205/65R16 tires
205/65R16 is the base-trim size of the midsize sedan. The Toyota Camry L and LE from 2012 to 2017, the 2011 to 2019 Hyundai Sonata in GLS, SE and Eco trims, the 2016 to 2020 Kia Optima LX and the 2016 to 2018 Chevrolet Malibu L and LS all came on it. Below are real prices for 188 tires in stock, three picks with their size-specific specifications, and how they compare with what these cars wore from the factory.
Yes, this fits your Chevrolet Malibu. 205/65R16 is the original size on the 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu.
The sticker inside the driver's door is still the final word, because trim and wheel package can change the size. Back to every Chevrolet Malibu size.
What 205/65R16 tires cost
Kelly Edge Touring Plus
Touring all-season, 95H, 65,000-mile warranty, UTQG 680 A A.
Listed as Kelly Edge 205/65R16 95H Touring Plus Passenger Tires
General AltiMAX RT45
All-season, 95H, UTQG 700 A A, 75,000 miles for H-rated sizes.
Listed as General AltiMAX RT45 205/65R16 95H All Season Passenger Tires
Continental ContiProContact
All-season, 95H, 60,000 miles in H, UTQG 500 A A.
Listed as Continental ContiProContact 205/65R16 95H All Season Passenger Tires
Prices are per tire, before mounting and balancing. A set of four in the mid range comes to roughly $356 to $504, and a brand rebate can take another $50 to $110 off, see this month's deals.
Cheapest 205/65R16 right now
Landspider CityTraxx G/P 205/65R16 95H All Season Passenger Tires
$70.07per tire $140.14 for 2 tires · $280.28 for 4
188 tires in this size, priced straight from SimpleTire's own product feed, read 13 November 2026. Stock and prices move daily, so check the shop for today's figure.
See every 205/65R16 tire in stock at SimpleTire
Every pick here outranks the factory tire
Toyota fitted the 2016 Camry LE, including the hybrid, with a P205/65R16 rated 94S. All three of our picks are 95H tires in this size: a step up in load index and three steps up in speed rating, from 112 to 130 mph. That is allowed and usually welcome, since H-rated tires tend to steer a little more precisely, but it also means a slightly firmer ride than the original set. If you liked how the car rode new, a touring tire with a high treadwear grade will feel closest.
On the hybrid Camry and the Sonata Eco and Hybrid, rolling resistance matters more than on the gas cars, because those models' fuel figures were measured on the factory tires.
Why the 16-inch trim is cheapest to keep on the road
The same sedans with 17- or 18-inch wheels use 215/55R17 or 225/45R18, and those sizes cost more per tire, wear faster on lower-profile sidewalls and are more easily damaged by potholes. The 16-inch tire's taller sidewall soaks up broken pavement and protects the wheel. If you are shopping for a used Camry or Sonata and will keep it a long time, the base wheel size is quietly one of the better features.
What the numbers on the sidewall mean
A 205/65R16 tire is 205 millimeters wide, its sidewall is 65 percent of that (about 5.2 inches tall), and it mounts on a 16-inch wheel. That works out to an overall diameter of roughly 26.5 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 95H on the Kelly Edge Touring Plus, General AltiMAX RT45 and Continental ContiProContact (1,521 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.
| Kelly Edge Touring Plus | General AltiMAX RT45 | Continental ContiProContact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per tire (Nov 13, 2026) | $113.96 | $137.99 | $171.99 |
| Set of four | $455.84 | $551.96 | $687.96 |
| Service description in 205/65R16 | 95H | 95H | 95H |
| Mileage warranty | see listing | 75,000 mi for T and H speed ratings; 65,000 mi for V | 80,000 mi for S and T speed ratings; 60,000 mi for H; 40,000 mi for V and W |
| UTQG treadwear / traction / temperature | see listing | 600 A B (typical, varies by size) | 400 AA A (typical, varies by size) |
| Season | see listing | All-season | All-season |
| Extras | — | — | — |
Kelly Edge, $113.96. In 205/65R16 the retailer stocks the Touring Plus version of Kelly's Edge line, a silica-compound touring tire rated 95H, graded 680 A A and warranted for 65,000 miles. Strong numbers for the budget slot.
General AltiMAX RT45, $137.99. General's long-running all-season and our default for these sedans. In this size it is a 95H graded 700 A A, with 11/32 inch of tread. General gives T- and H-rated sizes a 75,000-mile warranty, the longest of the three.
Continental ContiProContact, $171.99. Continental's comfort-oriented all-season, with a tread design aimed at low road noise. Its warranty depends on speed rating: 60,000 miles for this H-rated size. The 500 treadwear grade is the lowest here, so you are paying for refinement rather than mileage.
What 205/65R16 tires cost across the whole range
Of the 242 tires listed in this size, 188 are in stock today. The lowest price is the Landspider CityTraxx G/P at $70.07, a 95H tire. The median is $103.96; a third of the tires cost $88.99 or less, and the top five percent start above $176. 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 General AltiMAX RT45, our mid-range pick here at $137.99, is also stocked in 215/55R17 ($160.99), 215/60R16 ($129.99), 205/65R15 ($120.99) and 215/60R15 ($125.99). The Continental ContiProContact, our premium pick here at $171.99, is also stocked in 205/55R16 ($142.24), 195/65R15 ($122.08), 225/50R17 ($187.99) and 225/60R18 ($174.96). 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 sedan in this size
Most sedans in this size are front-wheel drive, and that decides what the snow laws ask of the tires. On the 126 miles of I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison, Colorado's Passenger Vehicle Traction Law runs from September 1 to May 31: a two-wheel-drive car needs 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. The touring all-seasons that dominate this size are almost all M+S rated. An all-wheel-drive sedan passes on the vehicle alone, but all-wheel drive only helps you accelerate; braking and cornering on snow come entirely from the tire, so an all-weather tire with the 3PMSF symbol is the better year-round answer in the snow belt.
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 205/65R16
- Toyota Camry (2012-2017, L/LE)
- Hyundai Sonata (2011-2019, GLS/SE)
- Kia Optima (2016-2020, LX)
- Chevrolet Malibu (2016-2018, L/LS)
Upper trims of the same sedans moved to 17- and 18-inch wheels; the placard on the driver's door jamb lists the size for your trim.
Which type of 205/65R16 tire?
All-Season Tires
Drivers in the South, West Coast and mild parts of the Midwest who want one set of tires that lasts a long time and is quiet.
All-Weather Tires
Drivers in snow-belt states who want one set of tires with proven snow traction and no seasonal swap.
Winter Tires
Anyone in the northern US, Canada-border states or mountain regions where snow and ice are on the roads for weeks at a time.
Frequently asked questions
How much do 205/65R16 tires cost?
Expect $70–$89 per tire for a budget brand, $89–$126 for a mid-range tire like the General AltiMAX RT45, and $126–$176 for a premium tire like the Continental ContiProContact. A set of four therefore starts at about $280. Add roughly $15 to $45 per tire for mounting and balancing.
What vehicles use 205/65R16 tires?
205/65R16 is original equipment on Toyota Camry (2012-2017, L/LE), Hyundai Sonata (2011-2019, GLS/SE), Kia Optima (2016-2020, LX) and Chevrolet Malibu (2016-2018, L/LS), 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 205/65R16 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 Kelly Edge Touring Plus is a sound choice.
Can I replace just one or two 205/65R16 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.