Tyre tests

225/40 R18 winter tyre test: all 31 ADAC results

ADAC compared 31 winter 225/40 R18 H/V tyre: here you will find TOP 3, full rating, safety scores and precisely marked catalogue limits.

ADAC test · 2025

Top 3 winter tyres

  1. 1place
    Goodyear

    UltraGrip Performance 3

    Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 – illustrative model image
    10/10

    Test winner: strong safety and the best environmental score in the field.

    See UltraGrip Performance 3
  2. 2place
    Michelin

    Pilot Alpin 5

    Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 – illustrative model image
    10/10

    The same safety score of 2,1 as the winner, with slightly weaker environmental performance.

    See Pilot Alpin 5
  3. 3place
    Bridgestone

    Blizzak 6

    Bridgestone Blizzak 6 – illustrative model image
    9/10

    Third place with no glaring weakness: overall and safety scores matched at 2,2.

    See Blizzak 6

All test results

All 31 tested 225/40 R18 tyres

  1. 1 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 Safety 10/10 from 160,15 € Test winner: strong safety and the best environmental score in the field. 10/10
  2. 2 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 Safety 10/10 from 171,46 € The same safety score of 2,1 as the winner, with slightly weaker environmental performance. 10/10
  3. 3 Bridgestone Blizzak 6 Safety 10/10 from 173,31 € Third place with no glaring weakness: overall and safety scores matched at 2,2. 9/10
  4. 4 Dunlop Winter Sport 5 Safety 9/10 Currently unavailable Fourth place with a good score of 2,4, but the selected catalogue item is sold out. 9/10
  5. 5 Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 W330 Safety 9/10 from 124,11 € Tied for fourth place: the environmental balance is excellent, and the safety part is weaker than the first three. 9/10
  6. 6 Continental WinterContact TS 870 P Safety 9/10 from 168,51 € Closes the group of six well-rated premium models with a total score of 2,5. 9/10
  7. 7 Kleber Krisalp HP3 Safety 8/10 from 118,86 € The first moderately rated model: reasonable price, but no longer TOP 6 safety level. 8/10
  8. 8 Nokian Tyres Snowproof P Safety 8/10 from 132,94 € Eighth place and a middling balance, with a safety compromise at 2,8 to consider. 8/10
  9. 9 Momo W-20 North Pole Safety 8/10 Search the catalogue Joint eighth with the same score of 2,7, but no reliable model match was found in the catalogue. 8/10
  10. 10 Ceat WinterDrive Safety 8/10 Search the catalogue Tenth place: good environmental performance could not compensate for an average safety score of 3,0. 8/10
  11. 11 Matador MP93 Nordicca Safety 7/10 from 88,78 € The best price-performance ratio when checked, but a safety score of 3,2 involves clear compromises. 7/10
  12. 12 Uniroyal WinterExpert Safety 7/10 from 132,86 € Joint eleventh, with a weaker safety score of 3,3 than Matador. 7/10
  13. 13 Fulda Kristall Control HP2 Safety 7/10 from 140,92 € Thirteenth place: environmental performance remains strong, while safety is only middling. 7/10
  14. 14 Semperit Speed-Grip 5 Safety 7/10 Search the catalogue Fourteenth place with 3,2 overall score; Exact trial size not found in catalogue. 7/10
  15. 15 GT Radial WinterPro 2 Sport Safety 7/10 Search the catalogue Joint fourteenth with a score of 3,2, but weaker environmental performance than Semperit. 7/10
  16. 16 Giti GitiWinter W2 Safety 6/10 Search the catalogue Sixteenth place completes a satisfactory group, but both major scores are already close to the limit. 6/10
  17. 17 Point S Winter S Safety 6/10 Search the catalogue Seventeenth place and just enough safety, although the environmental performance remained decent. 6/10
  18. 18 Firestone Winterhawk 4 Safety 6/10 from 118,94 € Tied for seventeenth place, but safety deficiencies prevent it from being equal to the average group. 6/10
  19. 19 Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6 Safety 6/10 from 106,63 € Nineteenth place: good environmental performance could not compensate for only adequate safety. 6/10
  20. 20 Apollo Aspire XP Winter Safety 5/10 Search the catalogue Twentieth place: a safety score of 4,1 marks a particularly clear compromise. 5/10
  21. 21 Radar Dimax Winter Safety 3/10 Search the catalogue Twenty-first with a poor score of 4,6: the safety compromise is too great. 3/10
  22. 22 Nankang Winter Activa 4 Safety 2/10 Search the catalogue Twenty-second: Very weak safety and the worst environment in the entyre field. 2/10
  23. 23 Landsail Winter Lander Safety 2/10 Search the catalogue Twenty-third place: average environmental performance, but safety at 5,3 leads to a poor rating. 2/10
  24. 24 Petlas SnowMaster 2 Sport Safety 2/10 from 72,21 € Joint twenty-third: a low price could not compensate for poor safety at 5,3. 2/10
  25. 25 Imperial Snowdragon UHP Safety 1/10 from 73,31 € Twenty-fifth place: reasonable environmental performance could not compensate for safety at 5,4. 1/10
  26. 26 Tomket Snowroad Pro 3 Safety 1/10 Search the catalogue In the last group: good environmental performance, but the worst possible safety score of 5,5. 1/10
  27. 27 Star Performer Stratos UHP Safety 1/10 Search the catalogue An overall score of 5,5 because of safety, despite better environmental performance than most of the final models. 1/10
  28. 28 Goodride SW608 Safety 1/10 Currently unavailable Last group and 5,5 safety; found model page is currently sold out. 1/10
  29. 29 Evergreen EW66 Safety 1/10 Search the catalogue An overall score of 5,5: safety weaknesses overshadow average environmental performance. 1/10
  30. 30 CST Medallion Winter WCP1 Safety 1/10 Search the catalogue In the last group: safety at 5,5 and weaker environmental performance at 3,0. 1/10
  31. 31 Syron Everest 2 Safety 1/10 Search the catalogue Closes the table: 5,5 safety and the weakest environment balance of the last group. 1/10

