225/40R18 tires

225/40R18 is the 18-inch size of the sporty compact: the 2015 to 2021 Volkswagen GTI, the Toyota Corolla SE and XSE since 2020, the Subaru Impreza Sport, the Kia Forte GT, the Hyundai Elantra Sport of 2017 and 2018, the Veloster 2.0 and Turbo, and the Acura ILX A-Spec. Below are real prices for 242 tires in stock, three picks with the specifications behind them, and how far a 40-series sidewall changes the choice.

What 225/40R18 tires cost

Prices are per tire, before mounting and balancing. A set of four in the mid range comes to roughly $412 to $752, and a brand rebate can take another $50 to $110 off, see this month's deals.

See every 225/40R18 tire in stock at SimpleTire

A short sidewall on a light car

A 225/40R18 has a sidewall of only about 3.5 inches. That gives quick steering and a firm ride, but little cushion for potholes, and a hard hit is more likely to bend the wheel or cut the tire than with a taller size. Keep the pressures at the placard values, check them monthly and do not let the tires run low: on a short sidewall, underinflation shows up as wheel damage.

Most tires in this size are sold as 92 extra-load (XL), and all three of our picks are 92. The speed rating varies from H to Y, so match or exceed what your placard specifies.

GTI and Corolla SE: performance or touring?

The GTI and Forte GT are driven for fun, and an ultra-high-performance all-season or a summer tire suits them. The Corolla SE, Impreza Sport and ILX are more often commuters with a sporty look, and a touring all-season with a longer warranty may be the better buy. The difference in this size is real: the Milestar carries a 60,000-mile warranty in its V-rated version, while the UHP Continental carries 50,000.

If you drive in snow, none of the three picks is a winter tire; a set of 16- or 17-inch winter wheels, if your brakes allow it, costs less than winter tires in this size.

What the numbers on the sidewall mean

A 225/40R18 tire is 225 millimeters wide, its sidewall is 40 percent of that (about 3.5 inches tall), and it mounts on a 18-inch wheel. That works out to an overall diameter of roughly 25.1 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 92V on the Milestar MS932 Sport (1,389 lb per tire, rated to 149 mph) and 92H on the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season (1,389 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.

Milestar MS932 Sport, $90.99. Milestar's all-season, listed as 92V in this size. The retailer gives 60,000 miles for T, H and V ratings and 50,000 for W. It is a comfortable, inexpensive choice for a Corolla SE or Impreza Sport driven to work.

Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, $168.99. The performance all-season for a GTI or Forte GT, with a 50,000-mile warranty and the SportPlus+ compound for precise handling. It is listed here as, the highest speed rating of the three.

Pirelli Cinturato P7, $210.10. Pirelli's grand-touring tire, listed as 92H in this size, a lower speed rating than many sport-trim placards in this size call for. Pirelli sells both summer and all-season versions under this name; read the full model name on the listing.

What 225/40R18 tires cost across the whole range

Of the 331 tires listed in this size, 242 are in stock today. The median is $153.98; a third of the tires cost $102.99 or less, and the top five percent start above $274.99. 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 Milestar MS932 Sport, our budget pick here at $90.99, is also stocked in 185/65R14 ($79.96), 225/50R18 ($94.96), 235/55R18 ($129.99) and 235/65R18 ($132.99). The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, our mid-range pick here at $168.99, is also stocked in 215/45R17 ($176.99), 215/45R18 ($189.99), 225/45R18 ($196.99) and 235/40R18 ($192.99). 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 and this size: summer tires are not winter tires

Many tires sold in this size are summer tires, and the manufacturers advise against driving them in near-freezing temperatures: the compound hardens, grip drops sharply and the tread can crack. They also carry no M+S or 3PMSF marking, so a car on summer tires fails Colorado's Passenger Vehicle Traction Law outright on the 126 miles of I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison, in force from September 1 to May 31, unless it is all-wheel drive with at least 3/16 inch of tread; fines start at $130. If the car is driven year-round in a state with real winters, either run an all-season or all-weather tire in this size or keep a second set of winter tires, often on a smaller, narrower wheel that is also less expensive.

None of our picks in this size, the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, carries the 3PMSF symbol; for that, look at the all-weather and winter tires.

Vehicles that came with 225/40R18

• Volkswagen GTI (2015-2021)
• Toyota Corolla (2020-2024, SE/XSE)
• Subaru Impreza (2017-2023, Sport)
• Kia Forte GT (2020-2024)
• Hyundai Elantra Sport (2017-2018)
• Hyundai Veloster Turbo (2019-2022)
• Acura ILX (2019-2022, A-Spec)

Other years and wheel packages of the same models came on 205/55R16, 185/65R14 or 185/70R14 instead, so read the placard inside the driver's door before you order.

Which type of 225/40R18 tire?

Frequently asked questions

How much do 225/40R18 tires cost?

Expect $75–$103 per tire for a budget brand, $103–$188 for a mid-range tire like the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, and $188–$275 for a premium tire like the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season. A set of four therefore starts at about $300. Add roughly $15 to $45 per tire for mounting and balancing.

What vehicles use 225/40R18 tires?

225/40R18 is original equipment on Volkswagen GTI (2015-2021), Toyota Corolla (2020-2024, SE/XSE), Subaru Impreza (2017-2023, Sport), Kia Forte GT (2020-2024), Hyundai Elantra Sport (2017-2018), Hyundai Veloster Turbo (2019-2022) and Acura ILX (2019-2022, A-Spec), 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 225/40R18 tire?

For most drivers our mid-range pick, the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus, 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 Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season is worth the extra. On a tight budget the Milestar MS932 Sport is a sound choice.

Can I replace just one or two 225/40R18 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.