Bridgestone

Deliveries of the latest BMW 5 Series will begin any time now. UK-spec M Sport versions of the eighth-generation G60/G61/G68 model come with 19” alloy wheels as standard equipment, while the M Sport Pro receives 20” alloys. BMW UK says the enlarged diameter over its predecessor’s rims gives the new 5 Series an “even more sporty presence.” Buyers can choose optional 20” & 21” alloy wheels for all versions, and the BMW list of approved rims and tyres for the G60 also includes an 18” fitment.

Continental WinterContact TS 870’s strength in wet and dry conditions was enough to win its second Auto Express Winter Tyre Test in a row. Competing against six other global manufacturers’ products, the Conti tyre narrowly finished ahead of the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-005 – WhatTyre’s Winter Tyre of the Year – by only 0.3 points overall. All seven tyres tested showed a good level of winter performance, with the last-placed Vredestein Wintrac Pro only 3.2 points out of 100 behind the Conti tyre. The performance differences between the top four winter tyres in the test especially were minimal, and the winner was selected as a particularly good tyre for UK winter driving conditions. The tyres were tested in size 225/45R17 in northern Sweden and in Germany.

With the approach of more treacherous driving conditions in autumn and winter, tyre manufacturer Bridgestone is urging motorists to check the condition of their tyres. The tyre giant said the “deflating” findings of its latest survey of 2,000 UK drivers reveal so many drivers are currently taking by failing to check the condition of their tyres regularly. The survey suggests that many drivers simply do not understand tyres’ impact on the safety of their car.

Auto Bild is limbering up to publish its 2023 all-season tyre test, which includes a total of 35 premium, mid-range and budget products in size 225/45 R17. As in other years, the German motoring publication has whittled down this broad field of contenders by evaluating the wet and dry braking of each and every tyre in a preliminary test round. This leaves just 16 finalists to slug it out.

The sharp end of the performance tyre spectrum is the domain of the supersports or ultra-ultra-high performance (UUHP) tyre. Completely road legal but also designed to deliver superior performance on the track, these products are tasked with the weighty remit of providing a dynamic yet safe driving experience to the world’s most powerful cars in both wet and dry conditions. WhatTyre has identified five supersports tyres that excel at this.

With budget brands now accounting for 38 per cent of 17- and 18-inch tyre purchases in the UK, it is more important than ever to recognise products that deliver the handling and stopping performance required by executive and performance saloons. To identify our favourite Performance Tyres of 2023, WhatTyre has looked at the three most popular sizes for 17-inch and larger rim diameters, 225/45 R17Y, 225/40 R18Y and 205/45 R17W. As was the case in 2022, this year we have separated tyres aimed at the highest echelon of the performance car world into their own category – Supersports Tyres.

Winter tyres are a very small part of the UK tyre market compared to their year-round alternative, all-season tyres. But if you want to guarantee traction in the most extreme cold weather, they remain the best tool for the job. WhatTyre’s Winter Tyre of the Year 2023 shortlist offers the ten best-performing options for an optimal cold weather driving experience. The ten tyres selected represent the best the winter tyre market has to offer, according to both the latest seasons of the best independent European tyre tests and our newest algorithm, Tyrescore 2.2 “Bugatti”.

Eco tyres and EV tyres have a very close relationship in that both focus on delivering high energy efficiency and high longevity. As we mention in our recommendations for electric car tyres, the lines are blurred considerably by the broad range of “EV-Ready” (to borrow Bridgestone’s term) products now on the market. While the specialist EV tyres generally start with performance principles tuned specifically towards enhancing range, reducing noise and providing greater longevity, the tyres on our eco tyre list have evolved from generations of touring tyres for cars. This means that they are generally well-rounded products, with features that promote enjoyable, comfortable driving as well as improving efficiency.

Yet another crossover enters the fray in the shape of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which in UK spec is exclusively available as a mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid model. Continental tells us that it is supplying tyres for vehicles equipped with 18-inch rims, as well as a 17-inch tyre for markets where that rim size is offered. Alfa Romeo will fit the Continental EcoContact 6 to Tonale models built at its Pomigliano d’Arco plant in Naples, Italy in sizes 215/60 R 17 96V and 235/50 R 18 97V.