ADAC 2025 · 225/40 R18

Price and test result

Which tyres offer the best value

  1. 1 Matador MP93 NordiccaTest 7/10 88,78 €per tyre 10/10
  2. 2 Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 W330Test 9/10 124,11 €per tyre 9/10
  3. 3 Kleber Krisalp HP3Test 8/10 118,86 €per tyre 8/10
  4. 4 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3Test 10/10 160,15 €per tyre 7/10
  5. 5 Nokian Tyres Snowproof PTest 8/10 132,94 €per tyre 7/10
  6. 6 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5Test 10/10 171,46 €per tyre 7/10
  7. 7 Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6Test 6/10 106,63 €per tyre 6/10
  8. 8 Continental WinterContact TS 870 PTest 9/10 168,51 €per tyre 6/10
  9. 9 Uniroyal WinterExpertTest 7/10 132,86 €per tyre 6/10
  10. 10 Bridgestone Blizzak 6Test 9/10 173,31 €per tyre 6/10
  11. 11 Firestone Winterhawk 4Test 6/10 118,94 €per tyre 6/10
  12. 12 Fulda Kristall Control HP2Test 7/10 140,92 €per tyre 5/10
  13. 13 Petlas SnowMaster 2 SportTest 2/10 72,21 €per tyre 2/10
  14. 14 Imperial Snowdragon UHPTest 1/10 73,31 €per tyre 1/10

Prices checked on 2026-08-07 and may change. The list includes only models found in the catalogue at that time 225/40 R18 models.

ADAC's 2025 test covered 31 models of 225/40 R18 H/V winter tyres, from premium to budget. Six received a good overall rating. Fifteen were not recommended: four were adequate and eleven poor.

Why Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 won

Goodyear won through balance rather than one outstanding discipline. Safety at 2,1 and the field's best environmental score at 1,7 produced an overall score of 2,0. ADAC also reported high predicted mileage and low wear, making it a choice for all-round use rather than one surface alone.

Best value for money: Matador

According to a snapshot of the 2026-08-07 Padangutes.lt catalogue, the Matador MP93 Nordicca was the cheapest of the currently sold models that passed at least the 7/10 normalized test rating. It's not an equal alternative to the TOP 6: the ADAC overall score 3,0 and the safety 3,2 represent clear trade-offs, so the decision should be based on the ride profile, not just the price.

What the 15 non-recommended models mean

The non-recommended results start with Apollo Aspire XP Winter at 4,1, where safety weaknesses seriously limit the recommendation. Very poor safety scores of 4,6–5,5 determine the overall ratings of the last eleven models. The Alpine symbol alone does not prove braking and handling on a par with the best tyres tested.

Which 225/40 R18 winter tyre to choose

  • Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 - Strongest overall score and best environmental balance.
  • Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 — the same safety score of 2,1 as Goodyear, with a slightly weaker overall result.
  • Bridgestone Blizzak 6 — third place, with both overall and safety scores at 2,2.
  • Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 W330 — strong environmental performance and a lower price when checked, with safety at 2,6.
  • Matador MP93 Nordicca — a budget compromise for lower-mileage drivers, rather than a substitute for the top 6.

An important specification limit for 225/40 R18

The direct model and size reference is a place of shopping, but not proof that the XL, load, speed, RunFlat, OEM or production revision markings sold match the ADAC tested design. When there is no image of the safe model in the catalogue, the row deliberately shows a neutral location instead of a photo of the other tyre.

Frequently asked questions

Which 225/40 R18 winter tyre won ADAC's 2025 test?

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 won with 2,0 overall, followed by Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 and Bridgestone Blizzak 6.

How many tyres did ADAC not recommend?

Fifteen of the 31 models fell below satisfactory: four were adequate and eleven poor.

Can the cheapest tyre be safe?

Price alone does not establish safety. Some budget models had acceptable middling results in this test, but eleven cheaper-segment tyres received poor overall ratings because of safety.

Do 225/40 R18 tyres fit my car?

This size is used on various compact and medium cars. Check the permitted size and load and speed ratings in the vehicle documents and CoC.

Find in store

225/40 R18 winter tyres

Choose a category and check the ratings required by your vehicle manufacturer.

See all 225/40 R18 tyres View 225/40 R18 winter tyres

Sources

  1. ADAC — ADAC Winterreifentest 225/40 R18: Vorsicht bei Billigreifen! · Volkswagen Golf · checked 2026-08-07.

Official test video

ADAC: 31 winter tyres in its 2025 test of 225/40 R18

The official ADAC video shows this test. Above is our analysis of the results.

If the video does not appear, watch it on the official channel.