Top 5 Best Tires For Hyundai Elantra [2023 Review]

By Tire Expert, Joe Steffen
By Tire Expert, Joe Steffen

Are you searching for the best tires on a Hyundai Elantra?

Look no further. I have seen countless customers in your shoes and not know what tire is best for their vehicle. With hundreds of tires being built for these cars, it can almost be impossible to decide.

I have serviced and sold tires to hundreds of customers who own these reliable Korean-made cars. You will find an option recommended for every category someone would be looking for in Hyundai Elantra tires (even performance tires for GT models).

You will find out why these five options are the best, and after reading through the reviews, I also compiled all the things important for you to know about the best tires on an Elantra.

Let’s get started with these tire reviews!

Our Top Pick
Cooper CS5 Grand Touring
Cooper CS5 Grand Touring
4.0/5
4.0
Best Budget
Goodyear Assurance All-Season
Goodyear Assurance A/S
3.0/5
3.0
Best High End
Michelin CrossClimate2
Michelin CrossClimate 2
4.0/5
4.0
Best High Performance
Bridgestone Potenza RE980 A/S Plus
Bridgestone Potenza RE980 A/S Plus
3.5/5
3.5
Best Tread Life
Pirelli P4 FourSeasons Plus
Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus
4.0/5
4.0

Updated as of December 1, 2023

Cooper CS5 Grand Touring

Cooper CS5 Grand Touring
Our rating:
4.0/5
4.0/5

Pros and Cons

Ratings

Wet Traction:
4.0/5
Ride Handling:
3.5/5
Dry Traction:
4.0/5
Ride Noise:
3.5/5
Snow Traction:
4.0/5
Ride Comfort:
4.0/5
Tread Life:
4.0/5
Value For Money:
4.5/5

I will rarely pick a Cooper tire as the absolute best tire option. When it comes to the Hyundai Elantra, I have yet to come across a tire that has more satisfied customers.

The best tire for an Elantra will be a touring tire due to its lightweight and low horsepower. And that’s what the Cooper CS5 Grand Touring is.

What is unique about this tire, it has an asymmetrical tread pattern. You will typically find these tread patterns on high-performance tires because they offer better traction and handling.

Due to the unique tread design, when paired with the Elantra, it creates some of the best cornering and all-season traction you will find.

The treadwear is rated for eighty thousand miles and will definitely come up short. You will get roughly sixty-five to seventy thousand miles if you perform routine maintenance.

I expected the road noise to be pretty bad on this tire, but it will be quieter than most options. And the snow handling is excellent. Allowing snow to pack in the tread means extra grip. You may not need winter tires unless you drive in severe winter conditions.

You won’t find a better tire to pair with this vehicle.

Goodyear Assurance A/S

Goodyear Assurance All-Season
Our rating:
3.0/5
3.0/5

Pros and Cons

Ratings

Wet Traction:
3.0/5
Ride Handling:
3.0/5
Dry Traction:
3.0/5
Ride Noise:
3.0/5
Snow Traction:
3.0/5
Ride Comfort:
3.0/5
Tread Life:
3.5/5
Value For Money:
4.0/5

If you need a cheap option for your Elantra. It doesn’t get much more affordable than the Goodyear Assurance A/S.

I used to call this tire the Walmart special because of how cheap it is and the fact you mainly find it in stock at Walmart.

You can find these tires for around a hundred bucks each which is not a bad deal considering they offer a sixty-five thousand mile treadwear warranty.

You just need to remember that it’s a budget option, so you will sacrifice a comfortable ride and handling.

Even though it is an all-season tire, I would not try testing its limits in light snow. It’s possible you will end up sliding off the road.

Goodyear is known for having very soft sidewalls, which means there will be a lot of flex when turning at high speeds and generate quite a bit of body roll. It will not be as terrible on the Elantra due to its lower center of gravity, but you will definitely notice the decrease.

Soft sidewalls will also lead to lower durability making it more prone to punctures and blowouts.

But for anyone who needs to “get something put on” and doesn’t care about ride quality. The Goodyear Assurance A/S will provide a decent tread life, at the very least.

Michelin CrossClimate 2

Michelin CrossClimate2
Our rating:
4.0/5
4.0/5

Pros and Cons

Ratings

Wet Traction:
4.5/5
Ride Handling:
4.0/5
Dry Traction:
4.0/5
Ride Noise:
4.0/5
Snow Traction:
4.5/5
Ride Comfort:
4.0/5
Tread Life:
3.0/5
Value For Money:
3.5/5

Michelin is the one brand that always finds itself at the top of any best tire options list. Their standards are nothing short of the highest concerning ride quality, handling, and traction.

The Michelin CrossClimate 2 is a tire I was very hesitant about because of its directional tread pattern. These patterns have a history of being known for having a loud ride and short tread life.

Once this tire had been out for a year or so, I was shocked by the amount of praise it received. Consumers would say it’s one of the quietest tires they have ever had. Massive credit to Michelin for taking the loudest tread pattern and making it silent.

This option fits the Elantra for many reasons, but traction in wet, dry, and snow was the best.

It will come with a three-peak mountain snowflake rating branded on the sidewall, which means the tread compound stays flexible in freezing temperatures. And the sizeable open tread channels allow for snow slush to pack and water to evacuate at high rates.

Hydroplaning resistance is the best out of all five tires on this list.

Since many consumers have Elantras for commuting, some may not want this tire due to its tread life. It only comes with a sixty-thousand-mile warranty which is the lowest you will come across for touring tires.

The best reason to go with the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is its performance and ability to keep you safe in any weather.

For a set of tires with long tread life, I also recommend the Michelin Defender (eighty thousand miles) as a high-end option.

