What To Look For When Buying The Best Tires For Toyota Camry?
I don’t normally say this, but just buy the cheapest tires you can get for the Camry.
Sure, the sportier V6 Camry has some pull, especially with that attractive new Direct Shift-8AT 8-speed transmission, but quite honestly you don’t need anything special for the Camry when it comes to tires.
Treadwear warranty
Treadwear mileage is a huge thing to look for when buying for the Camry. You’ll notice that high-end all-season tires (like Continental, General Altimax RT43, Michelin Defender, etc.) come with ultra high mileage guarantees (somewhere between 70 and 80 thousand miles) while cheap run of the mill Camry tires are only guaranteed for something like 50 thousand miles.
Different types of tires have different warranties. Run-flat tires typically don’t have a mileage warranty, whereas both all-terrain tires and summer tires generally run lower mileage guarantees. All-season/touring tires generally last the longest, regardless.
Run-Flat Capability
I would say about 1% of Toyota Camrys have run-flat capable tires, but they’re still a great option to consider for helping incapable people not to get stranded on the highway. Run-flat tires like Pirellis for your Camry allow the driver to drive safely on a completely flat tire at slower speeds to the tire shop instead of the need for swapping out to the spare.
Aspect Ratio
The middle tire number, for example, P205/65V/R16 represents the tire sidewall height, and you’ll notice that a higher aspect ratio number creates better ride comfort when riding over bumps. the Camry typically uses some nice and fat all-season road tires as an OEM part because they have smaller wheel diameters.
In comparison, an Acura TL might drive faster and handle better than the Camry, but the Camry is about twice as comfortable on long road trips, and a lot of that has to do with the aspect ratio of the tires.
Sales/Rebates
Always check sales first for cars like the Camry. These don’t need immaculate treads to drive satisfactorily.
How Much Do Tires For A Toyota Camry Cost?
Don’t buy used treads for your Camry because they won’t be covered under warranty, and new ones don’t cost that much more.
Here are some quick ballpark numbers:
Four New Tires
It costs ~$272 + tax + shipping +mount and balance for your cheapest option. Realistically, you’ll spend around $400-$500 for a cheap new set of Camry tires.
You’re looking at $800 + shipping + installation for a complete set of the highest quality Camry tires.
Two New Tires
Cut those prices in half, and you’re looking at around $140 for two cheap tires and $420 for two new expensive tires + shipping + mount and balance on your Camry.
Single Tire
Your Camry’s cheapest option for four new tires is currently Starfire Solarus priced at well under 100 bucks a pop (currently $68 a tire). On the expensive side, the Pirelli RunFlat we recommended cost a bit over 200 bucks per tire.
Be sure to replace your all-wheel-drive Camry’s tires in pairs to avoid damage to the drivetrain.
What Tire Size Is Best For A Toyota Camry?
There are so many different sizes of Toyota Camry tires from submodel to submodel, so it’s absolutely vital that you know where to look for the tire size on your previous tires.
Also, like I said below, Tire Rack’s website will spit you out a complete number of compatible tire sizes for your specific Camry if you give it the correct submodel and model year.
How Long Should Your Toyota Camry Tires Last?
I would say over 90% of Toyota Camrys have all-season tires mounted up, and all-season tires last for 50 thousand miles on a bad day. If you buy some nice treads like the Michelin Defender or Continental ContiProContact, you’re looking at 80+ thousand miles before you replace tires again.
Warning: No brand of tires will last more than 30 thousand miles if you fail to properly inflate your tires, and you don’t have them rotated every 3-5 thousand miles. Tire maintenance is key for tire longevity.
When To Replace Tires On Your Toyota Camry?
It’s hard to properly inspect the insides of the tire treads on your Camry without lifting it off of the ground. That’s why I always recommend a tread depth report when taking it to the shop for an oil change.
Tires become dangerous to drive on when the tread depth gets below 2/32” (1.6 mm), so stick a penny in there to see if Abe Lincoln’s head is completely visible—that’s the simplest way to check.
Does The Brand Matter For A Toyota Camry When Replacing Tires?
Not as much. The Camry is for slow driving style and achieving great fuel efficiency, so most all-season/grand touring tires will do the trick. I will say that I like to pair Japanese tires with Japanese cars. They seem to be made for each other. Look for brands like Toyo, Yokohama, and Sumitomo for the best driving results.
Other tire options you might want to check out for the Camry are Michelin Premier A/S, General Altimax RT43, Mastercraft Stratus, Kumho Solus, Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring, Bridgestone Turanza, etc.
Does the Year of Your Toyota Camry Matter When Buying New Tires?
Yeah, I buy cheaper tires for older cars, and nicer tires for newer cars. Just in case you didn’t know, there are a few different submodels of the Camry, including:
- L
- LE
- SE
- XLE
- XSE
- etc.
You might think that one size fits all, but one thing I learned about vehicle manufacturing is that there are a ton of different variations in just one common vehicle model like the Toyota Camry.
The Camry might seem cookie cutter, but they’re a lot more different than you think from car to car. Always remember your Camry’s submodel and model year when buying parts.
What Are The Biggest Tires I Can Put On A Toyota Camry?
Plug your specific Camry submodel and year into Tire Rack’s website, and let it spit you out all the possible options.
You’re looking for the first highest of the two tire size numbers (P205/65V/R16). The first number is the tire width, and the second number is the aspect ratio, or height of the tire.
The third tire size number is the size of the wheels.
Toyota Camry sedans come with a surprisingly wide range of rim sizes compared to other sedans. Your stock Toyota might have anywhere from 16-inch wheels all the way up to 19-inches in diameter.