For a GR86 or BRZ you drive all year, buy the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus. For summer street driving, get the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 on 17-inch wheels or the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 on 18s. For autocross and track days, buy the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ.
The GR86 and BRZ use the same two sizes, so one list covers both cars. The bigger question is whether you're on 17s or 18s. The 17-inch size has far more choice.
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How we picked
Every tire here is sold today in 215/45R17 or 215/40R18, checked on Tire Rack in October 2026. We noted each one's UTQG treadwear grade, its treadwear warranty and its price per tire. UTQG treadwear compares how fast a tire wore on a government test course. Higher means slower wear.
We skipped tires listed only as closeouts. That rules out the old Potenza RE-71RS, which the RE-71RZ replaced.
The picks at a glance
Tire | Best for | Sizes sold | UTQG | Treadwear warranty | Price per tire (17 in / 18 in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus | Daily driver, all year | 215/45R17, 215/40R18 | 560 AA A | $177.99 / $195.99 | |
Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 | Daily driver, sportier feel | 215/45R17, 215/40R18 | 540 AA A | $209.99 / $220.99 | |
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 | Summer street, 17-inch | 215/45R17 | 340 AA A | $218.99 / not made | |
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | Summer street, 18-inch | 215/40R18 | 340 A A | not made / $259.99 | |
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ | Autocross and track | 215/45R17, 215/40R18 | 200 A A | $281.55 / $271.35 | |
Falken Azenis RT615K+ | Budget autocross, 17-inch | 215/45R17 | 200 A A | $174.00 / not made | |
Michelin X-Ice Snow | Winter, 17-inch | 215/45R17 | Not graded | $177.54 / not made | |
Pirelli Winter Cinturato 2 | Winter, 18-inch | 215/45R17, 215/40R18 | Not graded | $140.49 closeout / $205.97 |
Prices are Tire Rack's, per tire, October 2026. "Not made" means the tire wasn't listed in that size.
What size your car takes
Every GR86 and BRZ uses 215-width tires on either 17- or 18-inch wheels. On the 2025 GR86, the base car runs 215/45R17, though TireSize.com also lists 215/40R18 for it. The Premium, Hakone Edition and Brembo-brake cars run 215/40R18 (TireSize.com). The 2025 BRZ Premium uses 215/45R17, and the Limited and tS use 215/40R18 (TireSize.com).
First-generation cars mostly ran 215/45R17. The 2018 BRZ Premium and Limited and the 2019 Toyota 86 base and GT all used it. The BRZ tS and 86 TRD Special Edition got 215/40R18 (TireSize.com, TireSize.com). Check your door-jamb sticker to be sure.
Why 17-inch owners have it easier
The 17-inch size has more than three times the choice. Tire Rack had 102 tire models in stock in 215/45R17 and 31 in 215/40R18 when we checked (Tire Rack). For winter, 18-inch cars had one studless tire to choose from.
Tire Rack category | 215/45R17 | 215/40R18 |
|---|---|---|
All tire models in stock | 102 | 31 |
Extreme performance summer | 11 | 5 |
Max performance summer | 3 | 4 |
Studless ice and snow | 5 | 1 |
The 18-inch size usually costs more too. For four of the six tires we priced in both sizes, the 18 cost $11 to $21 more per tire. The RE-71RZ and Bridgestone's RE980AS+ were the exceptions, both slightly cheaper in 18-inch.
Tire | 215/45R17 | 215/40R18 | Difference per tire |
|---|---|---|---|
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus | $177.99 | $195.99 | +$18.00 |
Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 | $209.99 | $220.99 | +$11.00 |
Bridgestone Potenza Sport AS | $200.99 | $221.99 | +$21.00 |
Yokohama Advan Sport A/S+ | $151.99 | $169.99 | +$18.00 |
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ | $154.79 | $150.87 | −$3.92 |
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ | $281.55 | $271.35 | −$10.20 |
Prices from Tire Rack's 17-inch and 18-inch listings.
If you're on 18s and plan winter tires or a track set, a second set of 17-inch wheels widens your choice. Confirm the wheels clear your brakes first, especially on Brembo cars. Our wheel offset guide lists the stock offset, +48.
