While technically this is the second tire test of the 2026 summer tire testing season, I always think of the AutoBild mega test as the true start to the summer tire test season. It's our first opportunity to see how 50 tires available in 245/45 R19 do in a massive dry and wet braking test!
Test Publication:
245/45 R19
50 tires
2 categories
Images courtesy of Auto Bild
Test Publication:
Images courtesy of Auto Bild
Test Size:
245/45 R19
Tires Tested:
50 tires
And as always, it's an interesting start to the year. This 245/45 R19 tire size fitted to a BMW 5 Series has resulted in a mix of premium touring and ultra high performance tires in the same test. This should give the ultra high performance tires an edge in this braking test; however, as we move on to the full test, which the top 20 tires get carried through to, the added components of things like noise, comfort, rolling resistance, and tread wear will in theory bring the balance back to the premium touring tires.
The other interesting thing to note is that there are some surprise updates. We've seen before that the Linglong Sport Master is very good in braking tests, and once again it finishes as the overall best, with a 0.7 m advantage to second best, which is incredible.
The Hankook Ventus Evo performs well once again. This tire seems to be an excellent product from Hankook all round, and then you have Nexen, Kumho, and Giti in third to fifth place. It's not until sixth place that you see a traditional premium brand, which is the Continental Premium Contact 7, closely followed by the Pirelli Cinturato C3 and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6.
I am incredibly excited for the full test, which should be out in two weeks, so keep an eye on the site. Below is the data. Pay particular attention to the residual speed calculator below, it shows the stopping distance between the best and the worst tire in wet braking, from a highway speed of 130 km/h is nearly 40m. This means that where you are stopped on the best tire, you will still be doing nearly 80 km/h at the point of impact on the worst tire.
The right tire really does make a difference.
Dry
Wet
Results
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
2nd
33.9 M
32.8 M
+1.1 M
96.76%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
1st
25.2 M
100%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
1st
32.8 M
100%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
2nd
27 M
25.2 M
+1.8 M
93.33%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
2nd
33.9 M
32.8 M
+1.1 M
96.76%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
3rd
27.1 M
25.2 M
+1.9 M
92.99%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
9th
34.4 M
32.8 M
+1.6 M
95.35%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
3rd
27.1 M
25.2 M
+1.9 M
92.99%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
6th
34.3 M
32.8 M
+1.5 M
95.63%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
5th
27.2 M
25.2 M
+2 M
92.65%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
6th
34.3 M
32.8 M
+1.5 M
95.63%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
6th
27.3 M
25.2 M
+2.1 M
92.31%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
6th
34.3 M
32.8 M
+1.5 M
95.63%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
8th
27.6 M
25.2 M
+2.4 M
91.3%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
12th
34.5 M
32.8 M
+1.7 M
95.07%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
7th
27.5 M
25.2 M
+2.3 M
91.64%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
9th
34.4 M
32.8 M
+1.6 M
95.35%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
9th
27.7 M
25.2 M
+2.5 M
90.97%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
9th
34.4 M
32.8 M
+1.6 M
95.35%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
12th
28.1 M
25.2 M
+2.9 M
89.68%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
12th
34.5 M
32.8 M
+1.7 M
95.07%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
14th
28.2 M
25.2 M
+3 M
89.36%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
16th
35 M
32.8 M
+2.2 M
93.71%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
11th
27.9 M
25.2 M
+2.7 M
90.32%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
5th
34.2 M
32.8 M
+1.4 M
95.91%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
16th
28.8 M
25.2 M
+3.6 M
87.5%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
19th
35.3 M
32.8 M
+2.5 M
92.92%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
10th
27.8 M
25.2 M
+2.6 M
90.65%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
17th
35.1 M
32.8 M
+2.3 M
93.45%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
15th
28.7 M
25.2 M
+3.5 M
87.8%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
14th
34.6 M
32.8 M
+1.8 M
94.8%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
19th
29.5 M
25.2 M
+4.3 M
85.42%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
19th
35.3 M
32.8 M
+2.5 M
92.92%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
17th
29.1 M
25.2 M
+3.9 M
86.6%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
4th
34.1 M
32.8 M
+1.3 M
96.19%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
27th
30.6 M
25.2 M
+5.4 M
82.35%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
15th
34.9 M
32.8 M
+2.1 M
93.98%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
