Best Tires for Hyundai Sonata
We can help you gain access to some of the best Hyundai Sonata tires on the market today. The tires in this list have the best safety qualities and will last for a long time. This makes them the ideal tires for your car. For that perfect driving experience, you need to equip your car with the best tires on the market.
Tires for Hyundai Sonata Best Choice
Best choice
Bridgestone Turanza EL42 Radial Tire
4,9 Rating
The traction and cornering grip on dry and wet roads are excellent. The steering feel and overall stability offered by this tire is among the best in its class. Driving comfort is another area where this tire excels and is in line with the better tires in its class. The ride is smooth and very quiet, which is exactly what you want for longer trips on the motorway.
- Excellent traction on dry and wet roads
- 205/65R16 94T
Top rated tires for Hyundai Sonata
Best tires for Hyundai Sonata
Best tires for Hyundai Sonata
1. GOODYEAR ASSURANCE MAXLIFE
2. Michelin Defender T + H
3. Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus Street
4. Hankook Ventus V2 Concept 2
5. Bridgestone Turanza EL42 Radial Tire
6. Nexen N5000 Plus All-Season Radial Tire
7. Hankook KINERGY PT H737 95H All- Season Radial Tire
8. Nexen Aria AH7 All- Season Radial Tire
9. Hankook Kinergy ST H735 All-Season Radial Tire
10. BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport All-Season Radial Tire
11. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ All- Season Radial Tire
12. Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 All-Season Radial Tire
13. CONTINENTAL TRUE CONTACT TOUR All- Season Radial Tire
14. Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Winter Radial Tire
15. Michelin X-Ice Xi3 Winter Radial Tire
16. Cooper Evolution Winter Studable-Winter Radial Tire
17. Firestone Wnterforce 2 Studable-Winter Radial Tire
18. Hankook Winter iPike RS W419 Passenger Radial Tire
All-Season Tires
Performance Tires Hyundai Sonata
Touring All-Season Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai Sonata Winter Tires
Tires For Hyundai Sonata
The Hyundai Sonata has been in production since 1985. It is a car that has some unique features that make sure that everyone who comes in contact with it loves it. The four-door sedan has a slim shape that emphasizes its very capable engine and thus the immortal love that flows over it from different sides. There are many cases where you may have cursed yourself because you fitted your Sonata with the wrong tires, especially in winter or when driving on a muddy, slippery track. Winter tires and summer tires are special tires that help you to have a wonderful driving experience in these special seasons. However, due to economic efficiency and improvements in innovative technology, all-season tires have been introduced together with off-road tires, so you can tackle all types of roads with one set of tires.
205/65R16
All-Season Tires
1. GOODYEAR ASSURANCE MAXLIFE
Buy GOODYEAR ASSURANCE MAXLIFE
Goodyear’s new Assurance All-Season is its latest entry into the basic all-year category and delivers performance that we believe is in the mid to upper half of the class. On the positive side, the tire’s dry traction and handling are excellent. It behaves well when cornering or driving up and down ramps on the highway.
All in all, the Goodyear All-Season offers pretty good value for money. It’s a nice option for a tire that travels back and forth to work every day.
Pros:
- Dry traction and handling
- Comfortable ride
- Low road noise
2. Michelin Defender T + H
Buy Michelin Defender T + H
A fantastic standard touring all-season tire is Michelin Defender T+H. Designed for coupes, family sedans, minivans and compact crossovers, this tire offers durable performance with comfortable all-season traction on dry, wet and light snow. For the latest generation Defender tire, Michelin used a new all-season tread compound with emphasis on improving durability and longevity compared to the previous generation model. The asymmetric tread pattern ensures smooth and quiet operation and is equipped with the company’s IntelliSipe technology, which consists of zigzag sipes that interlock under the surface. This increases the rigidity of the tread block and optimizes the contact of the tire with the road.
Pros:
- Smooth
- Robust handling
- Good rain performance
3. Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus Street
Buy Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus Street
It’s obvious that Pirelli has set out to improve the original P4 Four Seasons design, and for the most part they have succeeded. With unique technology and construction, the tires offer even traction and handling under all road conditions. Also, the ride is smooth and comfortable as you would expect from Pirelli.
Although the winter performance is better than that of many all-season touring tires, it still lacks the performance expected from a special winter tire.
