Picking the best tires for Nissan Altima models is not as simple as grabbing whatever is cheapest. Your trim level changes your wheel size, your stock tire, and even how the car handles. A tire that is perfect for a base S can feel wrong on an SR or Platinum. Below, we rank the top 8 tires for the Altima, plus the buying details most guides skip.
We looked at what other guides on this topic already say. Then we checked Nissan owner forums, Reddit, and YouTube comments to see what people actually ask. The same questions kept coming up: what size do I need, are the stock tires any good, and which tire is best in rain and light snow. We answer all three below, then get into the picks.
Quick Answer: Best Tires for Nissan Altima by Category
- Best overall all-season: Continental PureContact LS
- Best all-weather (rain & light snow): Michelin CrossClimate2
- Best factory-match replacement: Continental ProContact TX
- Best budget pick: Yokohama Avid Ascend GT
- Best for wet climates: Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2
- Best for a quiet, comfortable ride: Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3
- Best for SR & Platinum trims: Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+
- Best dedicated winter tire: Michelin X-Ice Snow
What Tire Size Does Your Nissan Altima Need?
Before you shop by brand, you need to know your size. It is not the same across trims. Here is a simple breakdown:
| Trim | Wheel Size | Tire Size | Common Model Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 16-inch | 215/60R16 | 2013 to 2026 |
| SV / SL | 17-inch | 215/55R17 | 2013 to 2026 |
| SR (non-turbo) | 18-inch | 235/45R18 | 2019 to 2026 |
| SR VC Turbo / Platinum | 19-inch | 235/40R19 | 2019 to 2026 |
The safest way to check your size is to look at the sidewall of your current tire or the sticker inside your driver’s door. Some dealer options and mid-year changes can shift things slightly.
All-Season or All-Weather: Which One Fits Your Altima?
This trips up more Altima owners than anything else, so let’s clear it up before you shop. We cover this in more depth in our full all-season vs. all-weather tires guide, but here’s the short version for your Altima:
- All-season tires handle dry roads, wet roads, and light snow. They come stock on most Altima trims. Good pick if your winters stay mild.
- All-weather tires do the same, but with a real snow rating built in. Look for the snowflake symbol on the sidewall. Worth it if you see snow a few times a winter and don’t want a second set of tires.
- Winter tires only make sense if you get snow and ice for months at a time. They grip much better in the cold but wear out fast once they warm up, so most owners swap them in and out each year.
One more thing worth knowing: a lot of owners say the stock tires on their Altima wear out fast, some in as little as 30,000 to 40,000 miles. If that sounds like your car, any tire on this list is likely to be an upgrade, not just a swap.
Best Tires for Nissan Altima: Top 8 Picks
Here are the tires that consistently earn strong marks from Altima owners, tire shops, and independent testing. We have grouped them by what they are best at, so skip to the one that matches how you actually drive.
1. Continental PureContact LS – Best Overall All-Season
The Continental PureContact LS is the tire most Altima owners land on when they want one tire that does everything well. It pairs strong wet and dry handling with a long tread life, backed by a 70,000-mile warranty on most sizes, so it holds up to the daily commuting most Altimas are actually used for. Continental’s EcoPlus Technology also helps keep rolling resistance low, which matters on a car that owners buy partly for its fuel economy in the first place. If you want to see how it stacks up against a close rival, we compare it directly in our Michelin Primacy Tour A/S review.
- Fits Altima S, SV, SL, and SR trims in matching sizes (16 to 18 inch)
- Works well on 2013 through 2026 Altima model years
- 70,000-mile treadwear warranty on most sizes
- Best for: daily commuters who want one dependable tire year-round
2. Michelin CrossClimate2 – Best All-Weather Tire
If your Altima sees real snow a few times a winter but you do not want to deal with swapping tires twice a year, the Michelin CrossClimate2 is the tire owners point to most often. It carries the three-peak mountain snowflake rating for genuine winter traction, while still handling dry and wet roads like a proper all-season tire the rest of the year. The tradeoff is price, since this sits at the premium end, but for drivers in mixed climates it removes the need for a second set of wheels entirely. We put it up against a top competitor in our Kumho Solus TA51A review, if you’re weighing a cheaper alternative.
