The Best Tires for Toyota Corolla (Review) in 2023 | Autance

When was the last time you took a good look at your tires? Does the tread look worn? Maybe it isn’t as deep as it once was, or perhaps its depth is uneven across the tire. There are some deep areas and some almost flat areas.

These are all signs that it’s time to replace your tires. This is a normal expense of owning a car. Continuing to drive on your old tires can put you and your vehicle at risk of losing traction and causing an accident. If you drive a Toyota Corolla, take a look at these six tires and choose the right ones that fit your budget and driving conditions.

The Best Tires for Toyota Corolla

Best Tires for Toyota Corolla Buying Guide

You know you need to buy new tires, but how do you know which tires to buy? You want to make sure you buy the best tires for your car that fit your wheels and will perform well in your area’s driving conditions.

This guide will help you figure out which set of tires is perfect for your Corolla. We’ll discuss the different types, what to look for, and how to care for your new tires. That way, you can confidently drive on your new tires knowing they’re safe and that you’ll get the most use out of them.

Why You Need Tires for Toyota Corolla

The number one reason why you need to buy new tires is that you can’t drive your car without them. If you don’t have tires, then you’d drive on the rims. This will cause them to bend or break, and soon you’ll be stuck.

The second reason you need to buy tires is for safety. Tires only have so many miles of useful life. After that, they become dangerous to drive on. Eventually they fail, and you’re stuck with no tires. New tires have plenty of tread that grips the road and channel water away from the contact patch.

The third reason you need to buy tires for your Corolla is performance. The best tires can give you better handling, fuel economy, and stopping power. The rubber compound is just right to perform well in your driving weather temperatures. Then the tire has the right combination of size and tread pattern to have the perfect contact patch with the road. This will make your tires grip the road, but not grip too much as to lower fuel economy.

• You’ll have better traction with the road.
• It’s safer to drive on wet roads.
• You’ll get better ride comfort and gas mileage.

Types of Tires for Toyota Corolla

There are several types of tires to choose from when buying for your Toyota Corolla. The most common are touring and all-season tires. These will give the most versatility of use and the most comfortable ride.

If you live in an area where the climate tends to be extreme, then summer or winter tires may be the way to go. They perform better than the touring and all-season tires in extreme weather conditions. However, they tend to wear out quicker when driving in non-extreme conditions. This would be cooler dry weather for summer tires and warmer dry roads for winter tires.

• Touring/All-Season

This is the most common type of tire on the market. They work well in a wide variety of driving conditions and climates. From rainy summers to cold winters, these tires will grip the road and provide you with safe traction.

You can expect these tires to last anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 miles and be sized anywhere from 14 to 18 inches. The difference between touring tires and all-season tires is that touring is a softer ride and tend to have higher speed ratings.

The rubber compound will be a good middle ground to stay pliable through the changing seasons. The tread will have siping and channeling to handle wet or slightly snowy roads.

• Summer/Performance

These are warm and wet weather tires. You’ll immediately notice the aggressive tread design that will channel high amounts of water away from the tire. This ensures your performance summer tire has maximum contact with the road.

The rubber compound in these tires is specifically designed for hotter temperatures. This tends to make the rubber softer. One drawback to this is that the rubber wears away faster. You’ll need to replace these tires more often.

Ultra high-performance tires also tend to have higher speed ratings. This won’t be a concern for your Corolla unless you plan to boost the performance of your car.

• Winter

These tires are meant for driving in cold weather on ice and snow. The rubber compound is formulated to remain pliable when the temperature drops. You’ll find that they wear faster when you drive them on dry roads. They’ll also have slower braking on clean roads.

You’ll find that there’s heavy siping in the tread pattern to channel the slush and snow away. They may also have the ability for studs. These should only be installed if they’re legally allowed in your state. Install the studs when the snowy weather calls for it, but then immediately remove them when the roads clear.

What to Consider When Buying Tires for Your Toyota Corolla

When buying new tires for your Corolla, you need to start by looking at the code on the side of your current tires. You need to find new tires that have the same matching code. Not all Corollas require the same tires, so be sure to match the exact code on your current tires.

• Tread Width

This is the first three-digit number in the tire size code. It signifies the measurement in millimeters from one sidewall to the other. This tells you how wide the tire tread is. A wider tire will have more contact with the road, which means greater traction and stability.

However, wider isn’t always better. A wider tire will have more road resistance from the increased contact. This means your car will have to work harder to get the car to move. You’ll notice this through a drop in your fuel economy. There is also only so much space under your car for the tire. A tire that’s too wide will rub on the body and suspension components of the car.

• Rim Diameter 

This is the third number in the code and is two digits. It’s typically after an “R” for radial. The rim diameter is the size of the rim that the tire will fit onto. You’ll typically see this number between 15 and 18 inches. Match the original equipment tire size to ensure your new ones fit.

This number must match the size of your wheels. If it’s too loose or too tight, then the tire won’t stay on the rim once air pressure is applied.

If you plan to replace your stock rims with aftermarket ones, then you need to pay attention to the size. Buying wheels that are a different diameter than your stock ones will require you to also buy new tires.

• Load Rating 

The load rating is the last number in the tire size code. It’ll be a two or three digit number. This number will tell you how much weight the tire can safely carry. The number on the tire only tells you the load rating for that one tire. So to know the entire load rating, you need to account for all four tires. Multiply this number by four to get the maximum load capacity.

This rating starts at 75, which means the tire can handle 852 pounds. Four of these tires have a maximum load capacity of 3,408 pounds. At the top end of the scale is a load index rating of 120. These tires have a maximum load capacity of 3086 or 12,344 in total. Corolla tires typically have a load capacity of 91. This is a load capacity of 1,356 per tire or 5,414 in total.

• Speed Rating 

The speed rating is the letter at the end of the tire code. The code ranges from L through Z. The later the letter is in the alphabet, the higher the speed rating. A rating of L will have a speed rating of 75 miles per hour. At the top end of the scale, a rating of Y is 186 miles per hour, and Z is open-ended. The most common ratings are T and H, which are 118 and 130 miles per hour, respectively.

It’s important to pick a tire with the right speed rating because as you travel faster, heat builds. Rubber in higher-rated tires dissipates heat more efficiently. If you drive faster than what the tire is rated, then you risk total tire failure.

Tips for Buying and Using Tires for Toyota Corolla

Take the time to shop around when buying your tires. While you can buy used tires at a discount, this isn’t a smart choice. They could come with uneven tread wear, and you won’t get the full usable life of the tread. You’ll need to replace your tires faster.

When buying new tires, you could shop locally, but you’re likely to be limited in your selection. For the best price and greatest selection, shop online for your tires. Carefully look at the price and compare it to the useful mileage life of the tire. Then look at the shipping and installation costs, which can significantly affect the total cost of the tires.

• Always buy your tires new.
• Look online for the biggest selection.
• Don’t forget to factor in shipping and installation.

Best Tires for Toyota Corolla FAQs

To make your new tires last, you need to properly care for them. This means maintaining proper air pressure, having them balanced, and getting regular rotations. This will help the tread wear evenly on all four tires. When the tread wears down to the marker, you’ll know it’s time to replace them. Having all four replaced at the same time ensures you have an even ride and tread wear on your new tires.

Our Top Pick

Our top pick for the best tire for your Toyota Corolla is the Firestone Winterforce 2 Snow Radial Tire. This tire balances price with performance. You can drive with confidence and know that you’ll have traction when you need it most. These winter tires will grip in heavy winter conditions.