On the road they are allright. But on track, I really don't like them. The AD07 were much better. on road and track. So now I'll buy another set of wheels. One for the track, probably with toyos r888r that I tried before, but aren't for the road. And maybe AD09 for the road, but haven't tried them yet
205/45 R16 Tyres
Everything we know about the 205/45 R16 tyre size: 326 owner reviews covering 3,662,228 miles of driving, and EU label data for the tyres you can actually buy in it.
- 326owner reviews
- 3,662,228 milescovered on them
- 433tyres made in this size
The quick answer
| Season | Owners' pick | Owner rating | Latest test winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Uniroyal RainSport 2 8.8 Current version: Uniroyal RainSport 5 | 89% from 11 reviews | - |
Owner picks are the highest weighted owner score in 205/45 R16; test winners come from the most recent independent test conducted in this size. The full evidence is below.
The best rated 205/45 R16 tyres
Rated only by drivers running this size. Each tyre needs at least 3 reviews in 205/45 R16 to be ranked; the order weights a tyre's score by how many reviews back it, so one glowing review cannot top a table.
Summer tyres
The highest rated Summer tyre in 205/45 R16 is the Uniroyal RainSport 2 - 89% from 11 owner reviews in this size. The current tyre in that line is now the Uniroyal RainSport 5.
| # | Tyre | Owner rating | Reviews | Distance reviewed | TR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
89% | 11 | 155,750 miles | 8.8 |
| 2 |
|
94% | 5 | 185,000 miles | 8.7 |
| 3 |
|
85% | 9 | 75,711 miles | 8.1 |
| 4 |
|
91% | 3 | 23,000 miles | 8.7 |
| 5 |
|
87% | 4 | 53,000 miles | 8.7 |
| 6 |
|
84% | 5 | 56,000 miles | 7.1 |
| 7 |
|
88% | 3 | 23,000 miles | 8.2 |
| 8 |
|
87% | 3 | 6,012 miles | 8.1 |
| 9 |
|
82% | 6 | 34,200 miles | 7.8 |
| 10 |
|
87% | 3 | 650 miles | 8.4 |
| 11 |
|
82% | 6 | 80,078 miles | 7.9 |
| 12 |
|
86% | 3 | 33,000 miles | 7.7 |
| 13 |
|
84% | 3 | 90,000 miles | 8.6 |
| 14 |
|
78% | 5 | 29,500 miles | 8.2 |
| 15 |
|
80% | 3 | 32,500 miles | 8.7 |
| 16 |
|
78% | 3 | 39,000 miles | 7.7 |
| 17 |
|
77% | 4 | 110,000 miles | 6.5 |
| 18 |
|
77% | 5 | 87,000 miles | 8.5 |
| 19 |
|
76% | 6 | 20,800 miles | 5 |
| 20 |
|
77% | 3 | 8,024 miles | 7.3 |
| 21 |
|
74% | 12 | 129,700 miles | 7.6 |
| 22 |
|
74% | 3 | 61,000 miles | 8.1 |
| 23 |
|
71% | 5 | 13,100 miles | 6.3 |
| 24 |
|
70% | 3 | 31,000 miles | 7.5 |
| 25 |
|
70% | 4 | 15,500 miles | 8.5 |
| 26 |
|
70% | 11 | 348,000 miles | 7.5 |
| 27 |
|
67% | 6 | 60,845 miles | 8.2 |
| 28 |
|
67% | 11 | 93,100 miles | 7.1 |
| 29 |
|
66% | 9 | 86,713 miles | 5.5 |
| 30 |
|
66% | 10 | 117,010 miles | 7.6 |
| 31 |
|
60% | 3 | 25,000 miles | 5 |
| 32 |
|
60% | 5 | 142,500 miles | 6.6 |
| 33 |
|
54% | 3 | 12,044 miles | 8 |
| 34 |
|
50% | 3 | 15,010 miles | 5.1 |
| 35 |
|
54% | 8 | 53,050 miles | 5.4 |
| 36 |
|
36% | 5 | 34,200 miles | 4.5 |
Want test data as well as owner opinion? Best Summer Tyres →
TR Score is the tyre's overall Tyre Reviews rating out of 10, built from independent test results and every owner review of that tyre - not just the reviews from this car. The owner rating column is this car only.
