When it comes to subcompact SUV rankings, the iconic Kia Soul sits near the top for many reasons.
Simple, clean, comfortable, and of course, affordable, the Kia Soul is an often polarizing yet capable little machine, making it great for anyone on the hunt for a practical daily driver.
But if you want it to become more than just an errand runner, what are your options?
You can, of course, always switch out the wheels to something more capable.
That’s why today, we’re listing the best tires for your Kia Soul based on different factors like terrain, performance, and price.
Ready?
Let’s start.
What Are the Best Tires for the Kia Soul?
Before going tire-shopping, it’s essential to understand that doing so is entirely up to you.
This is because Kia already made sure that the Soul comes with a set that’s more than capable for your everyday needs.
But if you’re not satisfied, you’d be pleased to know that there are plenty of options that you can look into.
So, here are our top recommendations for the best Kia Soul tires:
Best for Convenience: Kumho Solus TA31
As mentioned beforehand, changing your Kia Soul’s stock tires is entirely optional. And if you decide to keep it, you’ll find a pretty capable tire with the Kumho Solus TA31.
While it won’t win any awards in any category, the Kumho Solus TA31 earns points for being a flexible and all-around tire.
For example, overall traction is reliable, and braking remains sure throughout its tread life. The steering is also responsive.
Additionally, its wet traction is also decent, with its circumferential grooves providing excellent hydroplaning resistance.
Ride comfort also remains consistent, and it’s not a particularly noisy tire to use.
As for the warranty, the Kumho Solus TA31 comes with a generous 6-year or 60,000-mile tread warranty.
Overall, the Kumho Solus TA31 is dependable enough for your Kia Soul.
Sure, it wouldn’t be wowing you anytime soon with any of its features, but all of the work together well enough to make an above-average performing tire.
Best for Rain and Snow: Dunlop Winter Maxx
If you’re looking for a studless ice and snow tire you can switch to come wintertime, pick the Dunlop Winter Maxx.
Like most winter tires, the Dunlop Winter Maxx features wider tread grooves that help provide a tighter grip and more traction when driven in wet and icy conditions.
That traction is also enhanced with Jointless Band Technology to give the tire a more comfortable ride quality while adding extra grip in snow and ice.
Steering is also reliable, and overall, braking is pretty average compared to its competitors.
Still, the Dunlop Winter Maxx comes with a limited tread warranty and is a fairly affordable winter tire that should serve your Kia Soul well.
Best for Budget: Firestone Firehawk AS
Sometimes, we don’t always have enough budget for a pricey upgrade, so if you’re looking for a replacement tire that’s light on the wallet, we recommend the Firestone Firehawk AS.
Made as an improved model of its previous iteration, the Firestone Firehawk AS is an all-season tire that will give you dependable performance.
First, expect outstanding wet and dry traction courtesy of its asymmetric tread pattern and full-depth sipes. The same sipes also help prevent hydroplaning and loss of steering control.
Furthermore, Firestone has also mentioned that the Firehawk AS features 20% more biting edges than the original, which should help improve its cornering and acceleration. Luckily, this holds up quite well out on the road.
For its price, the Firestone Firehawk AS also comes with a 5-year or 50,000-mile tread warranty.
So while it’s far from being as excellent as more expensive choices, this tire remains a solid and dependable choice for those looking to save some money.
Best Moderately Priced: Continental TrueContact
Despite not being as high-priced as more premium options on the market, the Continental TrueContact remains one of the best-performing tires available today.
Utilizing all of Continental’s new technology, the TrueContact offers outstanding traction, great gripping ability, tight cornering, and enhanced steering response.
More than that, the same optimized symmetric tread also helps provide consistent ride comfort without any noise.
Lastly, the tire also provides a warranty of up to 90,000 miles, making it incredibly high value for the price you pay.
All in all, anyone looking for great performance without overspending should find plenty to love with the Continental TrueContact.
Best High-Tier: Michelin CrossClimate 2
Last on the list is the premium-priced Michelin CrossClimate 2.
Bringing Michelin’s next-gen Thermal Adaptive Compound to the table, the CrossClimate 2 is equipped to provide excellent dry traction while remaining soft during wintertime.
More than that, the tire also features a directional tread pattern that works alongside its steep angles to give you excellent handling, cornering, and less hydroplaning risk.
The warranty is also great as it comes with a 6-year or 60,000-mile tread warranty.
So, while it’s pricey, you get what you pay for, which is a high-performance all-season tire that should carry your Kia Soul the whole year through.
| Best for Convenience | Kumho Solus TA31 |
| Best for Rain and Snow | Dunlop Winter Maxx |
| Best for Budget | Firestone Firehawk AS |
| Best Moderately Priced | Continental TrueContact |
| Best High-Tier | Michelin CrossClimate 2 |
How to Pick Tires for the Kia Soul
When picking new vehicle tires, it’s always good to take a moment to ask yourself a few questions to help you make the best decision for yourself and your money.
This includes:
How Much Can I Afford?
Before making a purchase, set a budget and stick to it.
Not only will this help you with finances, but it will also narrow down your choices and help you pick the best value for your money.
That said, don’t be afraid to spend a little bit more if you believe the tire is worth the investment.
What Kind of Driving Will I Be Doing?
Next, think about the kind of driving you usually do.
Some people may spend a lot of time driving on freeways, while some may live in the countryside and therefore encounter a lot of off-road action.
Whatever your usual driving scenario is, make sure you pick a set of tires to accommodate this.
Otherwise, don’t be afraid to be flexible, like getting an all-season as your daily driver and switching to winter tires in the cold weather.
How Durable Are the Tires I’m Purchasing?
Lastly, pick a tire that you know will serve you well.
The higher the rating is, the better the tire is built and the more it will serve you.
At the very least, don’t go for budget tires that don’t have a good reputation. Conduct your research, and compare results and potential choices when you can.
Conclusion
And with that, we have all of our recommended tires for your Kia Soul.
Varying in price, function, and performance, we guarantee that these tires are more than capable of tackling whatever driving needs you require once you hit the road.
So choose which tires you need and check out our recommendations!