The noise a tyre makes is a key part of comfort. But it’s impossible to detect tyre roar until you have
actually fitted the rubber.

This is a vital test, because with many cars spending most of their lives on motorways, a lot of drivers would prefer a tyre that’s quiet to one which improves their vehicle’s handling.

To achieve the fairest result, we’ve looked at what you’d experience in day-to-day driving. Our assessment should not to be confused with those tests required by law; the latter are carried out from the roadside with specially sealed cars to prevent the engine or transmission affecting the outcome.

The human ear can detect a change of three decibels, so the difference in noise between our best and worst performers would be just about noticeable from behind the wheel.

Our winner was the Kumho by a healthy margin of half-a-decibel.