How Long does a tire inspection take?

A tire inspection can last from 15 to 30 minutes, and sometimes it can extend to even 45 minutes. This depends on the service provider, the condition of your vehicle, and the issues that are found during the inspection.

How often should I inspect my tires?

You should inspect your tires once a month, as it will help you notice the first signs of issues, enabling you to act on time and prevent them from escalating into larger problems. This is a simple and preventive step that can minimize the possibility of accidents on the road.

How do I know if my tire needs replacement?

Different reasons can prompt a tire replacement. You can perform the penny test to see if the tread of your tire is too shallow. A sidewall bulge is a sign of structural issues that can lead to a blowout. A tire with a puncture in the sidewall or shoulder area needs replacement since it cannot be fixed.

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Best Tires for SUV: Top Picks for Safety, Comfort & Performance

Dajana Novak - November 21, 2025

SUVs are known for their power, size, and ability to perform well on versatile terrains. This is why choosing the right tires directly impacts the vehicle's overall performance. You need tires that can handle that extra weight in different conditions, and SUV tires are specifically designed to handle heavier vehicles.

Are you traveling on smooth highways and bustling city roads? Or are you planning a road trip across the sandy and rocky mountains? Having the right tires ensures your SUV's performance and safety in challenging road conditions.

But with so many available choices, where do you even start? What are the best tires for SUVs? That's where this guide comes into play. So, let's talk about that!

Tire Model	Season	Performance	Treadwear Warranty	Available Models at Priority Tire
Michelin CrossClimate SUV	All Weather	Performance, High Performance	50,000 miles	Check available sizes.
Michelin Defender 2	All Season	Touring	80,000 miles	Check available sizes.
Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra	All Season	Performance, High Performance	80,000 miles	Check available sizes.
Cooper Endeavor Plus	All Season	Touring	65,000 miles	Check available sizes.
Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2	All Weather	Touring	60,000 miles	Check available sizes.
Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail	All Weather	All Terrain	65,000 miles	Check available sizes.
BFGoodrich All‑Terrain T/A KO3	All Weather	All Terrain	50,000 miles	Check available sizes.
Continental CrossContact LX20	All Season	Touring	70,000 miles	Check available sizes.
Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R5	Winter	Touring	/	Check available sizes.
Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3	All Season	Touring	70,000 miles	Check available sizes.

Why Choosing the Right SUV Tires Matters

Nowadays, two of the most popular vehicles on the roads are SUVs and passenger vehicles. The main difference between the two is their size. SUVs are bigger and tougher, with extra passenger and cargo space, while passenger cars are smaller and often faster, offering impeccable maneuverability. Because of that, their tires also differ.

What happens when you install the wrong tires? The dimension of tires determines not only how they fit on your vehicle, but how they interact with your vehicle's brakes, drivetrain, and suspension. While undersized tires make your SUV feel unstable, oversized tires can make your SUV unresponsive. You will also experience higher noise during the drive, even when traveling on smooth roads.

Wrong-sized tires can cause them to rub against the wheel wells or fenders, which can affect both the tire and the vehicle. This causes uneven wear while also damaging components like axles and wheel bearings. Most importantly, tire sizes affect braking performance, compromising everyone's safety on the road.

Choosing the best tires for SUVs is not just about the aesthetics or price. Sure, cheaper tires might seem like a better option for your wallet, but road safety is not something to be taken lightly!

SUV Tire Types & When to Use Them

Considering SUVs come in many sizes, they can be equipped with a wide range of tire types. The right tire choice should be based on things like performance, climate, road conditions, etc. Knowing which tire type to choose can be difficult, so here's a simple guide:

All Season SUV Tires

As the name would suggest, all season tires are designed to be used throughout the year. Because of this, they can perform well in a variety of conditions, making them the go-to choice for most SUV owners. Thanks to their tread patterns and rubber compounds, all season tires can perform well in wet, dry, and winter weather. Additionally, the rubber used in all season tires is designed to stay flexible even in temperatures as low as 40°F.

All season SUV tires provide decent traction and a comfortable drive throughout the year. They have a longer lifespan than regular tires and provide reliable traction in different road conditions. However, these tires are not suitable for extreme winter weather. So, if you live in an area without extreme winters, all season tires are probably the right choice!