Pros:
- Constant all-season traction and handling
- Smooth and comfortable ride without all the road noise
- Treadwear
4. Hankook Ventus V2 Concept 2
Buy Hankook Ventus V2 Concept 2
Ventus V2 concept2 (H457) is Hankook’s high-performance all-season tire designed for the drivers of mid-range sports cars, sports coupes, and performance sedans who seek dynamic styling and all-season performance. Designed to combine cutting-edge looks with responsive performance, Ventus V2 concept2 offers year-round traction in dry, wet and winter conditions even in light snow.
Pros:
- Features grippy silica-reinforced tread compound for long tread wear
- This is an excellent high-performance tire for the money
5. Bridgestone Turanza EL42 Radial Tire
Buy Bridgestone Turanza EL42 Radial Tire
The Serenity Plus was launched in mid-2012 and has quickly positioned itself as an exceptional all-season touring tire. The traction and cornering grip on dry and wet roads are excellent. The steering feel and overall stability offered by this tire is among the best in its class.
Driving comfort is another area where this tire excels and is in line with the better tires in its class. The ride is smooth and very quiet, which is exactly what you want for longer trips on the motorway.
Pros:
- Excellent traction on dry and wet roads
- Excellent cornering performance and steering response
- Exceptional driving comfort
- The service life of the tread is very good
6. Nexen N5000 Plus All-Season Radial Tire
Buy Nexen N5000 Plus All-Season Radial Tire
The Nexen N5000 Plus is a surprise sleeper in its class. For a cheaper tire, you might not expect the kind of everyday driving performance it offers.
Apart from winter performance, which leaves something to be desired in harsher conditions with tires in this class, tread wear was a real problem for many drivers. To get only 20 km out of the tread when it is guaranteed for 65 km is not good, even for a budget tire.
Overall, the N5000 Plus is an improvement over the original equipment tires, but not much. It delivers reliable performance all year round and comes at a lower price than many of the larger brands that can be attractive to budget-conscious drivers.
Pros:
- Good traction on dry and wet roads
- Smooth ride
- Quiet tires on the highway
- Budget price
7. Hankook KINERGY PT H737 95H All- Season Radial Tire
Buy Hankook KINERGY PT H737 95H All- Season Radial Tire
Hankook uses its unique all-season tread compound which is formulated to increase year-round traction and handling while reducing the rolling resistance of the tire for better fuel efficiency. The tread design features stiffer tread blocks and sidewalls which are optimized for better handling and longer tread life.
Overall, this is a good option for drivers looking for a solid, high-performance all-season tire. The price is also lower than many comparable tires for those who have a smaller budget.
Pros:
- Very good traction on dry and wet roads
- Steering response and cornering stability
- Comfortable ride
- 90K-Mile tread warranty
8. Nexen Aria AH7 All- Season Radial Tire
Buy Nexen Aria AH7 All- Season Radial Tire
Nexen Aria AH7 is one of those tires that will surprise you with how well it performs in all the important areas. Dry and wet braking, acceleration and traction are simply among the better tires in its class. Perhaps most surprising is the level of traction on snow, but also how quiet this tire is. Furthermore, the tread life has proven to be very good.
Overall, Nexen AH7 is a solid choice if you are looking for a standard all-season tire that offers good value for money and good performance.
Pros:
- Reliable traction on dry and wet roads
- Better than the average winter performance
- Smooth and quiet ride
- Tread life
9. Hankook Kinergy ST H735 All-Season Radial Tire
Buy Hankook Kinergy ST H735 All-Season Radial Tire
New Hankook Kinergy ST H735 is designed as a standard touring all-season tire for all road conditions. In addition, the Hankook Kinergy ST H735 features a dual-filler system that ensures low rolling resistance for improved tread life and provides balanced handling on dry and wet roads. It also offers optimized tread block stiffness which enhances the durability and uniformity of the tread pattern for improved performance and mileage. Stiff center rib offers excellent grip for outstanding dry handling and braking performance. Designed circumferential wide 4 channel grooves ensure maximum water evacuation for enhanced wet traction and the optimized sipes design enhances driving comfort and reduces road and passing noise.
Pros:
- Long-lasting 70,000-mile tread warranty.
- Low rolling resistance to improve fuel mileage.
- Comfortable ride.
Performance Tires
1. BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport All-Season Radial Tire
Buy BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport All-Season Radial Tire
BFGoodrich uses advanced silica-reinforced tread compound, symmetric tread pattern and 3D Active Blocking Sipe Technology which together offer greater grip and traction on wet and light snow conditions.
The BFG Sport LT also bears the 3-tip mountain/snowflake emblem, which means that it exceeds the industry’s strict requirements for snow service. This is not something you find on many all-season tires.
