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 (★98)
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 (★98) 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: 122
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 (★81) 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 (★86) 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 (★59), 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 (★52) 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 (★81)) 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.