The 10 Best Tires for the Ford Fiesta

#1. Bridgestone WeatherPeak

The first entry on my list for today is from the premium segment. Bridgestone recently released the WeatherPeak as an all-season grand touring tire, bringing some improvements over the previous generation of tires.

In dry conditions, the WeatherPeak delivers very good results. The performance is more than enough for your little Fiesta, even if you drive it more aggressively. You’ll get plenty of grip and traction, meaning the slip will be kept at a minimum. With this performance, you can have some fun on a twisty road, as long as you’re aware that it’s not a performance tire. The handling is pretty good, and the tire delivers solid responsiveness combined with a decent amount of feedback.

Another area where the WeatherPeak will offer excellent performance is in wet conditions. On a damp road, the traction levels will allow you to accelerate without too much wheel spin. The grip is excellent in the corners and will keep the tire planted and confidence inspiring. As part of the overall performance, you’re also getting short braking distances. The aquaplaning resistance is very good, and the tire’s stability won’t be compromised even when you’re driving on the highway.

The WeatherPeak comes with the 3PMSF rating, so you’re looking at decent snow performance from an all-season tire. In lighter conditions, the tire’s ability to offer traction is pretty good. While it may struggle a bit more on packed one, most people will be fine. With that said harsher conditions like very deep snow or ice are something that this tire cannot tackle.

Refinement is an area where the WeatherPeak is good but not perfect. The comfort levels are excellent, and the tire deals with bumps quite well. When going over a bumpy road, you may notice the slightly bumpy nature of the tire, which is a result of the stiffer sidewall. The noise levels are pretty good, and the tire is generally quiet around town. On the highway, the hum is there, so you will notice it, but I think that it’s not too loud.

As a grand touring tire, the warranty is pretty good. The WeatherPeak comes with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty, which may not be the longest, but it’s better than some other premium models.

#2. Vredestein Quatrac

My next few recommendations for the Fiesta will be mid-range tires, starting with a model from Vredestein. The Quatrac is an excellent all-season grand touring option that offers a lot without too many compromises.

In the mid-range segment, the Quatrac is a tire that will deliver impressive results. The tire will provide you with all the performance you’ll need for daily driving, leaving you with a bit of room to push it if you want to. You can rely on the high levels of grip and traction to eliminate slip or understeer. The most impressive part is the braking distances which are very near the top of this class. As for the handling, it’s pretty good. The tire is light, responsive and offers a decent amount of feedback. In the most aggressive scenarios, you’ll find it struggling a bit when you ask too much of it, but that’s not something that people will do on a daily basis.

Wet roads are conditions where the Quatrac shows to be a very good performer. Damp roads are not a problem for this tire, thanks to the superb levels of grip and traction. The tire can accelerate without slipping and will go around a corner without skipping a beat. Naturally, you can push it past its limits, but as a mid-range tire, it can handle a bit of aggressiveness. Like before, the braking distances are short, and despite not being the shortest, I’d still rate them high. The aquaplaning resistance is solid, but we see a slight drop in difference. Don’t get me wrong, the tire doesn’t struggle with stability at higher speeds, but some of its rivals can handle a bit higher speed.

In terms of snow performance, the Quatrac does a solid job. Even though it’s behind many premium tires, the traction in these conditions is pretty good when compared with the rest of the mid-range competitors. The tire delivers decent performance on packed and unpacked snow, and as long as you stick with lighter conditions, it will be fine. I do have to point out that the braking distances are just a bit longer but are still above average for this category.

Refinement is something that the Quatrac does good, but it’s not perfect. The comfort levels are pretty good for this class of tires. It absorbs bumps well and doesn’t transfer too many vibrations into the cabin. The tire also remains relatively unaffected when driving on bad roads with repetitive bumps or holes. As for the noise levels, they are good, but not the best. The tire isn’t too loud, but the hum is always noticeable. This becomes evident at higher speeds. Turning up the radio fixes this, but I should mention it anyway.

The warranty is good enough, but not the best. You can get the Quatrac with a 55,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is behind even some mid-range models.