Bridgestone Potenza RE980 A/S Plus

Bridgestone Potenza RE980 A/S Plus
Our rating:
3.5/5
3.5/5

Pros and Cons

Ratings

Wet Traction:
4.0/5
Ride Handling:
4.5/5
Dry Traction:
4.0/5
Ride Noise:
4.0/5
Snow Traction:
3.0/5
Ride Comfort:
3.5/5
Tread Life:
3.0/5
Value For Money:
3.5/5

I know the Elantra in the GT Sport trim comes with low-profile 18-inch tires. And it can be challenging to find an option that will last and offer a smooth ride.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE980 A/S Plus will offer longevity and ride comfort. The factory speed rating for these models will be a W rating. And with W-rated tires, they will have rougher rides and shorter tread life.

I have seen the OE tires in this size wear out as fast as twenty thousand miles. This will not be the case with the Potenza. On average, you can expect at least fifty thousand miles.

Don’t worry about sacrificing excellent traction and handling to get better tread life. Since Bridgestone is a high-end tire brand known for its production of run-flat tires (tires that can be driven with no tire pressure).

The silica compound and added siping allow this tire to handle just as well as any ultra-high performance. Siping in the tread blocks also provides efficient water evacuation in wet conditions.

For all the benefits the Bridgestone Potenza RE980 A/S Plus tire offers, you will no doubt find much better high performance than the value edition Hankook tires from the factory.

Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus

Pirelli P4 FourSeasons Plus
Our rating:
4.0/5
4.0/5

Pros and Cons

Ratings

Wet Traction:
4.0/5
Ride Handling:
4.0/5
Dry Traction:
3.5/5
Ride Noise:
3.0/5
Snow Traction:
3.5/5
Ride Comfort:
4.0/5
Tread Life:
5.0/5
Value For Money:
4.5/5

The Hyundai Elantra is known for its dependability and longevity. It has an industry-leading powertrain warranty of one hundred thousand miles. And if you want a tire to match that performance, look no further than the Pirelli P4 Four Season Plus.

Backed by a ninety thousand-mile treadwear warranty makes, this the best tread life tire on the market. Most mileage expectancies will never come to fruition, but I can tell you the P4 will.

I installed a set of these on my mom’s Nissan Versa, and she got almost ninety-five thousand miles on them. She does a lot of highway driving and is very religious about maintenance.

You cannot expect them to receive this kind of life if you do not care for them. Without routine tire maintenance, you should expect only forty thousand miles.

It’s called the four season for a good reason. The wet, dry, light snow, and ice traction are excellent. Where it excels is when it wears down, the full depth siping allows it to maintain the same level of performance for the whole tread life.

The Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus is the right tire for anyone who has long commutes and needs a tire to last on their Elantra.

What To Look For When Buying The Best Tires For Elantras?

There are three things you need to look for when trying to ensure you purchase the best tires for a Hyundai Elantra. I have listed these three things and why they are essential below.

Fuel Efficiency

If you want to maintain the fantastic fuel efficiency the Elantra offers. It will be important to look out for tires branded with a low rolling resistance rating. These ratings are easy to spot since most manufacturers use the word Eco or Green somewhere on the sidewall.

Speed Rating

The speed rating significantly affects how you want the tire to perform. I recommend staying with a T or H-rated tire for optimal treadwear and performance.

Rebates

What makes a tire the “best” is if you can answer the question of, was it worth the money?

Rebates are a great way to bring down the cost of your purchase and increase the value of the tires. By paying less, you’re increasing the bang for the buck.

How Much Do Tires For Elantras Cost?

I priced out tires at various retailers like TireRack, Amazon, and Discount Tire to give you some rough estimates on how much tires would cost for your Hyundai Elantra.

Four New Tires

A set of new tires will run you between $300 and $1,100.

Two New Tires

Replacing only two tires? That’s gonna run you around $150 to $500 out the door.

Single Tire

If you only need to replace a single tire, you could be looking at anywhere from $75 to $250.

What Tire Size Is Best For An Elantra?

The best size for a Hyundai Elantra will be the stock size that came from the factory. I don’t recommend changing the size of such a small car due to its harmful effects on handling and fuel efficiency.

How Long Should Your Elantra Tires Last?

Since it is a much lighter vehicle with small power output, you can expect your tires to last much longer than the average vehicle. I would reasonably expect to receive between sixty and eighty thousand miles with routine tire maintenance.

When To Replace Tires On Your Elantra?

It is recommended to replace your tires when the tread is worn down to 4/32nds or at six years of age.

Some will say 2/32nds of tread is the lowest your tread should be before replacement. But I’m not a gambling man. Your tires suffer the most significant difference in traction loss when they hit the 4/32nds mark.

Does The Brand Matter For An Elantra When Replacing Tires?

The brand will matter if you want to receive any sort of longevity or ride quality. This is a risk you take when going with cheaper, off-brand tires.

Another benefit of using name-brand tires is they will come with a warranty.

Does the Year of Your Elantra Matter When Buying New Tires?

I always say the older the car, the more you question what kind of tire to put on. I say, don’t put costly tires on a vehicle you know you aren’t keeping or will last.

What Are The Biggest Tires I Can Put On A Elantra?

Hyundai, in general, doesn’t give you much room to work with inside the fender wells. Your best bet is to keep the factory size on them to ensure you aren’t installing a size that won’t fit.

Frequently Asked Questions
This trim Hyundai Elantra will come with either a 195/65R15 or a 205/55R16. Refer to the tire information placard inside the door jam to see which size you have.
Elantras will be fitted with all-season tires made by either Hankook, Kumho, or Nexen.
I have seen the factory tires last as many as thirty thousand miles on an Elantra. This will be pretty average for all Hyundai vehicles.

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