Performance SUV Tires

These tires are designed to focus on enhanced responsiveness, making them perfect for SUVs. Performance tires are known for providing excellent stability and road grip during high speed drives. They have a lower profile, softer rubber compounds, and stiffer sidewalls, which improve handling and cornering, ensuring a safer driving experience.

Performance SUV tires complement the best aspects of your SUV, including handling, cornering, and braking. However, they make some compromises in other areas, such as cost, gas mileage, and tire lifespan.

SUV Off-Road Tires

For drivers who plan to venture beyond pavement, have you considered SUV off-road tires? Some are designed for both on- and off-road adventures, while others provide only off-road driving experience, with their aggressive tread patterns that ensure superb traction on mud, gravel, and dirt. Because of their reinforced sidewalls, these tires have better puncture and damage resistance compared to standard tires. This makes SUV off-road tires ideal for dealing with rough terrain during off-road drives. Even if you don't often drive through construction zones or uneven roads, having off-road tires that handle occasional mountain road trips can be convenient.

That said, SUV off-road tires are much louder, especially at higher speeds. Since they are designed for mixed surfaces, using them for daily pavement drives can cause them to wear down faster than touring tires. Thus, while SUV off-road tires offer amazing flexibility, they are not the ideal choice for everyone.

SUV Winter Tires

Many drivers believe that buying all season tires is enough, and that's mostly true for those who live in states like Florida, where snow is rare. But if you live in areas where winters are harsh, having SUV winter tires is essential. They provide better handling, traction, and safety in severe winter weather conditions.

On top of that, winter tires are designed to stay flexible even in freezing weather. When temperatures drop and the road is covered in ice, these tires help maximize traction while reducing the likelihood of sliding. They significantly improve braking distance, cornering, and handling, providing a safer drive even in extreme winter conditions.

Best Tires for SUV

Michelin CrossClimate SUV

This performance and high performance tire is designed for crossovers and SUVs. The 3PMSF symbol showcases its excellent all weather traction, even in severe winter road conditions.

The Michelin CrossClimate SUV model features a directional tread pattern, with full-depth 3D sipes offering good handling stability and dry traction. Thanks to the angled lateral grooves and open shoulders, hydroplaning is also prevented. This significantly improves the year-round driving safety levels.

The durable compound and the directional tread pattern increase the tire’s tread life, whose longevity is further ensured with a 50,000 mile treadwear warranty. Additionally, the lessened rolling resistance minimizes the vehicle's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, ensuring a more eco-friendly drive. That said, the Michelin CrossClimate SUV is built for durability and stability over sportiness, which can increase road noise and slightly reduce its comfort.

Michelin Defender 2

For a quieter and comfortable drive, you could choose the Michelin Defender 2. This is a touring, all season tire created for passenger vehicles and SUVs.

Because of its even wear, the first mile is as calm and quiet as the last. Thanks to Michelin's combination of MaxTouch 2.0 technology and EverTread 2.0 compound, this model comes with an 80,000 mile treadwear warranty, further ensuring its longer tread life. The asymmetric tread design and the all season compound provide good traction in dry, wet, and winter conditions.

The Michelin Defender 2 tires are EV compatible. However, the high rolling resistance can negatively impact the range and efficiency of electric vehicles. On top of that, while the model performs well in different weather conditions, it is not suitable for extreme winters and ice-covered roads.

Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra

As one of the most trusted brands, known for its durability, longevity, and advanced safety features, Bridgestone's Alenza AS Ultra is also a good choice. This performance and high performance, all season tire is designed for SUVs. It comes with an 80,000 mile treadwear warranty, vouching for its excellent quality.

The wet and winter performance is improved thanks to the new high silica compound, providing additional grip on snow-covered roads. The Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra has a wide, detailed, five-rib tread that provides better vehicle control by stabilizing the tire on the road surface. This also improves the steering response time and precision to the driver's commands, offering better cornering and maneuvering.

Although the strengthened construction enables the tire to endure high speed pressure without heat build-up, it is mainly built for asphalt roads. In other words, the Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra is not suitable for off-road use.

Cooper Endeavor Plus

Another great option for SUVs and pickup trucks is Cooper's Endeavor Plus model. This is a touring, all season tire that comes with a 65,000 mile treadwear warranty.

