Are you looking for the best tires for a Nissan Altima?
You've come to the right place!
In this PopularMechanic.com guide, you will learn the following:
- How To Know If You Need New Tires
- How Tires Affect Your Car’s Performance
- The Different Types Of Tires
- The Best Tires for a Nissan Altima
And More!
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Our Top Pick
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Our Top Pick
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General AltiMAX RT43 Radial Tire
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View on Amazon |
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Best Budget
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Best Budget
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Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Winter Radial Tire
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View on Amazon |
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Best High End
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Best High End
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Michelin Premier A/S All-Season Radial
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View on Amazon |
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Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring Radial Tire
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View on Amazon | |
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Pirelli CINTURATO P7 ALL SEASON PLUS Touring Radial Tire
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View on Amazon |
Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated As of 5/20/2020
Top Rated Overall:
General AltiMAX RT43 Radial Tire
- Long-lasting treadwear
- Excellent traction on wet roads
- 75,000-mile warranty
Our #1 overall best tire for the Nissan Altima is the General AltiMAX RT43 Radial.
General AltiMAX RT43 tires have a service life that is double that of many other industry competitors.
General also offers one of the most extensive warranty policies in the industry, covering the AltiMAX RT43 model for a lengthy 75,000-mile period.
If you find yourself in search of the best tires for your Nissan Altima, you are likely seeking to get the most out of your tire buying investment.
This is completely understandable, as the purchase of a set of new tires can be quite the expenditure. However, this is an investment in your safety and well-being, as well as that of your passengers, and worth every dime that must be spent.
The Nissan Altima is a car known for its durability, achieving exceedingly high mileage when taken care of adequately.
This means your new tire purchase will not only be a here and now proposition, but rather, insurance for the years worth of reliable service yet to come.
With this decision being one that you will literally ride on for years to come, we have prepared a comprehensive guide to assist you in finding the right tire to make the most of your purchase.
Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose the best tires for a Nissan Altima.
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Top 5 Best Tires For A Nissan Altima
Check out our below list for a summary of our results. Keep on reading to learn more about your other options!
How Do You Know If You Need New Tires?
If you are reading this, you are likely still trying to convince yourself that you can get a few more miles out of your worn-out set of tires. After all, they really aren’t that bad, are they?
We understand where you are coming from, we really do. However, tires are considered a safety component. This means a lack of performance from your tires can put you, as well as your family, in jeopardy.
So, in case you are still on the fence about whether or not you need a set of new tires like your local mechanic suggested, let's review what “worn out” really means.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) specifies that any tire with tread that is less than 2/32 of an inch in depth is considered legally bald. Let us specify the word “legally” here.
If you are currently riding around on tires with tread that is less than this depth, you can be out of compliance in the eyes of the law if you were to lose traction and cause an accident.
This is not a situation that anyone wants to be caught in, especially if someone has been injured in the process. Read this article on how to check your tire tread.
However, issues related to less than adequate traction can begin to rear their ugly head long before reaching the 2/32 of an inch, “no-go-zone.”
At 4/32 of an inch of tread, traction on wet roadways has already become drastically reduced, and this can begin to occur at 6/32 of an inch of tread in wintery weather conditions.
To summarize, if you are on the fence as to whether or not you need new tires, this thought alone is probably a good indicator that the time is upon you. Don’t risk your safety, or that of others.
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How Do Tires Affect Your Car’s Performance
Your tires accomplish two tasks, both of which are vital to your vehicle's operation. The first of these tasks is that of transferring the output from your vehicle’s powertrain to the road.
As your wheels spin due to the rotational force created by your vehicle’s powertrain, your tires are relied upon to gain traction and allow this force to be imparted upon the road.
Bald or worn-out tires simply cannot complete this process efficiently.
The second task accomplished by your vehicle’s tires is that of maintaining constant contact with the road, under a wide variety of steering and braking applications.
This factor is directly related to safety, as a failure to maintain this contact can lead to increased stopping distances, and inhibit steering capabilities.
Either of these outcomes can be disastrous in the long run, leading to accidents and potential injury. Check out this article for more information on how tires affect your car’s performance.
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What Are The Different Types Of Tires?
A number of different types of car, minivan, and crossover SUV tires exist in today's market, many of which cater to specific driving styles and anticipated road conditions. The following are the most prominent types of automotive tires sold today.
All-Season Tires
All season tires are designed to provide adequate performance under any driving conditions.
These tires typically feature a standard, uniform tread pattern, and are engineered for use in dry, wet, and snowy weather conditions.
All season tires are also designed for use in both stop-and-go and highway traffic. Moderate tread life is typical of all-season tires.
Touring Tires
Touring tires are designed to create comfortable operation in an on-highway setting. If you commute long distances to work along the Interstate, touring tires are likely a great option.
