255/40 R18 Tires
The following tires have been reviewed in 255/40 R18.
| Tire Reviewed | Dry Grip | Wet Grip | Feedback | Handling | Wear | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 (9) | 93% | 98% | 79% | 88% | 98% | 88% |
| Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 (14) | 92% | 90% | 89% | 89% | 80% | 83% |
| Vredestein Wintrac Pro (27) | 91% | 90% | 86% | 82% | 86% | 87% |
| Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (156) | 94% | 87% | 88% | 87% | 80% | 85% |
| Michelin Alpin (9) | 86% | 94% | 88% | 76% | 94% | 91% |
| Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 (407) | 92% | 89% | 85% | 85% | 80% | 87% |
| Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta (237) | 91% | 88% | 87% | 85% | 79% | 85% |
| Continental WinterContact TS 860 (49) | 89% | 92% | 84% | 86% | 83% | 86% |
| Nokian Z (7) | 90% | 80% | 79% | 83% | 87% | 80% |
| Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport (55) | 95% | 81% | 91% | 92% | 70% | 74% |
| Toyo R1R (31) | 95% | 81% | 91% | 90% | 60% | 71% |
| Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS (8) | 98% | 80% | 83% | 98% | 61% | 60% |
| Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (322) | 91% | 88% | 81% | 84% | 73% | 78% |
| Yokohama Advan Sport V105 (42) | 91% | 82% | 83% | 83% | 76% | 78% |
| Michelin CrossClimate 2 (122) | 87% | 83% | 75% | 74% | 83% | 84% |
| Bridgestone Potenza Sport (104) | 92% | 87% | 90% | 91% | 62% | 72% |
| Michelin Pilot Sport (42) | 92% | 82% | 87% | 81% | 73% | 75% |
| Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric (141) | 90% | 87% | 82% | 78% | 70% | 80% |
| Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 (28) | 85% | 84% | 72% | 76% | 86% | 84% |
| General Grabber AT3 (22) | 86% | 79% | 80% | 75% | 87% | 85% |
| Bridgestone Potenza RE71R (14) | 99% | 81% | 84% | 92% | 52% | 41% |
| Nexen N Fera SU1 (132) | 83% | 76% | 76% | 77% | 74% | 81% |
| Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 (53) | 86% | 84% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 78% |
| Pirelli P ZERO ROSSO Asimmetrico (26) | 87% | 75% | 79% | 82% | 73% | 71% |
| Falken Azenis PT722 (9) | 80% | 64% | 78% | 78% | 87% | 79% |
| Infinity Ecomax (35) | 78% | 73% | 73% | 67% | 76% | 78% |
| Federal 595RSR (51) | 86% | 66% | 76% | 80% | 72% | 57% |
| Pirelli CINTURATO P7 (182) | 83% | 73% | 73% | 75% | 70% | 74% |
| Triangle Sportex TSH11 (18) | 78% | 64% | 76% | 74% | 69% | 71% |
| Landsail LS588 UHP (94) | 80% | 73% | 69% | 66% | 75% | 79% |
| Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 (87) | 78% | 86% | 76% | 73% | 61% | 75% |
| Toyo T1R (288) | 83% | 69% | 75% | 75% | 63% | 70% |
| Achilles 123S (13) | 91% | 64% | 81% | 82% | 58% | 57% |
| Continental Sport Contact 5 (216) | 86% | 82% | 79% | 76% | 51% | 73% |
| Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 (157) | 84% | 78% | 76% | 73% | 60% | 65% |
| Kumho Ecsta PS91 (43) | 82% | 72% | 76% | 74% | 55% | 72% |
| Bridgestone Potenza RE050 (57) | 83% | 69% | 76% | 69% | 66% | 61% |
| Bridgestone Potenza RE050A (212) | 83% | 69% | 74% | 72% | 66% | 59% |
| Maxtrek TREK M7 (9) | 69% | 70% | 70% | 61% | 60% | 64% |
| Kumho IZen KW27 (31) | 75% | 75% | 73% | 69% | 78% | 83% |
| Continental Sport Contact 5 SSR Runflat (29) | 87% | 75% | 78% | 75% | 48% | 56% |
| Dunlop SP Sport Maxx (165) | 79% | 69% | 69% | 67% | 63% | 64% |
| Triangle SporteX TH201 (27) | 70% | 52% | 58% | 56% | 63% | 65% |
| Accelera PHI (159) | 68% | 44% | 53% | 52% | 66% | 58% |
| Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat (143) | 72% | 54% | 55% | 48% | 55% | 32% |
| Minerva minerva F105 (16) | 59% | 41% | 47% | 38% | 53% | 48% |
255/40 18 Tire Review Highlights
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 rated 97% while driving a BMW 335i
Driving on a combination of roads for 5000 spirited miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 5000 spirited miles
A lot more comfortable than the regular Michelin pilot 4S. Very comfortable over rough roads for the type of tire that it is. 2015 335 xDrive with M adaptive suspension. Very progressive tire, feels very natural at the limit. No twitchy break away at the limit unlike the 4S. Though the 4S star spec(BMW spec) is softer and just as comfortable but at what cost.
