Best Tires for BRZ, FR-S, Toyota 86, and GR86

Tires do more for a BRZ, Scion FR-S, Toyota 86, or GR86 than almost any bolt-on. They decide how quickly the car stops, how confidently it turns in, and whether its playful rear-wheel-drive balance feels predictable or nervous.

The right choice depends on climate and use. A max-performance summer tire gives you the best warm-weather street grip. An ultra-high-performance all-season works for cold rain and occasional light snow. Dedicated winter tires are the right answer for regular snow and ice. A 200-treadwear tire belongs on an autocross or track-focused setup, not a normal commuter.

Quick answer: choose the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S for the best premium summer street tire, Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 for nearly the same job at a better value, Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus for a comfortable all-season daily, and Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 for real winter driving. For autocross, choose Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS; for repeated track sessions, choose Hankook Ventus R-S4.

Choose Your Tire Type

How We Picked

We did not physically test every tire. We compared current manufacturer fitment data, Tire Rack instrumented tests and owner surveys, retailer feedback, and BRZ/GR86 owner discussions. Sources checked include Tire Rack’s 2023 max-performance summer test, its 2024 UHP all-season comparison, current product and size listings, and discussions from GR86 and BRZ owners about summer, all-season, and winter use.

Factor	Weight	What mattered
Fitment and intended use	25%	Stock sizes, street vs track use, and climate
Wet and dry grip	25%	Braking, steering response, and predictable breakaway
Cold and snow performance	20%	Cold rain, light snow, packed snow, and ice
Road manners	15%	Noise, ride, steering feel, and tread life
Value and availability	15%	Current model status and availability in useful sizes

Stock BRZ, FR-S, 86, and GR86 Tire Sizes

Check the driver’s door placard and the sidewall of your current tires before ordering. Trim, market, wheel changes, and previous-owner modifications can make a general size chart wrong for your car.

Car and wheel	Common factory size	Notes
2013-2020 BRZ / FR-S / Toyota 86, 17-inch	215/45R17	Main first-generation fitment
2022+ BRZ / GR86, 17-inch	215/45R17	Common base-wheel fitment
2022+ BRZ / GR86, 18-inch	215/40R18	Common premium-wheel fitment

Stock wheels do not require wider tires to make the car better. A quality tire in the correct factory size preserves steering feel and clearance. If you are moving to 225-width tires, changing wheel width or offset, lowering the car, or adding aggressive alignment, verify inner and outer clearance first.

Never mix summer and all-season tires, or install mismatched tires across one axle. On this rear-wheel-drive platform, inconsistent grip can make breakaway behavior much harder to predict.

Summer, All-Season, Winter, or Track?

Tire type	Best for	Poor fit for
Max-performance summer	Warm-weather street grip and sharp steering	Freezing weather, snow, or ice
UHP all-season	Cold rain, commuting, and occasional light snow	Deep snow, ice, or maximum summer response
Studless winter	Regular snow, packed snow, ice, and freezing temperatures	Warm-weather use
200TW track/autocross	Lap times, heat tolerance, and competition	Daily comfort, cold weather, and standing water

Summer tires are not winter tires simply because the road is dry. Their compounds lose flexibility as temperatures approach freezing. Conversely, winter tires wear quickly and feel soft when driven in warm weather.

Best Summer Tires

Pick	Best use	Main drawback
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S	Premium warm-weather street tire	Expensive
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02	Best balance of performance and value	Slightly less refined than Michelin
Bridgestone Potenza Sport	Sharp steering and firm response	Firmer ride and faster wear

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S remains the premium street choice. It combines strong dry grip, excellent wet braking, predictable breakaway, and better ride quality than many aggressive performance tires. That balance suits a daily-driven BRZ or 86 especially well.

The price is the main objection. It is also more tire than a driver needs if the goal is easy low-speed rotation rather than maximum grip.

Buy if: you want the best warm-weather street tire and value confidence in rain as much as dry grip.

Skip if: you drive near freezing, want easy oversteer at low speeds, or prioritize low cost.

The ExtremeContact Sport 02 replaces the original article’s older ExtremeContact Sport. Current comparison testing shows balanced wet and dry performance, approachable steering, and predictable behavior. Owners frequently choose it when they want most of the Michelin’s street ability for less money.

It is the easiest recommendation for a spirited daily driver. Confirm availability in your exact 17- or 18-inch size before ordering.

Buy if: you want excellent summer grip and rain performance without paying for the Michelin.

Skip if: you need cold-weather capability or want the softest, quietest ride.

The Potenza Sport is the choice for a firm sidewall and immediate turn-in. That response works with the chassis’ natural strengths, especially on smooth roads. Test and owner feedback also points to strong wet and dry grip.

The tradeoff is comfort. Expect a firmer ride, more noise potential, and faster wear than a touring-oriented tire.

