ADAC summer tire test 2025 Dimension 225/40 R18: These four summer tires you should buy

🏆 The test winners 2025 at a glance:

The test winner among the sporty tires for the compact class in the dimensions 225/40 R18 is the model Continental Premium Contact 7 with a test score of 1.8.

The ADAC published the results of this year's summer tire test shortly before the start of spring. The car club tested a total of 18 models for the compact and mid-range class - but in the sporty dimension 225/40 R18. The tires tested were mostly of a good standard. For the first time, two models even managed to achieve a very good grade (both 1.5) in the driving safety section: the test winner Continental SportContact 7 and the Bridgestone Potenza Sport. Together with the environmental grade (30 percent of the overall rating), the Conti achieved an overall grade of 1.8 and the Bridgestone a 1.9.

According to the ADAC, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 and the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 are also very convincing. Both tires also earned a one before the decimal point (1.9 each).

: excels in driving safety (top rating) and offers good environmental properties : no particular weaknessesGrade: good

overall grade: 1.8

Conclusion: This premium tire, along with the runner-up, delivers the best result in driving safety, which accounts for 70 percent of the overall rating. With a score of 1.5, it is just as strong here as the Bridgestone Potenza Sport. In terms of environmental properties, however, the Continental PremiumContact 7 is in the top third, while the Bridgestone is not. However, the Conti is the second most expensive tire in the test.

: outstanding in driving safety (top rating) : Mileage forecast not top Rating: good

overall grade: 1.9

Conclusion: The Bridgestone, together with the Conti, delivers the best result in terms of driving safety (grade 1.5), which accounts for 70 percent of the overall rating. However, in terms of environmental properties, it is only in the middle of the pack. However, it is a little cheaper than the first-placed tire.

: good in environmental balance and driving safety : most expensive tire in the testRating: good

overall grade: 1.9

Conclusion: The Michelin is particularly good because it has the best environmental performance of all the best tires and is among the best in terms of abrasion and mileage.

: good in environmental balance and driving safety : not exactly cheapRating: good

overall grade: 1.9

Conclusion: The Goodyear is particularly good because it has a good environmental impact among the best tires and is one of the best in terms of driving performance.

In the middle of the evaluation of the ADAC summer tire test 2025, there are at least seven tire profiles that are also rated "good". According to the ADAC, the following summer tires are also highly recommended: Vredestein Ultrac Pro, Yokohama Advan Sport V107, Firestone Firehawk Sport, Falken Azenis FK520, Nexen N Fera Sport, Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 and Toyo Proxes Sport 2.

Four tires are in the middle of the field with a rating of "satisfactory". According to the ADAC, they are recommendable, but cannot catch up with the top tires in terms of driving safety and, in some cases, environmental impact. The individual evaluation in the picture gallery shows more details.

It may not be surprising that the Doublecoin DC-100 tire, produced in China, is the cheapest in the comparison. However, the fact that it has a mileage forecast of 74,400 kilometers is. This gives the Doublecoin first place in terms of environmental impact. Nevertheless, according to the ADAC, penny pinchers should urgently stay away from this tire. Its rubber compound is so hard that it wears very little but also hardly builds up any grip. The Doublecoin shows pronounced weaknesses in dry conditions and deteriorates so much as the temperature rises "that the driver is hardly able to find the right steering angle straight away. At the limit, the vehicle's rear end breaks out - a problem especially for inexperienced drivers." The Doublecoin also fails on wet roads.

The Norauto Prevensys 4 and the Syron Premium Performance are also very weak on dry roads. The test car is difficult to steer precisely, constant steering corrections are necessary to maintain constant radii. And the behavior at the limit is also very demanding for the driver. The ADAC cannot therefore recommend buying these tire models.

In the previous year, 2024, the ADAC tested a total of 16 models for the compact SUV and lower middle class segments (size: 215/55 R17). The tires tested showed an all-round good level. Although no model achieved the test rating "very good", a trio did "good", while a broad midfield at least received the rating "satisfactory". There is no defective summer tire this time (you can see specific individual results in our photo show).

🏆 The test winners of 2024 at a glance:

The test winner among the tires for the compact class in the dimensions 215/55 R17 was the model Continental Premium Contact 7 with a test score of 2.0.

