Everything we know about the 265/40 R18 tire size: 30 owner reviews covering 234,253 miles of driving, and EU label data for the tires you can actually buy in it.
Owner picks are the highest weighted owner score in 265/40 R18; test winners come from the most recent independent test conducted in this size. The full evidence is below.
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The best rated 265/40 R18 tires
Rated only by drivers running this size. Each tire needs at least 3 reviews in 265/40 R18 to be ranked; the order weights a tire's score by how many reviews back it, so one glowing review cannot top a table.
Summer tires
The highest rated Summer tire in 265/40 R18 is the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 - 81% from 3 owner reviews in this size. The current tire in that line is now the Michelin Pilot Sport S 5.
TR Score is the tire's overall Tire Reviews rating out of 10, built from independent test results and every owner review of that tire - not just the reviews from this car. The owner rating column is this car only.
265/40 R18 EU tire label data
EU label values are declared for each individual size, so the figures here are exact for 265/40 R18 rather than a range across a model. 47 tires carry label data in this size. The most common load index is 101 (up to 825 kg per tire). Speed ratings on offer: (Y) (301 km/h), Y (300 km/h), W (270 km/h), V (240 km/h). 5 tires in this size carry the 3PMSF severe snow marking.
A Best wet grip
15 tires in this size hold the top EU wet grip rating, class A. The highest scoring on Tire Reviews:
Label values come from the EU EPREL database and apply to the EU market versions of each tire. Wet grip and rolling resistance run from class A (best) to E; noise is the measured drive-by figure. A good label is a floor, not a verdict - the tests and owner ratings above tell you far more.
What does 265/40 R18 mean?
A 265/40 R18 tire is 265 mm wide, its sidewall is 40% of that width (106 mm) tall, and it fits a 18 inch wheel. That gives an overall diameter of roughly 669 mm.
265/40 R18 nominal dimensions
Section width
265 mm
Sidewall height
106 mm
Rim diameter
18" (457 mm)
Overall diameter
≈ 669 mm
Circumference
≈ 2,102 mm
Revolutions per km
≈ 476
Revolutions per mile
≈ 765
Also written as
265/40R18265/40 ZR18265-40-18265 40 18
Figures are calculated from the nominal size. A loaded, rolling tire runs a few percent smaller, and true widths vary slightly between makes.
The complete record, including discontinued tires and tires with too few reviews to rank, ordered by the amount of evidence. A further 23 tires have a single review each; they count toward the totals but are not listed.
I've had these KU39 tires on the rear of my BMW 520d touring for the last 14 months. Unfortunately 1 tire blew out through the side wall while towing a caravan, however I blame it on the pot holes and state of the roads. The other rear tire has just reached its end of life at 20,500 miles, and while I could drive another 2000-3000 miles the winter is approaching and its better to get some extra depth of tread.
This is the 3rd set of Kumho's I've had on my BMW and I do enjoy them. They are quite, comfortable and grippy both wet and dry. The last set I had lasted 23,000 miles, so these ones are a little less. Generally they wear similar to Hankook tires but are cheaper, although I've found I can get longer wear out of Contiental tires, but they are not as comfortable as the Kumho's.
Good deal when on sale for such a high performance tire. The TW rating and performance is a good street daily mix. Have not experienced any hydro planing even with the increased width. Car is G37s (big brakes) 6mt with hks digresive coil overs and extra 1 deg camber in front and back. Very sporty feel and will tram line on undulating road + tar snakes
There's tires handle very well in wet and dry conditions. When the D starts to go on the wear indicator these tires tend to spin a little bit from a stop. I originally got these tires for hydroplaning issues. These did great until after you get past the w wear indicator on the tire in wet weather. They still preform alright in the rain even when the w is gone, just can't be on throttle because you'll spin. Tires have been abused quite a bit on long mountain runs especially on corners. Have been my daily tires since 57k miles now have 91k. So I'd say these are worth it. Highway driving these tires are pretty quite.
-Wheel measurements: 18x8.5
-Suspension: Ebachi pro kit lowering springs with stock magnetic shocks from honda.
Great tires for the price! 23,500 miles and 15 months driving before they were down to minimum wear markers and needed replaced, which on my BMW F11 520D rear wheel drive seems to be about average life expectancy. Tires never lost grip once, wet or dry. I would have preferred if they lasted at bit longer, but I tow a caravan about in the summer months which probably shortens their life.They seemed to get a little noiser when they were well worn down.
I just bought these tires for my "winter" wheels (Square 265/40R18). I wanted a set of tires that can be considered very safe in cold/wet conditions. The first thing I noticed was the ride comfort and overall lack of road noise. Considering this tire will never see the track, this was an excellent revelation. The tires are very sure footed in wet conditions, and they can safely disperse puddles that accumulate on the road.
These are just my initial thoughts, but so far, so good.
Needs tons of heat to develop initial grip and losses grip when cooled down abruptly. Very poor grip and handling on wet when paired with powerful rear wheel drive (too hard sidewall cannot transfer torque properly).
Absolutely terrible in wet, literally zero resistance to aquaplanning, not enough groove pattern.
Gives great feeling and handling in corners when hot which is the only advantage. In other case completely useless on regular road or in wet. I recommend to use only on track without any moisture.
Recently switched from the trusty PS4 after a solid 5-year run to the V601s. Performance wise it’s been impressive, delivering fantastic handling in both wet and dry conditions. However the only drawback I’ve encountered is the quicker wear and tear. With just around 20.000kms on the odometer, the tread is nearly worn out, warranting a replacement after roughly 9 months of use. Overall, while the performance is on point, the lifespan might be something to keep in mind.
Outstanding UUHP tire. Sharp on the steering with excellent feedback in both the dry and wet. Grip is exceptional once warmed up (takes a few miles to build temperature) and the performance on a wet road is incredible.
Downsides are the tire has high road noise and transmits sudden shocks into the chassis rather than absorbing in the tire, not too bad if you have decent damping but something to be aware of if you value comfort and noise. Very much a "sporty" tire for everyday driving without being too track focussed (ie normal road driving gets enough heat into the tire to "switch on" the grip)
Cannot comment on wear as only put 2k miles on, but good to see tread depth and the small about of sipes go all the way to the base of the tire which suggest performance should stay reasonably consistent over the life of the tire. Tire wear seems average for a UUHP tire based on current wear rates.
Owner ratings are submitted through the review form on this site, naming the tire, the size and the distance covered, and are checked by hand before publication. Test results come from independent published tire tests indexed by size, and label values from the EU EPREL database.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, so you can check a car-specific ranking against the wider evidence.
