Best Tires For Honda Insight

8 Best Tires For Honda Insight

The Honda Insight is a compact, hybrid electric vehicle that ranks atop the lists of best valued vehicles in its category.

The initial release for the Honda Insight was in 1999 with brief breaks throughout the years.  The Honda Insight has gone through some transformations and most recently returned in 2019 as a 4-door sedan, transitioning from 3-door and 5-door models in the past. New models also saw an upgrade in tire sizing and factory model tire changes.

We have compiled a list of the top 6 tires to consider for your Honda Insight, taking into consideration the different factors and conditions drivers may face anywhere. The list is broken up into important categories to emphasize the best tire for every use case.

The Honda Insight is all over the country, found in different regions and a driver in snowy Michigan will require different tire needs than one in warm California. Drivers may consider different options based on their location due to weather along with budget concerns and style of driving.

We bring together all data and figures from on-road experiments, interviews with industry professionals, and research and tests to give the highest quality recommendations we can and provide answers to any questions that potential shoppers need to have answered before making a purchase. We also factor in tire cost, overall tire value, and warranty offerings in our recommendations.

Check out our list of best tires in each primary category for the Honda Insight below:

Kumho Ecsta PA31 - Best All Season

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The Kumho Ecsta PA31 is an all season tire designed for high performance sedans like the Honda Insight. This tire provides high-end traction and handling in wet or dry conditions. You can even expect steady handling in light snow along with extreme comfort and low noise levels.

The Ecsta PA31 is built with advanced technology tread compounds to combine high performance and long lasting treadwear. This technology includes responsive steering resistance, cornering adjustments, hydroplane resistance, and braking traction. These features excel on wet roads.

This tire is also built with ESCOT Technology that focuses on steering and treadlife enhancements. This technology pairs with internal sipes to provide guaranteed support and water flow grooves wintertime driving.

The Ecsta PA31 is an everyday use, four seasons tire. It provides excellent mileage and remains as one of the most fuel efficient choices available. It features a V-speed rating and comes in at lower average pricing than many competitors, making it a great value.

Specifications

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

• Warranty: 50,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,102 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 PSI
• Tread Depth: 11/32’’
• Tire Weight: 18lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 500
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A
• High level handling features
• Water flow grooves for the best traction

Pricing

Average pricing ranges between $65-$120.

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

The Kumho Ecsta PA31 comes in sizes between 15” and 18”. The Honda Insight can fit three different sizes so confirm your vehicles correct size before purchase.

What is the warranty on this tire?

Kumho offers a 6 year / 50,000 mile warranty on the Ecsta PA31. This is a very reliable warranty policy with many competitors offering much lower options. This warranty will protect your purchase and guarantee you receive the best out of your new tires.

How noisy is this tire?  

All season tires are typically the least noisy tire types for your car. They are designed for a smooth and quiet ride. The Ecsta PA31 fits this model. This tire provides a noise free driving experience.

Toyo Celsius - Best Touring

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The Toyo Celsius is a unique touring tire and this is why we recommend it so highly. Toyo refers to itself here as a variable-conditions tire, making it the most versatile touring tire because of how well it can handle snow and ice. This hybrid tire is the perfect match for your Honda Insight.

The Toyo Celsius comes with a rugged looking design coupled with variable sipe density. This high internal sipe density allows it to fight off snow much better than its competitors. The outer tread has a lower sipe density which many touring tires lack, providing awesome winter traction. Other features include slush grooves, multi-wave sipes, and block rigidity.

This design is built to last for long mileage and optimal fuel performance. The braking is improved with hydroplaning resistance, maximum wear resistance, and top notch handling or braking on all surfaces.

If you are a driver who lives in a climate with 4 seasons and harsher than usual winters, the Toyo is a versatile choice that you can rely on. The average price will reflect this but with less flat tires and cheaper fuel bills you will be glad you chose the Toyo Celsius.

Specifications

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

• Warranty: 60,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,609 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 PSI
• Tread Depth: 10/32’’
• Tire Weight: 15 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 440
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Best all-season driving
• Long life and great winter performance

Pricing

Average pricing ranges from $110-$150.

