16 Inch Tires

Choosing the right type of 16 inch tire can definitely be a struggle at times. With over 500 different tires available in the 16 inch size alone it can be quite a difficult task. The first step to choosing the tire that is right for you is to assess your goals, what do you want out of this tire ?

• Are you simply looking for the cheapest tire available, and are not concerned about its performance? If so have a look at Cheapest 16 Inch Tires
• Are you looking for the longest lasting tire available, saving you the hassle of having to change tires often?
• Are you looking for high performance tires with superior levels of grip? If so how much grip do you need, how much power does your car have and what do you use your car for? Bear in mind that high levels of performance are usually (but not always) associated with higher levels of wear? Have a look at High Performace 16 Inch Tires
• What type of climate do you live in; do the roads ever freeze over? If so you might need to consider one set of summer tires and one set of winter tires, or at least a set of all-season tires.
• How quickly can your car stop now? Do you feel safe with your current level of braking performance? It is important to realise that your tires have a lot to do with how quickly your car will stop in an emergency situation. Changing to a lower performance tire could considerably effect this is a negative way.
• Most importantly though what size do the tires come in? There is no point selecting an excellent tire only to find that it does not come in the size you need. If you know little about tires it is best to stick to the factory sized tires. If you don’t know this information simply look at the sidewall of the tire and copy down the size (It will read something xxx/xx/Rxx), then have a look on this website at what we can offer you.

Yokohama (Japan) has always made some great tires but in the last few years they have come leaps and bound with their range of high performance street tires. Their latest range, the AD08 is simply a phenomenal tire that not many other manufactures con measure up to, and considering the level of grip they have they are surprisingly affordable. They are available in 205/55 and 225/50 in 16 inch which actually match up almost perfectly if you are running staggered wheels. In close competition to these is the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec. These offer a reasonably similar level of grip in the dry but are simply the best tires in this category for performance in the wet. They will also last slightly longer and cost slightly less than the Yokohama AD08. They are offered in 3 sizes in the 16 inch category, 205/50, 205/55 and 225/50. If you are looking for the absolute best dry performance street tire you can’t look past Bridgestone’s latest offering, the RE-11. This tire will offer the best grip a street tire can, but comes at a cost, typically around $50/tire most expensive than the already mentioned options. This tire is offered in the typical 205/55 and 225/50 but also a 205/45 for those seeking quicker steering response. Another contender in the category is the Kuhmo Ecsta XS. These tires offer excellent performance in the dry however their performance in the wet is not as good as the tires already mentioned. I have also personally found that they don’t last very long when driven to the extreme on a racetrack, perhaps they overcook too easily. Nevertheless still a tire to consider as they are relatively cheap and offer a variety of different sizes to their competitors (215/45, 225/50 and the super wide 265/45 for those with 9+ inch wheels). Finally the Hankook Ventus R-S3 is available in 16 inch with reports that indicate that it is on par with the Kuhmo. 205/55 and 225/50 are the only options however the price (especially for the 225/50) means they are hard to pass up. Any of the previously mentioned tires are more than exceptional, tire technology has made huge improvements over the last few years and any of these tires would make an excellent choice for a quick street car or amateur racer.

Tire Name	Size	Price	Buy
Yokohama Advan AD08	205/55/16 225/50/16	$139 $164
Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec	205/50/16 205/55/16 225/50/16	$126 $117 $133
Bridgestone RE-11	205/45/16 205/55/16 225/50/16	$177 $160 $178
Kuhmo Ecsta XS	215/45/16 225/50/16 265/45/16	$108 $126 $197
Hankook Ventus R-S3	205/55/16 225/50/16	$120 $102

Are you simply looking for the cheapest 16 inch tires around? If so have a look at the options below, some of these prices are ridiculous. There are so many 16 inch tires in the $80-$100 range it would be impossible to mention them all, instead I’ll focus on just a few. For comparison purposes we are using 205/55 as a base as most people will be looking at this as a minimum. At the absolute bottom end of the market you can’t look past the Hankook Ventus ES H105 @ 80 each for a very usable tires. This tire is an Ultra High Performance All-Season tire which means that you can use it all year round and it has a massive tread wear rating which means that it will last a long time. If you are looking for an ultra high performance summer tire in 16 inch I suggest checking out the Dunlop SP Sport 8000 as a great cheap summer time or alternatively few a few dollars extra per tire the Dunlop Direzza DZ101. The advantage of this tire is that it has a higher tread wear rating than the SP Sport meaning that is should in theory last a lot longer. There are hundreds of other tires available for under $100 a corner so now that I’ve covered the very cheapest I’ll have a look at some of the more impressive. The Kuhmo Ecsta ASX is quite an impressive All Seasons tire and there are a number of 16 inch sizes which come in at $100 or less per tire. If you are looking for a bang for your buck Ultra High Performance Summer tire you can’t go past the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 which offers great traction in the dry and surprisingly the wet as well as well is a comfortable, quiet ride that will last a long time. With the 205 sizes coming in at under $100 you can’t complain at that price!

