Best Tires For Nissan LEAF - Complete Guide

Table of Contents

‍Best Tires for Nissan LEAF - All-Season Tires

General Altimax RT43 Tire

The General Altimax RT43 was produced in July 2013 to replace the present Altimax RT, and it appears that they have done a good job with it. For drivers of crossovers, minivans, sedans, and coupes, this new tire is designed to provide improved all-season handling and traction, as well as longer tread life and a more pleasant ride.

A high-tech double cushion silica tread compound and symmetrical tread design, combined with a peak anti-slip sipe design technology, is added to improve dry and wet traction while also improving ride comfort.

In addition to the four circumferential grooves, we admire what the company has done to improve wet performance with this innovative technology. On mild snow-covered roads, the inclusion of sipes surrounding the tread improves grip even further.

The tire's continuous center rib improves stability and steering response, while sound waves are suppressed by proprietary acoustic modulation sound technology for reduced road noise and improved ride comfort.

Two steel belts with a polyester cord body are embedded in the tread for greater strength and longevity, as well as increased ride comfort. This tire's tread life is among the best in its class, and this is backed up with a 75,000-mile warranty.

The Replacement Tire Monitor adds a great touch by including a stamp that visibly signals "replace tire" based on treadwear. They've also included Visual Alignment Indicators, which allow you to see whether your car is misaligned, extending tread life. Sizes ranging from 13 to 18 inches are available, with speeds up to an H.

Overall Thoughts

The RT43 is a fantastic tire. It's been developed to compete with tires like the Continental TrueContact and Michelin Defender T+H, among others, and it doesn't disappoint in that aspect.

On dry or wet road surfaces, traction and handling are among the best in class. The steering is sharp and responsive, giving you a more secure sensation behind the wheel. The ride is comfortable on all but the poorest road surfaces, and tire stability is great across the speed range. In addition, the twin cushion tread compound helps to keep noise to a minimum on this tire.

In mild to moderate snow, as well as on light amounts of ice, winter traction is excellent. Tread life is, of course, another area where this model shines. With a 75,000-mile tread guarantee, you might find yourself trading in your car before you need to replace your tires again. Overall, the Altimax RT43 is one of the greatest all-season tires now available for Nissan LEAF.

Price

Prices for the Altimax RT43 start at around $56 and go up from there. This tire may also come with rebates, discounts, coupons, and special deals from time to time.

Warranty

The RT43 is covered by a 6-year or 75,000-mile warranty from General Tire. If the back tires are of a different size than the fronts, the mileage is cut in half. For the first year or the first 2/32 inch of wear, tire replacement is assured.

The materials and workmanship are guaranteed for six years, and the first year or 2/32 inch of wear is covered by a free replacement. For the remainder of the time period or down to the final 2/32 inch of tread depth, a prorated sum is supplied.

General also offers a 45-day customer satisfaction guarantee, during which you can swap the tire for another General brand if you are not satisfied.

Pros

75K mile warranty
Tread life
Ride comfort
Dry and wet traction

Cons

Nothing that would disappoint you

Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season Tire

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The new Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season tread design is the company's second-generation model. The original TripleTred was a technological breakthrough, but this new model has aimed to push things even further.

The TripleTred AS contains three separate tread zones that work together to deliver the highest possible all-season traction for drivers of all sorts of minivans, sedans, coupes, and other vehicles.

On dry pavement, the outer Dry Zone features bigger exterior tread blocks along the shoulders, which improve cornering grip and steering response. Next, the Water Zone comes with Aquachutes in the tread channels that help to drain more water and slush away from the tire, improving control and handling on wet surfaces.

Finally, the Ice Zone incorporates Goodyear's interlinking tread pattern and high-tech tread compound, as well as multiple biting edges and a continuous center rib, to provide more traction on slick ice-covered roads. Evolving Traction Grooves are added to the tire to help it maintain traction as it wears down.

This tire's long tread life is due to an improved tread compound. The tread life is guaranteed for 80,000 miles by Goodyear. (70,000 miles on tires rated for V-speed).

Two steel belts are spirally wrapped with polyamide inside the tread for added strength and durability at greater speeds. It contributes to the tire's longer life and more even tread wear.

