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WhatTyre’s inaugural Tyre of the Year Awards are designed to celebrate the best tyres currently available for the biggest group of drivers. We have focused on the tyres that offer the best performance characteristics for regular drivers: the commuters getting to work and home in the busiest traffic, parents operating taxi services for their children, older drivers for whom motoring means extended independence, holidaymakers travelling (when possible again) to destinations in the UK, or in neighbouring countries, and the key workers, whose physical presence is required to do their jobs no matter what. Our winners, highly recommended finalists, and commended nominees all offer proven performance that leads the other 95 per cent-plus of tyres available for the cars most commonly driven in the UK.

Electric car tyres and tyres designed to offer greater fuel efficiency contain some of the tyre industry’s most advanced technology. Supporting fast growth in primarily battery-powered electric cars as well as car-maker’s legal obligation to produce more fuel-efficient combustion powered vehicles, tyre manufacturers have developed increasingly eco-friendly products for original fitment. More electric cars on the road means more demand for replacement tyres that perform similarly well. Our nominations process for this category set very high expectations for such products. We demanded comparatively high fuel efficiency and low noise alongside performance and safety characteristics in one of three sizes for Europe’s top-selling electric cars.

The UK tyre market’s interest in winter tyres may not be high, but there are many excellent products available, as WhatTyre’s list of “Commended” winter tyre products proves. While the UK’s moderate winter climate, the need to store a spare set of tyres (and wheels) year-round, the inconvenience of a seasonal tyre change twice a year, and the increasing quality of all-season tyres are all understandable reasons for not fitting winter tyres, the fact remains that if we are considering performance and safety above all else, specialist winter tyres will help you get the most out of your car when temperatures drop. Below, we crown our 2021 winner, and run down the other models we highly recommend.

What are the best electric car tyres in 2021? The recent boom in electric vehicle sales has meant that tyre manufacturers are paying more attention to the demands of this market. While new car demand has stalled in most segments during the pandemic, full electric car sales have continued to grow. In Europe, estimates put full electric or hybrid car sales at around 12 per cent of the full market. And with various countries around the world introducing legislation to bring petrol and diesel production to an end over the next two decades, growth is certain to continue. Likewise, this will inevitably mean more manufacturers will provide replacement tyres tuned to these vehicles, especially as the second-hand market blossoms.

The Maxxis Premitra HP5 has beaten summer tyres from Goodyear, Continental, Pirelli and Michelin to win a 2021 summer tyre test. Conducted by Swedish motoring magazine Vi Bilägare, testers compared eight tyres designed for everyday driving across brand tiers in the size 225/45 R17. Maxxis is the global flagship brand of Taiwanese manufacturer Cheng Shin. The result saw the tyre narrowly beat quality premium brand products like the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2, the Continental PremiumContact 6, the Michelin Primacy 4, and the Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2.

Winter tyres may be a small part of the UK market, but there is still an incredible array of quality products to choose from. We suggest that every tyre mentioned on our longlist is worth considering, especially since prices (which you can find on WhatTyre) can vary hugely even within this list of the top products. For the purposes of our ranking, we focus only on the tyres’ performance qualities. We will announce our top five recommended products and the winner of the WhatTyre Winter Tyre of the Year 2021 in around a week’s time, alongside our other five Tyre of the Year categories and the overall winner.

The new Vredestein Ultrac summer car tyre has been launched today. The new varient improves wet and dry performance by 15 per cent, representing a big leap forward for the brand. The Ultrac will be available in range of sizes between 15 and 18 inches for compact-medium sized cars. It has also been developed with sustainability in mind. Rolling resistance has been reduced by 5 per cent in a boost for fuel efficiency. Vredestein has developed the tyre with a 50 per cent increase in traction-enhancing silica and resin compounds, which have helped to reduce braking distances by 10 per cent. It also uses materials more efficiently, making the tyre lighter. As a result, Vredestein calls the tyre’s performance “best-in-class”. 

The onset of winter weather sees the return of gritting lorries on roads across the UK. These vehicles play a major part in keeping the UK road system open during wintry weather and ensure that the thousands of HGVs and emergency service vehicles continue to deliver goods and services throughout the winter. In addition to clearing snow and ice, specialist operators The Gritting Company are keen to dispel five myths about road gritting.

A leading road safety charity is reminding drivers to check their tyre tread regularly using advice provided in a brand-new film-based production from TyreFlix, called Judge Tread. TyreSafe is the UK’s only charity dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of tyre safety and regular tyre maintenance checks. Its annual campaign is focussing on encouraging drivers to ensure their tyres are Ready for ACTion by checking Air pressure, Condition and Tread.