priced as it is (3 times cheaper than Continental and Michelin) it performs slightly worse but quite acceptable for the money
285/45 R21 Tires
Everything we know about the 285/45 R21 tire size: 5 owner reviews covering 37,750 miles of driving, and EU label data for the tires you can actually buy in it.
- 5owner reviews
- 37,750 milescovered on them
- 121tires made in this size
285/45 R21 EU tire label data
EU label values are declared for each individual size, so the figures here are exact for 285/45 R21 rather than a range across a model. 101 tires carry label data in this size. The most common load index is 113 (up to 1,150 kg per tire). Speed ratings on offer: (Y) (301 km/h), Y (300 km/h), W (270 km/h), V (240 km/h), H (210 km/h), T (190 km/h), Q (160 km/h). 50 tires in this size carry the 3PMSF severe snow marking.
A Best wet grip
36 tires in this size hold the top EU wet grip rating, class A. The highest scoring on Tire Reviews:
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 Summer 9.7
- Michelin CrossClimate 3 Sport All Season 9.6
- Continental PremiumContact 7 Summer 9.5
- Nokian Snowproof 3P Winter 9.4
- Continental Sport Contact 6 Summer 9.3
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV Summer 9.3
A Lowest rolling resistance
The most fuel efficient choice: 15 tires in this size reach rolling resistance class A. The highest scoring on Tire Reviews:
- Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 Winter 9.8
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 Summer 9.7
- Continental Sport Contact 6 Summer 9.3
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Summer 9.2
- Pirelli P Zero Summer 8.8
- Hankook iON evo SUV Summer 8.5
68dB Quietest tires
The quietest 285/45 R21 tires are labelled at 68 dB external noise:
- Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 Winter 9.8
- Falken Azenis FK520 Summer 9.1
- Pirelli P Zero Summer 8.8
- Hankook iON evo SUV Summer 8.5
- Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season All Season 7.1
- Accelera Iota ST68 Summer 6.6
Label values come from the EU EPREL database and apply to the EU market versions of each tire. Wet grip and rolling resistance run from class A (best) to E; noise is the measured drive-by figure. A good label is a floor, not a verdict - the tests and owner ratings above tell you far more.
What does 285/45 R21 mean?
A 285/45 R21 tire is 285 mm wide, its sidewall is 45% of that width (128 mm) tall, and it fits a 21 inch wheel. That gives an overall diameter of roughly 790 mm.
| Section width | 285 mm |
|---|---|
| Sidewall height | 128 mm |
| Rim diameter | 21" (533 mm) |
| Overall diameter | ≈ 790 mm |
| Circumference | ≈ 2,482 mm |
| Revolutions per km | ≈ 403 |
| Revolutions per mile | ≈ 649 |
Also written as
285/45R21 285/45 ZR21 285-45-21 285 45 21
Figures are calculated from the nominal size. A loaded, rolling tire runs a few percent smaller, and true widths vary slightly between makes.
What cars use 285/45 R21 tires?
The cars most often running this size in our owner reviews. Each links to the best rated tires for that exact car.
What drivers say about their 285/45 R21 tires
The most recent owner reviews fitted in this size, in their own words.
Put these on my 2019 Q7 as a “cheap” seasonal option, a bit of a punt.
Anyway, have been very pleasantly surprised just how good these are in wet and wet snow conditions.
Had to travel to Cornwall and back over 2 days that happen to have been the worst winter weather over the SW for years.
Car remained completely stable cutting through banks of slush etc. Directional control was excellent and braking was entirely unremarkable, obviously allowing for much greater spacings.
While other cars slid and slipped these tires ate up the conditions, so much so that it felt as though I had full winter tires on. Lowest air temp -3 c .
Perfect for the UK imho and half the price of better known brands.
Anyway, have been very pleasantly surprised just how good these are in wet and wet snow conditions.
Had to travel to Cornwall and back over 2 days that happen to have been the worst winter weather over the SW for years.
Car remained completely stable cutting through banks of slush etc. Directional control was excellent and braking was entirely unremarkable, obviously allowing for much greater spacings.
While other cars slid and slipped these tires ate up the conditions, so much so that it felt as though I had full winter tires on. Lowest air temp -3 c .
Perfect for the UK imho and half the price of better known brands.
These tires wear out very soon. I have them on my 2023 Audi Q8 and they are at the end of their life with only 20500 miles on them.
The tire is comfortable to drive and I was satisfied until the rear tire on my Audi Q8 exploded at 160 km/h. The tire completely disintegrated after only 30,000 and 3 years of use, without damage.
Drive on 285/45 R21 tires?
Review your tires and help the next driver choose. It takes about five minutes, and every review on this page came from a driver who took them.
Where this data comes from
Owner ratings are submitted through the review form on this site, naming the tire, the size and the distance covered, and are checked by hand before publication. Test results come from independent published tire tests indexed by size, and label values from the EU EPREL database.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, so you can check a car-specific ranking against the wider evidence.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.