Best SUV Tires for 2022

There are lots of different kinds of tires. Some, like winter, summer or performance tires, are designed for peak operation in specific conditions. There are also all-season tires that let you avoid the hassle of having to swap your tires with the seasons.

Other tires are best suited to a specific kind of vehicle. The tires that are perfect for a heavy-duty truck are going to be quite different than the ones that are ideal for a luxury sedan. If you drive an SUV or crossover, then you may want something focused on towing, off-roading or any number of activities typical of SUV drivers.

“Truck and SUV tires are designed to carry the loads for those types of vehicles. Generally, the tread designs incorporate larger blocks and more void between those blocks, which helps to improve the off-road capability that consumers driving these types of vehicles are looking for,” said Ron Henegar, senior product marketing manager at Goodyear.

There’s a lot to figure out when you shop for SUV and crossover tires, so we did the research and chose the best tires in a wide range of categories for SUVs. We took into account what experts had to say about tires, consumer feedback and considered noise, vibration and harshness, or NVH, and different prices. Make sure to also read on after sifting through our picks for handy tire shopping and care tips.

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Comparison of the best SUV tires for 2022

	Tire	Sizes	Starting price
Best all-season SUV tires overall	BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport LT	15 to 20 inches	$129
Best all-season SUV tires overall runner-up	Continental CrossContact LX25	16 to 20 inches	$154
Best all-season SUV tires if money is no object	Michelin Pilot Sport 4 All-Season	16 to 20 inches	$159
Best all-season SUV tires for the money	Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive	16 to 20 inches	$148
Best all-season SUV tires for rain	Michelin Premier LTX	16 to 22 inches	$195
Best all-season SUV tires for snow	Michelin CrossClimate SUV	16 to 20 inches	$188
Best all-season SUV tires for highway driving	Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus	17 to 20 inches	$200
Best long-lasting all-season SUV tires	Michelin Defender LTX M/S	15 to 20, 22 inches	$145
Best all-season performance SUV tires	Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season Plus	20 to 22 inches	$222
Best SUV summer tires	Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV	17 to 23 inches	$207
Best run-flat SUV tires	Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S RFT	19 to 21 inches	$275
Best SUV tires for off-roading	Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S	15 to 18, 20, 22 inches	$174
Best SUV tires for towing	Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac	15 to 20 inches	$225
Best winter tires for SUVs	Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2	15 to 20 inches	$190
Best performance winter tires for SUVs	Pirelli Scorpion Winter	17 to 22 inches	$150

What is an SUV tire?

Just like there are different kinds of tires for different driving conditions, different tires are also designed for different vehicles. The average sedan or compact car weighs a lot less than an SUV or a truck, so they don’t use the same kinds of tires.

The tires on your SUV are designed to handle the additional weight of that vehicle. They’re also designed to handle the potential weight of what’s inside your SUV, whether that’s a full load of people with their cargo or supplies for a weekend project. Those tires also have to be able to do their job if you plan to tow. This makes it important to look at the load rating on the sidewall to ensure the tire can manage the load you plan to carry.

There are a wide range of all-season tires, which let you keep the same tires on all year long. This is a convenient option that avoids the hassle of having to change your tires with the seasons. It also eliminates the need to find somewhere to store the tires that aren’t on your vehicle.

You can also find more specialized SUV tires. There are summer tires for warm climates and winter tires, which are a good choice if you live where there’s heavy snow or extreme cold. Other tires are optimized to provide a smooth, quiet ride ideal for family road trips, while still others are perfect for off-road adventures. There’s an SUV tire suited to wherever and however you drive.

Types of SUV tires

All tires, including SUV tires are broken down into several categories. It might seem complicated, but it’s simply a matter of picking a tire that fits the way you drive and the conditions in which you drive.

