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The Toyota Camry is favored by many car enthusiasts. It is fuel efficient and has a powerful engine. What’s more, it includes modern technology, is comfortable, and is one of the few cars that keep going over 200,000 miles.If you own a Toyota Camry and want to get the most out of it, you have to ensure the tires are in great shape. Tires absorb road shocks, support the vehicle load, and help with braking. Here are some of the best tire options for your Toyota Camry.
Benefits of Tires for Toyota Camry
- Safer driving. The Toyota Camry is made for the urban environment. The best tires for the car maintain a good grip on road surfaces to ensure you are comfortable as you drive. They handle better, enhancing your safety.
- Fuel-efficient. The best Toyota Camry tires make driving easier. They offer smooth cornering and better handling performance. They also have low rolling resistance and save you money you could have spent at the gas station.
- Better handling. When you have tires with deep grooves and a unidirectional tread pattern, you can maneuver corners and handle open roads with ease. You are confident in any weather and are able to avoid any mishaps before they happen.
- Fulfilling drives. Great control and smooth cornering are the perfect ingredients to great drives, whether it’s short commutes or long trips. It is even better when the tires produce no noise.
Types of Tires for Toyota Camry
Touring
Grand Touring tires offer reliable all-season traction, responsive handling, and a comfortable ride. They usually have an asymmetrical tread pattern and a better speed rating than all-season tires. These tires combine the quiet-riding capabilities of a passenger tire with the traction of a performance tire. They have deep grooves to maintain a good grip in most weather conditions. They may also have features suited for driving in light snow.
All-Season
All-season tires are built for performance with an emphasis on long tread life. They are designed to be used in temperatures above 7 degrees Celsius and perform best in warm climates. Whenever temperatures are above 7 degrees Celsius, their rubber extracts water and provides traction. The tires are designed for a smooth, quiet ride and do great in the rain and on bare pavement.
Winter
Winter tires, also called snow tires, can be studded or studless for enhanced traction. They are designed to be used in temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius. They have better tread patterns designed for traction on snow and ice. These tires feature softer rubber compounds for enhanced grip.
When it’s cold, winter tires outperform all-season tires. They are designed to handle ice, snow, and slush with ease. Studded winter tires have aggressive tread patterns to increase grip and traction. After winter, it is advisable to replace these tires with regular touring or all-season tires.
Summer
These tires are designed to provide the best performance in both wet and dry conditions. But they are not ideal for winter. They also go by the name performance tires and are built for speed and agility. Summer tires have specialized rubber compounds and tread patterns that make for improved precision. Their tread compounds remain more flexible, allowing for better grip and traction.
Top Brands
Cooper
Cooper Tire and Rubber Company was established in 1914. It is presently headquartered in Ohio and is one of the world’s leading tire manufacturers. It has maintained a strong presence in the tire industry with products such as the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 4S All-Terrain Radial Tire. This all-weather, all-terrain performance tire is a perfect fit for sedans like Camrys.
Michelin
You would be hard-pressed to find a discussion about reputable tire companies without Michelin being mentioned. The company has been in the tire business since 1889, serving generations with high-quality tires. It is a French company with a global presence. The MICHELIN Premier LTX All-Season Radial Tire will suit your car if you often drive in light snow and on wet roads—thanks to its hydroplaning resistance.
Westlake
Westlake is a notable tire company that makes affordable tires for sedans such as the Toyota Camry. The company distributes tires all over the world courtesy of another company with a rich history, Tireco. Tireco is based in California while Westlake is based in Houston, Texas. The Westlake All-Season Radial Tire-225/45ZR18 95W is one of the company’s best-selling tires.
Tires for Toyota Camry Pricing
- $50-$100: In this category, you’ll find good performance tires at a bargain. You can get all-season radial tires that perform well in both dry and wet conditions. But they may not have a high treadwear rating.
- $100-$150: There’s a wider range of tires here. They have better features like low noise emission, superior tread patterns, and better handling.