- Fits all Altima trims and wheel sizes, 16 through 19 inch
- Confirmed fitment for 2019 through 2026 Altima model years
- Three-peak mountain snowflake certified for real winter grip
- Best for: owners in states with cold, wet winters who want one tire for all four seasons
3. Continental ProContact TX – Best Factory-Match Replacement
The Continental ProContact TX is one of the original equipment tires fitted to newer Altima trims straight from the Nissan factory, so it is the easiest choice if your current set wore out and you just want the same ride and handling back without guesswork. It leans toward comfort and fuel efficiency rather than sporty handling, which matches what most Altima buyers actually want out of a mid-size sedan.
- Fits S, SV, and SL trims (16 and 17 inch wheels)
- Original equipment on many 2019 through 2026 Altima builds
- Strong wet, dry, and light winter grip for a factory-spec tire
- Best for: owners who liked how their Altima drove stock and want to keep it that way
4. Yokohama Avid Ascend GT – Best Budget Pick
Not every Altima owner needs a premium tire, and the Avid Ascend GT is the one Car Talk and other outlets keep recommending for a reason. It costs noticeably less than the Continental and Michelin options above while still holding a solid reputation for durability among daily drivers. It will not out-handle the premium picks on this list, but for a car mostly used for commuting, that tradeoff makes sense for a lot of owners. For another budget-friendly option we’ve tested in full, see our Kumho Solus TA31 review.
- Fits S trim in 16-inch sizing, with 17-inch options available for SV and SL
- A common budget pick across 2013 through 2026 Altima model years
- Priced close to what many original equipment tires cost
- Best for: budget-conscious commuters who still want a dependable name-brand tire
5. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 – Best for Wet Climates
Owners in the Pacific Northwest and along the Gulf Coast mention this tire often when heavy rain comes up in forum threads. Goodyear built the Assurance WeatherReady 2 around confident wet braking, and it also carries a snow rating for the occasional cold snap, which makes it a solid middle ground between a standard all-season and a full winter tire.
- Fits S, SV, and SL trims (16 and 17 inch)
- Reliable choice across 2013 through 2026 Altima model years
- Three-peak mountain snowflake rated for light winter driving
- Best for: rainy climates and drivers who see occasional snow but not enough to justify a dedicated winter set
6. Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 – Best for Ride Comfort
If a quiet cabin and a smooth ride matter more to you than sporty handling, the P7 All Season Plus 3 is worth the look. Owners consistently rate it high for dry and wet handling without a harsh ride, and it carries a long treadwear warranty that puts it in the same conversation as the Continental PureContact LS for owners cross-shopping the two.
- Fits SV and SL trims (17 inch), with sizing also available for S trim
- Well suited to 2016 through 2026 Altima model years
- 70,000-mile treadwear warranty on most sizes
- Best for: highway commuters who prioritize comfort and a quiet cabin
7. Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ – Best for SR & Platinum Trims
The SR and Platinum trims come with larger 18 and 19-inch wheels and a sportier setup, so they call for an ultra-high-performance all-season tire rather than a standard touring option. The Advan Sport A/S+ gives these trims the sharper steering response the SR’s suspension tuning was built around, without giving up all-season usability the way a true summer tire would.