205/45 R16 EU tyre label data
EU label values are declared for each individual size, so the figures here are exact for 205/45 R16 rather than a range across a model. 300 tyres carry label data in this size. The most common load index is 87 (up to 545 kg per tyre). Speed ratings on offer: Y (300 km/h), W (270 km/h), V (240 km/h), H (210 km/h), T (190 km/h). 100 tyres in this size carry the 3PMSF severe snow marking.
A Best wet grip
49 tyres in this size hold the top EU wet grip rating, class A. The highest scoring on Tyre Reviews:
- Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Summer 9.4
- Falken ZIEX ZE320 Summer 9.4
- Continental Premium Contact 6 Summer 9.1
- Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 Summer 9
- Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 Winter 8.9
- Linglong Sport Master Summer 8.9
A Lowest rolling resistance
The most fuel efficient choice: 1 tyres in this size reach rolling resistance class A. The highest scoring on Tyre Reviews:
- Michelin e.Primacy Summer 8.2
67dB Quietest tyres
The quietest 205/45 R16 tyres are labelled at 67 dB external noise:
- Falken ZIEX ZE320 Summer 9.4
- Michelin Primacy 4 Summer 8.8
- Yokohama BluEarth Es ES32 Summer 8.2
- Michelin e.Primacy Summer 8.2
- Yokohama Advan Fleva V701 Summer 8
- Pirelli Cinturato Winter Winter 7.7
Label values come from the EU EPREL database and apply to the EU market versions of each tyre. Wet grip and rolling resistance run from class A (best) to E; noise is the measured drive-by figure. A good label is a floor, not a verdict - the tests and owner ratings above tell you far more.
How long do 205/45 R16 tyres last?
Across 25 end of life reviews in this size, a typical set of tyres was worn out after 12,000 miles. Half of all worn-out sets lasted between 4,500 miles and 30,000 miles.
Distances are self-reported by drivers whose review marked the set as worn out; figures are medians, so a single unusual report cannot move them. Driving style and the car matter more than the size itself.
What does 205/45 R16 mean?
A 205/45 R16 tyre is 205 mm wide, its sidewall is 45% of that width (92 mm) tall, and it fits a 16 inch wheel. That gives an overall diameter of roughly 591 mm.
| Section width | 205 mm |
|---|---|
| Sidewall height | 92 mm |
| Rim diameter | 16" (406 mm) |
| Overall diameter | ≈ 591 mm |
| Circumference | ≈ 1,856 mm |
| Revolutions per km | ≈ 539 |
| Revolutions per mile | ≈ 867 |
Also written as
205/45R16 205/45 ZR16 205-45-16 205 45 16
Figures are calculated from the nominal size. A loaded, rolling tyre runs a few percent smaller, and true widths vary slightly between makes.
What cars use 205/45 R16 tyres?
The cars most often running this size in our owner reviews. Each links to the best rated tyres for that exact car.
Every tyre reviewed in 205/45 R16
The complete record, including discontinued tyres and tyres with too few reviews to rank, ordered by the amount of evidence. A further 88 tyres have a single review each; they count toward the totals but are not listed.
