The Nissan Sentra ticks several boxes for the compact car-loving crowd. It offers a comfortable driving experience, looks like an eye candy on the road, and packs standard tech features. A functional interior and exterior further enhance its reputation and sales.
However, if you intend to get the most out of your Sentra, pair it with the right set of tires. Those that won’t only complement the features that distinguish this car from rivals. The best tires for Nissan Sentra should also match your driving style and road conditions.
For instance, if you like pushing this car to its limits, a set of performance or high-performance tires might fit the bill. Conversely, all-season touring tires might be a better investment if you have a laid-back driving style or primarily use this compact car for daily commuting.
This article will rate and review the top 10 tires for Nissan Sentra. Aware that not all of you can settle for the same type of tire, we’ve picked models from various categories. In addition, we’ve included a detailed buying guide to help you choose the best tires for your needs.
#1. General Altimax RT43 – Best Overall
The General Altimax RT43 is one of the best all-season tires for Nissan Sentra. This affordable model belies its competitive asking price with a comfortable driving experience, even tread wear, and excellent performance in snow. Best of all, it’s backed by a 75,000-mile warranty.
A dual-layer tread compound helps this model perform reliably 365 days a year. The compound’s upper layer is firm and thus helps the rubber grip the road better in dry conditions. A flexible lower layer, meanwhile, allows for superior wet traction and vibration absorption.
An optimized pitch sequence and Sound Wave Suppression Technology have made the Altimax RT43 one of the quietest tires on the market. Want to know how? By making sure this tire can deflect road noise before it can reach the cabin and disturb your driving experience.
General’s Low Surface Abrasion Technology all but guarantees even tread wear. It does that by evenly distributing the pressure forces this tire’s rubber is subjected to. Small wonder, then, that General backs this model with an excellent 75,000-mile treadwear warranty.
You may also find it good to note that the RT43 has more biting edges than the model it replaced. This means you can count on it to keep you safe in mild wintry conditions.
Pros
- Offers a quiet and comfortable ride
- Stays functional in mild wintry conditions
- Backed with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Could do with a little extra steering feedback
#2. Continental TrueContact – Best Runner Up
The Continental TrueContact rivals our top pick on various counts. This all-season touring tire offers a reliable driving experience in all types of weather conditions. Plus, it features the latest tire technologies to deliver consistent performance over the long term.
An all-season tread compound featuring additives and polymers has been molded into an optimized symmetric tread pattern. The result? Dependable performance on dry and wet roads, as well as above-average steering response for a model in this class.
Wet traction is one area where this model shines. The credit for this goes to Continental’s proprietary Traction Grooves, which keep this model firmly planted on the road in the worst of weather conditions. So, you can rely on this tire on waterlogged roads.
Continental has also paid particular attention to ride comfort. For example, an internal structure utilizing twin steel belts absorbs road vibrations before they can enter the cabin. Plus, a unique comfort band system smoothens road noises before they can get loud.
Yet there are areas where this model could do better. Unlike the Altimax RT43, whose performance in mild winter is beyond reproach, this model isn’t meant to be driven in the winter. So, don’t count on it to safely carry you from point A to point B on snow.
Pros
- Excellent fuel economy
- Superb road manners in dry and wet conditions
- Up to 90,000-mile tread guarantee
Cons
- Not the best tire for winter
#3. Pirelli P4 Four Season Plus – Best Budget All-Season
The Pirelli P4 Four Season Plus is a budget alternative to the above models. Yet you cannot guess its meager asking price based on its performance. In fact, as far as dry/wet road handling is concerned, this model can compete with tires costing twice as much.
As with most Pirelli tires, the P4 also excels in the fuel department. A silica-rich tread compound and the latest tire technology have slashed this model’s rolling resistance, allowing for excellent fuel economy and less frequent trips to the gas refilling station.
Four circumferential grooves ensure quick and effective water evacuation to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, a dangerous phenomenon that can give rise to slippage. The grooves’ quick action would thus keep you safe in wet and (mild) wintry conditions.
Treadlife is another area where this model belies its meager asking price. While our top two picks are backed to last up to 75,000 and 90,000 miles (depending on tire size and speed rating). Pirelli has slapped this model with an eye-watering 90,000-mile tread guarantee.
All of this is not to say that this model is faultless. In fact, ask anyone who has ever searched for this tire, and they might tell you one of its most glaring flaws. Unlike most tires that we recommend, the P4 Four Season Plus can be notoriously difficult to locate.
Pros
- 90,000-mile treadlife guarantee
- Low rolling resistance for an enhanced fuel economy
- Comfortable ride with minimal road noise
Cons
- A few sizes can be hard to find
#4. Michelin Premier A/S – Best Premium Touring All-Season
If you have ever wondered what premium touring all-season tires are capable of, look no further than the Michelin Premier A/S. This model combines excellent year-round performance with superb road manners and long-lasting tread life. A decent fuel economy is also on offer.