Bridgestone Potenza RE 71RS rated 76% while driving a Honda Civic Type R
Driving on track for 1000 spirited miles
Driving on track for 1000 spirited miles
There's a very short half mile paved course (lap times around 45-50 seconds) near me that has lapping but no passing. The warm grip in the dry is second to none. They take a small amount of heat to really turn on, and have a few laps in them at peak grip before falling off to a more common grip level (but not bad by any means). I've compared them with the Kumho V730's at the same course and the Bridgestone's are ~1.5 seconds faster at their peak but near equal once *hot*, whereas the Kumho's are happy to put the same lap time down start to finish. I switched to V730's for my next set as the Bridgestones did wear appreciably quickly on the front of my FWD vehicle and are one of the more expensive tires in the class. However, I just bought another set of the Bridgestones as for now they seem to be the fastest 200TW that fits on my car and I missed that few extra % of maximum grip. These tires, like many 200tw, take a moment to respond to your steering input, but once they hook up, it feels as if you're on rails.
Driving to-and-from the track as well as a few commutes I was extremely impressed with the composure and livability of the tire. I also found myself in heavy rain with only ~50% of the tread left and hydroplaned very little considering the intended use of this tire. The RE71RS is NOT a rain tire, but it can safely get you to and from events if you're driving rationally in inclement weather.
In the category of "Super 200's", the RE71RS are a pace-setter for a reason. I purchased another set for time-attack style events and will strongly consider a set as a dedicated summer set when my Bridgestone Potenza Sports wear out.
Driving to-and-from the track as well as a few commutes I was extremely impressed with the composure and livability of the tire. I also found myself in heavy rain with only ~50% of the tread left and hydroplaned very little considering the intended use of this tire. The RE71RS is NOT a rain tire, but it can safely get you to and from events if you're driving rationally in inclement weather.
In the category of "Super 200's", the RE71RS are a pace-setter for a reason. I purchased another set for time-attack style events and will strongly consider a set as a dedicated summer set when my Bridgestone Potenza Sports wear out.
Yokohama Advan Sport V105 rated 43% while driving a BMW 330e
Driving on mostly motorways for 12000 average miles
Driving on mostly motorways for 12000 average miles
These tires replaced a set of Uniroyal Rainsport 5's, that replaced a set of Pirelli P7 Cinturato's. I wasn't a fan of the Pirelli's as they wore out after 20K miles. The Rainsport's lasted 30K miles and these will do well to make it to 16K miles. Don't get me wrong, the grip in the dry is great, but in the wet, it's awful. If I was reviewing these tires in the dry only, they would be scoring 7/8 in the feedback and handling. The contrast between wet and dry is night and day. I would not buy these tires again.
Bridgestone Potenza Sport rated 64% while driving a Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.2 d 150 hp
Driving on mostly country roads for 17000 spirited miles
Driving on mostly country roads for 17000 spirited miles
No comments left
General Grabber AT3 rated 91% while driving a Isuzu DMAX
Driving on mostly country roads for 100 spirited miles
Driving on mostly country roads for 100 spirited miles
It is the best tire i have ever driven and the wear is so good
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 rated 73% while driving a Mercedes Benz CLS 220
Driving on a combination of roads for 5000 average miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 5000 average miles
255 front, 285 back
I've mixed feelings.
GOODs: The grip in wet is pure magic, astonishing. Grip in Dry is very good
AVERAGE: Noise is fine at the front, but the back...285 wide feels a bit loud. Fuel cons is not bad, but not outstanding, Comfort is okayish but should be better according to the soft sidewall.
BAD: The move of the car. The steering is dead and wobbly like hell. Anything but agile. And the back is the same. It makes me really unconfident whether its just wobbling a bit, or the grip is lost. Makes the drive totally unenjoyable. My 245 wide Sottozero II winter tire is like a slick supersport tire compared to this, the steering feeling is superagile compared to this summer UUHP. And generally, this tire design just not working above 255 widths. The major issue is the 285 wide back.