Final Thoughts

Goodyear has a winner on its hands with this 2nd generation model. These tires are excellent at handling and gripping the pavement, whether it is wet, dry, or coated in ice or snow. In fact, forcing them to break free can be difficult. For an all-season tire, ride comfort is fairly decent, and Goodyear's warranty coverage on this tire is great.

Price

Prices for the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred AS start at around $117 and go up from there. On this tire, you may occasionally discover rebates, discounts, coupons, and special deals.

The warranty covers materials and craftsmanship for six years and includes a free first-year replacement or the first 2/32 inch of wear.

You'll also get a test drive warranty for 30 days and a 2-year roadside assistance warranty from Goodyear. You can swap the tires for another Goodyear brand model if you are not fully pleased with them within the first 30 days.

Pros

Excellent value for the money
6-year or 80,000-mile tread warranty
Ride comfort is very good for all-season tires
Handling and traction are among the best in this class

Cons

Some drivers experience increased road noise with time

Michelin Defender T + H Tire

The Michelin Defender T + H is a new launch for 2017 that expands on the original Defender with the latest technology, including a pattern that is designed to give long-term endurance and better treadwear, as well as a new rubber tread compound.

The Defender T + H, Michelin uses an asymmetric tread pattern and next-generation Evertread compound with larger levels of silica for constant grip and improved grip on wet pavement as the tire wears down. It's the same material that's found on the best-selling Defender LTX M/S for trucks and SUVs.

Wet traction is aided by Michelin's Intellisipe Technology and independent tread blocks that offer interlacing patterned sipes around the tire. These biting edges and their additional sipes improve performance even more on snow-covered roads, which is ideal for all-season tires.

On almost any road surface, Comfort Control Technology makes this vehicle ride smoother and quieter. The noise level is low, and you'll find the trip to be most comfortable.

The new Defender T+H was initially launched in multiple 16-18-inch sizes, with many more to follow during 2017. All tire sizes come with an 80K mile tread warranty.

Final Thoughts

The Defender has been a popular pick since its release in 2012, although it does have some flaws. One of them involved treadlife. Despite the fact that the tread has a 90K mile warranty, a number of drivers have told us that they have not seen that many miles from it.

With this freshly available updated model, Michelin has fixed this issue. The new Defender T + H, according to Michelin, is "the longest enduring tire among leading competitors' tires." Time will tell, but we believe that further improvements in the tread compound and design will confirm this.

The Defender T+H provides constant all-around solid performance in addition to a longer tread life. The traction in both dry and rainy conditions is superb, and the ride is pleasant and quiet. The only area of worry we can see is performance in thick snow or on treacherous road surfaces. To be honest, this problem can be found on nearly every all-season tire. You'll need a set of dedicated winter tires if you need solid winter traction.

Overall, this new model is now one of the best all-season tires on the market. It comes highly recommended.

Price

Prices for Michelin Defender T+H start at around $123 and go up from there. This tire may also come with rebates, discounts, coupons, and special deals from time to time.

Warranty

On the T + H, the Michelin Defender comes with a 6-year or 80,000-mile tread guarantee. If different sizes are utilized on the front and back, the mileage is cut in half. The tire's homogeneity is guaranteed for the first year or 2/32 inches of wear.

The materials and workmanship are guaranteed for six years, and the first year or 2/32 inch of wear is covered by a free replacement. Michelin uses prorate for the remainder of the time period or until the tire's tread depth reaches 2/32 inches.

Michelin also offers a tire-changing service for a flat tire for 3 years and a customer satisfaction guarantee for 30 days, which allows you to replace your tires for a new model or receive a full refund if you are unhappy with them.

Pros

Excellent value for the money
Treadlife is much better than the original
Comfortable and quiet ride quality
Dependable dry and wet traction

Cons

Does not perform well in extremely deep snow

High-Performance All-Season Tires

BFGoodrich g-Force Comp 2 Tire

The new BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 A/S is intended to replace the existing g-Force Super Sport A/S, which has proven to be a reliable performer over time. Comp-2 A/S tires are designed to fit a variety of muscle cars, high-performance sedans, and sports cars.

