215/65R16 tires

215/65R16 is a compact SUV and minivan size from the 2000s: the 2009 to 2013 Subaru Forester, the 2005 to 2009 Hyundai Tucson, the 2005 to 2010 Kia Sportage, the 2004 to 2010 Toyota Sienna CE, the 2005 to 2006 Honda CR-V and the 2001 to 2007 Chrysler Town & Country Touring and Limited. Below are real prices for 227 tires in stock, three picks with the specifications behind them, and the load-index difference between them.

What 215/65R16 tires cost

Prices are per tire, before mounting and balancing. A set of four in the mid range comes to roughly $364 to $480, and a brand rebate can take another $50 to $110 off, see this month's deals.

See every 215/65R16 tire in stock at SimpleTire

A tall, forgiving size for older family cars

With a 65-series sidewall on a 16-inch wheel, 215/65R16 stands about 27 inches tall and absorbs broken pavement better than the low-profile sizes that replaced it. That suits the vehicles on this page, most of which are now in their second or third ownership and are often driven on a budget. It also makes the size a common winter choice: a set of snow tires on 16-inch steel wheels is less expensive here than in almost any 17- or 18-inch crossover size.

Watch the load index. Our budget and premium picks are listed today as 102 extra-load tires and the Kumho as a 98 standard-load tire. Read the number on your placard: a higher index than it specifies is always acceptable, a lower one is not, and a minivan like the Sienna or Town & Country carries more weight than the compact SUVs.

Forester owners: all four at once

The Forester has full-time all-wheel drive, and tires of different circumference on the two axles make the drivetrain work constantly. Replace all four tires together rather than one or two, and rotate them regularly so they wear evenly. The same applies to the all-wheel-drive Tucson, Sportage and CR-V.

The CR-V only used this size in 2005 and 2006; the 2002 to 2004 models came on 205/70R15, so check the placard if your CR-V is older. The 2001 to 2005 RAV4 used 215/70R16, not this size.

What the numbers on the sidewall mean

A 215/65R16 tire is 215 millimeters wide, its sidewall is 65 percent of that (about 5.5 inches tall), and it mounts on a 16-inch wheel. That works out to an overall diameter of roughly 27 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 102H on the Atturo AZ600 (1,874 lb per tire, rated to 130 mph), 98T on the Kumho Solus TA51a (1,653 lb per tire, rated to 118 mph) and 102V on the Continental 4x4 Contact (1,874 lb per tire, rated to 149 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.

Atturo AZ600, $87.99. A crossover all-season with dense siping and a rim guard, listed here as 102H, an extra-load tire. The retailer gives a 60,000-mile tread life warranty; no UTQG grade is published. For an older SUV on a budget it is a sensible buy. Four come to $351.96.

Kumho Solus TA51a, $116.63. Kumho's touring all-season carries a 75,000-mile warranty on T-rated sizes and 65,000 on H and above, plus a road hazard warranty and a 30-day refund or exchange. The version here is 98T. It is the best value per mile of the three for a car with a 98 placard.

Continental 4x4 Contact, $143.05. An SUV all-season with a 360 treadwear grade in this very size, sold under Continental's Total Confidence Plan with road hazard and a satisfaction trial. In this size it is a 102V extra-load tire. The pages we read do not give a mileage figure, so check the listing.

What 215/65R16 tires cost across the whole range

Of the 320 tires listed in this size, 227 are in stock today. The lowest price is the Waterfall Eco Dynamic UHP Summer at $75.96, a 98H tire. The median is $102.96; a third of the tires cost $90.96 or less, and the top five percent start above $184.96. 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 Atturo AZ600, our budget pick here at $87.99, is also stocked in 225/60R17 ($98.96), 235/60R18 ($110.99), 225/55R17 ($94.99) and 225/60R18 ($103.99). The Kumho Solus TA51a, our mid-range pick here at $116.63, is also stocked in 215/55R18 ($170.10). The Continental 4x4 Contact, our premium pick here at $143.05, is also stocked in 265/60R18 ($167.40) and 275/45R20 ($316.80). 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 in this size: what the states actually require

Crossovers in this size come both ways, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, and the difference matters under the traction laws. 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. You need either an all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle, or tires marked M+S, 3PMSF or rated all-weather by the manufacturer, and in every case at least 3/16 inch of tread. Fines start at $130. An AWD crossover passes on the vehicle alone; a front-wheel-drive one does not, and then the tire marking is what the trooper checks. If you want one set year-round in the snow belt, an all-weather tire with the 3PMSF symbol is the better answer than a plain all-season.

None of our picks in this size, the Atturo AZ600, carries the 3PMSF symbol; for that, look at the all-weather and winter tires.

Vehicles that came with 215/65R16

• Honda CR-V (2005-2006, EX)
• Subaru Forester (2009-2013, base)
• Hyundai Tucson (2005-2009)
• Kia Sportage (2005-2010)
• Toyota Sienna (2004-2010, CE)
• Chrysler Town & Country (2001-2007, Touring/Limited)

Other years and wheel packages of the same models came on 225/60R17, 205/70R15 or 235/60R18 instead, so read the placard inside the driver's door before you order.

Which type of 215/65R16 tire?

Frequently asked questions

How much do 215/65R16 tires cost?

Expect $76–$91 per tire for a budget brand, $91–$120 for a mid-range tire like the Kumho Solus TA51a, and $120–$185 for a premium tire like the Continental 4x4 Contact. A set of four therefore starts at about $304. Add roughly $15 to $45 per tire for mounting and balancing.

What vehicles use 215/65R16 tires?

215/65R16 is original equipment on Honda CR-V (2005-2006, EX), Subaru Forester (2009-2013, base), Hyundai Tucson (2005-2009), Kia Sportage (2005-2010), Toyota Sienna (2004-2010, CE) and Chrysler Town & Country (2001-2007, Touring/Limited), 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 215/65R16 tire?

For most drivers our mid-range pick, the Kumho Solus TA51a, 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 4x4 Contact is worth the extra. On a tight budget the Atturo AZ600 is a sound choice.

Can I replace just one or two 215/65R16 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.