The Hyundai Elantra is undoubtedly one of the most successful family sedans of its kind. Proof of this is that it was chosen as the 2021 North American Car of the Year™. This success has led Hyundai to diversify Elantra’s target audience, offering everything from hybrid models to the powerful Elantra N Line.
That said, what are the best tires for a compact sedan like the Elantra? In this review, you’ll find out.
[sc name=”best-tires-for-hyundai-elantra-aag”][/sc]
Hyundai Elantra Tire Size Overview
Contrary to what some people think, using the right tire size has a big impact on the performance of your Elantra. For that reason, we have prepared the following list of OEM sizes used by Hyundai over the years.
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 195/60R15
- OEM Tire(s): Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, Kumho Solus KH16, Continental ContiProContact, Hankook Optimo H426
- Trim(s): GLS, GT (Hatchback, Sedan)
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 195/65R15, 205/55R16
- OEM Tire(s): Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, Kumho Solus KH16, Continental ContiProContact, Hankook Optimo H426
- Trim(s): GLS, SE
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 195/65R15, 205/55R16
- OEM Tire(s): Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, Kumho Solus KH16, Continental ContiProContact, Hankook Optimo H426
- Trim(s): GLS, Limited, Touring GLS, Touring SE
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 225/40R18, 195/65R15, 205/55R16
- OEM Tire(s): Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, Kumho Solus KH16, Continental ContiProContact, Hankook Optimo H426
- Trim(s): Eco, GT, Limited, SE, SEL, Sport, Value Edition
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 235/40R18, 225/45R17, 205/55R16
- OEM Tire(s): Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, Kumho Solus KH16, Continental ContiProContact, Hankook Optimo H426
- Trim(s): Hybrid (all versions), Limited, N Line, SE, SEL
Choosing New Hyundai Elantra Tires
Choosing the best tires for your Elantra can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. That’s what this section is all about. Here we will explore what aspects you should consider when shopping for your next set of tires. Basically, what you need to do is ask yourself the right questions to guide you in the right direction.
What’s Your Weather Like?
Weather is the first factor to consider when choosing tires. The reason is simple; if you live in an area where the winter is harsh or where it rains a lot, then you will need tires that will provide adequate grip in inclement weather conditions. Ignoring this aspect can be detrimental to your driving quality and safety since your Elantra will easily skid on slippery surfaces.
What Do You Use Your Hyundai Elantra For?
The Elantra is a very versatile car. It can be used for passenger transportation, a family car, or a sports sedan. Each use case has specific requirements. For example, an Elantra N Line will likely need an amazing dry grip, while a passenger-carrying Elantra should favor durability and fuel economy.
Comfort, Performance, Budget. Pick Two.
Once you know what you are going to use your Elantra for, you should determine what compromises you are willing to make. Summer tires tend to have better wet and dry grip but at the cost of lower durability. All-season tires tend to have excellent tread life but sacrifice traction to some extent. If all this sounds complicated, don’t worry. In the following section, we’ll present a list of the best tires for your Elantra based on what’s most important to you.
[sc name=”best-tires-for-hyundai-elantra”][/sc]
The Best Tires for Hyundai Elantra
Choosing tires for your Elantra doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Below you’ll find the best tires for each use case.
Best Overall
Michelin CrossClimate2
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.70 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.75 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.50 / 5
Treadwear: 4.55 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.60 / 5
We may earn commission from purchases made from our links, at no additional cost to you
IIf you are looking for the best of the best for your Elantra, then the Michelin CrossClimate2 is for you. This tire brings together the best of Michelin’s technology to give you a tire with amazing dry, wet, and snow grip and unsurpassed ride quality and tread life.
We’re talking about Michelin’s Thermal Adaptive all-season tread compound, V Ramp chamfers, PIANO Noise Reduction Tuning, and computed optimized directional tread design, among other enhancements. All of this obviously impacts the price; however, if you want the best tire for everyday driving, then the CrossClimate2 is unrivaled.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 640 B A
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 Years / 60K Miles
Price Range: $148 to $193 per tire
Best Summer Tires for Hyundai Elantra
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.80 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.60 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.45 / 5
Treadwear: 4.15 / 5
We may earn commission from purchases made from our links, at no additional cost to you
We have already mentioned Hyundai’s N Line. If you drive one of those powerful Elantras, or if you are a spirited driver, then you should consider the incredible Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. The Pilot Sport 4S is designed specifically for high-performance vehicles like Porsches, AMGs, or BMW Ms.