#3. General AltiMAX RT45

The next mid-range tire on my list for today is the AltiMAX RT45. This is an option that offers a lot for the money, and even though it’s not the world’s best tire, it’s more than enough for the Fiesta.

If the roads are dry, the AltiMAX RT45 will offer more than enough performance for most people to be happy with. The grip and traction levels put this tire near the top of the mid-range class. You won’t notice the tire struggling in daily driving scenarios, and even though it can handle some aggressiveness, it won’t be the ideal choice for that kind of driving. Within this performance, you’re also getting short braking distances, shorter than some of its rivals. The handling is another aspect that will ensure the tire does its job well enough. It’s precise for a grand touring tire, and the responsiveness isn’t too bad, except for the on-center one, which feels like it needs just a bit more.

In wet conditions, the AltiMAX RT45 will provide you with some solid performance. On damp roads, the grip and traction levels will be good for normal driving, and most people will be fine with that. Getting too aggressive will cause the tires to slip, meaning it’s not the best wet performer in the mid-range segment. The braking distances are good and the tire will stop in a short distance. In terms of aquaplaning resistance, we see a slight improvement over its predecessor, meaning that you’re looking at a stable tire in harsh rain conditions.

The winter performance is the most impressive part of the AltiMAX RT45. Yes, the tire will struggle in really cold temperatures, which is to be expected from an all-season tire. The traction on snow is pretty good for its category, and won’t struggle too much in deep snow. Driving on packed snow is also a positive experience. You can overwhelm the tire with inputs, but that’s not how most people drive, so it should be fine in milder winters. Some performance on ice is available, as long as you don’t expect wonders. You can use it in a pinch, and that’s as much as you’ll get.

When it comes to refinement, the AltiMAX RT45 does a solid enough job, considering it’s a mid-range tire. The comfort levels are pretty good, and the tire dampens larger potholes well while absorbing most of the vibrations. With the smaller road imperfections, most of them will be ironed out, but you will notice some of them. The noise levels are good enough. There is a slightly deeper hum on multiple surfaces, but it’s not too loud, so it won’t be overly intrusive.

Unlike the previous tire, the warranty here is excellent. The AltiMAX RT45 comes with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty, putting it in the premium class of tires.

#4. Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2

Next up, we have a tire from a brand that sometimes gets overlooked. The HTR Enhance LX2 is a direct competitor of the previous tires, offering solid performance at an affordable price.

The performance in dry conditions is pretty good for a mid-range tire. You’re looking at solid levels of traction that will prevent the tire from slipping when accelerating. The grip is also pretty good, and you can go around a corner without experiencing the infamous understeer. Despite the sufficient performance levels, it’s not a tire that likes to be pushed hard, so as long as you’re looking at it as a daily driver, you’ll be happy with the performance. The braking distances are pretty good and on par with the rest of the mid-range tires. As for the handling, it’s an easy tire to drive with enough responsiveness. With that said, it’s not as sharp as some of the premium rivals.

In wet conditions, the HTR Enhance LX2 delivers dependable performance, which you’d want for your Fiesta. The tire’s grip and traction levels aren’t the highest in the mid-range segment but are still pretty good. This means that you won’t have to worry about the tire letting go of the road, and if you’re not pushing it hard, you won’t have a lot to complain about. The braking distances are a tad longer than the best in class but are still quite short and safe. On top of this, you’re also looking at excellent aquaplaning resistance, meaning that the tire won’t struggle to maintain stability at highway speeds.

Snow is something that the HTR Enhance LX2 won’t struggle with, making it a solid choice. The tire delivers solid traction in these conditions, which, even though it isn’t the best in class, is very close to the top. Packed snow can be a bit problematic, but as long as you’re not too aggressive, the tire will be fine. The braking distances are a bit longer but short enough for me to call them safe. Surprisingly, the tire seems to deal with ice acceptably well, considering it’s an all-season model.

The refinement isn’t the strongest side of the HTR Enhance LX2, but it’s still not terrible. You’re looking at solid comfort levels and a decently plush ride. On smoother roads, the tire deals with imperfections or bumps well, but it can feel a bit unease over bad roads with repetitive bumps or cracks. The noise levels are good enough but not particularly low. There is a distinctive hum that may go unnoticed in most situations, but it’s there if you look for it.

