So which rubber is top of the stops? You need all the help you can get during those heart-in-mouth moments when the traffic in front suddenly stops. Today’s electronics prevent wheels locking and bring the car to a halt in the shortest possible distance, but that can vary by up to four metres depending on the tyres fitted.

As with all tyre tests, the biggest differences are on wet roads, and here Kumho proved that it really knows how to build a great tyre for wet conditions by taking the top spot.

The Ecsta brought our Passat to a halt from 50mph in just under 24 metres.