Larger rims and tyres can significantly enhance a vehicle’s appearance. For compact cars, selecting the 225/40 R 18 tyre size provides both good looks and the promise of improved performance. European motoring organisation ADAC selected this dimension for its 2025 summer tyre test, evaluating 18 premium, mid-range and budget products.
The tyres in this year’s ADAC test reflect a broad range of prices – the cheapest set of tyres evaluated cost 280 euros – just over £230 – than the most expensive. The variation in performance was also striking, and although many tyres performed well, ADAC was less than enthuses with three models. One performed exceptionally poorly.
Balanced performance from top tyres
The Continental SportContact 7 – the WhatTyre Supersports Tyre of the Year 2024 – emerged as the best tyre in the test, securing an impressive overall score of 1.8, which sufficed for a “good” rating. The Continental tyre demonstrated the shortest braking distance on wet roads, excellent handling on both dry and wet surfaces, and a strong environmental balance. Bridgestone Potenza Sport also stood out, achieving a top safety rating of 1.5, matching the Continental model. It received an overall score of 1.9 and thus shared the runner-up position with Michelin Pilot Sport 5 and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6. These models all offered excellent grip levels and well-balanced environmental and longevity attributes.
Braking distance on wet asphalt from 80 km/h to 0 km/h was a key factor in the assessment. The Continental SportContact 7 stopped in just 28.4 metres, while the Bridgestone Potenza Sport (28.8 metres) and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 (29.2 metres) followed closely.
Other tyres that received a “good” rating include Vredestein Ultrac Pro, Yokohama Advan Sport V107, Firestone Firehawk Sport, Falken Azenis FK520, Nexen N Fera Sport, Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2, and Toyo Proxes Sport 2. These results confirm that good safety performance is not exclusive to premium brands, with several mid-range tyres also receiving positive scores – proving that a balance between safety, environmental impact, and cost is achievable.
The difference in wet stopping distance between the best & worst tyre was 17 metres (Photo: ADAC)
Mid-range performers
Four tyres fell into the “satisfactory” category, meaning they are still recommendable but lack top-tier performance in either the safety or environmental impact test criteria. The Ceat SportDrive showed weaknesses on wet roads but performed well in dry conditions, while the Kumho Ecsta PS71 offers good grip in the wet but is less impressive on dry roads and in terms of its predicted lifespan. The Nokian Tyres Powerproof 1 also performs well in wet conditions, but its performance deteriorates significantly as temperatures rise, making it imprecise to drive on dry roads. The Giti GitiSport S2 performed poorly in the wet braking test and was also the worst for predicted lifespan, the prognosis being just 20,880 miles or 33,600 kilometres.
Adequate & unsatisfactory
When looking at projected tread life, the Doublecoin DC-100 surprisingly excelled, boasting an estimated 46,200 mile or 74,400-kilometre lifespan, far exceeding all competitors and earning it the top spot in this test discipline. The Doublecoin tyre was also the cheapest of the 18 products. But does this make the DC-100 a bargain?
Not at all, says the ADAC. “Even budget-conscious drivers should steer well clear of this tyre,” the motoring publication writes. The reason for its long lifespan became apparent during testing – the tyre’s rubber compound is so hard that it wears down very slowly. However, this also means it provides very little grip. “The Doublecoin exhibits significant weaknesses in dry conditions and deteriorates so badly as temperatures rise that drivers struggle to judge the correct steering input. At the limit, the car’s rear end breaks away – a major issue, especially for inexperienced drivers.”
According to the ADAC, the Doublecoin tyre “fails across the board” on wet roads. Low levels of grip mean the tyre has barely any traction, causing the vehicle to skid and resulting in significantly longer braking distances. While the VW Golf that ADAC used for the test came to a stop from 80km/h in approximately 28 metres when fitted with the best tyre in the test, it needed around 45 metres to stop when wearing the Doublecoin tyres. ADAC gave the DC-100 a score of 5.5 – a fail.
That leaves two other tyres in the second-to-last position, each scoring: 3.9 – a “adequate” result. These are the Norauto Prevensys 4 and Syron Premium Performance. ADAC shares that both perform “very poorly” on dry roads, with the testers unable to steer precisely and needing to make constant corrections to maintain a steady turning radius. Handling at the limit is also “highly demanding” for the driver. As a result, the ADAC does not recommend purchasing these tyre models.
Test winner – rated good
Continental SportContact 7
+ Shortest wet braking distance, excellent grip in wet and dry conditions, precise handling, good eco balance
– Expensive, slightly increased road noise
Rated good
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
+ Excellent grip on dry and wet surfaces, strong braking performance, high-speed stability, sporty handling
– Slightly higher rolling resistance, average eco balance
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
+ Great balance of safety and durability, good wet braking, best eco balance in top group, high mileage
– Expensive, slightly weaker dry braking than leaders
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6
+ Short braking distance on wet roads, good dry grip, excellent high-speed control, strong eco balance
– Marginally higher wear rate, expensive
Vredestein Ultrac Pro
+ Well-balanced performance, strong wet grip, good durability, reasonable price
– Slightly weaker dry braking, not as sharp in handling as top models
Yokohama Advan Sport V107
+ High-speed stability, strong dry grip, good handling precision, quiet ride
– Wet braking not as strong as premium brands, slightly higher wear
Firestone Firehawk Sport
+ Good all-around performance, strong dry handling, reasonable price, solid longevity
– Slightly longer wet braking, average eco balance
Falken Azenis FK520
+ Good grip in dry conditions, responsive handling, good durability, affordable price
– Average wet performance, braking could be improved on wet roads
Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2
+ Sporty feel, good steering precision, strong dry braking, good wet handling
– Average wet braking distance, wear rate is slightly high
Nexen N’Fera Sport
+ Solid dry grip, good wet handling for price, decent durability, affordable option
– Wet braking could be better, slight understeer in wet conditions
Toyo Proxes Sport 2
+ Good balance between price and performance, solid dry grip, comfortable ride, reasonable longevity
– Wet grip lags behind premium models, slightly noisy at high speeds
Rated satisfactory
Ceat SportDrive
+ Good dry grip, responsive handling, decent rolling resistance, affordable
– Wet braking could be improved, not as stable under extreme cornering
Kumho Ecsta PS71
+ Strong wet grip, good aquaplaning resistance, reasonably priced, decent comfort
– Weaker dry braking, lower predicted mileage than premium competitors
Nokian Powerproof 1
+ Decent wet grip, good eco balance, comfortable ride, affordable price
– Loses performance in high temperatures, not the best in dry handling
Giti SportS2
– Good dry grip, reasonable handling, decent high-speed stability, budget-friendly
+ Weak wet braking, highest wear rate in the test, lacks precision in handling
Rated adequate
Norauto Prevensys 4
+ Decent dry handling, affordable, reasonable rolling resistance
– Weak wet performance, longer braking distances, lacks steering precision
Syron Premium Performance
+ Somewhat decent eco balance, budget-friendly
– Weak grip on both wet and dry roads, imprecise handling, requires constant steering corrections
Rated unsatisfactory
Doublecoin DC-100
+ Longest tread life, low rolling resistance, very affordable price
– Worst wet grip, dangerously long braking distances, poor dry handling, not recommended
