Honestly i dont know much about performance tires but these were my first set and ive honestly blown away how tires can make a underpowered car handle so well. Ive never been more satisfied with a purchase and i honestly could get away with just a tire rotation and could drive mire on my tires.
225/45 R16 Tyres
Everything we know about the 225/45 R16 tyre size: 1 independent tyre tests conducted in this exact size, 66 owner reviews covering 576,462 miles of driving, and EU label data for the tyres you can actually buy in it.
- 66owner reviews
- 576,462 milescovered on them
- 1tests in this size
- 32tyres made in this size
The quick answer
| Season | Owners' pick | Owner rating | Latest test winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Falken FK452 7.8 Current version: Falken Azenis FK520 | 82% from 3 reviews | - |
| All Season | - | - | Continental AllSeasonContact 8.7 2018 AMS All Season Tyre Test |
Owner picks are the highest weighted owner score in 225/45 R16; test winners come from the most recent independent test conducted in this size. The full evidence is below.
Independent tyre tests in 225/45 R16
Tyres behave differently as sizes change, so a test conducted in your exact size is the strongest evidence there is. Every test below was run in 225/45 R16 - 1 in total, newest first.
All Season tyre tests
| Year | Test | Winner | Tyres tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2018 AMS All Season Tyre Test | Continental AllSeasonContact | 9 |
The best rated 225/45 R16 tyres
Rated only by drivers running this size. Each tyre needs at least 3 reviews in 225/45 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 225/45 R16 is the Falken FK452 - 82% from 3 owner reviews in this size. The current tyre in that line is now the Falken Azenis FK520.
| # | Tyre | Owner rating | Reviews | Distance reviewed | TR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Falken FK452
Replaced by Falken Azenis FK520
|
82% | 3 | 48,000 miles | 7.8 |
| 2 |
Hankook Ventus RS2 Z212
|
69% | 3 | 15,500 miles | 7.3 |
| 3 |
Pirelli P6000
|
66% | 3 | 100,000 miles | 5.1 |
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.
225/45 R16 EU tyre label data
EU label values are declared for each individual size, so the figures here are exact for 225/45 R16 rather than a range across a model. 10 tyres carry label data in this size. The most common load index is 93 (up to 650 kg per tyre). Speed ratings on offer: W (270 km/h), H (210 km/h). 1 tyres in this size carry the 3PMSF severe snow marking.
A Best wet grip
2 tyres in this size hold the top EU wet grip rating, class A. The highest scoring on Tyre Reviews:
- Nexen N Fera Primus Summer 8.2
- Yokohama Advan A052 Summer 8.1
69dB Quietest tyres
The quietest 225/45 R16 tyres are labelled at 69 dB external noise:
- Nexen N Fera Primus Summer 8.2
- Hankook Ventus Prime2 Summer 7.3
- Nexen N Fera SU1 Summer 7.1
- Toyo Proxes TR1 Summer 6.8
- Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08RS Summer 6.2
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.
What does 225/45 R16 mean?
A 225/45 R16 tyre is 225 mm wide, its sidewall is 45% of that width (101 mm) tall, and it fits a 16 inch wheel. That gives an overall diameter of roughly 609 mm.
| Section width | 225 mm |
|---|---|
| Sidewall height | 101 mm |
| Rim diameter | 16" (406 mm) |
| Overall diameter | ≈ 609 mm |
| Circumference | ≈ 1,913 mm |
| Revolutions per km | ≈ 523 |
| Revolutions per mile | ≈ 841 |
Also written as
225/45R16 225/45 ZR16 225-45-16 225 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 225/45 R16 tyres?
The cars most often running this size in our owner reviews. Each links to the best rated tyres for that exact car.
Toyota MK2 MR2 Turbo
6 reviews in this size
Honda S2000
4 reviews in this size
BMW Z1
3 reviews in this size
Toyota MK2 MR2 NA
2 reviews in this size
Fiat Coupe 20 Valve Turbo
2 reviews in this size
Toyota MK3 MR2 Roaster
2 reviews in this size
Renault Clio 182
1 reviews in this size
Honda Fit (Jazz)
1 reviews in this size
Ford Focus 2.0 TDCI Titanium
1 reviews in this size
Nissan 200sx
1 reviews in this size
Every tyre reviewed in 225/45 R16
The complete record, including discontinued tyres and tyres with too few reviews to rank, ordered by the amount of evidence. A further 49 tyres have a single review each; they count toward the totals but are not listed.