Its silica and sunflower oil tread compound gives this model the added grip needed for assured high-speed driving on dry roads. At the same time, it keeps the rubber flexible enough for superior wet traction. As such, you can count on this tire to perform 365 days a year.
Multiple rain grooves and four circumferential grooves do what you think they would. The duo works in tandem to evacuate water from within and beneath this model’s tread area, keeping the contact patch dry for superior wet and (mild) wintry traction.
As noted above, this tire consumes less fuel than its rivals. Part of the credit for that goes to the above tread compound, which has managed to keep things light for enhanced fuel economy. Though Michelin’s high-end technologies have also made this tire more fuel efficient.
Yet, as a mere glance at its asking price will confirm, the Premier A/S isn’t for those with light pockets. So if you’re on a tight budget, this may not be the tire for you.
Pros
- Offers a quiet and comfortable ride
- Provides excellent traction on wet surfaces
- Can handle mild wintry conditions effortlessly
Cons
- Super expensive
#5. Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring – Best Budget Touring All-Season
The Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring is one of the best touring all-season tires for drivers who cannot afford its competitors from Michelin and Bridgestone.
Cooper’s patented StabiliEdge Technology helps this model offer the best of both worlds. It ensures uniform distribution of pressure forces for even tread wear and long tread life. In addition, the technology helps this tire roll easily for better fuel economy.
An M+S emblem isn’t something you get to see every day on touring tires. Yet that is what is present on this model’s tread area. This symbol gives you all the proof you need to trust this tire’s performance in mild to moderate winter conditions (on light snow and ice).
Given that this model can hold its own on snow, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it excels in wet conditions, too. The credit for its excellent wet performance goes to the quartet of circumferential grooves as well as multiple water channels in the tread area.
A 75,000-mile treadwear warranty means you can expect this tire to last you 4 to 6 years, or even longer if you have a conservative driving style. But there’s a catch here. Not every size of this tire is backed for a quarter of a hundred thousand miles. Some come with a smaller (50,000-mile) warranty.
Pros
- Carries the M+S emblem
- Performs superbly in mild wintry conditions
- Wears evenly for an extended tread life
Cons
- Average treadwear warranty for V- and H-rated models
#6. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus – Best Fuel-Efficient Touring All-Season
The Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus will let you know what genuine fuel savings are all about. This touring all-season tire claims to consume less fuel per liter than most of its rivals. And unlike other tires that make such a boast, the P7 has what it takes to back it.
Pirelli’s internal tests claim that this model has a 15% lower rolling resistance than rivals, such as the ones reported above. Sure, a 15% reduced rolling resistance won’t directly translate into 15% extra fuel savings. But it would still help soften the blows on the pump.
Fortunately, not everything that is good about this tire has to do with its fuel economy. Its road manners are pretty decent, too, with drivers and passengers repeatedly claiming how this model keeps things quiet and steady on uneven and even bumpy roads.
Multiple biting edges help shorten braking distances on snow and ice, giving this model an edge over most A/S tires that don’t have any (let alone multiple) sipes. That said, in harsh weather, you should still opt for dedicated winter tires.
Pirelli backs the Cinturato P7 with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty to further sweeten the deal. You also get 6-month workmanship and defect guarantee. Thus, were it not for its poor grip on ice, we’d have declared this all-season touring tire faultless.
Pros
- Excellent fuel economy
- Great handling and traction at speed
- Comfortable and noise-free ride
Cons
- Poor grip on thin ice
#7. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus – Best High-Performance
Do you like pushing your Nissan Sentra to its limits? Hoping to take full advantage of its perky acceleration and powerful engine? If so, a set of high-performance tires might be worth a shot. And if you want the best performance, don’t settle for anything bar the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+.
An aggressive tread design won’t just intimidate you with its looks. It will also improve this model’s high-speed stability by increasing dry grip. Moreover, together with the wider shoulder blocks, it will enable your Sentra to run in a straight line without steering corrections.
The same goes for its unique tread design, which helps this model in more ways than one. Apart from ensuring balanced road contact for long road life. The tread design also lets you rotate this model any way you like, thereby helping this model wear evenly.
You may find it surprising to note that this model has biting edges on the tread area. A rarity for a high-performance tire, the sipes will surely enhance this tire’s traction in snow, provided you’re brave enough to drive a set of HP tires in wintry conditions.
A 45,000-mile treadwear warranty is another bell and whistle you usually get from an HP tire. So, while there’s no doubt that this model doesn’t come cheap. The above features and tread guarantee do more than enough to justify the amount written on its price tag.
Pros
- Exceptional high-speed stability
- Above-average treadwear warranty
- Superb steering response and feedback
Cons
- Doesn’t come cheap
#8. Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 – Best High-Performance
While the ExtremeContact DWS06 isn’t a budget tire by any stretch of the imagination, the fact that it costs less than the Premier A/S 3 Plus has allowed us to recommend it as an alternative. So, opt for this model if you want to save a few bucks without sacrificing performance.
A tread compound featuring silica and +Silane additives has been molded into an asymmetric tread pattern. The result is even tread wear for long tread life and improved wet traction and dry grip for superior high-speed stability regardless of weather conditions.