• Touring: This is a good all-around tire suited to most SUVs. It provides a smooth ride with a nice balance of comfort and traction.
• Grand touring: These tires put a higher priority on reduced noise, vibration and harshness to deliver a smooth, quiet ride. They also come at a higher price.
• Highway: A highway tire, sometimes designated with an H/T, delivers a well-mannered ride that focuses on passenger comfort during highway driving, much like a grand touring tire. It also makes high-speed traction and cornering a priority.
• Summer: A summer tire is designed to provide peak performance during hot dry weather. It has compounds formulated for higher temperatures, so it won’t get too soft in the heat and suffer premature treadwear.
• Winter: Best when temperatures are below 40 degrees or in significant snow, winter tire compounds won’t get stiff or brittle in the cold. Look for the 3PMSF symbol to ensure you have a tire rated for severe winter weather.
• Off-road: Off-road tires, which may say A/T in the description for all-terrain, are at their best on rugged terrain. They have deep tread patterns that often extend up onto the sidewall for added protection against sticks and sharp rocks that can puncture those sidewalls.
• Run-flat tires: An RFT is designed to remain inflated for a short time even when it’s losing air. That doesn’t mean that it can run forever, but it should be able to go long enough to find a place to repair or replace the tire.

Reading a tire sidewall

The sidewall provides specific information about a tire. There’s a method to the madness so once you know the formula, you can read the sidewall on any tire and know exactly what kind of tire is on your vehicle. Let’s break down the basics.

Example: P 225/50 R 17 98 H

• Tire class: P stands for a P-metric or passenger tire. Light truck tires have an LT.
• Width: This number is the width of the tread in millimeters from side to side. In our example it’s 225 mm.
• Aspect ratio: This number indicates the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the width, which is 50% in our example.
• Construction type: The R stands for radial, which is pretty much all you’ll see these days.
• Rim diameter: This is the diameter of the wheel that this tire will fit. Our tire fits a 17-inch wheel.
• Load index: Covering a rating range from 70 to 126, this number lets you know how much weight a tire can safely manage and is generally only a concern if you plan to tow with a truck or an SUV.
• Speed rating: Depending on the letter, your tires may be rated anywhere from 75 mph to 186 mph. An H tire falls in the middle with a rating of 130 mph. Regardless of your tire speed rating, always obey posted speed limits.

Caring for SUV tires

Every tire eventually wears out, but there are things you can do to help ensure your tires don’t wear out prematurely. At the top of the list is maintaining proper tire inflation. The only way to do this is to regularly check the pressure. “Inflation pressure allows tires to do everything they’re supposed to do,” said TJ Campbell, tire information and testing manager at Tire Rack. This includes maintaining traction and stopping.

“One of the most important things you can do to maintain your tires is to keep air pressure at optimal levels as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Not only will this help your tires run more efficiently and use less fuel, it will also help to avoid irregular wear, which could require premature removal of a tire,” Henegar agreed.

If you remember your high school science classes, then you’ll remember things expand when heated and contract when cooled. This includes the air inside your tires, which expands to increase tire pressure when the weather is hot, but contracts to reduce tire pressure as temperatures drop.

In addition, your tire pressure naturally drops as you drive by about one pound per square inch each month. This is why you need to check your tire pressure on a regular basis. If you’re not sure about what pressure is right, then look at the sticker on the door jamb of your car to find the recommendation for your vehicle.

Another key part of tire maintenance is tire rotation, especially when they’re new and have a fresh tread. Recommendations call for rotating your tires at somewhere between 5,000 and 7,500 miles but you can’t really rotate your tires too soon or too often. The rotation pattern is generally front to back, but sometimes it’s side-to-side or a combination of the two. Your owner’s manual will tell you what’s best for your SUV.

You should also periodically check your alignment. Potholes, broken pavement and all the assorted bumps and dips in the road can knock your alignment out of whack. If you off-road, there’s an even greater likelihood of having alignment issues. You may notice this as a vibration in the steering wheel, but at other times, you might not feel it at all. You should have your alignment periodically checked by a professional to be sure it’s within specifications.

When should you replace a tire?

Every tire has a recommended tread life that covers both a set number of years and a set number of miles. As you approach those limits, keep a close eye on the condition of your tires and be prepared to buy a new set. However, even a tire well within its recommended life may need to be replaced.

Any tire that has severe damage including bulges, bald spots or cracking should be immediately replaced. A tire with that type of damage is at risk of failing and causing an accident. Some damage, like certain punctures, might be repairable. Check with an expert to see if a damaged tire can be repaired but heed their advice if they say a replacement is necessary.

