Best Tires For Honda Civic Type R: Complete Guide

8 Best Tires For Honda Civic Type R

The Honda Civic is one of the most popular passenger vehicles sold throughout the world, and especially in the United States. Manufactured since 1972, the Civic has been a mainstay on the roads for nearly half a century.

But recently its most potent high-performance trim was reincarnated — the Honda Civic Type R. After a 5-year hiatus, the Type R made a return in 2015 and has been in production again since.

With the new Type R came all new components that will eventually need to be replaced, including the tires. Going back to the previous three generations of Type R (2007-2001, 2015-2017, & 2017-2020), there have been a few different tire and wheel combinations.

When you have a Civic Type R, one of the most important things that you want out of your tires is at least some sort of performance. After all, why else did you buy a Type R, right? So we kept that in mind while compiling this comprehensive list of the best tire options on the market.

Whether you’re looking for an all-season, touring, summer, winter, or performance tire for your Type R, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve researched every option and talked to experts and Type R owners to carefully review each tire in this list. And this is the final result. Here are the 8 best tires for your Honda Civic Type R:

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus — Best All-Season

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When it comes to putting tires on a Honda Civic Type R, all of the best options will be somewhat of a “sporty” tire. This is because the Type R is designed with sportier tires in mind and it will take advantage of what they have to offer.

That said, the best all-season tire on the market for a Honda Civic Type R is the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus. The successor to the wildly popular Pilot Sport A/S 3, the Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus offers ultra-high performance capabilities no matter what the road conditions are.

The Extreme Silica+ rubber compound used in the Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus works in conjunction with large grooves and well-placed sipes to ensure grip on roads in dry, wet, and even light snow conditions.

Variable Control Contact Patch 3.0 technology comes to life during aggressive cornering, redistributing the stress to the contact patch and ensuring excellent handling. Michelin also developed and utilized their proprietary Helios+ Technology in conjunction with biting edges which provides an estimated 28% improvement in snow and ice than its predecessor.

The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus is offered in sizes ranging from 16” to 22” diameters, so finding a set for a Honda Civic Type R would be a breeze.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 45,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,521 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 psi
• Tread Depth: 10/32”
• Tire Weight: 25 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 500
• UTQG Traction: AA
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Helio+ Technology offers enhanced winter performance
• Best all-season tire for just about any sports car it fits

FAQ

What’s the mileage warranty?

The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus comes with a 45,000-mile warranty. Compared to many tires that a normal car would have, this might seem a bit low. But when you’re driving a Type R, you always want some performance capabilities.

What sizes are offered?

As one of the most popular high-performance all-season tires on the market, the Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus comes in all sizes from 16” wheel diameters up to 22”. Pretty all sizes from 205/55R16 up to 285/35R22.

How are these better than the standard A/S 3?

Compared to their predecessor, the Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus includes advanced technology such as Helios+, which offers a 28% improvement in snow and ice over the standard Pilot Sport A/S 3.

Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 — Best Touring

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When it comes to a touring tire option for a Honda Civic Type R, we want to be sure they still maintain a high level of performance while also offering longevity. After all, what more could you ask for from a touring tire on a high-performance vehicle?

That’s where the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 comes in. An all-season tire, the ExtremeContact DWS 06 can be driven all year and comes with a class-leading 50,000-mile tread life warranty.

Helping the ExtremeContact DWS 06 reach 50,000 miles and beyond, Dynamic Temperature Distribution technology was developed to reduce rolling resistance and distortion. This increases tire life while simultaneously improving fuel efficiency.

The ExtremeContact DWS 06 provides excellent grip in dry conditions as well as on wet roads and even through light snow. It also uses Tuned Performance Indicators that let you know when performance in each of the three aforementioned conditions will be less than optimal due to wear.

As the perfect balance of comfort and performance, the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 is the best touring tire on the market for a Honda Civic Type R. Offered in sizes from 17” to 22” diameter, finding a set for any year Type R will be easy.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 50,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,521 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 psi
• Tread Depth: 10/32”
• Tire Weight: 24 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 540
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Outstanding grip in dry, wet, and snow
• Dynamic Temperature Distribution reduces rolling resistance

FAQ

Is this an all-season tire?