As an UUHP, it fails. As a fairly priced grand tourer, one of the bests.
Moving on, thinking about the Assymetric 6 as a much more sport oriented traveling tire, or the SprotContact7 if I'm willing to sacrifice more silence/comfort/fuel for even better agility. (but both lacks the 285 width :( )
I've mixed feelings.
GOODs: The grip in wet is pure magic, astonishing. Grip in Dry is very good
AVERAGE: Noise is fine at the front, but the back...285 wide feels a bit loud. Fuel cons is not bad, but not outstanding, Comfort is okayish but should be better according to the soft sidewall.
BAD: The move of the car. The steering is dead and wobbly like hell. Anything but agile. And the back is the same. It makes me really unconfident whether its just wobbling a bit, or the grip is lost. Makes the drive totally unenjoyable. My 245 wide Sottozero II winter tire is like a slick supersport tire compared to this, the steering feeling is superagile compared to this summer UUHP. And generally, this tire design just not working above 255 widths. The major issue is the 285 wide back.
As an UUHP, it fails. As a fairly priced grand tourer, one of the bests.
Moving on, thinking about the Assymetric 6 as a much more sport oriented traveling tire, or the SprotContact7 if I'm willing to sacrifice more silence/comfort/fuel for even better agility. (but both lacks the 285 width :( )
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 rated 89% while driving a BMW Unknown
Driving on mostly motorways for 5000 spirited miles
Driving on mostly motorways for 5000 spirited miles
Unbelievable performance in the wet. Really in the league of it's own. Almost comparable to Michelin Pilot Sport 4 in wet.
A bit hard and noisy in this dimension. But a fair trade off for the performance it gives.
Average consumption rose about 0.3l per 100km compared to summer tires.
Overall, really really impressive tire! Strongly recommend for cold and wet.
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport rated 85% while driving a BMW 420d M Sport X Drive
Driving on mostly country roads for 1000 spirited miles
Driving on mostly country roads for 1000 spirited miles
Bought these for my bmw 420d and can honestly say they are a great improvement over the potenza s001 fittrd before. Much more fun and the grip is insane. Have had michelin ps4 previously and these are much better. Thanks tire reviews for the recomendation
Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport rated 91% while driving a BMW Z4M Coupe
Driving on a combination of roads for 10000 spirited miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 10000 spirited miles
225/45/18 and 255/40/18
I bought these in 2020 after seeing the excellent reviews on this site. I have so far covered around 10k with them on everything from rough city streets to autobahns and tracks. They have been superb and offer an almost no compromise performance upgrade over more road oriented tires.
Dry
In the dry these really hang on. Turn in is direct and the grip is well balanced front to rear. I’ve also found myself able to get on the throttle much sooner and with more confidence than before. Braking is excellent and has only made my brake pads seem even more lacking than ever.
Wet
I was a little concerned that there would be a wet weather trade off with this type of tire, but if there is, I can’t tell. Traction is better than ever and grip is surprisingly good. I don’t use the car much in the wet and don’t tend to push it when I do, but incredibly they appear to perform noticeably better than the old Asymmetric 2s they replaced.
Track
The biggest difference compared to my previous tires is their ability to be pushed for much longer on track without overheating. The F1 SS is a huge step up in this regard and whilst I’m sure a dedicated track tire would be better again, you’d be making other compromises to get that advantage.
Wear, noise and comfort.
I doubt many will care that much if they’re looking at this kind of tire but it’s good to know you won’t need ear plugs, a seat cushion and an overdraft when you’re just driving normally. For wear, it’s possibly too early to tell but there’s huge amounts of tread left and no worn shoulders. I also didn’t notice any increase in noise but as the Z4 is relatively noisy, it’s hard to be sure. In terms of comfort they are a little stiffer and harsher over sharp ridges and potholes but it’s a relatively small difference and a price worth paying if you want that extra connection and directness. An added bonus is that my MPG hasn’t suffered either. I’ve been to Italy and back twice on these and there’s no perceptible difference in economy compared to other times I’ve done the trip.
Summary/TLDR
If you want a high performance road tire with more grip and feedback compared to a UHP summer tire, look no further. The F1SS moves the performance on from the Asymmetric range without giving up any amount of real world usability. It’s ability to handle heat is leagues above a normal summer tire and should satisfy all but the most dedicated of track goers. The only noticeable compromise for me was a slight loss of comfort over harsh bumps but given the nature of the tire and all the other benefits it offers it’s a total non issue.
