Tyre News

There are several ways to explain the growing popularity of all-season tyres. There are those who point to changing weather patterns in Europe, while some view these products as a cost-effective guarantee of safe mobility throughout the year. For others, increasing all-season tyre sales reflect improving product performance and quality. But no matter what factors are at play, figures show that all-season tyres have trebled their share of Europe’s passenger car tyre market over the past decade.

The tyre size 195/55 R16 is frequently a standard fitment on small cars such as the Fiat 500, Hyundai i20 and VW Polo. These are vehicles that typically spend most of their lives driving around town, conditions in which aerodynamic drag doesn’t significantly affect fuel economy and battery range. But rolling resistance does, particularly in heavier electric vehicles. For this reason, modern tyres must reduce this to a minimum while simultaneously meeting all safety-related requirements. With this in mind, Auto motor und sport (ams) examined eight tyres in this size for its summer 2026 test, giving each candidate an overall score and an EV-specific score.

Introducing its latest summer tyre test, German publication Auto Zeitung commented on what makes a good tyre. Safety is paramount, but it must also be economical, quiet, comfortable, long lasting and environmentally friendly – all while providing driving pleasure. At the lowest possible price. A tall order indeed, and Auto Zeitung has looked at ten tyres in size 235/45 R18 to see how they’ve managed.

After sending 30 tyres packing following the preliminary round of its 2026 summer test, Auto Bild got down to the business of comprehensively evaluating the 20 finalists. The test team again fitted the 245/45 R19 tyres to a BMW 5 Series and put each of the 20 models through its paces in wet and dry conditions, additionally examining all protagonists’ mileage, rolling resistance and overall value for money. No less than five of the finalists gained Auto Bild’s top ‘exemplary’ rating.

What’s the difference between driving on tyres with 1.6mm tread and scrolling on your phone behind the wheel? The first these is entirely legal, but as the team at Halfords points out, just because something is allowed doesn’t mean we should do it. In fact, a study it commissioned indicates that tyres worn to the current legal UK limit have a greater influence on stopping distance than driver phone use. Based on this result, Halfords opines that the UK minimum tread depth may be too low.

A quiet highway. Smooth asphalt. Engine hum steady. Then one question appears inside every driver mind. Long do tyres last before grip begins fading and safety drops? Rubber meets pavement thousands times during a single trip. Friction builds heat. Microscopic particles slowly disappear. Every tyre faces aging stress sunlight and heavy loads. Many drivers ignore these changes until vibration appears or braking distance increases.