Tire Name	Size	Price	Buy
Hankook Ventus V4 ES H105	195/55/16 205/50/16 205/55/16 215/55/16 225/50/16 225/55/16	$86 $79 $80 $82 $84 $88
Dunlop SP Sport 8000	205/55/16	$81
Dunlop Direzza DZ101	195/50/16 205/45/16 205/50/16 205/55/16 215/50/16 215/55/16 225/50/16 225/55/16	$82 $89 $95 $84 $98 $93 $89 $101
Kuhmo Ecsta ASX	195/50/16 205/40/16 205/45/16 205/50/16 205/55/16 215/50/16 215/55/16 225/50/16 225/55/16 225/60/16 235/60/16 245/50/16	$78 $97 $98 $90 $86 $106 $90 $89 $96 $91 $93 $105
Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500	205/45/16 205/50/16 205/55/16 215/55/16 225/50/16 225/55/16 245/50/16	$97 $99 $99 $98 $115 $105 $120

The Yokohama Advan A048 is a tire that has been around for a few years now and has proven to be an excellent control tire for many motorsport competitions around the world. As with all semi slick tires their performance in the rain is very average however their performance on a dry track/street is quite phenomenal. They offer on extreme amount of grip and, for semi-slicks, offer reasonable life. These tires are available in the US in both medium and medium-hard compound with the medium definitely the way to way if you are willing to sacrifice some mileage. The medium-hard will last a long time for this king on tire however it has been reported that whilst the grip is good for the first couple of heat cycles it soon drops off and becomes much less effective. These tires are set be replaced with the new Advan A050 which is already available in Japan however there is no indication yet as to when, if ever these will arrive in other markets some as the US. The god thing about A048s is that they are available in a variety of sizes, 195/50, 205/55, 225/45 and 225/50 in 16 inch with each being available in both compounds. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cups probably provide more grip than the Advans and come standard on a range of high performance Porsche and BMW models. Unfortunately however in the 16 inch size they are only available in 205/55 which may turn some people off. They do however offer excellent traction and very good tread wear for this kind of tire however availability is limited. If you are looking for a wider option then the Kuhmo VictoRacer V700 is an excellent choice in 245/45. The pricing is reasonable, the grip is excellent and the tread wear acceptable, although personally I would still choose the A048 over this tire unless you are specifically looking for something wider. The newer Ecsta V710 is also a popular choice, offering a near full slick tread pattern than provides excellent grip. Only in the dry though, as they behave like full slicks in the wet (i.e. rubbish). The best things about them is that they comes in a massive variety of sizes. 215/40, 215/45, 225/50, 245/45 and 265/45 are all available at quite a reasonable price, just don’t expect them to last too long! Very similar to this tire in construction and performance is the BFGoodrich g-Force R1 which surprisingly offers very good tread wear for this kind of tire. A decision between the two would probably come down to personal preference. Available in 205/55, 225/50 and 245/45 means there is good size choices, at a slightly cheaper price than the V710.

Tire Name	Size	Price	Buy
Yokohama Advan A048	195/50/16 205/55/16 M 205/55/16 MH 225/45/16 M 225/50/16 MH 225/50/16 M	$227 $199 $226 $234 $211 $239
Michelin Pilot Cup Sport	205/55/16	$123
Kuhmo VictoRacer V700	245/45/16	$218
Kuhmo Ecsta V710	215/40/16 215/45/16 225/50/16 245/45/16 265/45/16	$219 $227 $230 $245 $249
bfGoodrich g-Force R1	205/55/16 225/50/16 245/45/16	$195.55 $205 $217

The Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 is described by Bridgestone as an “Extreme Performance Summer tire”. And it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Developed for driving on the hot summer roads the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 will keep the keen performance sports car driver on the edge of his seat. The Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 will also be popular with sports coupe and sedan owners too. The tire is great for driving in hot conditions. It gives superior traction and control allowing the driver to drive confidently on the summer roads. It has been specially developed to give sports cars the extra control they need in the heat.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 is the first of the Potenza street tires to include the Bridgestone “3D Seamless Stealth technology”. This technology was first introduced for the racing tires of their Formula 1 and GP2 racing car tires. This racing technology gives the tire a very high performance level that is truly state of the art. The racing car tire design give the product a tread pattern that is asymmetrical and big independent shoulder blocks that are combined with a notched rib that gives the stiffness to the side structure that is needed to increase steering reaction and boost dry cornering grip. The inboard design structure with its unbroken intermediate rib and notched shoulder rib are divided by wide, straight circular canals that effectively expel any water to prevent hydroplaning and increase traction in the wet conditions.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 has a state of the art internal structure derived from the Bridgestone formula one tires. The pressure is distributed more evenly with this design helping to keep the straighter design of the outboard sidewall in place under all the pressures the tire receives at speed. The pressure distribution the tire design provides also helps to keep the relatively rounded design of the inboard sidewall in place during hard-line cornering. The driver gets a great consistent handling quality and high-speed capacity.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 has been especially developed to join great handling, traction and driving control with first-rate noise reduction and comfort. The tire is ideal for dry and wet weather conditions, but as a summer tire it is not designed to be used in very cold temperatures or through snow or on ice.

The Dunlop Direzza DZ101 is Dunlop’s contribution to the range of Ultra High Performance Summer tires that are available. Brilliantly designed for the drivers of sport compact cars, they will not be disappointed. These tires provide a great snappy response and excellent handling. The Dunlop Direzza DZ101 is a high-performance tire for sports coupes and sedans. The firm shoulder blocks the tire give it increased stability while cornering and also enhances general traction and control. The design of the tread gives a good quiet ride. They also have a “Max Flange Shield” that protects the tire rims from scrapes and abrasions.

The Dunlop Direzza DZ101 tires are a good choice for performance tire. They are not designed for cold weather or for use in snow and ice so you will need to rotate them with winter or all weather tires, but this should not be a barrier to most people. These tires look great and add almost as much to the appearance of the car as they do to the performance. The Dunlop Direzza DZ101 is also a long lasting tire and should do you at least 30,000 miles in reasonable driving conditions and sensible driving!

The steering response is snappy and there is only minimal under steer noticeable. Cornering is a joy and you can really feel the grip and high quality traction taking control. These tires absorb a lot of bump in the road surface making for a nice smooth ride. The silica and carbon compound used to make these tires helps to make them run well in most road conditions. The Dunlop Direzza DZ101 is great in wet weather with the tread design pushing water away from the road contact footprint. So the wet weather is dealt with well and hydroplaning is never a problem, even when moving fast.

Overall the Dunlop Direzza DZ101 tire is very good value for the money, and you will not be disappointed with them. They provide a solid ride and plenty of traction, grip and enhanced control for your sports car. This is a tire that is going to make your high performance car perform even better. They will enhance both the look and driving performance of your car and when they wear out you will almost certainly get yourself a new set.

The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is a tire designed with the serious sports car sports coupe and performance sedan driver very much in mind. If you want racing car tire traction performance on the road or for use in amateur and semi-pro motor racing events then this tire is a serious contender. The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is perfect for drivers who want a tire that will provide optimum racing performance in the shortest possible time. It will generate peak grip performance for the driver with ease.

The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec will look very familiar to many drivers as it has evolved from the earlier Direzza Sport Z1 and uses the same tread design. This differentiates them from the earlier design at a glance. The specifications of this tread allow for tread faster lap times from the outset by giving much greater traction in moderate temperatures alongside dependable hold on successive laps when the tires are properly warmed up. This all means that the tire is very effective at reaching its optimal grip level very efficiently. For this reason the tires perform best in a complete set of four. Only in a complete set of four will drivers experience the full quality and performance that these tires can give. Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires have a five pointed symbol in the shape of a star to brand them with their star spec status.

The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tread has an innovative design that features continuous shoulder ribs that are notched for performance. The intermediate shoulder blocks are large and a wide center rib gives dependable contact with the road. The overall design gives high control and excellent grip when cornering. The internal and external design provides a system of circular grooves and channels that provide perfect water extraction further insuring that the car stays in perfect contact with the road. The tire’s internal structure has a solid support structure that provides enhanced strength, consistent quality of ride and great performance at high-speed. The sidewalls are reinforced with steel cord which further helps to give excellent handling and cornering capabilities. The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is a high performance tire that will impress.

The Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 is a top performing high performance summer tire. The Firestone name is famous for its quality and this tire does certainly not let the brand down. The Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 tires offers sports car, sports coupe and performance sedan owners a particularly high performing tire designed for use on summer roads.

