What To Look For When Buying The Best Tires For Toyota Corolla?
I’ve mounted up tires on a lot of different Toyota Corollas. Here are a few things I found that should help you make the right choice when buying Corolla tires.
Rebates/Deals
Rebates and promotional deals are always a good thing to capitalize on, especially with cars like the Toyota Corolla that handle and drive well despite the brand of tires.
Cheap price
Honestly, don’t go overboard on Corolla tires if it’s more than 3 years old. You’re lucky anyway because Toyota Corolla tires cost less than tires for most other cars, and you can still get a quality set without breaking the bank.
Type of tire
I mostly recommend all-season/touring tires for the Corolla. Sport tires are going to be a bit bumpy on long rides, and off-road/all-terrain tires will produce a lot of ride noise and reduce your gas mileage.
All-season tires give you a quiet ride, great fuel efficiency, and they also last the longest.
Treadwear warranty
The mileage warranty on the tires I’ve recommended above for the Corolla vary greatly.
Some brands like our top pick (Hankook) are well-priced and designed to last 70+ thousand miles, while other questionable tire brands like the Starfire Solarus are only guaranteed for 50 thousand miles on a good day.
Always read the fine print in each tire warranty to get a good idea of what to expect.
Wheelsets included
It’s never a bad idea to order tires that are already mounted up to a fresh set of wheels. Corolla tires are so cheap that you could probably come up with a set of new wheels online that cost less than what it would take you for mounting and balancing at some shops.
Also, winter tires are great to have completely separate from summer tires for a quick changeout when the snow hits. Just an idea.
Run flat options
Never a bad idea to buy run-on-flat tires for people who are incapable of switching out to the spare. I know Michelin Pilot Sport (recommended above) comes with a run-flat option as well as other brands like Continental and Pirelli.
How Much Do Tires For Toyota Corolla Cost?
Our cheapest tire for the Corolla is the GT Radial Champiro Touring coming in around $60/tire, whereas our high-end choice (Michelin Pilot Sport) runs about $150/tire.
Here’s a quick ballpark estimate specific to quantity:
Four New Tires
Four new Corolla tires cost at least $250 for the cheapest brand and around $600 for the most expensive set.
Take shipping and installation charges into account. You could always call your local tire shop and ask how much they charge for the mount and balance of four new tires.
Two New Tires
Two new tires for a Corolla cost between $125 and $300 depending on the quality you desire. Don’t forget to consider shipping and installation costs.
Single Tire
Again, a single tire for the Toyota Corolla costs anywhere from $60-$150. Don’t spend over $200 for a single Corolla tire. Not worth it.
What Tire Size Is Best For A Toyota Corolla?
For little sedans like the Corolla, I always recommend replacing them with the same tire size. Use Tire Rack’s tool to plug in your Corolla’s model year and submodel—they’ll give you a complete list of compatible tire sizes.
How Long Should Your Toyota Corolla Tires Last?
Corollas are lightweight, so your tires should last up until their mileage warranty when maintained correctly.
Honestly, it’s up to you to save your tires from premature death. Here are some ways you can keep your Corolla tires maintained and running smoothly:
Tire rotations every 3-5 thousand miles
Rotating your Corolla tires from front to back will work just fine.
Overweight people, you might want to rotate your Corolla tires in an ‘X’ pattern to prevent excessive tire wear on the driver’s side. No offense. The Corolla is lightweight and I’ve seen my fair share of Corollas tilting heavily to one side—that puts a lot of wear on the driver’s side front treads.
Don’t forget to have your Corolla’s steering alignment fixed if you ran into a curb and the steering wheel turns without you touching it. Poor steering alignment destroys tire treads.
Proper tire inflation at all times
Always heed your TPMS (tire pressure monitoring) system, and check the driver’s side door panel of your Corolla for exact PSI requirements. Corolla tires should be around 38 PSI for the front tires, and 36 PSI for the rear tires.
Don’t forget to inflate the spare tire to spec also to avoid getting stranded (something like 60 PSI). I also like to fill my tires with nitrogen to help prevent flat spots and tire deflation.
When To Replace Tires On Your Toyota Corolla?
2/32” or 1.6mm tread depths is the rule of thumb for tire replacement on any sedan.
Always have a technician inspect your Corolla’s tires from eye level to help detect uneven treadwear, and take your mechanic’s advice when he tells you you’re ready for a new set.
Use your own judgment on when to replace your Corolla tires. Don’t let the treads wear down to where the sharp metal threads are poking out—they can cut your hand, and they can also cause a dangerous tire blowout.
In general, if you feel you’re not gripping the road as well as before, or you’re feeling weird vibrations in the steering wheel or the seat while driving, then it’s time to either get the tires replaced or have them rebalanced/rotated.
Does The Brand Matter For A Toyota Corolla When Replacing Tires?
Yes. Because lighter-weight cars like the Corolla don’t require high-quality tires, there are plenty of Chinese brands that produce tires at extremely low cost.
If it were me, Japanese brands like Yokohama and Sumitomo win in a landslide over any Chinese tire.
You might also find that many American and European-made tires are too expensive and not practical for the Toyota Corolla. Keep in mind, that the tires I’ve recommended above are the easiest to access. There are plenty of good choices beyond the five listed above.
Other tire brands you might want to check for the Corolla are Kumho, BFGoodrich G-Force, and Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 plus. The best winter tire for the Corolla is probably Bridgestone Blizzak.
Does the Year of Your Toyota Corolla Matter When Buying New Tires?
Yes, the older Corollas have much smaller wheels. For example, the first Toyota Corolla produced in 1966 had 14-inch wheels while newer models like the 2022 Corolla have 16, 17, and 18-inch wheel diameters.
Aside from wheel size, you might want to clean up older Corolla wheels to help them perform better. Corroded wheels can contribute to tire deflation, and they can also be less true than newer wheels making them harder to perfect on the tire balance machine.
What Are The Biggest Tires I Can Put On A Toyota Corolla?
Unless you plan on installing a 3-inch suspension lift, you’re going to want to stick with the exact stock-size tires for your Corolla. You might be able to get anywhere from 18-20 inch wheel sizes to work with modded suspension. Again, use Tire Rack’s website as a resource.