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This tire comes in sizes ranging from 14” to 20” in rim diameter with a variety of different size offerings at each option to fit any Honda Insight model.

What is the warranty on this tire?

There is a 60,000 mile warranty on this tire to replace any damages if they occur. There is also a money back option that provides new buyers the chance to return the tires for a full refund within 45 days or the first 500 miles. Toyo protects their customers well with these policies.

Are these tires durable?  

Yes this is a very durable Honda Insight tire choice. Customers report back with high mileage guarantees and performance and with such a long warranty policy, you are protected in case something does happen.

Bridgestone Turanza ER33 - Best Summer

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The Bridgestone Turanza ER33 is a grand touring summer tire traditionally seen as the original equipment on many sports coupes and sedans like Lexus or Infiniti. This tire was created to look good while providing the best handling for summer time drives. The Turanza ER33 provides one of the smoothest rides you will find in a summer tire.

The Turanza ER33 is not designed for icy and freezing temperatures and you will notice much lower performance in this environment. Expect braking and handling to suffer if forced to perform on ice and snow.

Some features include 5-rib tread designs and twin steel belts that focus on providing elite handling and traction on dry surfaces. The tread grooves are built to evacuate water quickly to provide great wet traction performance and handling. These grooves are also designed to give drivers hydroplaning resistance to handling heavy rains or floods.

The twin steel belts are placed internally to provide support at higher speeds for drivers to ride smoothly and quietly on highways. The polyester cord body also supports high speeds and handling to keep steering secure.

Specifications

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

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,433 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 44 PSI
• Tread Depth: 9/32’’
• Tire Weight: 24lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 140
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Handles higher speeds smoothly
• Great braking and hydroplane resistance

Pricing

Pricing ranges between $125-$190.

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This tire comes in sizes between 16” to 19” in rim size diameter to fit every model of the Honda Insight.  

What is the warranty on this tire?

There is no treadwear warranty on this tire. The Turanza ER33 is extremely reliable but without a warranty some drivers become nervous.

Can I drive this in the snow?  

Definitely not. Most tires can handle snow but aren’t good performers in it. This tire shouldn’t be used in the snow and can even struggle in low temperatures. This tire is made for summer only or warmer climates and drivers with harsh winters should look for different options.

Continental WinterContact SI - Best Winter

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The Continental WinterContact SI is the ultimate winter tire and provides drivers with powerful grip in all cold elements. This is a tire used to enhance the traction and control in the winter on any Honda Insight to better handle slippery ice and snow. This is our best winter tire on the market for hybrids and sedans.

The WinterContact SI is built with PolarPlus technology to provide significant upgrades in grip and traction to take command of the winter roads. This tire also uses Continental's +Silane compound to maintain flexibility in freezing temperatures. This is a directional tread design that provides optimal wet road handling.

This tire also includes zigzag sipe designs to add extra biting edges that many competitor tires lack. These bite edges are the key to handling rain, ice, and snow with ease and the Traction Groove Technology used improved braking and traction resistance in heavy snow.

The WinterContact SI is also equipped with a tread depth monitor that alerts a driver when they reach a 50% worn rate. This keeps drivers safe and informed when it is time to upgrade their tires to maintain optimal snow handling on their Honda Insight.

Specifications

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

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,389 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 PSI
• Tread Depth: 10/32’’
• Tire Weight: 19 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: N/A
• UTQG Traction: N/A
• UTQG Temperature: N/A
• The perfect tire for heavy snow and icy handling
• Winter tires are not UTQG Rated

Pricing

Pricing ranges between $75-$150.

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This tire can be bought in sizes ranging from 15” to 18” in diameter, best made for new models of the Honda Insight.

What is the warranty on this tire?

There is no treadwear warranty on this tire which is a usual occurrence for winter graded tires. They experience different levels of wear and manufacturers have a hard time putting a mileage number on the warranty so they decide against it. There is a standard warranty that insures any damages that are manufacturer related and they will replace any tire that fits this concern.

How noisy is this tire?

Winter trips tend to be much noisier than a regular highway ride but this tire can be a bit more loud than most. Some of the high density designs can cause road noise but it is not to a level that would keep us away from purchasing this winter winner.