The Firehawk name shared with the Firestones racing tire range and shares some of the high end technology that has made them such a success on the racing circuit. The Wide Oval name harks back to Firestones history of tire performance. Its innovative low profile racing tires of the nineteen sixties were called Wide Ovals. Firestone has a long heritage and connection with the Indy 500 races. Its tires have been used there for decades to a great deal of success and acclaim. Their history is firmly backed by the high standard consumers have come to expect from their tires.

The Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 is moulded from silica enhanced carbon tread rubber compound. It has a deep directional tread that features in its design big shoulder blocks that sit on each side of twin intermediate ribs. The ribs of the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 are designed to give extra receptive handling. It also creates excellent grip and traction in dry road conditions. The tire has three wide and high-angled grooves that are designed to keep water away from under the tires contact with the road. This design is very effective and keeps prevents the car from hydroplaning. Not only does it have the effect of resisting hydroplaning but it also increases traction in the wet. They work extremely well in the wet, but be aware that like all summer tires thay are not designed to be used in freezing conditions or through snow and ice.

The internal structure of the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 has two steel constructed belts that are reinforced with spiral wrapped nylon. This internal structure gives a huge amount of strength to the tire. This strength ensures that the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 provides great stability and high-speed capacity. Firestone has developed a really high quality tire here that will not disappoint.

The General Exclaim UHP is General Tire’s Ultra High Performance Summer tire that was developed for the drivers of sports cars, coupes and sedans. The General Exclaim UHP tire is designed to give high levels of traction, grip, control and response in dry conditions. The tire is also designed with anti hydroplaning technology and performs extremely well in wet conditions. This tire is a summer tire and is not designed for use in very cold weather. Neither should it be used in snow or ice it is a good idea to rotate them every season.

The traction the General Exclaim UHP gives is incredible and tread wear is very good indeed. Under normal driving conditions they should last for a good few years. The tires are very quiet and a great ride that adds a little bit of luxury to any ride! Their sidewalls are not too hard and cornering is easy and comfortable as well as being well controlled. The General Exclaim UHP is a good value tire that offers a quiet and well controlled ride and great traction. If you want good handling and control this tire is the perfect choice.

The General Exclaim UHP utilises an ultra high performance silica compound. This is moulded into tread design that is directional and has wide, solid shoulder tread blocks. It has a double V tread pattern that is designed to enhance traction in wet weather and it works really very well. The double Vs push the water away from the contact footprint and this provides a truly superb grip. The high quality tire features up to date technology that gives very responsive handling with excellent traction. Part of this technology is hidden in its internal structure, but its effects are impressively visible. The internal structure has two steel belts that are reinforced with spiral wound nylon over polyester body plies. This structure comes together to give highly responsive handling. Cornering is highly stable with high-speed driving is comfortable and stable.

The General Exclaim UHP is a great tire and perfect tire for daily journeys, It gives good traction in both wet and dry weather, and if you change to these from your standard tires you will be suitably impressed. Overall these are great value low profile tires

The Hankook Ventus R-S3 is a summer tire designed for extreme performance. It has been developed by Hankook for the serious sports car driver. Sports coupe and performance sedan fanatics will also appreciate the performance that this state of the art tire can provide. The Hankook Ventus R-S3 will improve the handling, traction, speed and braking capacities of the car. Anyone wanting a race capable street tire needs to look no further than this one. The tire will also meet the high performance demands of autocross driving and track racing events. The Hankook Ventus R-S3 has been designed to fill the niche between street and track tires by notably improving dry grip performance. It’s only real limitation is that like other summer tires it cannot be used in snow on icy conditions.

Hankook has used its racing technology tire compound (Carbonblack Silica Compound) to develop the Hankook Ventus R-S3. The Carbonblack Silica Compound has been incorporated into the design of the Hankook Ventus R-S3 to improve dry traction and grip. The tire’s shape has been designed especially to increase the effective contact patch. This involves the tire tread technology having a directional tread design. The tire has big shoulder blocks and notched ribs and a wider center rib that has the effect of delivering a constant road contact.

The Hankook Ventus R-S3 has wide center grooves that run all the way round the tire and narrower grooves on the outside. The many side grooves get rid of water for superb traction in wet weather conditions. The internal structure of the tire has two steel belts that are nylon reinforced to give great strength and high-speed capacity. The tire design also features two-ply polyester sidewalls that help to prevent side deflection. This has the overall effect of giving very responsive handling control at all speeds and cornering great capabilities.

The overall tread design and increases the tire’s handling capabilities very effectively. This is a brilliant piece of tire technology that drivers will be thrilled to drive on. With this in mind, the tire has the Ventus flame logo and name nicely incorporated into the center rib and the intermediate ribs which is a really great touch and makes these tires look as desirable as they are.