- $150-$200: Some of the more established brands (like Firestone, Bridgestone, Continental, Pirelli, and Goodyear) have tires in this price range. If you’re looking for tires with a long tread life, good traction, fuel efficiency, and better handling, look here.
- $250 and up: Tires in this price range are meant for specific conditions or roads. Off-road tires and some studded tires may be in this category.
Key Features
Size
This is one of the most important features to consider when buying a Toyota Camry tire. You can use tires between 16 and 19 inches. However, it is important to note that tire size affects handling, speed, and price. Bigger tires perform exceptionally when braking while smaller tires may be better for traction in deep snow and slush. Always replace OEM tires with tires of the same size to avoid damaging your car.
Ratings
Every tire has numbers written on the side. These tell you the size, the load index rating, the speed rating, the tire identification number, the diameter between sidewalls, the traction grade, the treadwear grade, and the temperature grade. Check all these ratings to ensure you get the right tires for your car.
Predominant Weather Conditions
You will spend a lot of money if you keep buying tires that are not ideal for your locality. If you live in an area that experiences a lot of rain, you’re better off getting all-terrain or all-season tires that perform well on wet roads. The good news is tire manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure their tires maintain good grip in different weather conditions.
Other Considerations
- Tire Type. It is common to find labels such as P, ST, LT, or T. These letters tell you the type of tire you are buying. A “P” stands for passenger car, “LT” is for Light Truck, “ST” stands for Special Trailer, while “T” is for temporary tires.
- Uniform Tire Quality Grading. This is the global set of standards used to measure a tire’s vitals such as temperature resistance, treadwear, and traction. These numbers are written on the tire. The grading system makes sure that each approved tire meets the safety requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Best Tires for Toyota Camry Reviews & Recommendations 2021
Best Overall
Kumho Solus TA31 All-Season Tire
Best Value
Ohtsu FP7000 All-Season Radial Tire
Premium Pick
Hankook Kinergy GT All-Season Radial Tire
Most Versatile
Milestar MS932 Sport All Season Radial Tire
Honorable Mention
Starfire Solarus AS All-Season Radial Tire
Tips
- The front tires of Toyota Camrys tend to wear out faster than the rear tires. Keep an eye on yours to know when it’s time to replace them. Also ensure the tires have the right amount of pressure at all times to prevent premature wear.
- If you can, keep season-specific tires in storage. Get summer tires for warm weather and winter tires for when the roads get icy. You can have all-season or all-weather tires as your regular tires.
- If you’re not too confident about changing tires, get it done at an auto shop for a small fee. The process can be technical, so getting a professional to do it ensures you’re safer on the road.
FAQs
Q: How does speed rating affect the tire?
Speed rating refers to the speed the tire can maintain over time. It is the highest speed a tire can handle while it’s in good shape. Exceeding the speed rating will cause the tire’s temperature to rise. This may lead to tire failure or more dire consequences.
Q: How do I know the right time to rotate a tire?
A tire’s average lifespan is about four years. However, you need to rotate it to get the most out of it. You can rotate it after every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Also check the tread wear frequently to make sure you’re not driving with tires that could put you in harm’s way.
Q: Which are the best tires for Toyota Camry?
Most Camry owners prefer all-season and touring tires. Each one has its benefits. Touring tires offer great handling, all-season traction, and higher speeds while all-season tires are designed to offer a smooth, quiet ride in different conditions.
Q: What is the recommended tire pressure for Toyota Camry?
For optimum performance, keep your tire pressure at 35 psi, especially if you drive a Toyota Camry Atara SL. Check the inner part of the driver’s door for the placard with tire pressure information.
Final Thoughts
After carefully scrutinizing and comparing numerous tires, we can safely say that the Kumho Solus TA31 All-Season Tire is the best tire for Toyota Camry. It handles well, offers good grip and traction, and features innovative technology.
But if you’re short of cash, get the affordable Ohtsu FP7000 All-Season Radial Tire.