- Fits SR (18 inch) and SR VC Turbo/Platinum (19 inch) trims
- Best matched to 2019 through 2026 Altima SR and Platinum model years
- Up to a 55,000-mile treadwear warranty, shorter than touring tires due to the softer performance compound
- Best for: SR and Platinum owners who want the handling to match the trim’s sportier suspension
8. Michelin X-Ice Snow – Best Dedicated Winter Tire
For owners in genuine snow country, a dedicated winter tire still outperforms even the best all-weather option once temperatures stay below freezing for weeks at a time. The X-Ice Snow uses an asymmetric tread with dense siping to bite into snow and ice, and it holds its rubber compound flexibility in cold weather far better than an all-season tire ever will. Most owners run these on a second set of wheels and swap seasonally.
- Available in every Altima wheel size, 16 through 19 inches
- Fits all Altima trims and model years from 2013 to 2026
- Higher speed rating than most budget winter tires
- Best for: owners in snow-heavy states who want maximum cold-weather traction
How to Choose the Best Tires for Your Nissan Altima
With 8 good options above, here is a simple way to pick, based on your trim and where you drive.
If you drive an S, SV, or SL trim
These trims are about comfort and good gas mileage. Stick with a touring all-season like the Continental PureContact LS or Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3. If you get real winter weather, the Michelin CrossClimate2 covers both.
If you drive an SR or Platinum trim
Your Altima has a sportier feel and bigger wheels. The Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ will match that handling much better than a standard touring tire.
If you live somewhere with real winters
Don’t count on an all-season tire once it drops below freezing for weeks at a time. Step up to an all-weather tire like the CrossClimate2, or use a dedicated winter set like the Michelin X-Ice Snow for the coldest months.
If your tires are still the factory originals
Check the date code on the sidewall. Tires older than 6 years should be replaced no matter how much tread is left, since the rubber wears out with age even if the car has not been driven much.
How Much Do Nissan Altima Tires Cost?
Prices change by trim and size. Here is a rough idea of what to expect per tire before installation:
- 16-inch tires (S trim): $90 to $160 per tire
- 17-inch tires (SV/SL trim): $110 to $190 per tire
- 18 to 19-inch tires (SR/Platinum trim): $150 to $260 per tire
Buying a full set of four at once usually gets you a better price per tire and keeps wear even on all four corners. It also means all your tires age out together, so you’re not stuck mixing an old, worn tire with three newer ones.
Best Tires for Nissan Altima Comparison Table
| Tire | Type | Best For | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continental PureContact LS | All-season | Daily commuting | 70,000-mile warranty, low rolling resistance |
| Michelin CrossClimate2 | All-weather | Mixed climates | 3PMSF snow rating in an all-season tire |
| Continental ProContact TX | All-season | Factory-match replacement | Original equipment on many Altima trims |
| Yokohama Avid Ascend GT | All-season | Budget commuters | Lower cost, solid durability reputation |
| Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 | All-weather | Wet climates | Strong wet braking, snow rated |
| Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 | All-season | Ride comfort | Quiet cabin, long warranty |
| Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ | UHP all-season | SR & Platinum trims | Sharper handling for larger wheels |
| Michelin X-Ice Snow | Winter | Snow-heavy climates | Dedicated cold-weather traction |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best tires for a Nissan Altima?
The Continental PureContact LS is the best overall pick for most trims. It’s a great mix of wet and dry grip, comfort, and long tread life. If you get occasional snow, the Michelin CrossClimate2 is the better all-around choice.
What is the best tire size for a Nissan Altima SUV?
There is no Nissan Altima SUV. The Altima has always been a sedan. People searching for this usually mean the Nissan Rogue or Murano, Nissan’s real SUVs, or they just want SUV-like grip and comfort. If that’s the goal, an all-weather tire like the Michelin CrossClimate2 or Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 is your closest match.
How long do Nissan Altima tires last?
Most all-season tires on an Altima last 50,000 to 70,000 miles with regular rotation, though it depends a lot on how and where you drive. Winter tires and performance tires wear out faster since their rubber is softer.
Whatever trim or year you drive, picking the right tire from this list of the best tires for Nissan Altima comes down to three things: your wheel size, your climate, and how you actually use the car. Get those right, and any tire here will treat you well.