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Best tires for 15 inch rims

Best tires for 15 inch rims

Best Tires for 15-inch Rims: Popular Sizes and Vehicles

The tire industry offers a vast array of options for vehicle owners, catering to different driving preferences, road conditions, and vehicle types. Among the various rim sizes available, 15-inch rims have maintained their popularity among drivers of various vehicle segments. This article aims to provide you with an overview of the best tires for 15-inch rims, focusing on the most popular sizes and the vehicles they are best suited for.

Despite the availability of larger rim sizes, 15-inch rims continue to be a popular choice for many drivers, primarily due to their affordability, fuel efficiency, and compatibility with a wide range of vehicles. Many of the top tire manufacturers offer all-season tires in this category, making it a versatile option for drivers looking for year-round performance without having to switch between summer and winter tires.

The most popular tire sizes for 15-inch rims include 195/65R15, 205/65R15, and 215/60R15. These sizes are commonly used in various vehicle segments, such as sedans, hatchbacks, and compact SUVs. Some of the vehicles fitted with these tire sizes include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Mazda3, and the Volkswagen Golf, among others.

This segment sets itself apart by offering a comprehensive range of all-season tires, which cater to diverse driving conditions and environments. By emphasizing durability, grip, and ride comfort, these tires provide a well-rounded performance for drivers who seek reliability and value for their money. Stay tuned as we delve into the top tire options for 15-inch rims, highlighting their unique features and benefits to help you make an informed decision for your vehicle.

All season 3 peak mountain

3 peak mountain logo

All season tires have always been the go to tires for the American market and this segment has been well established across the years. There are 2 types of all season tires, one with 3 peak mountain & one with only M+S. We have covered these 2 types of tire head to head with Michelin’s Defender T+H (M+S) vs Cross Climate 2 (3 peak mountain) and the M+S all season tires usually are worst in winter performances but excel much better in mileage.

If you are in an area which snows quite heavily, 3 peak mountain all season tires would be definitely a good choice. Below are the best tires for 15 inch rims with an all season 3 peak mountain logo.

1. Bridgestone Weatherpeak

Bridgestone’s answer towards Michelin’s Cross Climate 2 is a new product called WeatherPeak. This is Bridgestone’s first foray into America’s all season product with a 3 peak mountain certified tire. WeatherPeak was launched in 2022 and boosted a comprehensive line up covering most A to C segment cars in the replacement market. Based on the latest tire rack results, WeatherPeak excels on comfort but still lacks the top contenders in terms of wet & dry performances.

  • WeatherPeak
    • Launch: 2022
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Good comfort.

Check our head to head comparison of WeatherPeak against its competitors.

WeatherPeak vs

Price

2. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady

Goodyear’s Assurance WeatherReady was launched in 2017 and covers a large range of passenger cars and crossovers. Based on the latest test results, it has strong showing in snow with good comfort but lacks the firepower in wet.

  • Assurance WeatherReady
    • Launch: 2017
    • Press test wins: 0/2
    • Strength: Snow & comfort.

Check our head to head comparison of Assurance WeatherReady against its competitors.

Assurance WeatherReady vs

Price

3. General AltiMAX 365 AW

With many competitors yearning to become the best all season tire, General Tires recently announced their latest touring all season tireline called AltiMAX 365 AW. This tireline slightly differs to its previous all season line up as the AltiMAX 365 AW comes with a certified 3 peak mountain label which makes them effectively a legal snow tire. AltiMAX 365 AW was launched in 2021 while serving the grand touring all season segment consisting of 15″-20″ sizes.

Based on the test results, AltiMAX 365 AW fared well in terms of dry braking & handling but still lacked the wet traction needed against competitors.

  • AltiMAX 365 AW
    • Launch: 2021
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Strong dry performer

Check out our head to head comparison of AltiMAX 365 AW against its competitors.

AltiMAX 365 AW vs

Price

  • 195/65R15 : $119

4. Firestone WeatherGrip

Firestone WeatherGrip was launched in 2019 and covers mostly passenger cars, minivans, SUVs and crossovers sizes from 15″-19″. Based on the test results, WeatherGrip was moderately ok in dry braking & handling but did not perform well in wet.

  • WeatherGrip
    • Launch: 2019
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Acceptable dry performance

Check out our head to head comparison of WeatherGrip against its competitors.

WeatherGrip vs

Price

M+S all season tires

Before the invention of the snowflake capable tires, all season tires mostly carried the M+S logo which means mountain & snow. The M+S logo does not require you to pass any test hence it is up to the manufacturer to determine its usage. This segment provides some light snow usage capability but its main focus is on mileage. This is also one of the main reasons that the products generally do not perform well in wet.

1. Michelin Defender T+H

Defender T+H was launched in 2017 and covers mostly SUV sizes from 15″-18″. Defender T+H is exclusive for the North American market which demonstrates Michelin’s commitment towards this market.! The defender series has been a household name in the M+S all season touring market by providing one of the highest UTQG wear rating compared to its competitors. Unfortunately the 195/65R15 is not available for Defender 2 which is not a huge let down considering how well Defender T+H has performed over the years.

Based on the test results, Defender showed great mileage while having a slight deficit in wet & snow. With a little drawback in traditional performances, Defender T+H is definitely a mileage monster !

