Summer tyre test by Motor — 2026
In its latest test, the Polish publication Motor evaluated tyres in the 225/45 R17 size intended for demanding drivers expecting top performance from their purchase. For this reason, only mid- and premium-segment tyres were included and tested at a proving ground in Texas.
Test participants:
One of the most important characteristics of summer tyres is effective braking on wet roads, where Continental and Pirelli took the lead. However, the Hankook Ventus evo performed even better and this season has generally received excellent ratings in independent tests.
On the wet handling circuit, which assessed lateral stability, Continental and Pirelli pulled ahead, while Hankook came in third, and Kumho also delivered a very strong performance.
Resistance to longitudinal aquaplaning is also highly important for safety, and here Hankook again came out on top, followed by Michelin and Pirelli.
In cornering aquaplaning, Continental tyres resist best, while Hankook trails slightly but by a minimal margin.
In the wet handling test, Continental once again outperformed all competitors, this time with a more significant lead. Pirelli, Hankook, and Kumho also handled the tasks very well.
On dry surfaces, Pirelli recorded the shortest braking distance, while Continental, Kumho, and Hankook also received high marks.
Continental achieved the best lap time on dry tarmac and were recognized as the most sporty among the tested tyres. Pirelli followed closely behind, while Kumho and Hankook also delivered very strong results.
Handling was also assessed subjectively, considering factors such as steering precision, stability, and behaviour at the limit of grip. Hankook took first place, while Kumho and Continental shared second place—confirming the excellent performance of these Korean brands.
In rolling resistance tests, Bridgestone and Michelin performed best, while Hankook ranked last—indicating that the Ventus evo does have some drawbacks.
External noise was measured at 50 km/h, with Michelin and Bridgestone taking top spots. Although Pirelli and Continental ranked lower, their noise levels were only slightly higher and still considered acceptable.
Verdict
Continental PremiumContact 7 and Pirelli Cinturato (C3) shared first place overall, with identical scores down to the tenth of a point. According to testers, Continental performed excellently on both dry and wet surfaces, providing a high level of safety in all conditions. Their only drawback is higher rolling resistance.
Like Continental, Pirelli also performs effectively in all weather conditions, ensuring high steering responsiveness and short braking distances. Rolling resistance is not the lowest, but fuel efficiency is better than that of the PremiumContact 7.
Bronze goes to Hankook Ventus evo, which delivered excellent wet performance and only slightly trailed the winners on dry tarmac. Rolling resistance was the highest among tested tyres, but overall results confirm that mid-segment tyres can compete on equal terms with premium-class products.
Just behind are the Kumho Ecsta Sport, which lost points on wet surfaces, primarily due to mediocre aquaplaning resistance. Nevertheless, they remain a very solid choice, with Kumho also offering relatively low rolling resistance.
This time, Michelin Primacy 5 tyres fell behind two mid-range competitors. The reason included inconsistent wet performance: aquaplaning resistance is good, but lateral stability leaves something to be desired. Dry performance is average, but Michelin tyres are very quiet and fuel-efficient.
Maxxis Premitra HP6 trailed Michelin by only 0.4 points (on a 200-point scale), which undoubtedly counts as a success. Maxxis' key strength was balanced performance—delivering consistent results across all test categories and never presenting unpleasant surprises. Additionally, Maxxis offers attractive pricing and good fuel efficiency.
Seventh place went to Kleber Dynaxer HP5, which performed similarly to Maxxis, delivering stable results across all tests and low rolling resistance.
Eighth place went to Bridgestone Turanza 6, which also performed well on both dry and wet surfaces. Experts noted their characteristics are on par with mid-range tyres. Bridgestone outperformed all rivals in fuel efficiency, and perhaps the developers' focus on minimizing rolling resistance came at the expense of grip performance.
Vredestein Ultrac+ finished last, but this doesn't mean the tyres fail to provide acceptable safety—simply that the competition was exceptionally strong. Compared to the leaders, Vredestein lacks both longitudinal and lateral grip on wet roads and was also unimpressive on dry surfaces.
Source: Motor. Photos: Robert Magdziak / Motor