Buy if: steering response matters more than ride softness.

Skip if: your commute is rough, quietness matters, or you need year-round use.

Best All-Season Tires

The Continental DWS 06 Plus is the best one-set daily choice for drivers who see cold rain, temperature swings, and occasional light snow. It rides comfortably, resists hydroplaning well, and is widely praised by BRZ and GR86 owners.

Its softer response is the compromise. Compared with a summer tire, the steering can feel less immediate and the car less eager during fast transitions.

Buy if: you need one sporty daily tire for changing temperatures and mostly cleared roads.

Skip if: you want summer-tire precision or regularly drive through snow and ice.

The Pilot Sport All Season 4 is the better all-season for a driver who wants to preserve sharp response. It gives up less warm-weather feel than most all-seasons while remaining useful on cold, wet pavement.

Owner feedback is mixed on noise and ride, and it still cannot match a true winter tire on ice or packed snow.

Buy if: you want the sportiest practical all-season option.

Skip if: comfort and value matter more, or snow is a routine part of winter.

Best Winter Tires

The Blizzak WS90 is the simple answer for a BRZ or 86 that must handle snow and ice. Winter traction matters even more on a light rear-wheel-drive car: the correct tires improve starting, cornering, and braking rather than helping only the driven wheels.

Like any studless winter tire, it feels softer and noisier than a performance tire. Remove it when sustained warm weather returns.

Buy if: you drive through snow, ice, mountain passes, or long periods below freezing.

Skip if: your winter means only cool rain and clear roads.

Michelin X-Ice Snow is the winter alternative for drivers who spend more time on cold, dry highways between storms. It earns consistently good feedback for refinement, ice and snow control, and useful life across multiple seasons.

Buy if: you want serious winter traction with quieter daily road manners.

Skip if: maximum soft-snow bite matters more than refinement.

Best Autocross and Track Tires

The RE-71RS is for drivers chasing autocross times or maximum grip in short track sessions. It warms quickly, responds sharply, and provides far more dry grip than a normal street tire.

Buy if: competition pace matters more than comfort and tread life.

Skip if: this is your only daily set, you drive in standing water, or temperatures approach freezing.

The Ventus R-S4 gives up some single-lap pace to the fastest 200TW tires but tolerates repeated heat cycles well. That makes it a sensible HPDE choice for a BRZ or 86 owner who wants predictable behavior and useful track life.

Buy if: you value repeatable sessions and durability over the fastest autocross run.

Skip if: you need a quiet daily tire or maximum performance in cold and wet conditions.

Tires We No Longer Recommend

The Hankook Ventus V12 evo2, Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position, Pirelli P Zero Nero, Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+, older Continental ExtremeContact Sport, and original DWS06 were reasonable choices when this page was first published. They have since been replaced or overtaken by better current models.

The Yokohama iceGUARD iG53 can still be worth considering when heavily discounted, but the Blizzak WS90 and Michelin X-Ice Snow have stronger current test and owner support.

Tire Setup and Care

Keep all four tires matched by model and similar wear. Rotate directional and non-directional tires according to the manufacturer’s pattern, check pressures cold, and get an alignment if you see uneven shoulder wear.

Lowering springs and coilovers can change clearance and wear quickly. If you also change wheel width or offset, verify fitment before assuming a common online setup will clear your particular car.

FAQ

What is the stock tire size for a BRZ, FR-S, Toyota 86, or GR86?

Most first-generation cars use 215/45R17. Second-generation BRZ and GR86 models commonly use 215/45R17 or 215/40R18, depending on trim. Check the driver’s door placard before ordering.

Should I put 225 tires on stock BRZ or GR86 wheels?

A 225-width tire is a common change, but it is not automatically better. Verify the approved wheel-width range, overall diameter, wheel offset, suspension clearance, and speedometer change first.

Can I use summer tires below 45 degrees?

Avoid using summer tires near freezing and never use them on snow or ice. Follow the tire manufacturer’s temperature guidance and switch before sustained cold weather.

Are all-season tires enough for snow on a BRZ or GR86?

UHP all-seasons can manage cold pavement and occasional light snow, but a light rear-wheel-drive car needs dedicated winter tires for regular snow, packed snow, or ice.

What is the best tire for drifting a stock BRZ or 86?

Do not choose a premium maximum-grip street tire if easy breakaway is the goal. Use a predictable, affordable tire on a closed course and keep a separate safe street set.

Final Recommendation

For warm-weather street driving, choose Michelin Pilot Sport 4S if you want the premium option or Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 for the best value. Choose Continental DWS 06 Plus for a comfortable all-season daily or Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 for sharper response.

If snow and ice are routine, use Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 or Michelin X-Ice Snow on a dedicated winter wheel set. For competition, choose Potenza RE-71RS for autocross pace or Ventus R-S4 for repeated track sessions.