20th
29.9 M
25.2 M
+4.7 M
84.28%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
18th
35.2 M
32.8 M
+2.4 M
93.18%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
23rd
30.2 M
25.2 M
+5 M
83.44%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
21st
35.5 M
32.8 M
+2.7 M
92.39%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
20th
29.9 M
25.2 M
+4.7 M
84.28%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
32nd
37.4 M
32.8 M
+4.6 M
87.7%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
12th
28.1 M
25.2 M
+2.9 M
89.68%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
22nd
35.8 M
32.8 M
+3 M
91.62%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
20th
29.9 M
25.2 M
+4.7 M
84.28%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
32nd
37.4 M
32.8 M
+4.6 M
87.7%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
18th
29.2 M
25.2 M
+4 M
86.3%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
25th
36.2 M
32.8 M
+3.4 M
90.61%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
25th
30.5 M
25.2 M
+5.3 M
82.62%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
25th
36.2 M
32.8 M
+3.4 M
90.61%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
25th
30.5 M
25.2 M
+5.3 M
82.62%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
22nd
35.8 M
32.8 M
+3 M
91.62%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
30th
31.1 M
25.2 M
+5.9 M
81.03%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
24th
36 M
32.8 M
+3.2 M
91.11%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
29th
31 M
25.2 M
+5.8 M
81.29%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
27th
36.4 M
32.8 M
+3.6 M
90.11%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
28th
30.8 M
25.2 M
+5.6 M
81.82%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
30th
36.9 M
32.8 M
+4.1 M
88.89%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
31st
31.2 M
25.2 M
+6 M
80.77%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
38th
37.9 M
32.8 M
+5.1 M
86.54%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
23rd
30.2 M
25.2 M
+5 M
83.44%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
28th
36.8 M
32.8 M
+4 M
89.13%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
32nd
31.6 M
25.2 M
+6.4 M
79.75%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
28th
36.8 M
32.8 M
+4 M
89.13%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
39th
33.2 M
25.2 M
+8 M
75.9%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
31st
37.1 M
32.8 M
+4.3 M
88.41%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
35th
32.8 M
25.2 M
+7.6 M
76.83%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
39th
38 M
32.8 M
+5.2 M
86.32%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
36th
33 M
25.2 M
+7.8 M
76.36%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
40th
38.3 M
32.8 M
+5.5 M
85.64%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
34th
32.7 M
25.2 M
+7.5 M
77.06%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
41st
38.5 M
32.8 M
+5.7 M
85.19%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
33rd
32.5 M
25.2 M
+7.3 M
77.54%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
43rd
38.6 M
32.8 M
+5.8 M
84.97%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
36th
33 M
25.2 M
+7.8 M
76.36%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
34th
37.6 M
32.8 M
+4.8 M
87.23%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
42nd
34 M
25.2 M
+8.8 M
74.12%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
34th
37.6 M
32.8 M
+4.8 M
87.23%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
42nd
34 M
25.2 M
+8.8 M
74.12%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
46th
39 M
32.8 M
+6.2 M
84.1%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
36th
33 M
25.2 M
+7.8 M
76.36%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
34th
37.6 M
32.8 M
+4.8 M
87.23%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
44th
34.4 M
25.2 M
+9.2 M
73.26%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
41st
38.5 M
32.8 M
+5.7 M
85.19%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
40th
33.7 M
25.2 M
+8.5 M
74.78%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
37th
37.8 M
32.8 M
+5 M
86.77%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
45th
34.5 M
25.2 M
+9.3 M
73.04%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
43rd
38.6 M
32.8 M
+5.8 M
84.97%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
41st
33.9 M
25.2 M
+8.7 M
74.34%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
43rd
38.6 M
32.8 M
+5.8 M
84.97%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
46th
35.4 M
25.2 M
+10.2 M
71.19%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
48th
39.4 M
32.8 M
+6.6 M
83.25%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
47th
35.9 M
25.2 M
+10.7 M
70.19%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
47th
39.1 M
32.8 M
+6.3 M
83.89%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
48th
36.8 M
25.2 M
+11.6 M
68.48%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
49th
39.6 M
32.8 M
+6.8 M
82.83%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
49th
37.1 M
25.2 M
+11.9 M
67.92%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Dry Braking
50th
43 M
32.8 M
+10.2 M
76.28%
Test
#
Result
Best
Diff
%
Wet Braking
50th
40.2 M
25.2 M
+15 M
62.69%