Skip advert
Advertisement

Tyre test: results by category

It was a close-fought competition, but Pirelli did enough to just pip its rivals and take the crown

A close contest right down to ninth spot, with the top eight covered by less than two percentage points, showing that these are all good-quality tyres. The ninth-placed Ceat SportDrive delivers acceptable performance but, significantly, is well short of the standard in wet braking and on the wet circuit. Yet it’s more expensive than the majority of the tyres here, so ranks low on both performance and value for money. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Equal seventh is a disappointing result for Continental, which comes up a bit short in the wet, but a good result for the Yokohama, another tyre that’s better in the dry than the wet. The Goodyear is another impressive tyre whose place reflects the strength of the competition this year. 

Kumho impressed with fifth overall, within a percentage point of the top spot. Despite lowly placings in most of the wet tests, it was great to drive on the wet track and added refinement and economy for a strong mix. The Michelin was also a better drive in the wet than the tests suggested and got within one per cent of the win. 

The top three are all great. The Hankook was superbly refined and impressive in the wet, as was the Bridgestone that came within an ace of top spot. But the winning Pirelli topped the tables in the wet and dry, and delivered superb refinement. 

Winner: Pirelli P Zero (PZ5)

The new PZ5 version of the P Zero puts Pirelli back at the top of a very competitive class with a remarkable, unmatched breadth of ability. It combines excellent refinement with mastery of the wet and the dry.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Mokka Electric

2024 Vauxhall

Mokka Electric

15,479 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £13,699
View Mokka Electric
Mokka

2024 Vauxhall

Mokka

14,094 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L

Cash £16,749
View Mokka
Focus

2023 Ford

Focus

18,466 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £14,255
View Focus
TT Roadster

2023 Audi

TT Roadster

24,730 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £22,649
View TT Roadster

Buy the Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) from Blackcircles.com…

Results by Category

Overall  
1stPirelli100
2ndBridgestone99.9
3rdHankook99.6
4thMichelin99.3
5thKumho99.1
6thGoodyear98.8
7th =Yokohama98.6
7th =Continental98.6
9thCeat95.2
Price  
1stKumho£84.99
2ndHankook£99.81
3rdYokohama£101.49
4thBridgestone£105.92
5thGoodyear£108.52
6thContinental£111.99
7thCeat£112.49
8thMichelin£119.99
9thPirelli£135.15
Wet braking  
1stBridgestone100
2ndPirelli97.5
3rdMichelin97.0
4thHankook96.8
5thYokohama96.2
6thGoodyear92.3
7thContinental91.9
8thKumho88.7
9thCeat82.0
Wet handling  
1stPirelli100
2ndHankook99.8
3rdBridgestone99.4
4thKumho99.0
=5thGoodyear98.9
=5thMichelin98.9
=7thYokohama98.0
=7thContinental98.0
9thCeat92.1
Wet cornering  
1stPirelli100
2ndBridgestone99.7
3rdMichelin99.5
4thGoodyear98.5
5thContinental98.5
6thHankook 98.4
7thYokohama97.9
8thKumho97.4
9thCeat95.8
Straight aquaplaning  
1stMichelin100
2ndHankook98.2
3rdGoodyear97.0
4thBridgestone96.8
5thContinental96.4
6thPirelli96.0
7thYokohama95.2
8thKumho95.0
9thCeat92.4
Curved aquaplaning  
1stMichelin100
2ndHankook99.9
3rdYokohama97.4
4thGoodyear93.5
5thPirelli92.0
6thCeat91.0
7thBridgestone88.6
=8thContinental82.5
=8thKumho82.5
Dry braking  
1stYokohama100
=2ndBridgestone97.3
=2ndContinental97.3
4thPirelli96.7
5thGoodyear95.5
6thHankook93.3
7thMichelin92.5
8thKumho92.3
9thCeat88.7
Dry handling  
=1stPirelli100
=1stBridgestone100
3rdContinental99.4
=4thYokohama99.2
=4thKumho99.2
6thGoodyear99.1
=7thHankook98.7
=7thMichelin98.7
9thCeat97.9
Noise and refinement  
1stKumho100
2ndHankook96.0
3rdPirelli93.0
4thCeat90.0
=5thBridgestone88.0
=5thYokohama88.0
=7thContinental87.0
=7thMichelin87.0
9thGoodyear84.0
Rolling resistance  
1stCeat100
2ndKumho95.1
3rdMichelin94.0
=4thContinental91.8
=4thGoodyear91.8
6thHankook88.6
7thPirelli87.6
8thBridgestone84.8
9thYokohama78.0

The 2025 tyre test first appeared in Auto Express magazine issue 1895. The print version
contained data errors relating to the wet braking performance and wet circle performance of
some lower ranking tyres. These have been corrected in this online version, resulting in some
higher overall scores. Notable changes are the Kumho scoring 99.1 per cent, raising its rating
to 4.5 stars and 'Recommended', and the Continental moving from eighth place overall to equal seventh.

Skip advert
Advertisement
In This Review

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £6,138 off RRP*Used from £10,549
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £39,025Avg. savings £3,528 off RRP*Used from £9,444
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £6,214 off RRP*Used from £12,795
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £4,588 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Diesel cars aren’t dead, in fact they’re even starting to make a comeback
Opinion - Vauxhall Grandland

Diesel cars aren’t dead, in fact they’re even starting to make a comeback

If you're looking for the most cost-effective cars to run, Mike Rutherford thinks you shouldn't discount diesel
Opinion
1 Mar 2026
Used Range Rover (Mk5, 2021-date) buyer’s guide: top of the luxury SUV list
Used Range Rover Mk5 - front static

Used Range Rover (Mk5, 2021-date) buyer’s guide: top of the luxury SUV list

A full used buyer's guide on the Range Rover Mk5 that's been on sale in the UK since 2021
Used car tests
1 Mar 2026
Most efficient electric cars 2026
Most efficient electric cars - header image

Most efficient electric cars 2026

These are the top electric cars if efficiency rather than range is key to you...
Best cars & vans
1 Mar 2026