Multiple shoulder blocks have elevated this model’s cornering performance, letting you attack bends as if you’re a driver in a sports car movie. A stiff sidewall, on the other hand, will give you all the feedback you could ask for as to what is going down there on the tarmac.
Traction Grooves and X Sipe Technology help with quick water evacuation. The result? Reduced risk of hydroplaning/aquaplaning. Plus, if its 50,000-mile treadwear guarantee gives any proof, this model won’t require replacement anytime soon.
Yet there are areas where the DWS06 disappoints. For all its grooves and water channels, this tire takes a few milliseconds more than a rival A/S tire to come to a halt on wet roads.
Pros
- Offers excellent steering response
- Above-average treadwear warranty for a high-performance tire
- Superb cornering performance
Cons
- Relatively long braking distances on wet roads
#9. Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus – Best High-Performance All-Season
The Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus is another high-performance tire that can excite Nissan Sentra drivers. However, there’s a reason why it isn’t our top tire pick in this category. Unlike the above two tires, this model isn’t available in all Sentra tire sizes.
A sticky rubber compound does precisely what its name implies. It makes sure that the P Zero stays glued to the road in dry and wet conditions. So, unless you’re driving on waterlogged roads, you can count on this model to safely carry you to your destination.
The trio of S-shaped sipes, parallel water channels, and circumferential grooves ensure quick water evacuation for reduced braking distances on wet roads. The S-shaped sipes also give this model the biting power needed to perform reliably on light snow.
Yet another thing you may appreciate about the P Zero is that it’s backed by a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty. This should translate into 3 to 4 years of road life, provided you don’t push this model too hard and watch out for road imperfections while driving.
Does all the above mean that this model has no deal-breaking flaws? Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. This tire’s average hydroplaning resistance means you’d do well to drive well below the speed limit when it’s wet out there.
Pros
- 50,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Excellent grip on dry and wet surfaces
- Exceptional cornering performance
Cons
Average aquaplaning resistance
#10. Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 – Best Summer Performance
The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 has everything that is good (and bad) about summer performance tires. This tire offers amazing steering feedback, high-speed stability, and cornering performance. And you cannot count on it to keep you safe in winter.
An advanced silica compound helps this model offer superior handling on dry roads, an unsurprising thing given that silica is known for its firmness. It is due to the tread compound that this model is incredibly controllable at the limit, letting you drive at full speed.
Pulse Groove Technology is where this model diverges from its fellow summer performance tires. That is because this technology helps enhance this tire’s wet traction, an area where most models in this category struggle.
A 65,000-mile treadwear warranty is another strong suit of this tire, especially when you consider that most summer performance tires come with no warranty whatsoever. However, the fact that this model comes in only two Sentra tire sizes might prove to be a deal-breaker.
Pros
- 65,000-mile limited treadlife warranty
- Excellent steering response and feedback
- Superb levels of cornering grip and performance
Cons
- Wouldn’t cover all Sentra trims
Best Tires for Nissan Sentra
All-Season Touring
Do you use your Sentra for everyday driving or long highway trips? Either way, a set of premium all-season touring tires might be worth a shot. As noted above, these models combine superb ride quality, excellent road manners, and superb wet traction.
Treadlife is another area where such tires shine. Need proof? Then go up and check the warranties our top three tires come with. None of them are backed for fewer than 70,000 miles, which in theory, translates into 5 to 6 years of road life, if not more.
Performance Tires
All-season performance and summer performance tires are better options for drivers who like driving close to the speed limit. These models compensate for their poor road manners and firm ride with superb steering feedback, cornering performance, and high-speed stability.
The best performance tires also offer extremely short braking distances, much shorter than that of all-season touring tires. However, their relatively short tread lives and astronomically high asking prices make sure that not every Sentra driver might be able to afford them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of tires are on a Nissan Sentra?
Here’s a list of tires that are designed to fit different trims of Nissan Sentra:
- P195/60R15
- P205/60R15
- P195/55R16
- P205/55R16
- 205/50R17
- 215/45R17
- 225/45R17
How to read tire sizes?
In case you’re wondering how to read these tire sizes, consider the first tire size mentioned above, the P195/60R15, as an example.
The first letter (P) stands for passenger car. The first number (195) tells the width, in millimeters, of the recommended tires for the Nissan Sentra. The next number (60) denotes aspect ratio, which tells how tall your tire’s profile is.
The following letter (R) indicates the types of construction. Tires have two types of construction: radial (R) and diagonal or base ply (D or B). The final number (15) indicates, in inches, the diameter of the rim onto which the tire will go.
How long should tires last on Nissan Sentra?
If you have a conservative driving style and cover up to 15,000 miles a year, a set of premium touring tires might not wear out before 3 or 4 years.
Conclusion
Whether you own the latest model of Nissan Sentra or drive one of the older trims, you might not deny the impact tires have on this car’s handling and performance. As such, it’s recommended not to go low while shopping for a set of radials for this compact car.
