Tyre Reviews 2026<\/td> 225\/45 R17<\/td> 3rd (won by Cinturato C3 & PremiumContact 7)<\/td> Best wet braking in the test (27.66 m), highest straight aquaplaning speed (78.81 km\/h). Sporty feel at the limit. Very low exterior noise (70.7 dB). Downside: rolling resistance near bottom of field (8.76 kg\/t).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe pattern:<\/strong> Wet braking and aquaplaning resistance are consistently excellent. Dry handling is competitive but not class-leading. Efficiency is where it gives back points \u2014 the EU label shows 80% of sizes rated C for fuel. If you care most about wet-weather safety and don’t want to pay Continental prices, the Ventus Evo makes a strong case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Continental SportContact 7<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nContinental calls this one the tyre with the “shortest braking distances and maximum precision” \u2014 built around their BlackChili compound, Adaptive Profile technology, and Force Clustering. Bold claims, but the test record largely backs them up. This is the most consistent performer in our database across 17 professional tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>What Continental Says<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nBlackChili Compound<\/strong> \u2014 Continental’s flagship rubber compound, engineered for maximum grip and braking performance<\/li>\n\n\n\nAdaptive Profile<\/strong> \u2014 size-specific tread design that optimises the contact patch for each individual dimension<\/li>\n\n\n\nForce Clustering<\/strong> \u2014 distributes forces more evenly across the tread to improve stability at high speed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>What the Tests Say<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTest<\/th> Size<\/th> Place<\/th> Key Result<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Sportscars 2026<\/td> 255\/35 R19<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>“Handling king” on wet and dry. Shortest braking: 42.4 m wet, 34.2 m dry. Precise turn-in. Minor: slightly elevated rolling resistance.<\/td><\/tr> ACE 2026<\/td> 225\/40 R18<\/td> 2nd (won by Michelin Pilot Sport 4S)<\/td> Best wet braking distance (24.51 m), #1 dry handling, good rolling resistance. Weakness: weakest lateral aquaplaning in the test (68.3 km\/h).<\/td><\/tr> Tyre Reviews 2026<\/td> 235\/35 R19<\/td> 3rd (won by Pirelli P Zero R)<\/td> Best wet braking (24.54 m), lowest rolling resistance (8.8 kg\/t), excellent comfort. But subjective handling ratings only mid-pack.<\/td><\/tr> ADAC 2025<\/td> 225\/40 R18<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>Top marks across wet and dry categories.<\/td><\/tr> Auto Bild 2025<\/td> 245\/35 R19<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>Braking benchmark on wet and dry. Some oversteer tendency in the wet noted.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe pattern:<\/strong> Braking distances \u2014 wet and dry \u2014 are consistently the best or near-best in every test. That 96.2 aggregated dry-braking score is the highest of any summer tyre in our ranking. The catch? Aquaplaning is the weak link. The ACE test flagged it specifically, and it shows in the aggregated 76.5 aquaplaning score. If you drive a performance car and braking matters more to you than deep-water resistance, this is the tyre to beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Continental UltraContact NXT<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis is Continental’s sustainability flagship \u2014 marketed as the “most sustainable premium summer tyre” with up to 65% recycled and renewable materials, including bio-based silica from rice husk ash and reclaimed steel. They use ContiRe.Tex polyester yarn recycled from plastic bottles. On paper, it’s the eco-friendly choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But here’s the surprise: it’s also genuinely fast. The UltraContact NXT has the only A\/A\/A EU label rating (wet grip, fuel efficiency, and noise) in our top group. And the test results \u2014 though from a small sample of 3 tests \u2014 are excellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Test-by-Test Breakdown<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTest<\/th> Size<\/th> Place<\/th> Key Result<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Motor 2025<\/td> 205\/55 R16<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>Test winner with top marks in overall scoring.<\/td><\/tr> Automotorsport 2025<\/td> 215\/55 R17<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>Shortest braking distances, secure wet handling, low rolling resistance. Minor: slightly weaker dry braking.<\/td><\/tr> AvD 2026<\/td> 215\/55 R17<\/td> 2nd (won by Pirelli Cinturato C3)<\/td> Best economy score among top 3, best rolling resistance (4.8), very quiet (4.6). Awarded “Greenovation” badge for 65% recycled materials. Downside: weakest aquaplaning among the top 8.