In comparison to the earlier Super Sport A/S, BFG has developed a new high silica cold weather all-season tread compound that provides faster acceleration, shorter braking, and better traction.

This new compound is molded into a directional tread pattern with Goodrich's Performance Racing Core system, an enhanced contact patch, and squared shoulders, which provides improved overall balance for enhanced stability, increased cornering grip, and improved handling, all of which this tire excels at. With g-Control sidewall inserts, handling and cornering are improved even more.

BFG devoted a significant amount of effort to designing the Comp-2 AS's wet traction. The tire channels water away with V-shape angled lateral and longitudinal grooves for increased wet grip and reduced hydroplaning risk.

By fortifying the interior structure, the Dynamic Suspension System technology improves ride comfort. Despite the fact that this tire is designed for high-performance driving, it also provides excellent overall comfort.

For enhanced durability, strength, and performance, BFGoodrich has included their proprietary ETEC System, which consists of two steel belts spirally wrapped in nylon. Comp-2 AS tires have a W-speed rating and are available in 16-20-inch sizes. The package also includes a 45-kilo-mile tread warranty.

Final Thoughts

The BFG Comp-2 AS is a welcome addition to the category of high-performance all-season tires. It's a tire that enjoys being pushed aggressively on both dry and wet pavement. Cornering grip is comparable to that of Michelin Pilot Sport AS 3+, Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus, and other tires. The improved cornering capability is a feature that more spirited drivers will appreciate while driving on this tire.

Some people may be surprised by how comfortable the ride is. While BFG has prioritized cornering and traction performance, they have not forgotten about those of us who have to ride on the tires for long periods of time. Although snow performance is far better than we expected from a high-performance tire like this, stopping and acceleration on snowy roads may be a bit more difficult. Naturally, this tire makes no pretense of being a winter tire.

Overall, BFG has done an excellent job with this model's engineering. It's easily one of the best UHP all-season tires on the market today and is highly recommended for Nissan LEAF drivers.

Warranty

The Comp-2 AS is covered by a 6-year or 45,000-mile tread guarantee from BF Goodrich. If different sizes are utilized in the back than in the front, the guarantee is decreased by half. For one year or the first 2/32 inches of wear, tire homogeneity is guaranteed.

Pros

Comfortable ride
Handling and cornering are among best in class
Excellent dry and wet grip

Cons

Poor performance on icy surfaces

Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 Tire

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It's not simple to improve on the performance of a winning tire that has already been proved, but that's exactly what the new Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 wants to do. This ultra-high performance all-season tire has been in the works for three years and features new technologies that Continental expects will make it the class leader in UHP all-season tires.

The new SportPlus Technology and a tread composition with increased silica and +Silane additives are meant to improve grip on wet roads, enable more precise handling, and provide a longer tread life. The asymmetric tread pattern is similar to the original, yet it is somewhat different.

With the Traction Grooves and X-Sipe technology surrounding the tread, the DWS 06 tackles some of the shortcomings with its predecessor in terms of dry and wet traction. The combination of the two gives this tire much better cornering and braking abilities in the snow or rain, as well as a considerable increase in traction, which is excellent on this tire.

You'll find the steering to be sharp and responsive whether you're driving in typical conditions or pushing this tire to its boundaries. It adds a level of assurance that was lacking in the previous paradigm. Continental has included a special sport sidewall material to help with steering response regardless of road conditions. A two-ply sidewall delivers 35% more rigidity than the original DWS, resulting in increased strength and cornering stability, which is a significant benefit on this model.

Final Thoughts

It's not often that you come across a UHP all-season tire that can handle just about anything, but that's exactly what you get with the Continental DWS06. The DWS06 holds its own against any other tire in this class, whether it's the Goodyear F1 Asymmetric All-Season, Cooper RS3-A, Michelin A/S3, or any other type.

Continental has improved the dry, wet, and snow traction of its original class-leading UHP tire, as well as the steering responsiveness and cornering stability, as well as the ride comfort and noise reduction.

Overall, we believe the DWS06 is one of the greatest tires in this category, and we don't say that lightly. It simply does not let you down.