Best all-season: Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus
This is the pick for a GR86 or BRZ that's your only car. It has the highest treadwear grade on the list, 560, and a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty (Tire Rack).
The drawback is grip. These cars are light and tail-happy, and an all-season gives up dry grip and steering bite to a summer tire. For light snow it's fine. For real winters, see all-season vs all-weather tires.
Check sizes and prices for the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus at Tire Rack
Also good: Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
The Pilot Sport All Season 4 is the step up if you want a sharper all-season. It's graded 540 with a 45,000-mile warranty (Tire Rack).
The drawback is price. It costs $32 more per tire than the DWS06 Plus in 215/45R17, which is $128 more for a set.
Check sizes and prices for the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 at Tire Rack
Best summer tire on 17s: Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02
On 215/45R17, the ExtremeContact Sport 02 gives summer grip with a real warranty. It's graded 340, backed for 30,000 miles, and costs $218.99 (Tire Rack). It was one of only three max-performance summer tires in that size.
The drawback: it isn't made in 215/40R18. And like every summer tire, it's not for snow or freezing temperatures.
Check sizes and prices for the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 at Tire Rack
Best summer tire on 18s: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
On 215/40R18, the Pilot Sport 5 is the summer tire to get. It's graded 340 with a 30,000-mile warranty at $259.99 (Tire Rack). That's $40 less per tire than the Pilot Sport 4 in the same size.
The drawback is its A wet traction grade, one step below the AA on the Continental. If you're weighing it against its sporty sibling, read Pilot Sport 4S vs Pilot Sport 5.
Check sizes and prices for the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 at Tire Rack
Best for autocross and track: Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ
The RE-71RZ is here because it's quick and it's tested on this exact car. Tire Rack ran it against the old RE-71RS on a 2022 BRZ in a test published in May 2026, on 245/40R17s (Tire Rack). It lapped the dry course in 27.41 seconds vs 27.53, and stopped from 60 mph in 99.7 feet vs 101.1.
It was a touch slower on the wet lap, 31.01 seconds vs 30.92. And it's sold in both stock sizes, which most 200-treadwear tires aren't.
The drawbacks: no treadwear warranty, 7/32 inch of tread when new, and a listing that says not to drive or store it near freezing (Tire Rack). Read 200-treadwear tires explained before you daily one.
Check sizes and prices for the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ at Tire Rack
Best budget 200TW: Falken Azenis RT615K+
At $174.00 in 215/45R17, the RT615K+ costs $107.55 less per tire than the RE-71RZ (Tire Rack). That's $430.20 saved on a set of four. It's a sensible first autocross tire.
The drawback is pace. NASA's 2026 Super Touring rules give the RT615K+ a +2.0 tire factor, the same as a Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. The RE-71RZ gets +0.5 (NASA ST5/ST6 rules). A bigger factor gives the car more credit, so NASA is treating the tire as slower. It's also not made in 215/40R18.
Check sizes and prices for the Falken Azenis RT615K+ at Tire Rack
Best winter tires
On 17s, the Michelin X-Ice Snow is $177.54 with a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty for winter-only use (Tire Rack). The catch is that the warranty only counts if you run it from September to April. Bridgestone's Blizzak IcePeak is a close alternative at $177.99.
On 18s, the Pirelli Winter Cinturato 2 at $205.97 was the only studless tire in stock (Tire Rack). It has no treadwear warranty. If that doesn't suit you, it's another reason to buy 17-inch winter wheels.
Check sizes and prices for the Michelin X-Ice Snow at Tire Rack
Check sizes and prices for the Pirelli Winter Cinturato 2 at Tire Rack
What to do today
- Check your door sticker for 215/45R17 or 215/40R18.
- Decide how many sets you need: one all-season set, or summer tires plus winters.
- If you're on 18s and want winter or track tires, price a set of 17-inch wheels against the extra cost of 18-inch tires.
- Get an alignment after fitting, especially before track days. Our alignment cost guide has prices.
- Compare installed prices across shops. See where to buy tires.
New to driving events? Start with autocross vs track day. Still choosing a car? See WRX vs BRZ or the Miata tire guide.
Sources are linked in the text. Main references: Tire Rack, TireSize.com and NASA.
Featured image: Subaru BRZ by crash71100 (CC0). Source
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