Yes, it is! The ExtremeContact DWS 06 from Continental can be driven on year-round, no matter the temperature or road conditions (offering traction even in light snow).

Is this the longest-lasting tire on the market for a Type R?

If you just want the absolute longest-lasting tire on the market that could fit on a Type R, this isn’t it. But for the best combination of performance, comfort, and longevity, there isn’t a better touring tire available.

What does DWS stand for?

The DWS acronym on a few tires from Continental simply stands for dry, wet, and snow. This is an indicator stamped on the tires, including the ExtremeContact DWS 06, which means they’re certified for reliable grip in all three road conditions.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S — Best Summer

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The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is the ultra-high performance (UHP) summer tire that is part of the brand’s Pilot Sport performance tire lineup. The second — but not last — Pilot Sport tire in this guide, the Pilot Sport 4S offers uncompromised summer performance. Perfect for a Honda Civic Type R.

Offered as standard OEM tires on high-end performance cars, and designed alongside Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche with the 24-hour Le Mans in mind, it’s understandable why the Pilot Sport 4S is the best summer tire for a Type R.

Through a combination of Michelin’s Dynamic Response Technology and Variable Contact 3.0, this tire provides adaptive steering response for tight control and redistributed stress under aggressive turning. Perfect for a Type R tearing up the streets in the summer.

Even though these have a low tread life warranty (just 20,000 to 30,000 miles), the Pilot Sport 4S also uses Michelin’s proprietary Total Performance Technology. This extends the tread life by up to 10% compared to other comparable tires.

The soft tread provides a comfortable and quiet ride to make those summer cruises as great as they can be. Offered in tire sizes from 17” to 22” diameters, the Honda Civic Type R’s common 19” and 20” wheels will be easy to put a set of these on.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 20,000 to 30,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,323 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 psi
• Tread Depth: 9.5/32”
• Tire Weight: 22 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 300
• UTQG Traction: AA
• UTQG Temperature: A
• OEM tire on some of the fastest factory cars out there
• Adaptive steering input and extreme grip

FAQ

What sizes are offered?

Due to its popularity and versatility, the Pilot Sport 4S is offered for wheel sizes ranging from 17” up through 22”. The size you need for your Type R will likely either be 19” or 20”, so it won’t be an issue.

Why is the mileage warranty so short?

The Pilot Sport 4S is an ultra-high performance summer tire, meaning that it’s only recommended to be used during the summer when the temps are higher. For this reason, they can easily last 3-4 years before wearing out since they’re not designed to be used all year.

Can this tire be used in the snow?

As a tire designed specifically for summer performance, we wouldn’t recommend using the Pilot Sport 4S in the snow. They weren’t designed to handle it and should ideally only be used during the summer months.

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 — Best Winter

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Walk into just about any tire shop and ask what the best winter tire is or do a quick online search. No matter what type of vehicle you’re searching for, the answer is almost always going to be the Bridgestone Blizzak line of tires.

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is the best winter tire on the market for passenger cars, including the Honda Civic Type R. With its advanced gripping and studless design, the Blizzak WS90 cuts through ice and snow and does so relatively quietly and comfortably.

With a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake Rating, the Blizzak WS90 exceeds industry requirements for use in severe weather conditions including snow, slush, and ice.

Multicell technology acts as a sponge that draws the top layer of water off the ice, allowing the dense tread blocks and biting edges from the various grooves and sipes to dig into the snow and ice and power through.

The only thing to keep in mind when looking at snow tires for a Honda Civic Type R is that most snow tires are not manufactured for 20” wheel sizes or bigger. Which means Type R drivers with 20” wheels will need to go a different direction or grab an extra set of wheels for the winter.

But the Blizzak WS90 from Bridgestone is offered in all the major tire sizes from 14” up to 19”, so any Type R that has 19” wheels will have no problem getting through the winter, no matter how bad it gets.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,609 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 psi
• Tread Depth: 12/32”
• Tire Weight: 26 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: N/A
• UTQG Traction: N/A
• UTQG Temperature: N/A
• Excellent grip in snow, slush, and ice
• The studless design provides a relatively quiet ride

FAQ

Can I drive on these year-round?