| Tyre | Season | Owner rating | Reviews | Distance reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 Replaced by Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | Summer | 74% | 12 | 129,700 miles |
| Uniroyal RainSport 2 Replaced by Uniroyal RainSport 5 | Summer | 89% | 11 | 155,750 miles |
| Continental Sport Contact 2 Replaced by Continental SportContact 7 | Summer | 70% | 11 | 348,000 miles |
| Pirelli PZero Nero | Summer | 67% | 11 | 93,100 miles |
| Toyo T1R Replaced by Toyo Proxes T1 Sport+ | Summer | 66% | 10 | 117,010 miles |
| Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 Replaced by Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | Summer | 85% | 9 | 75,711 miles |
| Nankang NS2 Replaced by Nankang Noble Sport NS20 | Summer | 66% | 9 | 86,713 miles |
| Federal SS595 SUPER STEEL | Summer | 54% | 8 | 53,050 miles |
| Kumho Ecsta PS31 | Summer | 82% | 6 | 34,200 miles |
| Bridgestone Turanza ER300 Replaced by Bridgestone Turanza 6 | Summer | 82% | 6 | 80,078 miles |
| Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R Replaced by Yokohama Advan Neova AD09 | Summer | 76% | 6 | 20,800 miles |
| Hankook Ventus V12 evo k110 Replaced by Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 | Summer | 67% | 6 | 60,845 miles |
| Falken ZE914 Replaced by Falken ZIEX ZE320 | Summer | 94% | 5 | 185,000 miles |
| Nexen N Fera SU1 Replaced by Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 | Summer | 84% | 5 | 56,000 miles |
| Kumho Ecsta KU31 | Summer | 78% | 5 | 29,500 miles |
| Barum Bravuris 2 Replaced by Barum Bravuris 3 | Summer | 77% | 5 | 87,000 miles |
| Nankang NS2R | Summer | 71% | 5 | 13,100 miles |
| Bridgestone Turanza ER30 Replaced by Bridgestone Turanza 6 | Summer | 60% | 5 | 142,500 miles |
| Infinity INF 05 | Summer | 36% | 5 | 34,200 miles |
| Neuton NT5000 | Summer | 87% | 4 | 53,000 miles |
| Federal 595EVO | Summer | 77% | 4 | 110,000 miles |
| Kumho Ecsta PS71 Replaced by Kumho Ecsta Sport S PS72 | Summer | 70% | 4 | 15,500 miles |
| Nexen N Fera SU4 | Summer | 91% | 3 | 23,000 miles |
| Dunlop SportMaxx RT Replaced by Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 | Summer | 88% | 3 | 23,000 miles |
| Maxxis Premitra HP5 | Summer | 87% | 3 | 6,012 miles |
| Continental ContiMaxContact MC6 | Summer | 87% | 3 | 650 miles |
| Westlake SA 57 | Summer | 86% | 3 | 33,000 miles |
| Bridgestone Adrenalin RE002 Replaced by Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE005 | Summer | 84% | 3 | 90,000 miles |
| Vredestein Sportrac 3 Replaced by Vredestein Sportrac 5 | Summer | 80% | 3 | 32,500 miles |
| Uniroyal RainSport 3 Replaced by Uniroyal RainSport 5 | Summer | 78% | 3 | 39,000 miles |
| Hankook Ventus RS2 Z212 | Summer | 77% | 3 | 8,024 miles |
| Avon ZZ3 Replaced by Avon ZZ5 | Summer | 74% | 3 | 61,000 miles |
| Continental Premium Contact 2 Replaced by Continental PremiumContact 7 | Summer | 70% | 3 | 31,000 miles |
| Achilles ATR Sport | Summer | 60% | 3 | 25,000 miles |
| Falken ZE912 Replaced by Falken ZIEX ZE320 | Summer | 54% | 3 | 12,044 miles |
| Accelera Alpha | Summer | 50% | 3 | 15,010 miles |
| Hankook OPTIMO K415 Discontinued | Summer | 93% | 2 | 26,000 miles |
| Kumho Ecsta KU39 | Summer | 90% | 2 | 3,000 miles |
| Barum Bravuris 3HM Replaced by Barum Bravuris 5HM | Summer | 86% | 2 | 7,000 miles |
| Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 Replaced by Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | Summer | 86% | 2 | 15,000 miles |
| Dunlop Direzza DZ101 | Summer | 86% | 2 | 4,200 miles |
| Altenzo Comforter | Summer | 86% | 2 | 7,400 miles |
| Michelin Pilot Exalto Replaced by Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | Summer | 85% | 2 | 70,000 miles |
| Hankook Winter i cept evo | Winter | 85% | 2 | 8,000 miles |
| Bridgestone Adrenalin RE003 Replaced by Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE005 | Summer | 83% | 2 | 10,365 miles |
| Mabor Sport Jet 3 | Summer | 82% | 2 | 56,000 miles |
| Avon ZV7 | Summer | 81% | 2 | 13,500 miles |
| Toyo R1R | Summer | 80% | 2 | 3,000 miles |
| BFGoodrich gForce Profiler 2 | Summer | 79% | 2 | 50,000 miles |
| Federal 595RSR Replaced by Federal 595RSRR | Summer | 71% | 2 | 6,250 miles |
| Jinyu YH12 | Summer | 71% | 2 | 6,500 miles |
| Yokohama Parada Spec 2 | Summer | 67% | 2 | 13,000 miles |
| Wanli S1063 | Summer | 64% | 2 | 40,020 miles |
| Rotalla RU01 S Pace | Summer | 59% | 2 | 1,000 miles |
| Landsail LS288 | Summer | 59% | 2 | 21,000 miles |
| Dunlop SP2000 | Summer | 58% | 2 | 73,000 miles |
| Silverstone M5 Synergy | Summer | 45% | 2 | 15,000 miles |
| Fullrun HP199 | Summer | 40% | 2 | 20,500 miles |
Reviews only cover part of the market: 433 tyres are made in 205/45 R16. Browse every 205/45 R16 tyre →
What drivers say about their 205/45 R16 tyres
The most recent owner reviews fitted in this size, in their own words.