| Tyre | Season | Owner rating | Reviews | Distance reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falken FK452 Replaced by Falken Azenis FK520 | Summer | 82% | 3 | 48,000 miles |
| Hankook Ventus RS2 Z212 | Summer | 69% | 3 | 15,500 miles |
| Pirelli P6000 | Summer | 66% | 3 | 100,000 miles |
| Continental Sport Contact 2 Replaced by Continental SportContact 7 | Summer | 86% | 2 | 10,030 miles |
| Michelin Primacy HP Replaced by Michelin Primacy 5 | Summer | 80% | 2 | 21,000 miles |
| Michelin Pilot Sport Replaced by Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 | Summer | 72% | 2 | 13,000 miles |
| Bridgestone Potenza s03 Replaced by Bridgestone Potenza S04 Pole Position | Summer | 65% | 2 | 500 miles |
Reviews only cover part of the market: 32 tyres are made in 225/45 R16. Browse every 225/45 R16 tyre →
What drivers say about their 225/45 R16 tyres
The most recent owner reviews fitted in this size, in their own words.
Just got these and drove 100 km and they are super comfortable and handle well. I prefer them to sports tyres.
I really enjoyed my Blizzak WS80, I will say they are better than the newer WS90. I will be going with a different winter tire for this up coming season. Just a quick comparison, the WS80 is directed more for snow, which is what I live with in rural Southern Ontario. The WS90s unfortunately have a softer compound, which is nice in the wet and slush, but backwards compared to the last generation for the snow. Which would be fine in major cities, but not where I live.
In the first 70% of its life, the WS80s were really great at biting into snow, whether it was hard packed, or softer powder, and never really struggled when it mattered most. Something I find amusing that I never hear about is reversing with winter tires on. I back into parking spots, and pretty much need to back into my driveway, which has a decent slope to it, the WS80s don't struggle here, even with snow as deep as 9", or slush as deep as 6". I have found struggles with other winter tires going backwards up a slope, it's like they struggle to dig in, but I never had that issue with these. I'm sure it's somewhat a neiche thing, but it may be more common than people think.
Even though I'm currently in my last winter with these, I'd say they're still quite effective in snow, wet, and slush, but they've aged for sure. I will miss this generation of Blizzak, but I loved having it.
In the first 70% of its life, the WS80s were really great at biting into snow, whether it was hard packed, or softer powder, and never really struggled when it mattered most. Something I find amusing that I never hear about is reversing with winter tires on. I back into parking spots, and pretty much need to back into my driveway, which has a decent slope to it, the WS80s don't struggle here, even with snow as deep as 9", or slush as deep as 6". I have found struggles with other winter tires going backwards up a slope, it's like they struggle to dig in, but I never had that issue with these. I'm sure it's somewhat a neiche thing, but it may be more common than people think.
Even though I'm currently in my last winter with these, I'd say they're still quite effective in snow, wet, and slush, but they've aged for sure. I will miss this generation of Blizzak, but I loved having it.
Tyres arrived with the car.
Went through a large pothole at speed. Wheel damaged, tyre very damaged, but held its air and prevented an accident.
Whay kore can we ask of a tire?
Went through a large pothole at speed. Wheel damaged, tyre very damaged, but held its air and prevented an accident.
Whay kore can we ask of a tire?
The first time we had some spring rain I couldn't believe the tyres felt like they were drifting. It was very disconcerting going around a round-a-bout as I felt the tyres slide out from under me. I slowed down on the next turn and it happened again. I guess if I drove at 20kph it may have felt safer. So no I went out and bought new tyres after having these tyres for only 8 weeks. Costly learning experience.
Good against aqua planning, safe in wet conditions and pretty impressive on dry road. Genuinely satisfied and highly recommend
Had them fitted on my Corsa excellent all round tyre for normal driving conditions. I have tyre learning app on my car But overall a good tyre buy.
Bought a full set of these tyres for my Freelander 2 based on test results. They suit the car well - the outstanding grip is in the wet, which is arguably the quality you need for maximum safety , with great wet braking. They are also quiet. Only downside for me is wear rate - I estimate 23k-24k but being ex-motorsport, I drive quite quickly and tend to throw the heavy Freelander 2 about on twisty roads . Good news is they seem to have come down a little in price...
Drive on 225/45 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.