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2012 Kia forte tire sizes & fitment

Approved tire and wheel sizes for the 2012 Kia Forte, sourced from manufacturer fitment data and refreshed monthly.

Approved fitments

Tire size Rim size PCD (bolt pattern) Offset Load index Speed rating
215/45R17 OEM R17 N/A N/A N/A N/A
195/65R15 OEM 5.5x15 N/A 41mm 91 H
205/55R16 6x16 N/A 48mm 91 H
205/50R17 6.5x17 N/A 50mm 89 V
215/45R17 7x17 N/A 50mm 87 V
205/55R16 OEM R16 N/A N/A N/A N/A
195/65R15 OEM R15 N/A N/A N/A N/A

Best by use case

Four tires, four jobs

Best all-season

Bridgestone

Turanza QuietTrack

all-season touring, UTQG 800, 80,000-mi warranty

Best budget

Goodyear

Assurance MaxLife

Lowest cost per mile in this size; UTQG 820

Best quiet

Bridgestone

Turanza QuietTrack

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 Kia Forte, ranked by category →

Tire recalls & safety complaints for the Kia Forte →

Plus-size and winter-downsize options for every Kia Forte factory size →

Compatible alternative sizes for 215/45R17

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

Alternative size%Δ ODCategoryVerdict
245/50R15 0.11% alternative Safe
205/35R19 0.13% plus 2 Safe
195/50R17 0.24% winter narrower Safe
185/45R18 -0.26% plus 1 Safe
245/45R16 0.26% alternative Safe

For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 215/45R17 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 215/45R17 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 2012 kia forte

The 2012 Kia Forte ships from the factory on 215/45R17 tires mounted on R17 wheels. 4 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 Kia Forte 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 2012 Kia Forte 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 2012 Kia Forte, 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 2012 kia forte

3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Top issue category: Tires (General)

Reported across: 2012 – 2012 (1 year)

What owners described

Pressure-monitoring (TPMS) fault appears in 26% of these reports; about 10.9× as often as across all tire complaints. Percentages are shares of the 42 reports covering every model year of the Kia Forte 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
Pressure-monitoring (TPMS) fault 26% 2% 10.9×
Cracking or dry rot 19% 9% 2.0×
Sidewall failure 17% 15% 1.1×
Blowout or sudden deflation 14% 20% 0.7×
Bubble or bulge in the tire 7% 6% 1.2×
Tread or belt separation 5% 13% 0.4×

Mileage at failure

32 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 22,600 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 7,000 and 40,000 miles.

In owners' own words

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

THE TPMS ON THREE TIRES HAVE CORRODED AND CAUSED LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. THIS HAS LEAD TO HAVING TO REPLACE ALL THREE SENSORS. WHEN THIS SENSOR CORRODES, YOU CANNOT ADD ANY AIR TO THE TIRE FOR A TEMP FIX UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED AND YOU ARE FORCED TO DRIVE ON THE SPARE TIRE. THIS REPAIR RUNS AROUND $200 AT THE LOCAL KIA DEALER.

NHTSA complaint 1001651 · 2010 vehicle

I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE LOW AIR PRESSURE INDICATOR TURNED ON, AND I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRES. I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE TPS ON THE REAR WHEEL WAS CRACKED. ONCE I TRIED TO REMOVE THE PLASTIC VALVE STEM COVER, THE VALVE STEM BROKE RELEASING ALL AIR IN THE TIRE. I PUT THE SPARE ON, THEN CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER STATES THAT I NEED TO PURCHASE NEW TPS, AS THE "SENSOR WILL NOT BREAK ON ITS OWN." CAR HAS 35K ON IT, STILL HAS FACTORY WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THIS ITEM IS NOT COVERED.

NHTSA complaint 1018815 · 2010 vehicle

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 74 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW. THE CONTACT ALERTED BOTH THE MANUFACTURE AND DEALER ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO FAIL. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW. THE CONTACT AGAIN ALERTED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER ABOUT THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DECLINED TO HELP THE CONTACT WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE AND VEHICLE WAS 34,900.

NHTSA complaint 1043387 · 2010 vehicle

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA FORTE COUPE EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN N5000 TIRES, SIZES P215/45/R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOTISIC REVIEW AND THEY COULD NOT INDICATE THE CAUSE FOR THE BLOW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,900. PAM

NHTSA complaint 1076308 · 2011 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 2012 Kia Forte?
The OEM tire size for the 2012 Kia Forte is 215/45R17 mounted on R17 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 2012 Kia Forte?
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 2012 Kia Forte?
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 2012 Kia Forte?
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 2012 Kia Forte?
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 2012 Kia Forte?
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 Kia Forte 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 2012 Kia Forte.
  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.