205/55R16 tires

205/55R16 has been the best-selling tire size in the United States for years. It is the step-up size on the Civic EX, Corolla S and LE, Jetta and Golf, the standard size on the Mazda3 i Touring and the Hyundai Elantra Limited, and the one size that fits the Subaru Impreza across fifteen model years. Below are real prices for 312 tires in stock, three picks with the manufacturers' specifications behind them, and the one rule Subaru owners cannot skip.

What 205/55R16 tires cost

Prices are per tire, before mounting and balancing. A set of four in the mid range comes to roughly $336 to $536, and a brand rebate can take another $50 to $110 off, see this month's deals.

See every 205/55R16 tire in stock at SimpleTire

The size everyone builds for

Because 205/55R16 is original equipment on so many compact cars, it is the size tire makers launch new models in first and the one where every tier is fully stocked: grand touring all-seasons, ultra-high-performance all-seasons for the GTI and Jetta GLI crowd, dedicated winter tires, and the lowest-priced imports. The placard on most of these cars calls for a 91 load index and an H or V speed rating; the Corolla and Civic LE-class cars are often T-rated. A V-rated tire covers everything on this list, but on a Corolla you are paying for speed capability you will never use, and the H or T version of the same tire usually wears longer.

This is also the most common 16-inch winter size, which means a second set of steel wheels with winter tires is inexpensive and easy to find. If you live in the snow belt and keep the car for years, that pays for itself in all-season tires that no longer have to do everything.

Subaru Impreza: replace all four

The Impreza is the one all-wheel-drive car on this list, and Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive is sensitive to differences in tire circumference. The owner's manual asks for all four tires to be the same brand, model and size, and for the difference in tread depth between them to stay small. Replacing one damaged tire next to three half-worn ones can load the center differential. If one tire is ruined early, have the new one shaved to match the others, or replace all four. The same advice applies to any all-wheel-drive car, but Subaru is the maker that states it most clearly.

Front-wheel-drive Civic, Corolla and Jetta owners have more freedom: replacing in pairs is fine, and the newer pair belongs on the rear axle, where a loss of grip is harder to catch.

What the numbers on the sidewall mean

A 205/55R16 tire is 205 millimeters wide, its sidewall is 55 percent of that (about 4.4 inches tall), and it mounts on a 16-inch wheel. That works out to an overall diameter of roughly 24.9 inches. Every replacement has to match all three numbers, and the load index and speed rating on the placard inside the driver's door have to be met or exceeded.

In this size our picks are marked 94V on the Lexani Quattro Tempo AW (1,477 lb per tire, rated to 149 mph), 91H on the General AltiMAX RT45 (1,356 lb per tire, rated to 130 mph) and 89H on the Continental ContiProContact (1,279 lb per tire, rated to 130 mph). The first number is the load index, the letter the speed rating; a tire with equal or higher values than your placard is fine, a lower one is not.

Our guide on reading a tire size walks through the markings, and this one lists every load index and speed code.

Our three picks, side by side

One tire at each price level from what the retailer stocks in this size, with the mileage warranty and UTQG grades as published by the manufacturers and their retailers. Treadwear is the number to compare: it is a relative wear rate, so 700 should last roughly twice as long as 350 on the same car.

Lexani Quattro Tempo AW, $72.96. Our budget pick: the lowest-priced tire in this size with a specification sheet we could actually check. An all-weather tire with a 50,000-mile tread life warranty (50,000 mi per the retailer's spec sheet; its description says 70,000 mi). The published UTQG grade is 360 A A in a representative size: a treadwear number of 360 is on the soft side, which usually means more grip and shorter life. A set of four comes to $291.84 before mounting.

General AltiMAX RT45, $128.99. The mid-range pick, and the default for most drivers of the vehicles listed on this page. An all-season tire with a 75,000-mile tread life warranty (75,000 mi for T and H speed ratings; 65,000 mi for V). The published UTQG grade is 600 A B in a representative size: a treadwear number of 600 is typical for this type of tire. It does not carry the 3PMSF symbol; in the snow belt treat it as a three-season tire or look at the all-weather options. A set of four comes to $515.96 before mounting.

Continental ContiProContact, $142.24. The premium pick, for the owner who keeps the vehicle a long time and drives it a lot. An all-season tire with a 60,000-mile tread life warranty (80,000 mi for S and T speed ratings; 60,000 mi for H; 40,000 mi for V and W). The published UTQG grade is 400 AA A in a representative size: a treadwear number of 400 is on the soft side, which usually means more grip and shorter life. It does not carry the 3PMSF symbol; in the snow belt treat it as a three-season tire or look at the all-weather options. A set of four comes to $568.96 before mounting.

