Tyre prices in Melbourne range from under $100 a tyre to well over $400, and the size on your sidewall has more to do with where you land than the brand on it. This guide sets out what you'll pay in 2026 by price tier, by brand and by size, what fitting adds, and where the money is well spent. Every figure below is an estimate: a typical Melbourne price band for October 2026, not a quote. We quote your exact size on the spot and the number can sit above or below the band.
Tyre prices by tier, per tyre
| Tier | Brands | Typical price per tyre | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Unbranded and house brands | $80 to $150 | Small cars, low kilometres, a car being sold |
| Value | Nexen, Maxxis, some Kumho and Hankook lines | $130 to $200 | Everyday cars on a budget, second cars |
| Mid-range | Kumho, Hankook, Toyo, Falken, Dunlop | $150 to $300 | Most family sedans, hatches and SUVs |
| Upper mid-range | Bridgestone, Goodyear, Yokohama | $180 to $350 | Original-equipment replacement, high kilometres |
| Premium | Michelin, Continental, Pirelli | $220 to $450 and up | European cars, performance cars, long tyre life |
Estimates only, per tyre, before fitting. Where a brand straddles two tiers, the price in your size decides it.
Worked examples in common sizes
Estimated Melbourne prices for specific tyres make the tiers concrete. Each is per tyre, before fitting unless noted, and will vary by week and by retailer.
| Tyre | Size and typical car | Estimated Melbourne price, Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Kumho Ecsta PS71 | 205/55R16 (Corolla, i30, Golf) | $160 to $220 |
| Bridgestone Turanza T005 | 205/55R16 (same cars) | $225 to $250, fitted price around $250 |
| Michelin Primacy 4 | 225/45R17 (Mazda6, Camry, 3 Series) | $290 |
| Michelin Pilot Sport 5 | 225/45R17 (Golf GTI, 3 Series) | $280 to $350 |
| Continental PremiumContact 6 | 225/45R18 (C-Class, A4) | $285 to $380 |
| Pirelli P Zero | 245/40R18 (AMG, M Sport) | $400 to $460 |
| Bridgestone Dueler A/T | 265/65R17 (HiLux, Ranger, Prado) | around $370 |
These are estimates from what Melbourne retailers were charging in October 2026. Prices change weekly; call us for a fitted quote in your size.
Two things stand out. The jump from a Korean mid-range tyre to a Japanese upper-mid tyre in the same size is about $60; the jump from there to a premium European tyre is another $60 to $150. And the same Michelin pattern costs $100 more in 17 inch than in 16 inch. Size is the lever most people don't think about.
What fitting, balancing and disposal add
Across Melbourne, fitting and balancing runs about $25 to $45 a tyre when it's charged separately, with large rims and tyre pressure sensors at the top of that. Tyre disposal is a few dollars more. Again, an estimate: every shop prices this differently.
That's why a bare online price can look $100 cheaper for a set and end up the same once the tyres are on the car. Compare fitted prices. Ours include fitting, balancing on the Hunter SmartWeight Pro and disposal of the old tyres; a wheel alignment is a separate job, priced from $90, and we only recommend one if the measurement says the car needs it.
What moves the price up or down
- Size. The biggest factor. 15 and 16-inch tyres are the cheapest; 19 and 20-inch low-profile tyres on an SUV or a European car are the dearest.
- Speed and load rating. A W or Y-rated performance tyre costs more than an H or V-rated touring tyre in the same size. A reinforced XL tyre for an SUV or EV costs more again.
- Original-equipment markings. A tyre built to a Mercedes (MO), BMW (star), Audi (AO) or Porsche (N) specification is usually $30 to $80 more than the standard version of the same pattern. Worth matching on a car under warranty; optional on an older one.
- Run-flats. Typically 20 to 40 per cent more than the conventional equivalent, and fewer brands make them.
- EV tyres. Reinforced, quiet and low rolling resistance, and priced at the premium end: estimate $150 to $540 a tyre depending on the car.
- 4WD all-terrains and mud tyres. $220 to $400 a tyre for a HiLux or Ranger size, with mud-terrains at the top.
Where the money is well spent
Spend more on a car that does high kilometres, a car that carries the family every day, a European car set up for a specific tyre, or anything you drive hard. The premium tyre lasts longer and grips better when half worn, so the cost per kilometre is often lower.
Spend less on a second car doing 5,000 km a year, a car about to be sold, or a small hatch that never leaves the suburbs. A Nexen, Maxxis or Kumho will do the job properly. Where we'd draw the line is the unknown budget brand: it saves $30 a tyre and gives up a lot in the wet.
Don't skip the alignment check when the old tyres wore unevenly. New tyres on a car that's out of alignment are wasted money, whatever they cost.
Brand by brand
Each of our brand pages covers the range, who each pattern suits and what it costs: Michelin, Continental, Pirelli, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Yokohama, Dunlop, Kumho, Hankook, Toyo, Falken, Maxxis and Nexen. For how they compare, see which tyre brand is best.
Getting a price for your car
Read the size off the sidewall (it looks like 205/55R16 91V) and call (03) 9763 0100. We'll quote a fitted price in two or three brands at different price points, tell you which we'd pick for the way you drive, and fit the same day if the tyre is in stock. Ordered tyres usually arrive the next morning. Or drop in to 5/1644 Ferntree Gully Rd, Knoxfield for a free tyre check first; it reads the tread depth and wear pattern and tells you how long you've got.