A summer tyre is the standard fit for most UK cars, designed for the best grip and braking in warm and wet conditions above about 7C. The field is closely matched at the top, so the sensible approach is to follow the latest independent tests rather than marketing, and weight wet performance the way UK roads demand.
The current test picture
The 2025 Auto Express summer tyre test ran nine tyres in the popular 225/40 R18 size on a VW Golf GTI, weighting wet performance at half the marks. The standouts:
- Pirelli P Zero (PZ5): the overall winner, praised for mastering both wet and dry handling with strong refinement
- Bridgestone Potenza Sport: second overall, with the shortest wet braking in the test and excellent dry pace, often at a lower price
- Hankook Ventus evo: third, a refined, wet-capable tyre that shows how far the value-premium brands have closed the gap
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5 and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, premium all-rounders that finished within a hair of the lead
The Continental SportContact 7, usually a wet standout, had a rare off day in this particular test, a reminder that one result is a snapshot, not a verdict.
Premium or value
The top three above span premium and value-premium, and the gaps were small. A brand profile helps put each in context: Pirelli, Bridgestone, Hankook and Michelin. For sportier cars, the wider performance tyre picks overlap heavily; for comfort and mileage, see the premium touring picks.
How to use this
Match the tyre to the car and the driving, and always confirm against a current, dated test in your exact size, since a tyre that wins in one size can place mid-pack in another. The background on reading these results is under reading tyre reviews, and the disciplines behind them under the way tyre tests work. The wider category sits under summer tyres.
From the reviews desk: the headline this year is Pirelli's PZ5, but the one I keep pointing people to is the Bridgestone. Shortest wet stop in the test, sharp in the dry, and usually a fair bit cheaper than the winner. In the wet-weighted world of UK driving, that's a lot of tyre for the money.
Sources and accuracy. Picks here are drawn from the 2025 Auto Express summer tyre test and related independent results, paraphrased from the published tests. Tyre ranges and results change yearly and vary by size, so read the current, dated test in your size before buying. If anything here looks wrong, get in touch and we will check it and put it right.
Common questions
What is the best summer tyre in 2025?+
In the 2025 Auto Express summer tyre test, the new Pirelli P Zero (PZ5) took the overall win, with the Bridgestone Potenza Sport second and Hankook third in a close field. The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 are also strong premium choices. Results are size and test specific, so check the current test in your size.
Which summer tyre is best in the wet?+
In the wet-focused 2025 Auto Express test, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport recorded the shortest wet braking distance, ahead of the field. Continental is also a long-standing wet performer in its touring ranges, though its sportier SportContact 7 had an off day in that particular test. For UK roads, wet braking is the figure to weight most heavily.
Do I need a performance summer tyre or a touring one?+
It depends on the car and how it is driven. A hot hatch or sports car suits an ultra-high-performance summer tyre like the P Zero or Pilot Sport 5; a family car covering ordinary miles is better on a quieter, longer-wearing premium touring tyre, where comfort and tread life matter more than lap times.
Are summer tyres worth it over all-season?+
A dedicated summer tyre gives the best dry and warm-weather wet grip and usually wears well, which suits drivers who switch to winter tyres or rarely face snow. An all-season tyre trades a little of that for year-round cold-weather ability, so the choice comes down to your climate and whether you want one set all year.