Pros:
- Wet and dry grip, traction, braking, and handling
- Cornering in dry and wet conditions
- Resistance to aquaplaning
2. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ All- Season Radial Tire
Buy Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ All- Season Radial Tire
Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is an all-season tire which is more suitable for daily driving than for high-performance vehicles. However, these tires still focus on performance which falls into the category ‘Ultra High-Performance All-Season’.
Pilot Sport A/S 3+ has a wet weather performance comparable to Pilot Sport 4S and SuperSport, which is impressive as these tires are also designed to be used in light snow. However, some users report that they are somewhat noisy at motorway speeds, so there are compromises for good grip over all four seasons.
If you want good grip in wet and dry weather, but there is not enough snow in your area to justify the purchase of a winter tire set, the Pilot Sport A/S 3+ may be well suited to your needs. These are among the best all-season performance tires you can buy.
Pros:
- Suitable all year round
- Good wet and dry grip
3. Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 All-Season Radial Tire
Buy Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 All-Season Radial Tire
It’s not often that you find a UHP all-season tire that does just about everything you could ask for, but that’s exactly what you get with the Continental DWS06.
Continental has taken its original class-leading UHP tire and managed to further improve traction on dry, wet and snowy roads, improve steering response and cornering stability, as well as increase driving comfort and reduce noise.
Overall, we believe that the DWS06 is one of the best tires in this category and we say this without any hype. It simply does not disappoint.
Pros:
- Excellent traction on dry/wet and snow-covered roads
- Responsive and precise control
- Significantly improved cornering stability
- Tread life
Touring All-Season
1. CONTINENTAL TRUE CONTACT TOUR All- Season Radial Tire
Buy CONTINENTAL TRUE CONTACT TOUR All- Season Radial Tire
As far as the tire specialists are concerned, Continental is one of the best in the world. With a long history of producing quality tires, the TrueContact is no different. It is well designed and offers superior traction, grip, and performance under all conditions. With special features for snow and winter weather, they can also be used safely all year round.
Expect a smooth and comfortable ride and a nice guarantee. This is one of the few tires that really don’t have a blatant negative impact.
Overall, this is an excellent choice if you want a high-quality all-season tire at an affordable price. It is one of the top tires in its class.
Pros:
- Innovative and all-round successful design
- Can handle all seasons including snow
- Good fuel consumption with its lower rolling resistance
- Excellent tread warranty
Winter Tires
1. Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Winter Radial Tire
Buy Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Winter Radial Tire
For more than 20 years, Blizzak winter tires have been among the highest quality tires to drive in harsh winter conditions, and the new Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 is eager to continue this run.
The grip on snow, ice, wet pavement and any other type of winter road conditions is excellent. It is hard to describe how safe this tire feels while driving in rough weather. As for the negative aspects, there are really none with a winter tire. Sure, we mentioned the cornering power on dry roads just to put something in, but this is a winter tire and not a high-performance summer tire.
Pros:
- Ice and snow grip
- Wet and slush traction
- Comfortable ride without much noise
2. Michelin X-Ice Xi3 Winter Radial Tire
Buy Michelin X-Ice Xi3 Winter Radial Tire
The Xi3 has further improved the traction and handling of the older Xi2 by providing even more traction and grip on dry and wet surfaces. The performance on snow and ice is amazing. The tire will not slip on you in snow, hard snow flurries, slush, freezing rain and ice unless you make a ridiculous fool of yourself. Instead, it inspires confidence and lets you know that you will reach your destination without problems.
All in all, X-Ice Xi3 is the best studless winter tire available on the market today. It has improved on the Xi2, which was already one of the best in its class, and is fighting for the honor of being the best in class.
Pros:
- Snow and ice traction is one of the best in class
- Excellent dry and wet handling
- The tires offer a comfortable and exceptionally quiet ride
- Very good tread life
3. Cooper Evolution Winter Studable-Winter Radial Tire
Buy Cooper Evolution Winter Studable-Winter Radial Tire
Incredibly quiet and comfortable for a winter tire. The Cooper Evolution Winter is studded for even better traction. It also has excellent braking distance thanks to the aggressive tread pattern that bites into the snow. Its saw-tooth circumferential center rib offers exceptional stability in all weather conditions – even the worst nature can dish it out.
Cooper does not make tires for cars – they make tires for people. With Cooper tires, you can go anywhere and do all the things you need to do.
Pros:
- Snow-Groove technology helps trap snow in the tread and improves grip through “snow on snow” traction
- Gives confidence in the cold and trusted performance in harsh winter weather.