In addition to damage, a severely worn tread is also cause for tire replacement no matter how many miles you’ve driven. “Drivers should also keep a close eye on treadwear to ensure their tires don’t wear below the recommended levels as set by the US Department of Transportation, as well as maintain a schedule of tire rotations to promote even wear across all four wheel positions,” said Henegar.

Many tires have wear bars that become visible when the tread is low, but you can also check the tread with a simple penny. Insert the penny between the treads with Lincoln’s head down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head above the tread, then it’s below the recommended 2/32 of an inch and should be replaced.

Remember that 2/32 is a recommended minimum and, in some states, the legal limit before your car will fail a state inspection. As you approach that limit, performance will decline, especially in wet or snowy weather. “This is not adequate for all driving situations,” said Campbell. This is especially true if you’re towing or have a heavy load of cargo.

Another way to check the tread is to use a quarter. Do the same thing you did with the penny but look to see if the top of Washington’s head is visible. This will let you know when you’re at 4/32 of an inch and are getting close to replacement. “While these methods can tell you when a tire needs to be replaced, drivers should begin the process of shopping for new tires before their tread wears to these levels,” said Henegar.

Uneven wear is also a problem that can take a tire out of service. “Drivers should take note of uneven wear patterns, bulges or blisters on the sidewall, low tire pressure and sudden ride disturbances or vibrations as other potential reasons to replace tires.” Said Henegar. This type of wear makes it important to check the tread at several spots on each tire. This includes along the center and edges of the tread in various locations all around the tire. You can even run your palm along the tread to feel for smooth spots that are a sign of uneven tread wear.

No matter how good the tread, a tire that’s too old also needs to be replaced. Rubber slowly degrades over time, so old tires need to be replaced no matter their condition. After six years of service or 10 years from the date of manufacture, every tire should be replaced.

What makes for a good tire?

A good tire is essential for keeping your vehicle under control. “The first thing a driver should look for in a good truck or SUV tire is that the tire size and load index need to match what’s shown on the tag posted on the inside of the driver’s door on the vehicle, which is set by the vehicle manufacturer,” said Henegar.

You also need to have the right tire for your vehicle and the conditions in which you typically drive. Whether that’s snow or sun or off-road, the right tire will keep you safer. While you can buy cheap tires, this isn’t the place to skimp on costs.

Going with a well-known brand is a better idea. “Tier one companies make tires that perform at a high level across the board,” said Campbell. These brands stand behind their products with extensive testing to ensure consistent quality. They have years of experience, so they know what works and what doesn’t for a wide range of driving conditions. A known brand also has the latest technologies when it comes to tire design and materials, so you know you’re getting the best product possible for your SUV.

You’ll pay more for most brand-name tires than you will for some bargain brand, but you can still get an affordable tire from a well-known tire company. They all offer large lineups, with everything from premium tires to affordable options. You might not get the same tread life on a low-priced tire as you would with a more expensive one, but you still get a solid reputation for quality and that matters.

Start by looking to see what size tire you need and then look at the different types of SUV tires, which we listed above. That should narrow down your choices to make it easier to compare what’s available from each brand. Specialized tires for performance driving or off-roading cost more, so don’t go that route unless that’s really how you drive and your budget allows for the added expense.

Do you need to replace all your tires at once?

The rule of thumb is to never replace one tire only. Because the tread wears down the more you drive, if your tires are old and you only replace one of them, the deeper tread on the new tire can be a problem. It may cause decreased handling or alignment issues. If you have to replace one tire and the rest are also relatively new, then you may be OK. Ask a tire expert to assess your tires to see if this is even an option.

A better bet is to replace all four tires at once, but that can be expensive. If your budget is tight, try to replace either the two front or two rear tires at a minimum. These pairs will have about the same amount of wear, which can reduce handling problems. Look for the same tire you have on your SUV already, or one that’s as close a match as possible.

Many SUVs are all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, which likely includes manufacturer’s recommendations to replace all four tires simultaneously. This is not an inexpensive way to go, but it’s the best way to ensure your SUV handles properly. Always follow the manufacturer’s tire replacement recommendations for your specific SUV.

Written by Nicole Wakelin for CNET

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