium” product. Goodyear even earned the title of “Eco-Meister” for its leading balance of cost, wear, and performance. They might cost more up front, but they tend to last longer, and their lower rolling resistance also helps with fuel or electricity bills if you drive an EV.
Autobild was also impressed by the new Hankook’s Ventus Evo with the code name K137. This new tire was the best in wet braking distance of the entire group and still performs strongly in dry handling. With so many big names around—Bridgestone, Pirelli, Continental, Michelin—it’s noteworthy to see Hankook holding its own and scoring a “vorbildlich” (exemplary) rating. Hankook is getting better with every generation and is slowly catching up with the best of the premium tyres on the market.
As we already mentioned in the introduction, there is a “bad” tire intentionally featured, which is the Autogreen Smart Chaser SC1, despite finishing dead last in the qualifying round. The results were not pretty: the Autogreen validated all the worst fears about cheap tires by delivering dismal safety margins. This was important to show in stark terms that if a product fails the fundamentals of braking, it’s not going to magically redeem itself in advanced handling drills.
Ultimately, the test is a huge resource for any driver in this popular tire size. If you’re looking for a sure bet on safety and performance, you can confidently opt for the top six “vorbildlich” rated tires (Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, Hankook, or Kumho). If cost is your absolute bottom line, Chinese manufacturers like Linglong and Sailun are starting to show that you don’t need to compromise too badly on safety—though you’ll likely lose out in mileage and therefore it might not make sense economically.