- Designed to be quiet and powerful, giving you the confidence and concentration you need in winter weather.
4. Firestone Wnterforce 2 Studable-Winter Radial Tire
Buy Firestone Wnterforce 2 Studable-Winter Radial Tire
This new Firestone Winterforce 2 is equipped with all the features required for safe and reliable winter driving. It gives you the traction, grip, and handling you need on snow and ice. Its durability and resistance to aquaplaning are other important benefits of this tire.
Overall, Firestone Winterforce 2 is a very good, affordable and durable winter tire with unique features that enable it to offer better traction and grip in all types of winter conditions. The lower price compared to similar models makes it a solid value for price-conscious drivers who need a well-performing winter tire.
Pros:
- Winter traction, grip, braking and handling
- Wet traction and handling
- Treadwear
- Value for the lower costs
5. Hankook Winter iPike RS W419 Passenger Radial Tire
Buy Hankook Winter iPike RS W419 Passenger Radial Tire
Hankook W419 (iPike RS) studded tires are designed for advanced ice and snow performance. These tires feature aquaplaning for water evacuation while the 3D sipes provide greater grip and stability. The multidirectional stud design in combination with the advanced snow slit offers excellent braking and traction properties. The carcass and sidewalls are rigidly constructed to prevent the tire from deforming. The high hardness bead filler improves the handling and response of these tires.
Pros:
- Spit hole absorbs water on slushy roads to improve wet traction
- Aggressive tread blocks for high ice and snow traction
Silica compound improves high grip and minimizes rolling resistance
Best tires for Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai Sonata models
1. First-generation (Y1; 1985-1987)
The first Sonata was introduced to compete with the Daewoo Royale series and was built from the main components of the Stellar. It included cruise control, power seats, headlight washers, power brakes, power side mirrors and chrome bumper covers. The Sonata was available in Korea with two levels of equipment: Luxury and Super (the latter only available with a 2.0-liter engine).
2. Second generation (Y2; 1988-1993)
The Y2 Sonata was part of Hyundai’s expansion in North America following the success of Excel. It was introduced in South Korea on June 1, 1988. It was then introduced in Canada in September 1988 as the 1989 model, in the United States on November 14, 1988 as the 1989 model and in Australia in March 1989. The exterior was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign.
3. Third generation (Y3; 1993-1998)
This generation continued after the decline of the Bromont, Quebec plant in September 1993. Thereafter, all Sonatas were to be built in Korea until the opening of the Hyundai plant in Beijing in December 2002.
4. Fourth generation (EF; 1998-2004)
The new EF Series Sonata was launched in 1998 and debuted the new Hyundai-Kia Y4 platform. Compared to the previous Y3 model, the EF grew slightly but had the same wheelbase of 2,700 mm (106.3 inches). A double-wishbone front suspension and an independent multi-link rear suspension were also introduced.
5. Fifth-generation (NF; 2004-2009)
The NF Sonata was launched in Korea in August 2004 on the basis of a new platform that emerged from the NF project. The company’s first all-aluminum I4 engine, called theta, debuted in the new Sonata.
6. Sixth generation (YF; 2009-2014)
For the US market, the sixth generation of the Sonata was equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection. This new engine improves fuel economy and delivers a maximum of 200 hp.
7. Seventh generation (LF; 2014-2019)
In the United States, the brand new Sonata 2015 was available in the SE, Eco, medium-level Sport and Limited range versions. All 2015 Sonatas (except the Eco) were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder (I4) direct-injection petrol engine with petrol direct injection (GDi) coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission.
8. Eighth generation (DN8; 2020-today)
The Sonata 2020 was presented in a preview at the beginning of March 2019 and officially launched in South Korea on 21 March. It was also presented during the Shanghai Auto Show 2019 for the Chinese market and made its North American debut at the New York International Auto Show 2019 on April 17th for the North American market.
Factory size of tires for Hyundai Sonata
- P205/65R15
- P205/60R16
- P205/65R16
- P215/60R16
- P215/55R17
- P225/50R17
- 225/45R18
- 235/45R18
Each of the tires listed will match the Sonata GL, GLS, LX, SE, Limited, SE Turbo, Sport, Limited Turbo, Hybrid and Hybrid Limited models.
Know the difference between the different types of tires
Quick facts: Different tire types
- Summer tires have a special rubber compound that provides excellent grip and handling on both dry and wet roads in warmer conditions.