Warranty is something that the HTR Enhance LX2 does exceptionally well. The treadwear warranty starts from 90,000 miles, surpassing many premium models.

#5. Firestone WeatherGrip

I’m sticking with the mid-range options, and this next one is from Firestone. To be honest, WeatherGrip isn’t the most affordable option in this class, but I feel like it delivers all the necessary performance to be a choice you should consider.

The performance in dry conditions is pretty good, which should be enough for daily driving. There’s enough grip and traction to keep the WeatherGrip planted and deliver the needed performance. With that said, it’s not the best in the mid-range segment, so if you’re an aggressive driver, you’ll notice the tire slipping a bit in some situations. This becomes evident from the handling as well. Even though it’s not the most responsive, it’s still fine, but you won’t have a lot of feedback to rely on.

Things improve a bit in wet conditions. The WeatherGrip offers solid traction levels, meaning you won’t experience slip even when you give it some gas. It’s the same story with the cornering grip. It’s good enough to minimize understeer as long as you don’t drive your Fiesta like you’re on a rally stage. The tire backs this performance with short braking distances, which puts it close to the top of this class. You’re also looking at excellent aquaplaning resistance, which will keep the tire stable even in deeper water patches.

Winter performance is something that the WeatherGrip delivers quite well. The traction levels are pretty good for an all-season tire, which is no surprise, as this one comes with the 3PMSF rating. It won’t struggle on packed snow as much as some of its rivals, making it more than just a usable tire. This also means you’ll get decently short braking distances, making this a safe option. Like most tires from this category, there is some performance on ice, but it’s limited, so rely on it only if you have to.

The refinement is decent, but the WeatherGrip has a slight drawback in terms of the noise levels. It’s not the loudest tire in this category, but it’s noticeably louder than its competitors. The difference isn’t massive at slower speeds but changes when driving on the highway. As for comfort, the tire does a good enough job. It absorbs or smooths most of the road imperfections, and even though you may notice some vibrations, they won’t be too bad.

As for the warranty, it’s good, but not the best on the list. The WeatherGrip comes with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is ahead of some mid-range models but also behind some of its closest competitors.

#6. Toyo Extensa A/S II

My next all-season option, which is also the last one on this list, is a Japanese one. I’m talking about the Toyo Extensa A/S II, a tire that delivers solid performance despite being on the more affordable side of the category.

Like most of the models in this category, the Extensa A/S II offers solid performance for daily driving scenarios. The grip and traction levels won’t be the highest in this category, but you’ll probably be fine with them since we’re talking about a Ford Fiesta. It will offer more than enough for daily driving, including short braking distances, as long as you don’t push it too much. The handling is as you’d expect from a mid-range touring tire. It’s responsive enough, but the feedback may feel a bit muted in certain scenarios.

Things are more or less similar in wet conditions. The Extensa A/S II offers solid performance, which will cover your needs nicely. It will offer enough grip and traction on damp roads to remain planted, as long as you’re not overly aggressive with it. Once you start to go over the limits, the tire will let go, and you’ll end up with plenty of understeer. Like before, you’re looking at short braking distances, so the safety isn’t compromised. The aquaplaning resistance is the most impressive part in these conditions. It’s very close to what the premium models can offer, so you’re looking at excellent stability at higher speeds.

As far as snow is concerned, the Extensa A/S II is acceptable, and that’s as much as you should expect from it. The traction levels are good enough, especially if we’re talking about unpacked snow. Driving in deeper patches shows that it’s an all-season tire, so don’t expect miracles. As for packed snow, the tire will struggle a bit more, but it’s still usable enough as long as you’re not too aggressive.

The refinement of the Extensa A/S II is solid but not perfect. You’re looking at decently low noise levels for this class. The hum around town isn’t too noticeable and increases a bit when driving on the highway. In terms of comfort, the tire does a solid enough job. The ride is generally comfortable enough, as it absorbs the bumps well. You may notice some vibrations, but it’s to be expected from a mid-range tire.

