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2018 Buick encore tire sizes & fitment

Approved tire and wheel sizes for the 2018 Buick Encore, sourced from manufacturer fitment data and refreshed monthly.

Approved fitments

Tire size Rim size PCD (bolt pattern) Offset Load index Speed rating
215/55R18 OEM R18 N/A N/A N/A N/A
215/55R18 OEM 7x18 N/A 38mm 95 V
205/70R16 6.5x16 N/A 38mm 97 H
215/65R16 6.5x16 N/A 38mm 98 H
215/60R17 7x17 N/A 38mm 96 V
225/45R19 7.5x19 N/A 38mm 92 W

Best by use case

Four tires, four jobs

Best all-season

Goodyear

Assurance MaxLife

all-season touring, UTQG 820, 85,000-mi warranty

Best budget

Goodyear

Assurance MaxLife

Lowest cost per mile in this size; UTQG 820

Best quiet

Michelin

Defender 2

68 dB cabin noise (EU label); quietest in this size

Best winter

Bridgestone

Blizzak WS90

Dedicated winter (premium compound); ice/snow grip

See the best tires for the Buick Encore, ranked by category →

Tire recalls & safety complaints for the Buick Encore →

Plus-size and winter-downsize options for every Buick Encore factory size →

Compatible alternative sizes for 215/55R18

Sizes within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter safe-fit tolerance. Each row links to the size's own page.

Alternative size%Δ ODCategoryVerdict
205/70R16 -0.04% alternative Safe
235/45R19 0.06% plus 1 Safe
185/50R20 -0.10% plus 2 Safe
205/45R20 -0.17% plus 2 Safe
235/50R18 -0.22% wider Safe

For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 215/55R18 upsize options. To check an arbitrary size pair, use the tire compatibility calculator.

Check a different size against this vehicle

Type any tire size below; we'll compute its overall-diameter delta against the OEM 215/55R18 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.

Common upgrade paths

Use the plus-size calculator to evaluate any rim step against the OEM size.

How to choose tires for the 2018 buick encore

The 2018 Buick Encore ships from the factory on 215/55R18 tires mounted on R18 wheels. 5 approved fitments are documented for this model year, allowing some flexibility between performance, comfort, and winter compounds. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.

Tire choice on the Buick Encore comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard), and UTQG treadwear (higher means longer life, lower usually means stickier rubber). Owners replacing factory tires with the same compound class, for example all-season for all-season, generally see no change in ride characteristics or fuel economy. Switching categories (performance summer to all-season touring, for example) is where the trade-offs show up at the contact patch.

For 2018 Buick Encore owners considering a plus-size upgrade, the safer option is a Plus-1 step (one rim size up with a 10-point aspect drop and ~10 mm of additional section width). Plus-2 is technically viable on this chassis if the alternative-sizes table lists a Plus-2 candidate within tolerance, but expect a meaningful ride-harshness penalty and a tire-cost premium of 30–60% per tire relative to the OEM fitment. For winter use the recommended pattern is one width step down (e.g. from a 235 to a 225) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter; narrower tires apply higher contact pressure per square inch on snow, which translates directly into shorter braking distances. The plus-size calculator evaluates any specific rim step against this OEM size.

Before purchasing, verify the tire size on the driver-door placard of your specific 2018 Buick Encore, since trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment from what is documented here. The placard reading is the authoritative source per FMVSS 110, and dealers will reference the placard rather than aftermarket catalogs when validating warranty claims.

NHTSA-reported issues for 2018 buick encore

18
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Top issue category: Tires (General)

Most reported: Tires (General) (13) · TPMS (3) · Sidewall (2)

Reported across: 2013 – 2020 (5 years)

What owners described

Blowout or sudden deflation appears in 42% of these reports; about 2.1× as often as across all tire complaints. Percentages are shares of the 12 reports covering every model year of the Buick Encore that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.

Reported problemThis subjectAll tire complaintsRelative
Blowout or sudden deflation 42% 20% 2.1×
Sidewall failure 25% 15% 1.7×
Cracking or dry rot 25% 9% 2.7×
Bubble or bulge in the tire 17% 6% 2.8×
Pressure-monitoring (TPMS) fault 8% 2% 3.5×

Mileage at failure

7 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 18,000 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 3,500 and 80,000 miles.