- Winter tires offer excellent grip on snow and ice-covered roads as well as on wet roads in cold conditions.
- All-season tires combine the characteristics of summer and winter tires into a hybrid solution with the advantages of both.
Attention! There are no all-season tires! These are summer tires. They can only be used in a region where there is no winter: west and south of the USA.
- 4×4 tires have better traction on difficult terrain such as mud, grass, and snow without clogging the tread area.
How long do the tires last?
The service life of a tire set depends on a few factors:
- The use. The type of use – stopping and driving in city traffic, long-distance driving on the motorway, driving on gravel or old and worn roads, carrying large and heavy loads, etc.
- The quality of care. Ensuring that the tire has the correct amount of air or pressure, whether or not it has had a puncture and has been repaired, whether or not the driver stops and accelerates aggressively, and so on.
- Removal. Whether you use your tires around the standard average of 20,000 to 25,000 km per year, below or above that average.
- The age. As rubber ages, it begins to harden and crack, which can cause the tire to lose grip and detach from the rim.
- Quality of the tire. High-end tires designed to last longer add chemical compounds to the rubber to slow down the aging process.
The general rule of experts is that you should replace your tires after 5 to 7 years. Note that this does not mean 5 to 7 years of use, but after the tire is 5 to 7 years old. Once the tires are that old, they will harden much faster and deteriorate much faster than before, even if the tread still looks good. Tire shops even send unsold stock when they are older than 2 years.
Explanation of tire markings
The tire markings will give you important and comprehensive information on purchased tires. However, it is not easy to “decipher” digital and alphabetic designations. So we decided to collect the most common tire markings used on modern tire models.
What will the tire marking 215/55 R15 96 V tell you about?
215 – Profile width information, supplied in mm..;
55 – Percentage of the tire height in the width of the tire, in the width of the profile. Tires below 50% are considered low profile. If there is no designation and the tire size is recorded as 185/R14C, it means that the tire is full profile.
R – Radial type of construction, which increasingly replaces the less productive diagonal (D) type of construction.
15 – Incremental diameter, calculated in inches. This is the diameter of the inner circle of the tire into which a disc with the same outer diameter is inserted.
96 – Load index. It is calculated on a single wheel and is not a decisive indicator for passenger cars as the manufacturer usually makes a good stock. For light trucks and vans, however, it is important to consider this parameter and not to exceed it.
V – Speed index. This parameter is denoted by Latin letters and corresponds to the speed limit on which you can travel.
Speed Index/ Maximum speed, km/h
- B- 50
- C -60
- D -65
- E -70
- F- 80
- G -90
- K- 110
- L -120
- M -130
- N -140
- P- 150
- Q -160
- R -170
- S- 180
- T -190
- U -200
- H- 210
- V -240
- W -270
Maximum speed index Y assumes movement at a speed of up to 300 km/h.
Be careful! Excess of the permitted speed leads to accidents. A travel speed of 10-15% below the set index is optimal for safe driving. The new tire set should have a speed rating no lower than that of the original tires and should follow the recommendations of the car manufacturer. In the winter season, it is acceptable to install tires with a lower speed index while limiting the speed.
Marking Tires
Buying tires – What are the most important features?
- Traction or tread life?
Tires with high traction are made with special tire compounds that help them really grip the road, with sharp turns and quick stops. Unfortunately, all that grip on the road means faster tread wear.
Millions of drivers consider long tread life to be the most important feature of a tire when they buy new tires. However, tires with a long tread guarantee have a stiffer, less flexible tread, so they do not grip the road with high traction like the above-mentioned tires.
- Precise handling or smooth ride?
Take your pick. Or a compromise somewhere in between.
Handling becomes more precise when the sidewalls of the tires are a little stiff. For some drivers, precise handling is essential. But when the sidewalls are less flexible, the ride becomes a little less smooth and the road noise gets louder.
The ride is smoother and quieter when the sidewalls of the tires are more flexible. What you gain in comfort, you lose in precise handling. Here too, both types of tire are safe. Which tire you buy depends on your preferences as a driver?
High performance vs. fuel efficiency
Tires with low rolling resistance save fuel. One reason for this is that they are actually rounder than normal tires. The point where the tires meet the road is called the “contact patch”, which is always flatter than the rest of the tire because all the pressure from the car is pressing down. For tires with low rolling resistance, the contact patch is smaller, which makes it rounder. Therefore they roll more easily, which saves fuel because you don’t need so much fuel to push them.
If the contact patch is smaller, there is less friction, which explains why they roll more easily.