This tire type also provides reasonable wet and wintry weather protection, as well as sufficient performance on dry roadways. Touring tires are also known for their lengthy tread life.
Winter Tires
Though somewhat less common than in years past, some individuals prefer to utilize a different tire all together for winter driving in potentially hazardous weather conditions.
Winter/snow tires feature aggressive tread patterns that provide excellent snow traction and are designed to shed iceand slush, from their surface. However, these tires seldom ride as smoothly as all-season tires or touring tire varieties.
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What To Look For In The Best Tires?
When choosing which new tires to purchase, several factors come into play. These factors all play a role in ensuring that a consumer makes a purchase that they will be happy with far into the future.
For more tips on buying tires, check out this article.
Tread Life Rating
It can be quite helpful to consult tread life specifications for any tires which you are currently considering purchasing. These specifications provide a set number of miles that a particular tire can reasonably be expected to last.
Most manufacturers openly publish these ratings, and any prospective consumer can study such numbers to gauge potential longevity of a tire they are considering.These specifications are also used by tire manufacturers for warranty purposes.
Tread Pattern
Several tread patterns exist on the market today. The most common of these varieties is the symmetrical tread. This tread pattern typically wears slowly, provides a moderate ride, and is notably quiet.
Symmetrical tread tires also require no special orientation upon rotation, saving time and hassle. Other tread types include directional, asymmetrical, and hybrid asymmetrical/directional.
Tire Size
It is always important to verify your particular vehicle’s tire size before making any purchase. While this might seem like a no brainer, simply being one number off when quoting a rim size, can lead you to purchase new tires that are of absolutely no use to you.
This can be a costly mistake that is sure to leave you sick to your stomach.
By simply spending two minutes to double-check your vehicle’s tire size, you can be saving yourself a world’s worth of trouble. In addition to a tire’s size, it can also be quite helpful to analyze and compare speed ratings listed in conjunction with various tires as well.
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Best Tires for Nissan Altima (2020 Review)
Pick #1 - General AltiMAX RT43 Radial Tire
The General AltiMAX RT43 is a tire that will last far beyond when most would have gone into the recycle pile.
General offers one of the most extensive warranty policies in the industry, covering the AltiMAX RT43 model for a lengthy 75,000-mile period.
This longevity is made possible through the use of an ultra-durable rubber construction that resists excessive wear and fends off harmful road contaminants.
The AltiMAX RT43 lineup also provides all-season traction, thanks to the tire’s model exclusive tread pattern and custom siping.
Pros
Cons
Do you live in a northern climate where life doesn't simply stop because of winter weather conditions?
If sitting at home and watching it snow is not an option, then you might want to take a closer look at Bridgestone’s Blizzak Winter Radial Tire.
While these Bridgestone tires can indeed be used for all-season duty, they really shine when the sun fails to.
The Bridgestone Blizzak features Anti-hydroplaning safety technology, a series of 3D Zigzag Sipes for enhanced traction, and a Hydrophilic Coating that sheds the elements at a molecular level.
Pros
Cons
Pick #3 - Michelin Premier A/S All-Season Radial
Michelin is a name synonymous with perfection in the automotive tire manufacturing industry.
The Michelin Premier A/S Radial Tire appears to carry on this tradition of excellence as one would expect.
True to form for Michelin, this tire is specifically engineered to provide a smooth and quiet ride, whether driving five miles to the grocery or striking out on a cross-country road trip.
Michelin Premier A/S Radials are also backed by a 60,000-mile warranty, ensuring long service life, and providing consumers with peace of mind in the process.
Pros
Cons
Pick #4 - Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring Radial Tire
If you are seeking a responsive tire at a reasonable price, search no further that the Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring Radial Tire.
This touring tire is the perfect blend of a performance tire and economy tire, in a single package.
The Cooper CS5 Ultra-Touring Radial features a proprietary silica-based tread compound that enhances handling capabilities and minimizes stopping distances.
These tires also utilize 3D Micro-Gauge groove technology, which allow individual sections of the tread to interlock under a load, providing next-level traction and rigidity.
Pros
Cons
Fuel economy is the name of the game with the proven Pirelli Cinturato P7 Touring Radial.
This tire spares pain at the pump by minimizing rolling resistance.
This cuts down on overall fuel consumption, while also extending the tire’s tread life.
You are also sure to notice how quiet Pirelli Cinturato P7 Touring Radials ride down the road.
This is thanks to a specialized tread compound that dampens the droning road-noise, often associated with some aftermarket tires.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: General AltiMAX RT43 Radial Tire
When you combine this level of longevity with the AltiMAX RT43’s notable all-season capabilities, you have a product that even the most discerning vehicle owner would have trouble finding fault in.
If I were to choose a set of tires to make the most of my investment, I would most certainly choose General AltiMAX RT43 Radials.
