At his worst, the 45-year-old, who has not been named, would hit 70 tyres a night.
He told police in Bordeaux he was acting in anger against society.
French officers said they were relieved to capture the suspect, whom they have been chasing since 2014, after revealing they were dealing with a lone, serial offender.
The unemployed "serial puncturer", the name he gave himself, made life difficult for officers by leaving no DNA, operating at irregular hours, and changing his route to throw them off the scent.
Authorities received 1,100 complaints, including six from one motorist who was hit multiple times.
Nicolas Perez, the officer leading the inquiry, said the slasher would strike between 2am and 5am, taking the first tram home after his attacks.
He also kept a log in a notebook, but wrote in code.
A photo taken by a resident eventually allowed police officers to catch him.
Officers said he admitted his crimes quickly, but said the full explanation for his crime was not yet clear.
Prosecutor Marie-Madeleine Alliot said inquiries showed he had an "obsessive and solitary personality".
"He wanted to be noticed, to feel like he was being heard," said deputy prosecutor Jean-Claude Belot, noting that the puncturer enjoyed reading press coverage of his antics.
He also expressed bitterness having been allegedly abused as a child.
He has been charged with wilful damage to private property for which he could face up to two years in jail and a €300,000 (£264,000) fine.
His trial has been set for May 18.