Auto Zeitung Summer Tire Test 235/45 R18 2026
Your size: 215/55 R17 — below you can see availability in this size.
The German magazine Auto Zeitung has published its 2018 summer tire test in size 235/45 R18 .
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Braking distance in the wet m · ↓ lower is better 
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18" Summer Tire Test (2026): Continental Confirms Dominance on Water!
The German magazine Auto Zeitung has published its 2018 summer tire test in the size 235/45 R18. They tested 10 models on an Audi A5, purchasing the tires anonymously directly from the market to ensure maximum objectivity. This year's Auto Zeitung test brought a clear message: if you're looking for maximum safety in the rain, Continental has no competition. However, the surprise is the duel within the Michelin family, where the subsidiary brand BFGoodrich defeated its "father".
Overall winner: Continental PremiumContact 7
The Continental took the win thanks to its superior performance on wet roads. It had the shortest braking distance and the fastest lap time. It was strong on dry roads, but was slightly beaten by the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, which is the number one choice for sports-oriented drivers thanks to its precision and dynamics.
Surprise in second place: Pirelli Cinturato C3
Pirelli finished just one point behind Goodyear. The brand, once known for its fast wear, has made huge strides. The C3 not only offers great grip, but also surprisingly good durability and low abrasion.
Michelin vs. BFGoodrich duel
One of the most interesting moments of the test: the BFGoodrich Advantage 2 (5th place) finished ahead of the Michelin Primacy 5 (6th place).
- Michelin is the king of efficiency – it has the longest mileage ( 50,000 km ), the lowest consumption and the highest comfort. However, this extreme focus on endurance has taken a toll on performance on the water.
- BFGoodrich sacrificed some comfort, but offered better balance and more confident wet grip at a lower price.
Dangerous differences in the wet
A braking distance test from 100 km/h on water showed dramatic differences:
- Continental : 53.2 meters.
- Laufenn : 65.3 meters.
The difference is 12 meters ! Where a car on Continentals already stops, a car on Laufenn, Tercelo or Westlake tires is still flying at a speed of over 30 km/h .
Final summary – who to choose?
- I want maximum safety (brakes) : Definitely Continental PremiumContact 7 .
- I want a sporty driving feel : Choose the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 .
- I drive long distances and want to save (fuel/mileage): Michelin Primacy 5 is unbeatable in cost per kilometer.
- I'm looking for the best price-performance ratio: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN offers excellent value (high mileage at a fair price).
Verdict : Cheap tires (Tercelo, Westlake) in this test once again confirmed that a low purchase price means high risk on wet roads and often half the lifespan compared to premium brands.
Auto Zeitung Summer Tire Test 235/45 R18 2026
10 products · click a column to sort| # | Tyre | Price from | Dry braking [m] ↕ | Dry manoeuvring [s] ↕ | Wet braking [m] ↕ | Wet manoeuvring [s] ↕ | Aquaplaning straight [Km/H] ↕ | Volume [dB] ↕ | Rolling resistance [kg/t] ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Continental PREMIUMCONTACT 7 ✓ Available in size 215/55 R17 | from 134 € | 32.8 | 61.7 | 53.2 | 69.8 | 82.8 | 70 | 8 |
| 2. | Goodyear EAGLE F1 ASYMMETRIC 6 ✕ Unavailable in size 215/55 R17 | — | 33.2 | 61.4 | 56.2 | 72.2 | 80.8 | 68 | 8.1 |
| 3. | Pirelli CINTURATO (C3) ✓ Available in size 215/55 R17 | from 124 € | 33 | 61.7 | 56.4 | 70.8 | 80.7 | 72 | 7.7 |
| 4. | Firestone ROADHAWK 2 ✓ Available in size 215/55 R17 | from 96 € | 34.4 | 61.8 | 60.9 | 70.9 | 82.6 | 71 | 7.2 |
| 5. | Bf goodrich Advantage 2 ✓ Available in size 215/55 R17 | from 99 € | 34.1 | 62.7 | 56.4 | 72.3 | 79.7 | 69 | 7 |
| 6. | Michelin PRIMACY 5 ✓ Available in size 215/55 R17 | from 128 € | 34.8 | 62.5 | 59.6 | 72.4 | 82.2 | 69 | 6.8 |
| 7. | Maxxis Premitra HP6 ✕ Unavailable in size 215/55 R17 | — | 34.9 | 61.8 | 61.9 | 74 | 80.5 | 70 | 7.4 |
| 8. | West lake ZUPERACE Z-007 XL BSW ✓ Available in size 215/55 R17 | from 137 € | 35.7 | 62.5 | 64.2 | 74.2 | 81.6 | 69 | 7.9 |
| 9. | Laufenn LK01 S FIT EQ+ ✓ Available in size 215/55 R17 | from 84 € | 35.3 | 62.4 | 65.3 | 74.5 | 79.5 | 68 | 7.7 |
| 10. | Tercelo Sport D1 ✕ Unavailable in size 215/55 R17 | — | 35.3 | 62.7 | 63 | 76.1 | 78.6 | 69 | 8.2 |
Dry braking [m]
Dry manoeuvring [s]
Wet braking [m]
Wet manoeuvring [s]
Aquaplaning straight [Km/H]
Volume [dB]
Rolling resistance [kg/t]
The German magazine Auto Zeitung has published its 2018 summer tire test in size 235/45 R18 .