I’m reluctant to give these a 10/10 simply because I’m no tire tester, but I’d say they’re pretty much perfect for anyone wanting more focus and grip without sacrificing the ability to daily drive the car in mixed environments and conditions.
I bought these in 2020 after seeing the excellent reviews on this site. I have so far covered around 10k with them on everything from rough city streets to autobahns and tracks. They have been superb and offer an almost no compromise performance upgrade over more road oriented tires.
Dry
In the dry these really hang on. Turn in is direct and the grip is well balanced front to rear. I’ve also found myself able to get on the throttle much sooner and with more confidence than before. Braking is excellent and has only made my brake pads seem even more lacking than ever.
Wet
I was a little concerned that there would be a wet weather trade off with this type of tire, but if there is, I can’t tell. Traction is better than ever and grip is surprisingly good. I don’t use the car much in the wet and don’t tend to push it when I do, but incredibly they appear to perform noticeably better than the old Asymmetric 2s they replaced.
Track
The biggest difference compared to my previous tires is their ability to be pushed for much longer on track without overheating. The F1 SS is a huge step up in this regard and whilst I’m sure a dedicated track tire would be better again, you’d be making other compromises to get that advantage.
Wear, noise and comfort.
I doubt many will care that much if they’re looking at this kind of tire but it’s good to know you won’t need ear plugs, a seat cushion and an overdraft when you’re just driving normally. For wear, it’s possibly too early to tell but there’s huge amounts of tread left and no worn shoulders. I also didn’t notice any increase in noise but as the Z4 is relatively noisy, it’s hard to be sure. In terms of comfort they are a little stiffer and harsher over sharp ridges and potholes but it’s a relatively small difference and a price worth paying if you want that extra connection and directness. An added bonus is that my MPG hasn’t suffered either. I’ve been to Italy and back twice on these and there’s no perceptible difference in economy compared to other times I’ve done the trip.
Summary/TLDR
If you want a high performance road tire with more grip and feedback compared to a UHP summer tire, look no further. The F1SS moves the performance on from the Asymmetric range without giving up any amount of real world usability. It’s ability to handle heat is leagues above a normal summer tire and should satisfy all but the most dedicated of track goers. The only noticeable compromise for me was a slight loss of comfort over harsh bumps but given the nature of the tire and all the other benefits it offers it’s a total non issue.
I’m reluctant to give these a 10/10 simply because I’m no tire tester, but I’d say they’re pretty much perfect for anyone wanting more focus and grip without sacrificing the ability to daily drive the car in mixed environments and conditions.
Triangle SporteX TH201 rated 53% while driving a BMW 320 d
Driving on a combination of roads for 6000 spirited miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 6000 spirited miles
When these tires was new, it was quite good choise for the money, so I was thinking.. good road feedback, silent, good grip in dry and OK grip in wet, but right now, after 10k km rear tires (rwd) had left only 4mm (no drifting) and wet grip are awful, I would say dangerous! Never buy these tires again, only acceptable chinese tires was Sailun for that money. All the other are just danger in wet conditions.
Michelin CrossClimate 2 rated 51% while driving a BMW 325i
Driving on a combination of roads for 2000 average miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 2000 average miles
After just over 2000 miles or use, I have to say that i'm quite disappointed. Dry grip is average at best and wet grip is not anywhere near what I was expecting. The tires don't work when cold or in slightly icy conditions. They also don't work well when its hot. This was my first time trying all season tires and I defo will not do it again. Better off getting a good set of summers and, if you need it, a spare set of winters. The one area I think these tires do well is in comfort. I've done a few long drives with them now and they do soak up the road well. MPG is not good.
Yokohama Advan Sport V105 rated 89% while driving a BMW 330i M SPORT SALOON
Driving on mostly town for 2000 spirited miles
Driving on mostly town for 2000 spirited miles
I used Bridgestone Driveguards RFT, after 15k miles changed to these performance tires and overall very satisfied with it. It is a bit noisy when compared to MPSs, but very grippy and progressive tire. However these tires are designed to be used in summer season, once I have used it during winter and it was still grippy and solid on the snowy roads. I strongly recommend these tires if you can not afford MPSs.
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Features
- Understanding The Tire Sidewall
- EU Tire Label
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Tire Reviews
General
