Die Reifentester All-Season Tire Test 225/40 R18 2026

Can you drive a sports car with 300 horsepower on a single set of tires all year round? The German portal Die Reifentester tested all-season tires in size 225/40 R18 on a VW Golf GTI Clubsport, from freezing Lapland to the hot Mediterranean. According to the testers, the latest generation of all-season tires almost erases the boundaries between seasons. However, not even the best of them can outsmart physics.

Which tires were in the test

Eight tires competed:

• Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6
• Continental AllSeasonContact 2
• Goodyear Vector All Season 4
• Hankook Kinergy 4S2
• Kumho Solus 4S HA32+
• Michelin CrossClimate 3
• Nokian Seasonproof 2
• Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3

As a special guest outside the ranking, the test also included the Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport.

The winter part took place near Ivalo in Finnish Lapland: braking and traction on snow, and handling on a snow-covered track. The summer part was held in Mireval in southern France: braking and handling on dry and wet surfaces, aquaplaning, noise, and comfort. Rolling resistance, which affects fuel consumption, was also measured.

The test car was a VW Golf GTI Clubsport with 300 hp. For an all-season tire, this is a demanding test.

Pirelli impressed mainly in the summer disciplines. The testers praise its precise cornering and even build-up of lateral force. On dry surfaces, it had the shortest braking distance of all and was the best in both longitudinal and lateral aquaplaning. It handled excellently on wet surfaces and didn't lag behind on snow either. It is the most balanced all-season tire in the test.

According to the testers, Goodyear combines "more than just good winter properties" with strong performance in all summer disciplines. On snow, it has excellent traction, on wet surfaces it is among the best in braking, and it also has very low rolling resistance. It fell short of the winner by only a small margin, mainly in dry braking.

"No one brakes or accelerates as well on snow", the testers write about the Michelin CrossClimate 3. It dominated in the winter disciplines and had the shortest braking distance on snow. On dry surfaces, however, you need to expect longer braking distances. It is the ideal choice for drivers who often drive in snow or in the mountains.

Middle of the ranking

• Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 (shared 4th place) offers consistently balanced performance and brakes well on dry surfaces. The downside is its outdated, high rolling resistance and overall somewhat lower level of grip.
• Hankook Kinergy 4S2 (shared 4th place) brakes very well on wet surfaces and handles decently in summer conditions. However, the testers didn't like that it pushes too much through the front wheels, meaning it understeers.
• Nokian Seasonproof 2 has the shortest braking distance on wet surfaces in the entire test and resists aquaplaning well. On snow, however, it couldn't keep pace with the best.
• Continental AllSeasonContact 2 excels in comfort and low interior noise. According to the testers, however, it's "no longer fully up to date" and falls behind on snow.

The sporty version of the CrossClimate 3 was tested outside the ranking. It impressed with "brutal" traction on snow, the best in the test, and the lowest rolling resistance. However, comfort and noise didn't fully convince the testers.

All-season tire vs. summer tire: how many extra meters?

The latest all-season tires are very close to seasonal tires in everyday driving. However, during hard braking on dry surfaces from 100 km/h, they need approximately 5 to 6 meters more than a good summer tire. The difference roughly corresponds to the length of a car. The testers therefore recommend cautious driving, especially in summer and with a powerful car.