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Best tyres for the Kia Picanto 1.2

The Kia Picanto 1.2 is a front-wheel drive car with 62 kW and a kerb weight of 1,000 kg. That’s 62 kW per tonne, in the economy tier. City cars, small hatches, workhorse utes and big 4x4s. The tyres have an easy life.

Power-to-weight

62kW/t

hp/t
83
kg/kW
16.1
lb/hp
26.5
0–100 est.
≈ 12.4 s

Likely under the P-plate limit. Under 130 kW/t on kerb weight. Legal eligibility uses tare mass, and engine modifications or a banned listing can still rule a car out. Check eligibility →

Your car sits at 62 kilowatts per tonne. Reference cars: Picanto 62, Corolla 93, MX-5 127, Golf GTI 136, Civic Type R 164, BMW M3 217, 911 GT3 261, Ferrari 296 396, Rimac Nevera 612 kilowatts per tonne.

Picanto 1.2 tyre size

Factory sizes, from one source or with a load/speed rating we couldn't confirm. Wheels get changed: your tyre placard, in the driver’s door jamb, is the authority on size, load index and speed rating.

Recommended tyres by how you drive

For a mild, wet climate. Cold and snowy climates are further down.

Daily driving

Touring & eco

With economy-tier power and daily driving, your tyres have an easy life. Spend on wet braking and longevity, not outright grip.

Spirited road driving

Grand touring

Economy-tier power and spirited road driving is grand-touring territory: strong wet grip and comfort without paying for grip you'll never use.

Road + occasional track days

Ultra-high performance summer

Economy-tier power starts to overwhelm touring rubber, especially in the wet. UHP tyres add the braking and steering you need and still last.

Also consider: optional track set, extreme 200TW.

What to look for on the sidewall

Speed rating
Typically T or H. T covers up to 190 km/h.
Load index
Whatever your placard shows: it is the authority. Our rough estimate for this car laden is 77 (412 kg per tyre).
Treadwear (UTQG)
500–800 for touring tyres; expect 50,000–80,000 km.

Estimates from power and weight. The tyre placard on the driver’s door jamb is the legal minimum.

Touring & eco: character

Dry grip
2 out of 5
Wet grip
3 out of 5
Below 7 °C
3 out of 5
Snow & ice
1 out of 5
Quiet & comfort
4 out of 5
Tread life
5 out of 5
Efficiency
5 out of 5

In cold or snowy climates

Cold winters, little snow

  • Your tyre: All-season / all-weather

    Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 · Continental AllSeasonContact 2 · Michelin CrossClimate 2

  • If you'd rather run summer tyres: Touring & eco

    Continental EcoContact 7 · Michelin Energy XM2+ · Hankook Kinergy Eco 2

Snow and ice

  • Summer set: Touring & eco

    Continental EcoContact 7 · Michelin Energy XM2+ · Hankook Kinergy Eco 2

  • Winter set: Winter

    Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

  • If you want one set: All-season / all-weather

    Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 · Continental AllSeasonContact 2 · Michelin CrossClimate 2

Things to know about the Picanto 1.2

  • Front-wheel drive

    Your front tyres do the steering, braking and driving, so they wear faster. Rotate front to rear every 10,000 km to keep wear even.

  • Buying only two?

    Put the new pair on the rear axle, even on a front-driver. Grippy rears keep the car stable when braking or cornering in the wet; worn rears are what cause spins.

Quick answers

What size tyres does the Kia Picanto 1.2 use?

From the factory: 195/45 R16 84V (GT-Line 16in). Wheels get changed, so check your car's tyre placard, in the driver's door jamb, before buying.

What is the power-to-weight ratio of the Kia Picanto 1.2?

62 kW per tonne (83 hp per tonne), from 62 kW and a 1,000 kg kerb weight. That puts it in ratio's Economy tier.

What tyres should I buy for my Kia Picanto 1.2?

For everyday driving, touring & eco tyres. Good options include the Continental EcoContact 7, Michelin Energy XM2+, Bridgestone Ecopia EP300. Always match or exceed the load index and speed rating on the car's tyre placard.

Can P-platers drive the Kia Picanto 1.2?

Likely, on power-to-weight: at 62 kW per tonne on kerb weight it is under the 130 kW/t limit for P-platers in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Legal eligibility uses tare mass, and engine modifications can still make a car off-limits.

What speed rating does the Kia Picanto 1.2 need?

Cars in the Economy tier typically run T or H-rated tyres. The legal minimum is whatever your placard, on the driver's door jamb, specifies.

Cars with a similar power-to-weight

All 90 cars ranked by power-to-weight