Price

Prices for the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 start at around $105 and go up from there. This tire may also come with rebates, discounts, coupons, and special deals from time to time.

Warranty

The DWS06 comes with a 6-year or 50,000-mile tread life warranty from Continental. If a different size is utilized on the back than the front, the mileage is cut in half. Tire homogeneity is also guaranteed for one year or the first 2/32 inch of wear.

For the first year or the first 2/32 inch of wear-free replacement, materials and workmanship are insured for six years. Continental divides the remaining warranty duration into prorated payments.

A one-year or first 2/32 inch of wear road hazard warranty is also included. Finally, there is a 3-year flat-changing warranty as well as a 60-day customer satisfaction guarantee, which allows you to replace the tires with a different Continental model if you are not completely delighted.

Pros

Long tread life
Much improved cornering stability
Responsive and precise steering
Outstanding traction on dry/wet and snow-covered roads

Cons

No cons so far

Kumho Ecsta 4XII

The new Kumho Ecsta 4X II was designed as a substitute for the previous Ecsta 4X (KU22) ultra-high-performance tire. This second-generation model is meant to boost year-round traction and give a longer tread life at a lower price than many other UHP all-season tires. It is designed for all types of sedans, coupes, and sports cars, such as the Nissan LEAF.

The new polymer mixed tread compound on the Ecsta 4XII is designed to improve traction on all types of pavement and weather situations. Kumho has also focused on winter weather traction, introducing silica and other new resins that make a notable difference.

The 4X II has a symmetric tread pattern and wider shoulder blocks for improved handling and cornering grip. Because of the tire's firmer tread block design, continuous center rib, and improved contact patch, you'll notice the steering is quicker and more responsive than before.

Noise-canceling technology in the tread helps to reduce undesired road noise while also improving overall riding comfort. It works nicely with this tire because there isn't much in the way of excessive noise on most roads.

Dual high-tensile steel belts are reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon inside the tire for enhanced strength and endurance. The Ecsta 4X II is available in a choice of V and W speed ratings, as well as a 40,000-mile tread guarantee.

Final Thoughts

With their new 4X II tire, Kumho has truly created a winner. We liked the prior model because of its great performance and affordable price, and this freshly updated model has only improved on the previous model's performance.

The treadwear on the original tire was one of the minor flaws. Kumho has addressed this with their new chemical, which has a UTQG rating of 420, and preliminary findings appear to be promising. This upgraded version offers considerably improved traction and handling, as well as a quieter and smoother ride than the prior tire. The only thing we'd like to see improved is traction on snow and ice, but that's nothing compared to what you'll find on most other tires in this class.

The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06, Michelin Pilot Sport A/S3 Plus, and a few other top models in the ultra-high-performance class will be the major competitors for Kumho's new 4X II, according to Kumho. While that may be a reach for this tire, we can confidently state that for the significantly reduced price, the new 4X II gives significant performance for the buck and is a welcome addition to the category.

Price

Prices for the Kumho Ecsta 4X II start at around $81 and go higher from there. This tire may also come with rebates, discounts, coupons, and special deals from time to time.

Warranty

The 4X II is covered by a 6-year or 40,000-mile tread guarantee from Kumho. If different sizes are utilized on the back and front, the mileage is cut in half. For the first year or the first 2/32 inch of wear, tire replacement is assured.

The materials and workmanship are guaranteed for six years, and the first 2/32 inch of wear is covered by a free replacement. For the remainder of the time period or down to the final 2/32 inch of tread depth, a prorated sum is supplied. This tire also comes with a one-year or first 2/32 inch of wear road hazard warranty. There is also a one-year or first 2/32 inch of wear road danger warranty.

Pros

Increased and improved tread life
Smooth and quiet ride
Cornering stability and grip
Very good wet and dry traction

Cons

Braking on ice and traction in deep snow

Here are the tire sizes that fit the Nissan LEAF:

205/55 R16
215/50 R17
195/65 R15
225/45 R18

Best Tires For Nissan LEAF - Complete Guide

About The Author

Charles Redding

I've spent many years selling cars, working with auto detailers, mechanics, dealership service teams, quoting and researching car insurance, modding my own cars, and much more.