In owners' own words

Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Buick Encore. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.

Tire suddenly developed a large bubble after about 18,000 miles of driving from new. Tire came new from manufacturer of my 2020 Buick Encore. I didn't hot any thing with this tire that could have contributed to the bublle. I think its a manufacturing defect

NHTSA complaint 1780143 · 2020 vehicle

Tire pressure warning came on on highway and FL tire went flat in seconds, pulled over to the shoulder. Tire had ruptured sidewall and apparent dry-rot. Tire shop checked all other 4 tires and all show clear signs of dry rot (cracked rubber) on side wall. ContiProContact P215/55 R18, failed tire DOT LMOA BN7 0718. Other tires 1x same DOT and 2x : LMOA BN7 0618. Tires are OEM, original with vehicle purchase. Vehicle mileage 44220. Replaced all 4 tires already but have pictures of all original.

NHTSA complaint 1943998 · 2019 vehicle

Will vehicle was parked in my driveway there was a loud like explosion. It just exploded. My passenger size of my vehicle is totalled. I do have a video of the car blowing up. I am so happy that it was late in the early mornings. I have grandkids that play here and one of them could have got hurt or killed.

NHTSA complaint 2207394 · 2017 vehicle

The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unattended in the driveway in front of the residence, the front passenger's side tire suddenly blew out. The tire pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The turbocharger had previously become inoperative. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The vehicle was towed to another local dealer, Boyd's Chevrolet (1875 Spartanburg Highway, Hendersonville, NC 28792). After three weeks, the dealer made an unknown diagnosis and replaced the tire. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

NHTSA complaint 2226190 · 2017 vehicle

Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA; they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

What size tires fit a 2018 Buick Encore?
The OEM tire size for the 2018 Buick Encore is 215/55R18 mounted on R18 wheels.. Trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment; confirm against your specific vehicle's driver-door placard before purchase.
Can I run a different tire size on my 2018 Buick Encore?
Plus-sizing (larger rim, lower aspect) is possible within ±3% of the OEM overall diameter per the ETRTO safe-fit standard. The Compatible alternative sizes table on this page lists every safe option for the OEM size. Always confirm with the manufacturer or a qualified tire shop before deviating from the placard.
Where can I buy tires for my 2018 Buick Encore?
Online tire retailers in our affiliate network carry every size documented for this vehicle. Use the Shop online buttons above to compare prices across them; variance of $20–$40 per tire is common between merchants. The <a href="/tools/tire-install-cost-calculator/">install cost calculator</a> estimates the out-the-door including mount, balance, TPMS, and disposal by state.
What is the recommended tire pressure for the 2018 Buick Encore?
The cold-inflation pressure is printed on the driver-door placard of your specific vehicle and varies by trim, tire size, and loaded vs unloaded condition. Typical OEM front and rear pressures fall between 30 and 36 psi for passenger trims and 32–40 psi for SUV/truck variants, but the placard is the authoritative source.
Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2018 Buick Encore?
Yes; the standard winter-tire fitment pattern is one width step narrower than OEM (e.g. 225 → 215) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter. Narrower tires increase contact pressure on snow for better traction. The Compatible alternative sizes table includes any winter-friendly options that fall within ±3% OD for this vehicle.
How often should I rotate the tires on my 2018 Buick Encore?
Every 5,000–7,500 miles is the typical OEM recommendation for passenger vehicles. AWD vehicles and high-torque trucks benefit from the shorter interval. Documented rotation history is also a tire-warranty prerequisite; most manufacturer treadwear claims require rotation receipts at the warranty inspection.

For broader tire questions; replacement timing, UTQG, EV-specific tires, winter swaps; see the tire FAQ.

Sources for this page

  1. Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard; door-jamb placard on the Buick Encore is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
  2. NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2018 Buick Encore.
  3. ETRTO 2024 Standards Manual §2.3; overall-diameter math used for the alternative-size verdicts above.
  4. Tire & Rim Association 2025 Yearbook; load-index to maximum-load reference.

Last verified 2026-10-07.