Pirelli P Zero Nero GT - Best Performance Street

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The Pirelli P Zero Nero GT is a max performance street tire designed for sports cars, sporty coupes, and hybrid sedans like the Honda Insight. This tire was designed to increase tread life without sacrificing product performance. This is considered a summer tire and it is recommended to avoid near freezing temperatures when driving with it.

Pirelli introduced a new optimized tread compound to provide high mileage endurance for safe driving at higher speeds. The design includes wider ribs with an asymmetric layout for fast cornering, better handling, and quicker reactions.

The high tech profile structure provides efficient braking in both wet and dry conditions, even at higher speeds. This tire is designed for soft and hard driving with smooth ride guarantees. It comes equipped with hydroplaning resistance to handle rainy conditions as well.

The high-technology casing profile includes twin steel belts and a rayon body for long distance and high speed durability. This is a performance street tire with no warranty but is considered a top choice for its class.

Specifications

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

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,521 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 PSI
• Tread Depth: 10/32’’
• Tire Weight: 22 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 280
• UTQG Traction: AA
• UTQG Temperature: A
• The best corner handling and street performance
• Long tread wear resistance and lifespan

Pricing

Average pricing ranges between $115-$150.

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This tire comes in sizes ranging between 17” and 22”. This is a tire best suited for newer models of the Honda Insight and aligns with newer tire sizes on 2019 and 2020 models.

What is the warranty on this tire?

There is no tread wear warranty on this tire because it is not designed for winter resistance and customers tend to use it in these conditions and the tire wears. Summer tires like the Pirelli P Zero Nero GT typically have similar policies to protect against this.

How noisy is this tire?

This tire will be as smooth as any you ever use. It is designed with quiet rides and smooth traction in mind to keep a driver comfortable.

Maxxis Spare Tire - T135/70R18 - Best Temporary Spare

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The Maxxis Spare Tire is a reliable spare to store for many different vehicles while maintaining optimal trunk space for storage. This is a lightweight spare to avoid adding weight to your trunk storage and comes in handy for any emergency.

The Maxxis Spare Tire will allow a driver to regain mobility after a flat and provides a temporary driving solution. Some features include smaller sizing for better handling, narrower treads, shallower tread depth and extremely light weight design.

As a reminder, spare tires are best for temporary use only and carry restrictions on your vehicle. The temporary spare does not include a physical tire.

Specifications

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

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,984 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 60 PSI
• Tread Depth: 5/32’’
• Tire Weight: 14 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: N/A
• UTQG Traction: N/A
• UTQG Temperature: N/A

Pricing

Average pricing ranges between $150-$190.

FAQ

How many miles can this last?

The maximum number of miles we recommend driving on this spare is 70 miles. Driving longer may put your car and the temporary spare in danger for further damage. A car does not ride as smoothly with a spare and long term driving on one can cause internal problems for your vehicle.

What is the top speed I can drive?

The top speed recommended for this spare is 50 MPH. Driving faster than 50 MPH can risk damage to your vehicle or bring on more problems. Some problems include impacts on your steering, suspension, and tire failure.

How do I install my spare?

If you have no experience installing a spare, we recommend contacting a professional in your local area to make the installation for you. Changing a flat on a busy road can be a dangerous task for an inexperienced person.

Michelin Energy Saver A/S - Factory Tire

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The Michelin Energy Saver A/S is a factory tire on the Honda Insight and consistently rates as one of the most fuel efficient all-season tires available. This is a tire designed specifically for hybrid vehicles to take advantage of fuel economy features. Should you keep your Michelin Energy Saver A/S or upgrade?

As mentioned, this is an all season tire and provides strong traction and handling in dry, wet, and icy conditions. It is a capable tire in the winter and performs nicely in the heat as well. It is designed with sipes and tread blocks for better handling and braking capabilities. It includes water grooves within the tread design to provide hydroplaning resistance.

This tire was also designed with Comfort Control Technology for quieter rides and reduced road vibrations for smoother rides. This tech relies on the support of twin steel belts and a polyester cord for ultimate strength.

