WhatTyre Names Continental UltraContact NXT Eco Tyre 2025

WhatTyre’s 2025 Eco Tyre of the Year awards set out to identify eco tyres that cut environmental impact without sacrificing safety or inflating costs. ‍

Continental’s UltraContact NXT takes the top spot, with four Highly Recommended models and five value-focused finalists rounding out the guide. The ranking blends product performance, manufacturer eco credentials and real-world pricing for popular 17-inch sizes.

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How WhatTyre judged eco tyres in 2025

WhatTyre broadened its definition of eco tyres to include EV-ready products, low rolling resistance designs and models from brands improving ESG performance. Shortlisted tyres were ranked using Tyrescore data, WhatTyre’s manufacturer Eco Rating and best online pricing in a common 17″ size. The aim: identify sustainable tyres that also represent strong value.

2025 Winner: Continental UltraContact NXT

Continental’s UltraContact NXT pairs high recycled/renewable content with safety and efficiency. All available sizes carry the EU tyre label’s highest grades for rolling resistance, wet grip and external noise, and the line is marked EV-compatible. WhatTyre notes the NXT’s short wet-braking distances and stable dry-road handling alongside low rolling resistance. “It was so advanced that even a high purchase price could not prevent it from becoming WhatTyre’s 2025 Eco Tyre of the Year.” — WhatTyre.

For additional context on where NXT is already proving itself in service, see our report on UltraContact NXT powering Tour de France support vehicles.

Four Highly Recommended tyres

• Michelin Primacy 4+ — Prioritises safety when worn and long life, helping total cost of ownership while maintaining strong wet-braking performance.
• Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN — Access to Bridgestone’s Enliten “toolbox” in a value-oriented package, with A-grade wet grip and reduced rolling resistance for energy savings.
• Maxxis Victra Sport VS5 — A performance option with an aramid/nylon cap ply and full-silica compound to enhance grip and rolling efficiency at a keen price.
• GitiSynergyH2 — European-developed compound and construction aimed at compact/family cars and crossovers, delivering efficient running at the upper end of its size range.

Value finalists worth a look

WhatTyre’s finalists balance eco performance with attractive pricing and broad availability: Falken Ziex ZE310 Ecorun, BFGoodrich Advantage, Dunlop Sport BluResponse, Linglong Sport Master, and Yokohama BluEarth-XT AE61. Each brings credible wet-grip and efficiency features, with several benefiting from newer sibling models in the range—helping keep prices down while maintaining independently tested performance.

Why this matters for fleets and distributors

Eco tyres can reduce energy consumption, extend range in EVs and lower total cost of ownership without trading off safety. For a broader look at how manufacturers are lifting sustainable content, certification and reporting, see our 2025 tyre-maker sustainability review.

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“Bridgestone describes Enliten as a toolbox for reconciling sustainability-related characteristics with the best performance characteristics that a tyre can achieve, while considering the trend towards electromobility.” — Bridgestone technical materials (via WhatTyre).

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Summary based on WhatTyre’s 14 August 2025 feature announcing the winner, the four Highly Recommended tyres and five finalists, including criteria and product notes.

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Tagged with: eco tyres, sustainable tyres, EV-ready tyres, low rolling resistance tyres, tyre label, Continental UltraContact NXT, Firestone Roadhawk 2 Enliten, GitiSynergyH2, Maxxis Victra Sport VS5, UK motoring, tyre performance, ESG in tyres

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