What really is the difference in performance between budget and premium tyres, and in tyres of different depths? Geraldine Herbert went to Hanover to find out. Thundering towards a hair-pin bend at speed I am abruptly reminded of the importance of a decent set of tyres. As the back end of the car begins to slide and the wheels spin I sigh with relief that this is not a public road I am driving on but a test facility for Continental tyres in Germany . Tucked away northeast of Hanover, Contidrom is the principal proving ground of Continental Tyres in Europe.  From wet and dry handling circuits to a race tracks this is where Continental tyres test the performance of tyres on a range of wet, dry and icy conditions. And testing tyres on wet conditions is why I am here, in particular to see firsthand the difference between budget and premium. In the current climate it’s no surprise that many motorists shop on price and not quality. New legislation on tyre labelling has made it easier for motorist to compare tyres. Tyres are now labelled from A (Best) to G (Worst) with information about performance grades on fuel efficiency, wet braking and external noise levels all clearly displayed. Prices are still an issue and can vary by as much as €20 to over €80 for a budget versus premium tyre. But with up to 225 days of rain each year a tyre that can handle wet conditions is vital. Imported tires from China and Taiwan may cost less than premium tyres but are they as good? To find out we had the opportunity to drive a BMW120i fitted with E rated budget tyres and another with Premium A rated. Given the fact that these are identical cars with the same braking and traction control systems the results are astounding. The car with budget tyres had essentially no grip, and threatened to spin out of control at every corner. Even at low speeds it was virtually impossible to maintain a constant road position. Stepping into the same car fitted with premium tyres was a totally different experience. It came as no surprise that the premium tyres are better; the eye-opener is by how much. It drove like a totally new car. At high speed it was composed and cornered...