Top-Performing Tire Brands for a Seamless Summer Drive

As the summer months approach, drivers often seek the best tires to optimize their vehicle's performance under warm weather conditions. With numerous brands available, selecting the right tire can significantly enhance safety, fuel efficiency, and driving comfort. This article evaluates various tire brands renowned for their superior grip, longevity, and advanced technology tailored for summer driving. Interested in discovering the top choices for your car's summer tires? Read on below.

Illustration of tire for summer

Best brands of tire for summer in 2025

Michelin

Michelin stands as one of the top tire producers, particularly for summer tires, maintaining its position as the world's most valuable and strongest tire brand for the seventh consecutive year. Despite a 4.6% decline in sales during the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, Michelin saw a rise in tire sell-in markets, especially in the replacement segment, driven by high imports of Asian tires in North America and Europe. The company experienced a 1.7% increase in price-mix and a favorable market mix, with replacement sales volume proving more resilient than original equipment (OE) volumes. Michelin's sales of 18-inch and larger consumer tires remained a bright spot, with these tires making up 64% of Michelin-branded volumes sold in the first nine months of 2024. The brand's strength is further highlighted by its Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 85.6 out of 100. For a more detailed insight into Michelin's performance, refer to their sales volume numbers and market analysis.

Pirelli

Pirelli is a leading manufacturer of high-performance and premium tires, particularly excelling in the summer tire segment. In 2023, Pirelli achieved a significant increase in sales, with high-value tires, including those for 18-inch and larger wheels, accounting for 75% of its total sales. The company has seen substantial growth in the replacement tire market, especially for larger-sized tires, with a 4% gain in the replacement market for 18-inch and larger tires, outpacing the overall market growth of 3%. Pirelli's focus on innovative technologies, such as its Elect technology for electric vehicles and Eco & Safety Performance products, has enhanced its market position. The company's commitment to sustainability is evident, with 72% of its car tire turnover consisting of Eco & Safety Performance products in 2023.

Continental

Continental is renowned as one of the best producers of summer tires, having achieved significant accolades in various tests. In 2020, Continental tires secured 9 test wins and 12 highest ratings in 15 European tire tests, highlighting their high safety standards and performance excellence. The PremiumContact 6, in particular, was praised for its "extremely high safety reserves" by Auto Zeitung magazine. Continental's tires have consistently topped tests in multiple regions, including Germany, Russia, and Poland. Their focus on innovation and safety has made them a trusted choice for both original equipment and replacement markets. For more details on their offerings, visit the Continental Tires website.

Bridgestone

Bridgestone is one of the leading tire producers, particularly renowned for its high-quality summer tires. With a global tire market share of 13.3% as of 2023, Bridgestone stands as a major player in the industry. The company's Turanza touring tires, for example, are engineered to provide a smooth and quiet ride, making them ideal for summer driving conditions. Bridgestone operates 178 plants in 25 nations and sells products in over 150 countries, ensuring widespread availability of their summer tire range. In 2023, Bridgestone produced 1.63 million tonnes of rubber globally, highlighting their significant production capacity.

Goodyear

Goodyear is renowned as one of the top tire brands, particularly for summer driving, with a market-leading 15% share in both units and dollars as of 2023. Known for its durability and exceptional tread wear, Goodyear tires are praised for their tenacious grip and responsive handling, making them a preferred choice for both professional racers and everyday commuters. The Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max, for example, is highly optimized for fuel efficiency, providing energy savings of up to 2,600 miles over the life of four tires. With its recent acquisition of Cooper Tires, Goodyear now owns over 25% of the replacement tire market unit share. This dominance underscores Goodyear's commitment to quality and performance.

Hankook

Hankook Tire is renowned as one of the best producers of summer tires, evident from its top rankings in various rigorous tests. The Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3, for instance, excelled in the 2023 summer tire test by Auto Bild, achieving the shortest braking distances on both wet and dry roads, with 33.3 meters from 100 km/h on dry roads and 24.8 meters from 80 km/h on wet roads. This tire also received high praise for its balance in wet and dry disciplines, making it a top choice for safety and performance. Hankook's success is further underscored by its sixth-place ranking among global tire manufacturers, with significant growth in sales of high-inch tires and partnerships with premium car makers. The company's continued investment in R&D and premium brand strategies has driven steady growth, including a 4.1% increase in sales and an 18.6% increase in operating profit in the third quarter of 2024. For more insights, you can learn about their progress on Hankook Tire's official media page.

Dunlop

Dunlop is renowned as one of the top producers of summer tires, offering exceptional performance and handling in warmer weather. The Dunlop SP Sport Maxx series, including the SP Sport Maxx 050 and SP Sport Maxx RT, are ultra-high-performance (UHP) summer tires designed for sharp and crisp handling, braking, and wet-weather grip. These tires feature advanced materials like carbon black and silica for enhanced traction and long wear, and technologies such as Jointless Band construction and Touch Technology for improved stability and driver feedback. Despite holding a relatively smaller market share of around 2% in the tire industry, Dunlop's summer tires are highly regarded for their performance capabilities. For more information, visit their tire buying guide.

Yokohama

Yokohama is renowned for its high-performance summer tires, particularly the ADVAN A052, which has consistently been one of the fastest and most reliable options in extreme performance summer tire tests. This tire excels in dry conditions with strong front axle traction and responsive steering, though it may struggle with hydroplaning in wet conditions. Yokohama holds a significant market presence, with a 3.6% unit market share in the US replacement tire market and a global footprint that includes 18 tire plants, one of which in Mississippi produces over 70,000 tires monthly. The brand's commitment to research and development and strategic partnerships has helped it maintain a strong position in the competitive tire market. Yokohama's tires are also noted for their comfort and balanced handling, making them a favorite among drivers of high-performance vehicles.

Falken

Falken is a renowned brand in the tire industry, particularly noted for its Ultra High Performance Summer tires like the Azenis FK510, which is designed for sports cars, sporty coupes, and performance sedans. This tire excels in dry and wet traction and handling, making it a top performer in warm conditions. Falken holds a market share of around 2.5% in the U.S. replacement passenger tire segment, as reported in 2020. The Azenis FK510 is praised for its 4D Nano Design and optimized high-performance compound, ensuring excellent grip and performance. With its strong presence, Falken has become a go-to brand for performance enthusiasts, supplying OEM tires to 13 car manufacturers.

Toyo

Toyo Tire Corporation is a renowned producer of high-performance summer tires, particularly with its Ultra High Performance Summer tire, the Proxes Sport. This tire is designed to excel in warm dry and wet conditions, offering superior traction and handling, with a consumer survey rating of 8.8 for dry conditions and 8.2 for wet conditions. Founded in 1945, Toyo Tire has established itself as a global leader, with over 90% of its net sales coming from the tire business, and it operates in more than 100 countries. The company has 14 production bases and 5 R&D centers, which enable it to continuously improve product safety and efficiency, such as reducing development time by 25% through advanced simulation technologies. Toyo Tire holds a significant market share, particularly in North America, where it accounts for a substantial portion of its sales.