Specifications

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

• Warranty: 65,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,433 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 44 PSI
• Tread Depth: 8/32’’
• Tire Weight: 20 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 480
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: B
• High end fuel economy features
• Long life and all season comfort

Pricing

Average pricing ranges between $150-$200.

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This tire comes in sizes ranging between 15” and 18” making it a perfect choice for the Honda Insight original equipment.

What is the warranty on this tire?

This tire comes with a very strong warranty of 6 years / 65,000 miles for S, T, and H Speed Rated vehicles. There is also a 6 year / 55,000 mile warranty for V speed rated vehicles. Both of these warranty policies cover all models of the Honda Insight.

How noisy is this tire?  

This tire is extremely quiet and rates as one of the best noise free tires on the market. It’s comfort first design is built for a noise free experience.

Continental ProContact TX - Factory Tire

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The Continental ProContact TX is a Honda Insight factory tire and rates as a strong all-season grand touring tire. It is best known for competent handling features and all season grip and traction ability.

Some features include quiet and comfortable riding, excellent long term mileage, and improved braking capabilities. This tire performs best in all weather conditions with steady grip and traction in dry, wet, and wintry climates. The sipe to block ratio feature provides better traction in any condition.

The undertread compound is designed to eliminate road vibrations and provide drivers with smooth surfaces and quiet riding. This is a tire that provides a great warranty, a long tread life, and excellent 4 seasons driving.

We do recommend switching to a winter tire in harsh winter climates. The ProContact TX can handle it but you will see it wear much quicker if put consistently into difficult weather situations.

Specifications

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

• Warranty: 65,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,609 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 PSI
• Tread Depth: 9/32’’
• Tire Weight: 20 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 500
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Best in class for comfort
• All-season handling with hydroplane resistance

Pricing

Average pricing ranges between $125-$175.

FAQ

What sizes does this tire come in?

This tire is very popular and carries sizes ranging between 15” and 22” to fit many different vehicles, including all Honda insight factory models.

What is the warranty on this tire?

This tire comes with a high end warranty of 6 years / 65,000 miles for S and T, rated vehicles. There is a 6 year / 55,000 mile warranty for H rated vehicles. There is a 6 year / 45,000 mile warranty for V rated vehicles and a 6 year / 40,000 mile warranty for W rated vehicles. All of these warranty policies cover every model of the Honda Insight.

How does this tire handle snow?  

This tire is not a winter tire but it provides incredible versatility across all four seasons and handles winter weather better than the industry average. It is built with features to improve ice and snow traction and handling for the winter and grades highly for performance in near freezing temperatures.

Understanding Honda Insight Tire Specifications

Before you purchase a new tire, consider reviewing the tire size, tire specifications and the characters that appear on the tire sidewall. It will be hard to understand at first, but here is a breakdown that will give you a better understanding of what they mean and what you are buying.

It reads right to left and includes the following data:

Tire type - “P’ or “LT”. P refers to passenger vehicles and LT is for light trucks. Honda Insights are grouped as a “P” vehicle.

Tire width - Three digits measuring the tire width in millimeters from wall to wall.

Aspect ratio - The aspect ratio is the ratio of tire height to width. A two digit number that equates to a percentage. If it equals 55 then the height is 55% of the tire’s width.

Construction - One letter with three types: R, B, and D. These mean Radial, Bias Belt, and Diagonal. Radial is the most common and is the industry standard for vehicles providing better handling, fuel efficiency, and durability.

Wheel Diameter - A two digit number to measure the wheel from end to end in inches.

Load Index - A two or three digit number indicating the amount of weight a tire can support. An exact breakdown can be found here.

Speed Rating - A single letter informing the driver of the highest speed a tire can handle. One of the most common letters is H, meaning a speed of 130. This chart shows every speed rating.

Honda Insight Tire Sizes

Now that reading a tire has been learned, understanding each size can be done with ease. Your tire purchase relies heavily on the tire size for optimal fit and comfort. The Honda Insight has 4 different OEM tire sizes to consider:

The Honda Insight experienced a 5 year layoff after 2014 while new models were developed and relaunched in 2019. Before 2010, there were also long layoffs of this vehicle. This list displays the different tire sizes to fit your Insight model from the past 10 years.