Very nice driving tires, could handle what I threw at em but have worn down pretty quick after doing 3 trips to Yorkshire and hard turning... For my normal driving style they r perfect tho.
Put the Premium Contact 6's on my 1997 Civic hatch. Found them for pretty cheap used with 7.5mm of tread and copped them up. Absolutely amazed, the tire is quiet, grips very well and is very soft (which I like due to the fact that softer sidewalls means it irons out the roughness of my polyurethane bushings).
Car grips almost like glue, it gives a lot of confidence when driving, especially when pushing the car.
I was using toyo proxes but changed to the pilot sports 3.
Only downside is the price but it’s so much worth it if your are an enthusiast.
These tyres are resistant to aqua planning, seems like they come alive in the wet.
Definitely will buy again.
I am glad i didn't.
Most people compare these with specially built track tires. But they are not track tires !
They can handle some abuse or maybe practice sessions but track is not their main purpose.
For spirited driving these tires are awesome!
Very good grip, very predictable. Neutral behavior on my perfectly set from factory FWD Honda Prelude. Don't need warming up in normal or hot temperatures. Unlike semi slicks they are just ready to go . I don't care about lap times anyway because i was choosing these for having fun on mountain roads , driving at 70 % of car's limit.
In another league compared with used Turanza and other summer tires i had before.
Also they are known for good wear compared to most tires of this type.
For street use and spirited driving these tires are all i need. Also cheap for UHP tires.
I hope i will test them on track this year against my Re71Rs . I don't expect miracles but i am sure they will be better than most summer tires available. I will write another review if there is the case.
Track use was moderate but good, be it dry, damp or gravel (you can get out of a trap or drive a flat road without washing away easily).
Wet grip is fine, as in pure chinesium dry handling fine. You'll get there, you can slide it if you want, it'll be slow.
Feels very progressive, but definitely needs some slip to be quick. Feels somewhat understeery and loaded feedback is great, very suitable for mountain roads and bumpy tracks.
Slides are very enjoyable, transitioning between grip and sliding smoothly, confidence inspiring.
Noise is absurdly loud and vibrations are harsh, I had people wonder if a bearing blew out but that's to be expected. Once did 900 km of highway and by hour 5 when I stopped, the combination of the loud tyres and very loud wind noise in the car literally deafened me for a good 15 minutes (~60% wind noise).
Rolling resistance is high, averaging a good 1-1.5 extra L/100 km fuel consumption on both regular gas and E85 as well as a noticeably reduced top speed.
Front set is barely used, while rear had to be replaced at ~12K km despite not seeing much abuse, so be careful about weight and balance for maintenance (power is not the issue on this car).
Grip levels didn't noticeably change thoughout, except once where they felt noticeably slower but I suspect a bad previous heat cycle when I lent it, as it came back to normal after 2-3 proper cycles. Haven't used it in full wet conditions past half-life though.
Available in a good range of sizes, definitely recommend it as a cheap fun tyre, or if a high speed index is needed for inspection on older cars.
Drive on 205/45 R16 tyres?
Review your tyres and help the next driver choose. It takes about five minutes, and every review on this page came from a driver who took them.
Where this data comes from
Owner ratings are submitted through the review form on this site, naming the tyre, the size and the distance covered, and are checked by hand before publication. Test results come from independent published tyre tests indexed by size, and label values from the EU EPREL database.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, so you can check a car-specific ranking against the wider evidence.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.