Snow tires are not designed to be driven on all year long, even though you technically could. They just won’t last very long and the tread compound will be louder and more uncomfortable in the warmer months than other options.

Why is there no mileage warranty?

Winter tires are only designed to be driven during the winter and when the temperature is low. There’s no warranty for mileage because leaving them on the car all year could easily wear them out. But if used correctly, you can easily get 3-4 seasons out of them.

Do I need to add studs to these for traction?

Most modern snow tires will not require the addition of studs to get traction in the snow, including the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90. Just put them on your Honda Civic Type R and you’re good to go!

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — Best Winter Sport

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Although the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 might be the best overall winter tire for the Honda Civic Type R, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is the best option for anyone in the market for a winter sport tire option.

We know what you’re thinking, what do you mean by winter sport? By that, we are referring to an ultra-high performance winter tire. One that can still offer performance during the winter months, no matter the road conditions. After all, anyone with a Type R might want to have a performance tire regardless of what time of year it is.

That’s where the WinterContact TS 860 S comes in.

Using Continental’s Cool Chili technology — which employs a Flexible Polymer Matrix to enhance the grip on the road — in conjunction with an asymmetric tread pattern, the WinterContact TS 860 S offers the best control and handling under high-power applications.

Specially-designed grooves increase snow-on-snow traction, allowing for control even when driving in snow and taking aggressive turns.

Offered in popular wheel sizes for performance-oriented sports cars, the WinterContact TS 860 S comes in sizes fit for 19” through 21” wheels. Perfect for anyone with a Honda Civic Type R looking for a performance winter tire.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: ~1,800 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 psi
• Tread Depth: 9/32”
• Tire Weight: 32 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: N/A
• UTQG Traction: N/A
• UTQG Temperature: N/A
• Ultra-high performance winter tire
• Quiet ride with studless design

FAQ

What is the warranty?

Like most other snow tires (maybe even all), the WinterContact TS 860 S from Continental has no tread life warranty. That’s because if they’re driven on continuously during the warmer months, they’ll wear down very quickly.

How many winters will they last?

Depending on how much you drive your Type R in the winter, you can reasonably expect to get about 3-4 winters out of a set before you’ll need to replace them. Just make sure you don’t leave them on all year, or you’ll be lucky to get more than 1-2 winters out of them.

How are these different from the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90?

The WinterContact TS 860 S is designed with ultra-high performance in mind. The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is just the best all-around winter tire for getting through the ice and snow. That said, these will typically cost about 2-3x more per tire than the Blizzak.

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric — Best Performance Street

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As one of the top-rated ultra-high performance all-season tires on the market, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric is the best performance street tire for a Honda Civic Type R.

It has just about everything you could want from a performance street tire including traction, grip, handling, comfort, and versatility. In fact, we’d rank this right behind the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus as the second-best all-season tire on the market for a Type R.

With a special race-inspired rubber compound, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric offers excellent grip and traction on wet and dry roads. With reinforced tread blocks and expertly-placed grooves, the contact patch stays in contact with the road under all conditions.

Designed for high-performance sports cars, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric is only offered in 18” through 20” wheel sizes. But that’s perfect for the Honda Civic Type R, which only has OEM wheel sizes in that size range.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 45,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,984 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 psi
• Tread Depth: 10/32”
• Tire Weight: 29 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 500
• UTQG Traction: A-AA
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Asymmetric tread design for race-inspired control
• Traction on wet and dry streets while offering high performance

FAQ

What is the warranty?

These tires have a 45,000-mile tread life warranty. When you take all of their performance capabilities into account, a 45,000-mile warranty is right up there with the best overall options on the market.

Are these good for the track?

The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric tires are still an ultra-high performance tire, so they would perform well at the track. Don’t expect to beat any records, but they’ll hold their own. For a more track-oriented tire, look at the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 below.

Is this an all-season tire?

The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric tires are a high-quality all-season tire that can be used year round, no matter the road conditions. These would be a close second place option to the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus discussed above.

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 — Best Performance Track

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For a bit more track-oriented performance for your Type R, you’ll want to instead go with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Using a proprietary dual-compound rubber, Pilot Sport Cup 2 is able to offer uncompromised racing performance while being able to last many laps.

