diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 6bf787c4..597153d4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -102,7 +102,13 @@ jobs:
       # and returns every version's verdict on the first run.
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
+        # A pull request runs the 3.10 floor the locks resolve for, the 3.12
+        # coverage leg and the newest interpreter; the push to main runs every
+        # version, so main still carries the full verdict. Measured over
+        # 2026-10-11..25, 11 runs averaged 13 billed minutes, 4 of them on 3.11
+        # and 3.13, and none of the 10 failed Tests runs since 2026-06 failed on
+        # 3.11 or 3.13 without the outer legs failing too.
+        python-version: ${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' && fromJSON('["3.10", "3.12", "3.14"]') || fromJSON('["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]') }}
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
diff --git a/tests/test_ci_artifact_contract.py b/tests/test_ci_artifact_contract.py
index 9178bf64..4dde808f 100644
--- a/tests/test_ci_artifact_contract.py
+++ b/tests/test_ci_artifact_contract.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import json
 import re
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
@@ -123,10 +124,24 @@ class TestCompatibilityMatrix:
     """Independent legs run at once, and exactly one of them owns coverage."""
 
     def test_matrix_runs_every_supported_version_concurrently(self) -> None:
-        """Serialized legs cost the sum of their wall time and hide later failures."""
-        strategy = _load_workflow(_TESTS_WORKFLOW)["jobs"]["test"]["strategy"]
+        """Serialized legs cost the sum of their wall time and hide later failures.
 
-        assert strategy["matrix"]["python-version"] == _SUPPORTED_PYTHON_VERSIONS
+        The push to main runs every supported version. A pull request runs a
+        subset, which must still hold the floor, the coverage leg and the
+        newest interpreter, so a dropped leg is one main still tests.
+        """
+        strategy = _load_workflow(_TESTS_WORKFLOW)["jobs"]["test"]["strategy"]
+        selector = re.fullmatch(
+            r"\$\{\{ github\.event_name == 'pull_request' && fromJSON\('(\[[^']*\])'\)"
+            r" \|\| fromJSON\('(\[[^']*\])'\) \}\}",
+            strategy["matrix"]["python-version"],
+        )
+
+        assert selector is not None
+        pull_request, push = (json.loads(group) for group in selector.groups())
+        assert push == _SUPPORTED_PYTHON_VERSIONS
+        assert {_SUPPORTED_PYTHON_VERSIONS[0], _COVERAGE_VERSION, _SUPPORTED_PYTHON_VERSIONS[-1]} <= set(pull_request)
+        assert set(pull_request) <= set(push)
         assert strategy["fail-fast"] is False
         assert "max-parallel" not in strategy