  • Defender T+H
    • Launch: 2017
    • Press test wins: 1/3
    • Strength: Excellent wear.

Check out our head to head comparison of Defender T+H against its competitors.

Defender T+H vs

Price

2. Continental TrueContact Tour

TrueContact Tour was Continental’s answer to the highly popular Michelin Defender T+H with the main focus on wear. It was launched in 2018 and falls into the M+S and high UTQG wear rating category. Based on the test results, TrueContact Tour excels on wet performance criteria but ultimately lack against the mileage firing power to compete with Defender2. Overall solid tire in wet but lack behind Michelin in terms of mileage.

  • TrueContact Tour
    • Launch: 2018
    • Press test wins: 0/2
    • Strength: Excellent wet.

Check out our head to head comparison of TrueContact Tour against its competitors.

TrueContact Tour vs

Price

3. Goodyear Assurance MaxLife

Goodyear Assurance MaxLife was launched in 2018 and falls into the M+S and high UTQG wear rating category. By serving the touring & SUV segment from 16-20″, Assurance MaxLife is one of the most popular tires in this category. Based on the test results, it has a good wet performance however it also trails badly in terms of mileage when compared to Michelin’s Defender 2.

  • Assurance MaxLife
    • Launch: 2018
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Strong wet.

Check out our head to head comparison of Assurance MaxLife against its competitors.

Assurance MaxLife vs

Price

4. General AltiMAX RT45

General’s AltiMAX RT45 was launched this year in 2022 and covers mostly passenger cars, minivans, SUVs and crossovers sizes. AltiMAX RT45 was designed and sold specifically in the North American market. This is the general commitment from General’s research & development approach of bringing the best products for the local market. Based on the test results, AltiMAX RT45 had good wet braking but had a higher noise level compared to other tires.

  • AltiMAX RT45
    • Launch: 2022
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Strong wet.

Check out our head to head comparison of AltiMAX RT45 against its competitors.

AltiMAX RT45 vs

Price

Studless tires aka Snow tires

Snow tires

As we are talking about winter tires, it is very important to distinguish between the studless & winter segment. The studless segment has a main focus on ice & snow and it is currently the best tire selection for extreme cold weather conditions (<23°F). Winter tires are mainly focused on milder winter conditions (>23°F) while having a very strong wet braking performance. These are typically used in middle European countries as they do not have such cold winters.

For the American market, studless tires are the main go to tires when it comes to snow tires as the winter middle European tires are usually not sold directly here. Below are the best tires for 15 inch rims for extreme cold weather conditions.

1. Continental Viking Contact 7

Continental Viking Contact 7

Viking Contact 7 is Continental’s best performing tire in the press test with a win rate of 24 out of the 27 tests it has contested. With a clear strength in ice & snow performances while balancing the summer performances, Viking Contact 7 is clearly the best snow tire in the market !

  • Viking Contact 7
    • Launch: 2018
    • Press test wins: 24/27
    • Strength: Best in class in ice & snow. Weak in aquaplaning.

Check out our head to head comparison of Viking Contact 7 against its competitors.

Viking Contact 7 vs

Price

2. Michelin X-Ice SNOW

Michelin X-Ice SNOW

Michelin’s answer towards Continental’s Viking Contact 7 is a new product called X-Ice Snow. This was a long awaited upgrade for 8 years as X-Ice Snow was launched in 2020. Based on the head to head results below, X-Ice Snow excels relatively good in Ice & Snow but lacks in wet performances.

  • X-Ice Snow
    • Launch: 2020
    • Press test wins: 0/12
    • Strength: Relatively good ice & snow.

Check our head to head comparison of X-Ice Snow against its competitors.

X-Ice Snow vs

Price

3. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

Blizzak WS90 was launched in 2019 replacing the 2014 Blizzak WS80 offering a full range of passenger & SUV tire selection. Based on the head to head test results below, Blizzak WS90 could not match the top contenders in terms of ice & snow, however it excels in wet performance.

  • Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
    • Launch: 2019
    • Press test wins: 2/4
    • Strength: Wet & ice

Check our head to head comparison of Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 against its competitors.

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 vs

Price

Summary

In conclusion, the wide variety of tires available for 15-inch rims makes it an excellent choice for many vehicle owners. The advantage of all-season tires, particularly those with the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol and the M+S (Mud and Snow) designation, is their ability to provide reliable performance in varying road conditions throughout the year. These tires are specifically designed to offer a well-balanced mix of traction, handling, and durability, making them an ideal choice for drivers seeking versatility and convenience.

Moreover, the 3PMSF tires have undergone rigorous testing to prove their effectiveness in severe snow conditions, ensuring better winter performance than standard all-season tires. The M+S tires, on the other hand, offer enhanced traction on muddy and snowy roads, ensuring that your vehicle remains stable and safe in different driving conditions.

For drivers in regions with extreme winter conditions or those who prefer optimal winter performance, dedicated snow tires remain a valuable investment. These tires provide superior traction, braking, and handling on snow and ice, significantly improving your vehicle’s safety and performance during the winter months.

In summary, the tire market for 15-inch rims offers a plethora of options to cater to various driving preferences and requirements. Whether you opt for all-season tires with 3PMSF or M+S designations or dedicated snow tires, it’s essential to choose the right tire for your vehicle and region to ensure safety, performance, and longevity.


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