Chevrolet Malibu tire size
Original tire sizes for the Chevrolet Malibu, model years 1997 through 2024. Trim levels and wheel packages change the size within the same year, so confirm on the door-jamb sticker before ordering.
Check before you order. The surest answer is the tires on the car right now: the size is molded into the sidewall. The placard inside the driver's door tells you what the factory fitted, which can differ from what a previous owner put on. Our guide on reading a tire size shows exactly where to look.
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
- 1999
- 1998
- 1997
Size by year and trim
| Model years | Trim or package | Tire size | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-2018 | L/LS | 205/65R16 | $62 |
| 2016-2019 | LT | 225/50R17 | $70 |
| 2016-2024 | Premier | 245/40R19 | $110 |
| 2008-2012 | LTZ | 235/50R17 | $70 |
| 2004-2007 | Base | 205/65R15 | $50 |
| 1997-2003 | Upsize alternative | 195/70R14 | $45 |
| 1997-2003 | Standard | 215/60R15 | $50 |
Tire size by model year
| Model year | Tire size | Trim or package | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Chevrolet Malibu | 245/40R19 | Premier | $110 |
| 2023 Chevrolet Malibu | 245/40R19 | Premier | $110 |
| 2022 Chevrolet Malibu | 245/40R19 | Premier | $110 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Malibu | 245/40R19 | Premier | $110 |
| 2020 Chevrolet Malibu | 245/40R19 | Premier | $110 |
| 2019 Chevrolet Malibu | 225/50R17, 245/40R19 | LT or Premier | $70 |
| 2018 Chevrolet Malibu | 205/65R16, 225/50R17, 245/40R19 | L/LS, LT or Premier | $62 |
| 2017 Chevrolet Malibu | 205/65R16, 225/50R17, 245/40R19 | L/LS, LT or Premier | $62 |
| 2016 Chevrolet Malibu | 205/65R16, 225/50R17, 245/40R19 | L/LS, LT or Premier | $62 |
| 2012 Chevrolet Malibu | 235/50R17 | LTZ | $70 |
| 2011 Chevrolet Malibu | 235/50R17 | LTZ | $70 |
| 2010 Chevrolet Malibu | 235/50R17 | LTZ | $70 |
Show the remaining 13 model years
| Model year | Tire size | Trim or package | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Chevrolet Malibu | 235/50R17 | LTZ | $70 |
| 2008 Chevrolet Malibu | 235/50R17 | LTZ | $70 |
| 2007 Chevrolet Malibu | 205/65R15 | Base | $50 |
| 2006 Chevrolet Malibu | 205/65R15 | Base | $50 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Malibu | 205/65R15 | Base | $50 |
| 2004 Chevrolet Malibu | 205/65R15 | Base | $50 |
| 2003 Chevrolet Malibu | 195/70R14, 215/60R15 | Upsize alternative or Standard | $45 |
| 2002 Chevrolet Malibu | 195/70R14, 215/60R15 | Upsize alternative or Standard | $45 |
| 2001 Chevrolet Malibu | 195/70R14, 215/60R15 | Upsize alternative or Standard | $45 |
| 2000 Chevrolet Malibu | 195/70R14, 215/60R15 | Upsize alternative or Standard | $45 |
| 1999 Chevrolet Malibu | 195/70R14, 215/60R15 | Upsize alternative or Standard | $45 |
| 1998 Chevrolet Malibu | 195/70R14, 215/60R15 | Upsize alternative or Standard | $45 |
| 1997 Chevrolet Malibu | 195/70R14, 215/60R15 | Upsize alternative or Standard | $45 |
Which brand should you pick?
Chevrolet does not stamp its own approval code on tires the way Porsche or BMW do. Any tire in the right size that meets or exceeds the load index and speed rating on your door placard is a legitimate replacement, so pick on wet braking, tread life and price. Our picks for each size are on the size pages below.
The drawing carries the sizes we list for this car, so you know what you are looking for. The placard on the car is still the final word, and it is the only place that gives the cold pressures: the number molded into the sidewall is the maximum the tire can hold, not what your car wants.
What those tires cost
About the Chevrolet Malibu
The Malibu was Chevrolet's mid-size sedan, revived in 1997 and built until November 2024. Tire buyers land here across a very wide span of years, which matters because a 1998 Malibu on 14-inch steel wheels and a 2020 Premier on 19-inch alloys have almost nothing in common at the tire counter. Volume was high enough that all the common sizes are cheap and easy to find.
Launched in 1964. Launched in 1964 as the top trim level of the Chevelle, the Malibu became a standalone model in 1978, disappeared in 1983 and returned in 1997 as a front-drive mid-size sedan aimed squarely at the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
How to tell the model years apart
Wheel and tire sizes follow the generation, not the badge, so identifying yours matters before you order.
1997-2003
Fifth generation
Small, rounded four-door with a split grille, simple round headlights and 14- or 15-inch wheels, most often steel with covers. The 1997 revival car is easy to spot by how plain it is next to everything that followed. A 2.4-liter four or 3.1-liter V6 were the only engines.
2004-2007
Sixth generation
Built on GM's Epsilon platform with a taller body, and offered as a sedan or the Malibu Maxx five-door hatchback with a sliding rear seat and a rear skylight. Base cars run 15-inch wheels on 205/65R15. The 2006 facelift added a larger grille and a more conventional dashboard.
