For 2019, the German publication Gute Fahrt has tested ten 225/40 R18 summer tyre patterns using a VW Golf, but unlike in 2018 where they included all season tyres in the test, this year they've included a 17 and 19 inch comparison tyre.

Unfortunately, like the 2018 test, this tyre test is a little peculiar.

Firstly, while the magazine seems to have tested the tyres in dry and wet handling tests, it hasn't given us any lap times. Instead, it opted to subjectively rate the tyres, but only out of five points, which is nearly meaningless so we've left it out.

Secondly, while the inclusion of a 17 and 19 inch wheel and tyre combination is a good benchmark (we wonder where they got that idea from), it would have made more sense to use one of the patterns in the 18 inch test. Instead, they used the old P Zero, which in 17 inch fitment has beaten the new and improved P Zero PZ4 in 18 inches.

Thirdly, their rolling resistance results are quoted in BHP gained or lost, which is a first, and finally, every tyre in the test was recommended, with the ninth place overall tyre having no negative comments!

In short, don't put too much weight on these results, as a lot of the data is strange, but it's nice to see two of the tyre we expect to be at the top, at the top.

Dry

Wet

Price

Results

1st: Continental Premium Contact 6
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	The best balance of performance on test, excellent handling and short stopping distances on dry and wet surfaces, high aquaplaning resistance. Relatively high rolling resistance. Highly Recommended. Read Reviews    Buy from £97.62
2nd: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Best wet braking on test, high aquaplaning resistance, good dry handling, low fuel use, good levels of comfort. Slight oversteer during wet handling. Highly Recommended. Read Reviews    Buy from £90.10
4th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Shortest dry braking, highest aquaplaning resistance, good comfort. None mentioned Highly Recommended. Read Reviews    Buy from £88.32
5th: Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	A well balanced tyre, good wet handling, high aquaplaning resistance. None mentioned. Highly Recommended. Read Reviews
5th: Nokian PowerProof
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Good handling and short braking distance on wet surfaces, high aquaplaning resistance, low rolling resistance, low noise Average comfort. Highly Recommended. Read Reviews
7th: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Excellent dry handling, short dry and wet braking. Unstable at the limit of wet handling, poor lateral aquaplaning. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £124.60
7th: Bridgestone Turanza T005
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Good handling and short stopping distance on dry and wet surfaces, high aquaplaning resistance, low rolling resistance, good level of comfort. None mentioned. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £95.50
9th: Apollo Aspire XP
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Good handling on dry and wet surfaces, high braking performance, high lateral stability on wet surfaces, low rolling resistance, good level of comfort. None mentioned. Good. Read Reviews
10th: Falken Azenis FK510
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Short wet braking. Understeer in the wet, high rolling resistance, average comfort. Good. Read Reviews
10th: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Good handling in the dry and wet. High rolling resistance, low comfort, long wet braking. Good. Read Reviews