What 205/55R16 tires cost across the whole range

Of the 439 tires listed in this size, 312 are in stock today. The lowest price is the Royal Black at $59.96, a 91V tire. The median is $112.47; a third of the tires cost $83.96 or less, and the top five percent start above $192.08. Those are per-tire prices before mounting and balancing, which adds $15 to $45 per tire at most shops, read from the retailer's feed Nov 13, 2026.

The same tires in neighboring sizes

The Lexani Quattro Tempo AW, our budget pick here at $72.96, is also stocked in 195/55R16 ($65.96), 185/60R15 ($52.11) and 185/65R15 ($54.96). The General AltiMAX RT45, our mid-range pick here at $128.99, is also stocked in 195/65R15 ($114.99), 215/50R17 ($162.99), 215/60R15 ($125.99) and 195/50R16 ($142.99). The Continental ContiProContact, our premium pick here at $142.24, is also stocked in 195/65R15 ($122.08), 235/40R18 ($179.20), 205/65R16 ($171.99) and 225/50R17 ($187.99). Useful if your vehicle came with a different wheel package, or if you are comparing an upsize: the same tire usually costs more per inch of wheel, not per inch of rubber. Prices per tire, from the retailer's feed Nov 13, 2026.

Winter on a compact car in this size

Compact cars are nearly all front-wheel drive, and that is what the traction laws look at. In Colorado the Passenger Vehicle Traction Law applies on the 126 miles of I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison from September 1 to May 31: a two-wheel-drive car must be on tires marked M+S, 3PMSF or rated all-weather by the manufacturer, with at least 3/16 inch of tread, and fines start at $130. Most all-season tires in this size are M+S rated, so the marking is usually there; the tread depth is what catches older tires. A light car on narrow tires actually does well in snow because the tire cuts down to the road instead of floating on it, so a dedicated winter set in this same size, swapped on in November, is the simplest upgrade if you live where it snows.

None of our picks in this size, the General AltiMAX RT45 and Continental ContiProContact, carries the 3PMSF symbol; for that, look at the all-weather and winter tires.

Vehicles that came with 205/55R16

• Honda Civic (2006-2015, EX)
• Toyota Corolla (2009-2019, S/LE)
• Volkswagen Jetta (2005-2018)
• Volkswagen Golf (2010-2019)
• Mazda3 (2004-2018, i Touring)
• Subaru Impreza (2008-2023)
• Hyundai Elantra (2011-2016, Limited)
• Kia Forte (2014-2018, LX)
• Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 (1984-1989, 16 in front)
• Porsche 944 Turbo (1986-1991, front)
• Porsche 944 S2 (1989-1991, 16 in front)

Other years and wheel packages of the same models came on 195/65R15, 195/60R15 or 225/45R17 instead, so read the placard inside the driver's door before you order.

Which type of 205/55R16 tire?

Frequently asked questions

How much do 205/55R16 tires cost?

Expect $60–$84 per tire for a budget brand, $84–$134 for a mid-range tire like the General AltiMAX RT45, and $134–$192 for a premium tire like the Continental ContiProContact. A set of four therefore starts at about $240. Add roughly $15 to $45 per tire for mounting and balancing.

What vehicles use 205/55R16 tires?

205/55R16 is original equipment on Honda Civic (2006-2015, EX), Toyota Corolla (2009-2019, S/LE), Volkswagen Jetta (2005-2018), Volkswagen Golf (2010-2019), Mazda3 (2004-2018, i Touring), Subaru Impreza (2008-2023), Hyundai Elantra (2011-2016, Limited), Kia Forte (2014-2018, LX), Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 (1984-1989, 16 in front), Porsche 944 Turbo (1986-1991, front) and Porsche 944 S2 (1989-1991, 16 in front), among others. Always confirm with the sticker inside your driver's door, because trim levels and wheel packages can change the size.

What is the best 205/55R16 tire?

For most drivers our mid-range pick, the General AltiMAX RT45, is the sweet spot of price and tread life. If you keep the vehicle a long time or drive in heavy rain and snow, the Continental ContiProContact is worth the extra. On a tight budget the Lexani Quattro Tempo AW is a sound choice.

Can I replace just one or two 205/55R16 tires?

On a front- or rear-wheel-drive car, yes: replace in pairs on the same axle and put the newer pair on the rear. On all-wheel-drive vehicles most makers want all four replaced together, or a new tire shaved to match, because a difference in circumference strains the drivetrain.