The outer tread uses a racing compound for aggressive driving and cornering. While the center of the tread uses an elastic polymer as well as the Track Longevity Technology from Michelin to allow it to last even longer.

The Pilot Sport Cup 2 also uses the same Variable Contact Patch 3.0 technology as the other Michelin tires in this guide alongside reinforced shoulders on the outside edge. This allows the tire to keep its contact patch on the road during cornering and high-speed turns, making them the perfect option for anyone looking to take their Type R to the track.

Offered in tire sizes from 17” up through 21”, it’ll be easy to find a set for the 19” and 20” wheels that come on the vast majority of Honda Civic Type Rs.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,323 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 psi
• Tread Depth: 7.2/32”
• Tire Weight: 22 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 180
• UTQG Traction: AA
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Dual compound to deliver optimal track performance
• Track Longevity Technology reduces wear at the track

FAQ

What sizes are offered?

The Pilot Sport Cup 2 comes in all the most popular sizes for high-performance vehicles, with everything in the 17” to 22” diameter wheel size. With Honda Civic Type R wheels being 19” or 20”, you’ll have no trouble finding the right size.

Will these tires work wet and snow?

As a track-oriented ultra-high performance summer tire, the Pilot Sport Cup 2s are not designed to be driven on snow, and we wouldn’t recommend it. If you use these tires for the track but want to drive during the winter, we recommend an all-season or winter tire for those months.

What is the warranty?

There is no mileage warranty on these tires. Since they are not only a summer tire but also a track-oriented tire, Michelin does not offer a mileage warranty. Track conditions, vehicle weight, and use, and more, will go into how long these tires will last.

Nitto NeoGen — OEM

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The Nitto NeoGen is an ultra-high performance all-season tire that comes from the factory on many Honda Civic Type R vehicles. As far as OEM tires go, the NeoGen is a much higher tier option than most vehicles get from the factory.

Using a tread that’s chock-full of supers and circumferential grooves as well as a pattern that’s asymmetric and non-directional, the NeoGen is able to offer grip and traction on wet and dry roads. By directing water out from the center of the tire, the contact patch retains its hold on the road and allows for tighter steering and more control in most road conditions.

The large, three-dimensional shoulder blocks along the outside edges of the tire also reduce deflection under aggressive cornering, allowing the tire to remain planted and keep the vehicle gripped to the road.

Offered in just about every size that will fit on a passenger car, the Nitto NeoGen can be found in all sizes ranging from 15” wheels up through 22” diameter wheels. And as the OEM option on the Honda Civic Type R, it’s easy to find a new set once the OEM ones wear out.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,929 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 psi
• Tread Depth: 8/32”
• Tire Weight: 32 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 280
• UTQG Traction: AA
• UTQG Temperature: A
• The asymmetric, non-directional tread provides excellent grip
• Large shoulder blocks offer a smooth ride and gentle turning

FAQ

Should I use the same tires when replacing the OEM ones?

You never have to replace the tires on your Type R with the OEM option. With many vehicles, the OEM tires are just the minimum tire the factory could use to meet their standards while keeping costs down. With a Type R, the Nitto NeoGen is actually a solid option, but there are better ones out there.

What sizes are offered?

The Nitto NeoGen is offered in just about every passenger car tire size that’s out there, including all major sizes from 15” diameter up through 22” diameters.

What is the mileage warranty?

The Nitto NeoGen does not include a tread life warranty from the manufacturer. That is one of the reasons why you’d be better off going with one of our other options on your Honda Civic Type R. You can get a better tire for a similar price that includes a warranty.

Honda Civic Type R Tire Sizes

The most common tire size for the recent generation of the Honda Civic Type R is 245/30ZR20, but the previous generation had a couple of different options. That said, the Honda Civic Type R has just three different OEM tire sizes to keep in mind over the past three generations:

• ‍225/40R18
• 235/35ZR19
• 245/30ZR20

If you’re not too sure about what tire size you have, the good thing about the Honda Civic Type R is that there aren’t too many options. So as long as you know what year your Type R is, use the table below to get an idea.

The most recent generations of the Type R, the FK2, and FK8, have the same primary tire size. We’ll also take a look at the previous Type R generation, the FD, which was the last version of the car produced before the five-year hiatus until 2015.