As for the warranty, it’s better than the previous model. The Extensa A/S II has a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty, pitting it in the premium territory.

#7. Continental VikingContact 7

With the all-season options out of the way, let’s talk about winter tires, starting with a premium one. The VikingContact 7 is among the best options on the market at the moment, but it comes at a premium price.

You’ll get excellent performance from the VikingContact 7 in dry conditions. It offers very high levels of grip and traction, meaning that the tire will remain planted regardless if we’re talking about acceleration or going around a corner. You can push it a bit, but the tire won’t like that. It also offers very short braking distances, among the best in its class. As for the handling, it’s good enough for a winter tire. There’s some responsiveness, and the feedback isn’t as non-existent as with some of its rivals.

Like most Continental tires on the market, the VikingContact 7 is a very capable performer in wet conditions. The tire offers plenty of grip and traction on damp roads. Even though the Fiesta isn’t the most powerful car in the world, you can get a bit aggressive, and the tire won’t have too many issues with that. The aquaplaning resistance is also excellent, providing you with excellent stability in harsh rain. As for the braking distances, they are a bit disappointing. Let me clarify. They are short and safe but not the shortest in the premium segment.

As a winter tire, you’d expect the VikingContact 7 to provide excellent snow performance, and it will deliver. The tire’s traction levels in these conditions are excellent, and you won’t find the tire struggling too much. You can drive on packed and unpacked snow with ease and without worrying if the tire will start to slip. Also, the tire delivers enough performance in deeper snow patches. The performance on ice is pretty good, considering we’re talking about a studless tire.

In terms of refinement, the VikingContact 7 does a good job without too many drawbacks. The comfort levels are pretty good in most cases, and the tire will offer a plush ride. It deals with smaller imperfections well, and with the larger ones, the impact is absorbed and the vibrations muted. Driving on bad roads is okay, but the ride isn’t as composed as I’d want it to be. The noise levels are pretty good, considering it’s a winter tire. It’s not wisper quiet, but the noises you’ll hear won’t be too pronounced, even when driving on the highway.

#8. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3

For my next tire option, I’ll be going for something from the mid-range segment, a model from Nokian. The Hakkapeliitta R3 is an option that balances performance and price quite well, which is what some Fiesta owners are after.

Considering that we’re talking about a mid-range option, the Hakkapeliitta R3 does a pretty good job of delivering the necessary performance in dry conditions. The grip and traction levels will be more than enough for daily driving scenarios. Getting a bit aggressive will show its weaknesses, but considering the type of vehicle I’m covering today, most people will be fine with that. The braking distances are short, but there are a few mid-range models that are a bit better. As for handling, it’s not too bad for a winter tire. The handling is responsive enough for daily driving, and the tire doesn’t feel as muted as I thought it would be.

The Hakkapeliitta R3 delivers excellent performance in wet conditions, to the point where I have to say I’m a bit impressed. It does a phenomenal job of eliminating slip on damp roads, and the tire doesn’t promote understeer in the corners as much as some of its rivals do. The most impressive aspect is the braking distances, which are shorter than some premium rivals. In harsh rain conditions, the tread pattern does a pretty good job of evacuating water, meaning that we’re looking at a tire with excellent aquaplaning resistance.

As a winter tire, the Hakkapeliitta R3 offers excellent snow performance, but it’s not perfect. The grip and traction levels are pretty good and will be enough for most people, as long as you forget it’s a mid-range tire. There is a small weakness here with the braking distances, like in wet conditions. They are short enough, but not the shortest, even when compared with other tires from this class. The tire’s performance on ice is pretty good. I wouldn’t start comparing it with a studdable option, but it does a very good job as a studless one. There’s enough traction, and the braking distances are acceptably short.

Refinement is something that the Hakkapeliitta R3 does well. It offers solid comfort levels thanks to the softer sidewall. The tire smooths smaller imperfections well and softens larger impacts while keeping the vibrations at a minimum. As a winter tire, the noise levels are on the lower end of the spectrum. There is a hum, as you’d expect, but the intensity is lower than most models in this category.

#9. Sumitomo Ice Edge (15 inch only)

I’m continuing the trend of winter tires, but you can find this one if you have 15-inch tires. The Ice Edge is the model in question, and unlike the previous one, you have a studdable tire here.

