Best Performance Summer Tire in 2026? I Tested 8 Tires for Driving Enjoyment

For enthusiastic drivers, subjective handling matters more than outright grip - how a tyre reacts to steering, how balanced it feels, and how much you can adjust mid-corner.

In this test, I take eight of the very best ultra high performance summer tyres and put them through dry handling, wet handling, noise, comfort, and rolling resistance testing, with a heavy focus on subjective driving enjoyment.

One of the most interesting aspects of this test is the inclusion of the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 - an 80/20 track-to-road tyre - running against seven more road-focused competitors. I did not expect the Cup 2 place as well as it did.