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe pattern:<\/strong> Economy, noise, and comfort scores are best-in-class (91.5, 91.8, and 83.8 respectively). Wet braking is actually the highest in our entire top 5 at 97.5. The problem is aquaplaning \u2014 three separate sources now confirm it. Worth noting: only 3 professional tests so far. The UltraContact NXT may look different once 10 more results come in. For now, though, it’s genuinely impressive \u2014 especially if you drive an EV or care about fuel consumption or the enviroment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Pirelli Cinturato (C3)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nPirelli positions the third-generation Cinturato as a touring tyre built around safety and longevity. They highlight DEKRA-tested best-in-class dry braking, 100% A-rated wet grip across the entire range, and their ELECT technology for EVs. They also claim “consistent performance throughout tyre life” \u2014 not just when new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The test results largely support this. Seven professional tests so far, with wins in Tyre Reviews and AvD, and strong showings everywhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Test-by-Test Breakdown<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTest<\/th> Size<\/th> Place<\/th> Key Result<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Tyre Reviews 2026<\/td> 225\/45 R17<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>Joint winner. Best dry braking (35.75 m). Top grip in wet and dry. Confidence-building balance. But: worst noise in the test at 74.1 dB.<\/td><\/tr> AvD 2026<\/td> 215\/55 R17<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>Overall winner. Best wet performance (4.72 stars), best wet handling (4.8), best dry handling measured (4.7). Slightly below-average rolling resistance.<\/td><\/tr> ADAC 2026<\/td> 225\/50 R17<\/td> 2nd (won by PremiumContact 7)<\/td> Good wet score (2.0), balanced package. Slightly weaker dry performance than PremiumContact 7.<\/td><\/tr> Auto Bild 2026<\/td> 245\/45 R19<\/td> 4th (won by Ventus Evo)<\/td> Agile wet handling, fine braking. Price-performance surprise. Slightly elevated rolling noise noted.<\/td><\/tr> Autozeitung 2026<\/td> 235\/45 R18<\/td> 3rd (won by PremiumContact 7)<\/td> Strong all-round performer in a competitive field.<\/td><\/tr> Tyre Reviews 2025<\/td> 225\/50 R17<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>Best dry braking, impressive wet performance, near class-leading aquaplaning. Slightly lower comfort on harsh impacts.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe pattern:<\/strong> The Cinturato (C3) has the highest aggregated wet score in the group at 93.7, and nearly the highest dry braking at 94.0. These aren’t marginal leads \u2014 in wet conditions, it’s clearly the strongest tyre here. Pirelli’s claim about consistent grip holds up in the data. The trade-off is noise: 74.2 in our aggregated noise score is the lowest in the top 5, and the 74.1 dB measured by Tyre Reviews was the worst in their field. If cabin noise doesn’t bother you, this might be the best all-round premium tyre for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Continental PremiumContact 7<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThirty professional tests. That’s more than double what any other tyre in this group has. Continental markets the PremiumContact 7 around their RedChili compound (“immediate braking safety without warm-up”), Adaptive Lamella Technology, and Clustering Technology. They say it delivers “precise handling on wet and dry” with enhanced comfort and improved mileage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sheer volume of data here makes it the most trustworthy recommendation in this group \u2014 you know what you’re getting because it’s been measured 30 times over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Key 2026 Test Results<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTest<\/th> Size<\/th> Place<\/th> Key Result<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> ADAC 2026<\/td> 225\/50 R17<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>Test winner. Best wet and dry driving characteristics, short braking distances, high reserves at the limit, good environmental properties. “No notable weaknesses.”<\/td><\/tr> Netzwelt 2026<\/td> 205\/55 R16<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>Shortest wet braking (47.1 m) and dry braking (35.2 m), best wet handling. But: most expensive tyre in the test (\u20ac317\/set), below-average curve aquaplaning.<\/td><\/tr> Tyre Reviews 2026<\/td> 225\/45 R17<\/td> 1st<\/strong><\/td>Joint winner. Best wet handling time (67.70 s), strong aquaplaning resistance. Downside: rolling resistance near bottom (8.33 kg\/t).<\/td><\/tr> Die Reifentester 2026<\/td> 235\/55 R18<\/td>