In the anniversary year of 2023 - exactly 50 years earlier, the Munich-based company published its first tire test ever - the ADAC adapted the test procedure and added another component. In addition to the well-known categories such as mileage, fuel consumption and noise development, the environmental balance now accounts for 30 percent of the overall rating. Aspects such as tire wear, weight and the most sustainable production possible, including recycling, play a role here. This rating system also applies to the 2024 edition, which is why there is an extra award for "environmentally friendly tires" this time.

: excels in driving safety (top rating) and offers good environmental properties : no particular weaknessesGrade: good

Overall grade: 2.0

Conclusion: This premium tire delivers by far the best result in terms of driving safety, which accounts for 70 percent of the overall rating. With a score of 1.7, it is clearly stronger than the second-best tire in this regard (2.1). In terms of environmental properties, the Continental PremiumContact 7 is in the top third. However, it is the second most expensive tire in the test.

: excels in environmental performance; also delivers a strong result in driving safety : no particular weaknessesGrade: good

overall grade: 2.1

Conclusion: The Michelin Primacy 4+ is the only tire that can impress in terms of both driving safety and environmental impact. It stands out due to its low abrasion compared to the other tires, its low weight and its low fuel consumption. This secures it the second best rating in the environmental chapter (1.7) and thus the extra award for "environmentally friendly tire." In terms of driving safety (2.2), it achieves the third best result in the test field. However, the Michelin representative is clearly the most expensive tire in the ADAC test.

: very good driving safety, highest predicted mileage, relatively cheap : only mediocre in environmental performance Rating: good

overall grade: 2.3

Conclusion: The Kumho Ecsta HS52 is characterized by a very high level of driving safety overall. With a score of 2.1, it achieves the second best value in this category and is placed between the Continental and the Michelin. Despite the highest predicted mileage, a mediocre environmental balance (2.8) spoils an even better result, but it is still good enough for a "good" rating. Since it is in the last third of the test field in terms of price, the Korean summer tire can be considered the price-performance winner.

In the extremely broad midfield of satisfactory summer tires in 2024, both models from well-known brands and no-name products appeared. The Debica Presto UHP 2 (2.6), a discount tire costing just 120 euros, even came in fourth place. With the Goodride Solmax 1, the Sailun Altrezzo ZSR2 (each 3.0) and the Linglong Sport Master (3.3), three other very affordable tires achieved ratings that were enough for the rating "satisfactory".

Models such as the Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2, the Bridgestone Turanza 6 (2.6 each) and the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 (2.7) achieved slightly better marks, but should be considered a disappointment due to their significantly higher prices. The picture is particularly indifferent for the latter, which was still the test winner in 2023: It secured the top mark for environmental performance (1.6) in 2024, but revealed serious weaknesses in driving safety (3.2). The picture was exactly the opposite for the test loser Vredestein Ultrac: Here, good driving safety (2.3) met the worst environmental properties with the clearly lowest predicted mileage in the field of 16. The result was an overall score of 3.8, making it the only tire with a test rating of "sufficient".

If you want to save money when buying tires, you can go for the top tires from the previous year, which are often offered a little cheaper than the current models. In 2023, the automobile club subjected 50 tires in the compact car dimension 205/55 R16 91V (speed class V up to 240 km/h) to an intensive check. The Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 (overall rating 2.0), Continental PremiumContact 6 (overall rating 2.0) and Michelin Primacy 4+ (overall rating 2.1) performed particularly well. The Nokian Tyres Wetproof and Falken ZIEX ZE310 Ecorun (each with an overall rating of 2.3) stood out as the price-performance winners, while seven discount summer tires from no-name manufacturers received a test rating of "unsatisfactory".

The previous year, the ADAC had tested summer tires in two different dimensions, including the 185/65 R15 format with the 88H speed index, which is suitable for many small cars. The picture here was similar to that of 2023: The Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 (2.0) was ahead of the Bridgestone Turanza T005 and the Michelin Primacy 4 (2.1 each). The premium manufacturers' expensive summer tires were also ahead in the 215/60 R16 dimension, which is suitable for the majority of compact SUVs. The Continental PremiumContact 6 took first place, ahead of the Michelin Primacy 4 (2.1 each) and the Bridgestone Turanza T005 (2.2).