When it comes to dry performance, the Ice Edge will offer enough performance for daily driving, as much as you should expect from it. The traction is pretty good, and the tire will hook up during acceleration without too many issues. In terms of grip, it will go around a corner, but your Fiesta won’t feel like it’s on rails. The braking distances are also average for this class. They are short enough, but not the shortest in this class. As for handling, don’t have high hopes. The tire’s responsiveness isn’t something that can be considered excellent, and pushing it a bit will reveal a lot of flex in the sidewall.

Despite being a mid-range option, the Ice Edge offers quite decent performance in wet conditions. The tire offers plenty of traction that should prevent slip, as long as you’re not overly aggressive with your acceleration. Going around a corner also won’t be a problem, and the tire won’t be too keen on understeering as long as you’re not pushing it hard. As for the braking distances, they aren’t the best in the industry, but they are pretty short for the class. Driving in harsh rain also isn’t a problem, thanks to the tire’s aquaplaning resistance, which offers the stability that most people would want.

The winter performance of the Ice Edge without the studs is excellent. It offers plenty of performance on packed and unpacked snow, putting it very close to what some premium tires offer. The tire will also do a pretty good job of delivering enough traction in deeper snow. Considering we’re talking about an affordable mid-range model, you’re also getting impressively short braking distances. Driving on ice isn’t something that the tire does well. Sure, it’s usable in a pinch, but far from the best, even within its own class. This is where the studs come into play, offering you a lot more performance in these conditions.

Refinement is something that the Ice Edge does well, but it’s not the best. The comfort levels are pretty good, which is to be expected considering the softer nature. It absorbs larger potholes without feeling too bouncy and doesn’t struggle with smaller imperfections and cracks in the road. The noise levels, on the other hand, aren’t as impressive. I wouldn’t classify it as the loudest winter tire on the market, but the roar is more noticeable when compared with tires from the same category.

#10. General AltiMAX Arctic 12

My last pick for the Ford Fiesta is another studdable winter tire. The AltiMAX Arctic 12 is a mid-range option, and as such, you won’t pay the premium price tag, but you won’t get the premium performance.

The dry performance you’ll get from the AltiMAX Arctic 12 is pretty good, enough for what most people need for daily driving scenarios. It provides high levels of grip and traction in these conditions, making it a very solid choice for most people. The tire isn’t a premium option, meaning that even though it can handle some aggressiveness, it’s not a tire that will thrill enthusiasts. In terms of braking, the distances are pretty good and short enough for me to put it well within the safe category. The handling is surprisingly good, at least in terms of responsiveness. It changes direction quite eagerly, but you won’t have a lot of feedback to rely on.

Wet is something that the AltiMAX Arctic 12 doesn’t struggle with as much as I thought it would. The performance on damp roads isn’t on the same level as the premium options in this category, but it’s pretty close. It delivers all you’d need for daily driving scenarios, minimizing or completely eliminating slip, depending on the type of driver you are. The braking distances are also short, meaning that safety isn’t compromised. General’s tread design does a pretty solid job of offering stability when driving on the highway in harsh rain.

The AltiMAX Arctic 12 is a winter tire, and as such, it delivers excellent performance on snow. It deals with unpacked snow very well and continues to deliver impressive traction even in deep patches. Unlike some of its rivals, it doesn’t struggle with packed snow too much, so it’s a strong contender in this category. Without the studs, the performance on ice is pretty good despite being a mid-range tire. It combines excellent traction levels with short braking distances, which is highly praised. With the studs, the tire offers improved performance, but the difference isn’t as pronounced as I hoped it would be. The most noticeable difference is in the braking distances.

As for refinement, the AltiMAX Arctic 12 is decent, at least when looking at the comfort levels. The tire is comfortable as it manages to smooth some of the road imperfections. Larger bumps or potholes are also well-dampened, and you won’t notice too much vibrations. The noise levels, on the other hand, are average at best. Going over potholes produces a noticeable noise, while the tread growl is a bit pronounced, especially when driving on rougher surfaces.