Kia tire sizes

We cover 15 Kia models across 37 factory fitments, spanning model years 2002 to 2024. The size that turns up most often on a Kia is 235/55R19, followed by 235/45R18 and 205/60R16. Wheel diameters run from 14 to 21 inches, so the trim and wheel package matter as much as the model year.

Kia does not stamp an approval code on tires the way Porsche and BMW do, so any tire in the right size that meets the load index and speed rating on the door placard is a legitimate replacement. Pick on wet braking, tread life and price instead.

Pick your model below to see the size for every year and trim, what it costs from budget to premium, and which tires are worth buying in that size. If you already know your size, search by size instead, and if you are not sure where to find it, our guide on reading a tire size shows exactly where the placard sits.

Kia sells close to 800,000 vehicles a year in the United States and now runs neck and neck with its sister brand Hyundai. The Sportage, Telluride, Sorento and Carnival carry the volume, with the Forte and K5 still selling as cars. The electric EV6 and EV9 have given Kia a strong EV presence, and the Stinger gave it a rear-drive performance car.

Its reputation has moved from value to design, and the tire fitments have grown accordingly.

Tires on a Kia

Kia stamps no approval code on its tires, so the door placard is the complete specification and there is no letter to match. Almost everything is a square fitment, with one clear exception: the Stinger GT is staggered at 225/40R19 front and 255/35R19 rear, which means no rotation and two different sizes to order. Size spread within a model is wide, a Forte running anything from 195/65R15 to 225/45R17, a Sorento from 235/65R17 to 235/55R19, and a Telluride 245/60R18 or 245/50R20.

The electric models are the heavy ones: an EV9 is close to 5,900 pounds on 285/45R21, which is a large, expensive tire for a family three-row, and the EV6 runs 235/55R19 or 255/45R20. EV original tires are low-rolling-resistance versions, often with acoustic foam inside the tread, which makes them quieter and harder to plug. Because Kia's OE tires are generally chosen for rolling resistance and price, owners moving to a mid-range grand touring all-season usually gain both wet grip and tread life, and on the 20 and 21 inch fitments the sidewall is short enough that a wheel downsize for winter is a real saving.

The models that matter

The Sportage and Sorento are the volume models, on 225/60R17 for the Sportage and 235/65R17, 235/55R18 or 235/55R19 for the Sorento. The Telluride runs 245/60R18 or 245/50R20. The Forte takes 205/55R16 or 225/45R17 and the K5 235/45R18 with 245/40R19 on the GT.

The EV6 uses 235/55R19 and 255/45R20, the EV9 285/45R21.

What owners find out later

The EV9's 285/45R21 is a genuinely expensive tire for a mainstream three-row SUV, and at nearly 5,900 pounds the vehicle wears them faster than its gasoline equivalent would, so the running cost gap is wider than the sticker suggests. Acoustic foam in EV original tires means some shops will not repair a puncture. The Stinger GT's staggered fitment is easy to miss because the base Stinger is square.

Several Kia models have moved to an inflator kit instead of a spare, and on the EV6 and EV9 there is no spare well at all.