Tire sizes: 205/65R15
2008-2012
Seventh generation
Much better looking, with a wide dual-port grille, a high shoulder line and a two-tone interior; this is the Malibu that finally got good reviews. Wheels are 16, 17 or 18 inches, with LTZ trims on 235/50R17. A mild hybrid version was offered early in the run.
Tire sizes: 235/50R17
2013-2015
Eighth generation
Shorter rear doors and a cramped back seat, with round tail lights borrowed from the Camaro and a narrower cabin than the car it replaced. Most run 17-inch wheels on 225/55R17. The Malibu Eco of this era used GM's eAssist mild hybrid system with a small lithium-ion pack.
Tire sizes: 225/55R17
2016-2024
Ninth generation
Longer, lower and much sleeker, with a fastback roofline and a wide grille split by a chrome bar. L and LS trims use 16-inch wheels on 205/65R16, LT models 17s on 225/50R17, and the Premier 19s on 245/40R19. The 2019 facelift dropped the manual-gearbox-like nine-speed on lower trims in favor of a CVT.
What the press said
Malibu reviews split sharply by generation. The 1997-2007 cars were treated as rental-fleet transport, competent but cheap inside and well behind the Camry and Accord. The 2008 redesign was a genuine critical success, winning praise for its styling and interior and appearing on several best-of lists. The 2013 car went backwards on rear seat space and drew poor reviews, and the 2016 redesign recovered the space and looks but was criticized for a coarse engine, a CVT and a features list behind its rivals. In its final years the consensus was that the Malibu was a comfortable, cheap way into a mid-size sedan rather than a good one.
While it's not as powerful or refined as its rivals, the Malibu is a comfortable, steady choice at a reasonable price.
Car and Driver, 2025
| Model year | Units sold in the US |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 200,594 |
| 2014 | 188,519 |
| 2015 | 194,854 |
| 2016 | 227,881 |
| 2017 | 185,857 |
| 2018 | 144,542 |
| 2019 | 120,302 |
| 2020 | 102,652 |
| 2021 | 39,376 |
| 2022 | 115,468 |
| 2023 | 130,341 |
| 2024 | 117,319 |
US sales ran above 200,000 a year as recently as 2016 and were still near 120,000 in the final full year, 2024; the 2021 collapse to under 40,000 was a chip-shortage production stoppage rather than lost demand.
Was it a success?
A commercial success in raw volume terms, though a large share of that went to rental and corporate fleets, which is exactly why resale has always been weak. Buying used, that works in your favor: a low-mileage late Malibu is one of the cheapest ways into a comfortable mid-size sedan. Reliability is average, with the 1.5-liter turbo's cooling and timing components and the CVT the things worth checking on the last generation.
Did you know?
- The Malibu name started in 1964 not as a model but as the top trim level of the Chevrolet Chevelle, and only became a car in its own right in 1978.
- The 2004-2007 range included the Malibu Maxx, a five-door hatchback with a sliding rear bench and a fixed glass panel over the back seat, which sold poorly and has almost disappeared.
- Production ended at Fairfax Assembly in Kansas in November 2024 after 60 years, with the plant retooled to build the next Chevrolet Bolt instead.
Tire options on the Chevrolet Malibu
Across 28 model years the Malibu has used everything from 195/70R14 to 245/40R19, but the sizes that matter today are 205/65R16 on L and LS trims, 225/50R17 on LT and 245/40R19 on the Premier. None of them is a run-flat fitment and none is staggered, so four matching tires and a regular rotation is all the car asks for. Factory tires were usually mid-tier all-seasons from Goodyear, Michelin or Hankook, and because volume was so high every size is well stocked and inexpensive. The 19-inch Premier fitment is the one worth thinking about: it rides firmly on a car tuned for comfort, and owners often move to a 17-inch wheel and a taller sidewall for both ride quality and cost. Winter tires are cheap and plentiful in 205/65R16 and 225/50R17, which makes a dedicated winter set an easy decision in snow states.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, caranddriver.com, goodcarbadcar.net.
Chevrolet Malibu tires: common questions
What size tires does a Chevrolet Malibu take?
The most common original size is 205/65R16. Other model years and trims use different sizes, so check the list on this page and confirm against the sticker inside your driver's door.
Can I fit a different size on my Chevrolet Malibu?
You can, within limits: the overall diameter should stay within about 3 percent of the original, and the load index and speed rating must meet or exceed the door placard. Anything further changes your speedometer reading and can rub at full lock.
Where is the tire size on a Chevrolet Malibu?
Open the driver's door and look at the white and yellow placard on the door jamb or the B-pillar. The same size is also molded into the sidewall of the tires currently on the car, unless someone changed them.
What size tires does a 2024 Chevrolet Malibu take?
The 2024 Chevrolet Malibu came from the factory on 245/40R19. Wheel packages can change that within the same model year, so check the placard inside the door jamb before you order.
What size tires does a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu take?
The 2023 Chevrolet Malibu came from the factory on 245/40R19. Wheel packages can change that within the same model year, so check the placard inside the door jamb before you order.
What size tires does a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu take?
The 2022 Chevrolet Malibu came from the factory on 245/40R19. Wheel packages can change that within the same model year, so check the placard inside the door jamb before you order.