For this reason; they use an advanced state-of-the-art compound and a tread pattern that gives you unsurpassed wet and dry grip. Keep in mind that to achieve this level of traction, the Pilot Sport 4S sacrifices durability and to some extent, comfort. Moreover, this is the most expensive tire on our list. Nevertheless, if you are looking for maximum traction and braking performance, then the Pilot Sport 4S will not disappoint.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 300 A A
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 Years / 30K Miles
Price Range: $216 to $218 per tire
Best Cheap Tires for Hyundai Elantra
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.65 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.30 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.30 / 5
Treadwear: 4.15 / 5
We may earn commission from purchases made from our links, at no additional cost to you
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S are amazing, but their price is out of reach for many enthusiasts. For that reason, we’ve included on this list a notably less expensive option, the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500. Despite its ridiculously low price, the Firehawk Indy 500 is a very capable summer tire.
One only has to look at its ratings to see that it is an excellent value for money tire, ideal for spirited drivers who don’t mind having to use a different tire for winter. In short, if your budget is limited and you are looking for a tire that provides powerful braking and excellent wet and dry grip, the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is for you.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 340 A A
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: None
Price Range: $117 to $137 per tire
[sc name=”see-table-button”]
Best All-Weather Tires for Hyundai Elantra
Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.65 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.55 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.30 / 5
Treadwear: 4.40 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.35 / 5
We may earn commission from purchases made from our links, at no additional cost to you
You can think of the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady as an excellent alternative to Michelin CrossClimate2. This is an all-season tire that provides predictable dry, wet, and snow braking as well as excellent durability and comfort.
Goodyear has achieved these good results through the use of exclusive technologies such as 3D TredLock Technology Blades, Evolving Traction Grooves, Sweeping Tread Grooves, and premium tread materials. All in all, with a 6-year manufacturer’s warranty and tread life of approximately 70k miles, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady is an ideal choice for Elantras working in passenger transportation or drivers looking for a reliable tire for daily driving.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 700 A A
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 Years / 60K Miles
Price Range: $145 to $179 per tire
Best Snow Tires for Hyundai Elantra
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.35 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.60 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.40 / 5
Treadwear: 4.25 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.65 / 5
We may earn commission from purchases made from our links, at no additional cost to you
In places where winter is inclement, it is essential to use special winter tires. If that’s your case, then you won’t find a better choice than the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90.
Thanks to Bridgestone’s EdgePerformance Technology and its Multi-Cell compound, this tire is able to offer you amazing stopping power on snow and ice. Moreover, the directional tread pattern of the Blizzak WS90 ensures safe handling on difficult snow-covered roads. In other words, these are the best winter tires you can put on your Elantra.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: None
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: None
Price Range: $138 to $182 per tire
[sc name=”see-table-button”]
Conclusion
In this review, we’ve explored different tires for your Elantra. From economical and durable to high-performance tires. We’ve also explored the simplest and most practical way to find out which tires are best for your car by asking yourself the right questions.
So the next time you’re out shopping for tires, think about what you’ll be using your car for, the type of weather in your area, and what your driving style is like. That will help you choose the best tires for your Hyundai Elantra.
[sc name=”see-table-button”]
People Also Ask
Do you still have questions about Hyundai Elantra wheels? If so, this section may be of interest to you.
Depending on the year and model of your Hyundai Elantra, it may come with tires ranging from 195/60R15 to 235/40R18. Tire size is important; for that reason, we suggest you review the section “Hyundai Elantra Tire Size Overview” to get a better idea of the right size for your car. Please refer to the owner’s manual if you are still in doubt.
Yes, the Hyundai Elantra has an excellent performance in snow. This is due to the combination of its ABS brakes, Stability Control, and Traction Control systems. However, none of these systems substitutes good snow tires, which are still indispensable for safe driving in harsh winters.