The symmetric ribbed tread design provides constant surface contact, upgrading the steering responsiveness and driving stability. This also improves cornering and braking power, ensuring a safer driving experience in different weather conditions. An added compound layer and a ribbed tread design work together to ensure a longer tread life, while the Wear Square Indicator helps with tread monitoring.

While the Cooper Endeavor Plus tires deliver a smooth and confident experience with reduced road noise levels, they are not suitable for off-road adventures. On top of that, their performance in heavy snow and on ice-covered roads is limited.

Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2

Built for crossovers, SUVs, and passenger vehicles, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 is a touring, all weather tire with a 3PMSF symbol, ensuring exceptional performance in severe snow. The manufacturer offers a 60,000 mile treadwear warranty with this model.

Thanks to its all weather compound and a specialized tread design, the tire delivers exceptional grip all year round. The AquaTred Technology channels water and slush away from the tire, preventing hydroplaning. At the same time, the Evolving Traction Grooves ensure a long-lasting performance and enhanced grip.

The unique comfort inserts reduce vibrations and bumps for a comfortable ride, while the tire’s constant road contact enhances steering control and handling. This model has the built-in Wear Gauge feature that visually displays the remaining tread depth. However, the Assurance WeatherReady 2 is firmer than some of its competitors, and is designed to only be driven on paved roads.

Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail

Built with an aggressive footprint, the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail is an all weather, all terrain tire delivering excellent traction in versatile weather conditions. This tire is made for passenger vehicles and SUVs.

Falken backs up their quality claims by providing a 65,000 mile treadwear and road hazard warranty. The 3PMSF symbol showcases its performance in dry, wet, and winter weather, including severe winter conditions. The Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail has great controllability, thanks to the crossover-specific tread design and stability. This promotes a quick and precise steering response, ensuring good vehicle control.

That said, like most all terrain tires, the Wildpeak A/T Trail is not as fuel-efficient as some of its competitors. It can also become louder over time, as the tire wears.

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3

This model was designed with an aggressive tread pattern that firmly grips any surface, making it ideal for your on- and off-road endeavors. The BFGoodrich All‑Terrain T/A KO3 is an all terrain, all weather tire made for SUVs and light trucks.

The model's optimal design promotes better controllability, improving its steering responsiveness and driving stability, even on gravel. On top of that, the optimized grooves eliminate mud, snow, and rocks stuck between the tread elements, keeping the footprint clean. BFGoodrich's CoreGuard Technology upgrades sidewall toughness, offering a 50,000 miles treadwear warranty.

At the same time, the model's driving performance in changing weather, including on snow- and ice-covered roads is secured, which is why the tire is marked with the 3PMS symbol. However, this model is considered pricey. It can also feel sluggish at times, reducing gas mileage.

Continental CrossContact LX20

If you are looking for tires that can deliver year-round traction with long wear and a smooth driving experience, you should consider the Continental CrossContact LX20. This is a touring tire, offering a quiet and comfortable driving experience, with a 70,000 mile treadwear warranty.

The Continental CrossContact LX20 is manufactured for crossovers, SUVs, and light trucks. Its EcoPlus technology improves fuel efficiency, reduces CO2 emissions, and ensures good traction on slippery roads. The all season compound offers great traction in different weather, while also keeping the tire flexible in changing temperatures.

That said, the Continental CrossContact LX20 is not designed for off-road drives, and it does not perform well in heavy snow and on ice-covered roads.

Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R5

Driving in winter can be difficult because of all the slush, ice, and snow. Luckily, winter tires, like the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R5, are specifically designed to deal with severe winter road conditions. These are touring, winter tires designed for passenger vehicles and SUVs.

This studless model has a V-shaped tread pattern that eliminates water and slush from the tire. It provides additional biting edges, ensuring a firm grip on wet, icy, and snowy roads. Thanks to the low rolling resistance design, the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R5 has increased fuel efficiency, while its special footprint creates a quieter and comfortable drive.

Since this is a winter tire, it is not suitable to be driven in weather where the temperature is constantly above 45°F. On top of that, this model does not come with a tread life warranty.

Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3

For an all season performance and a smooth, quiet ride, choose the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3. This is a touring tire that comes with a 70,000 mile treadwear warranty.

Thanks to its carefully constructed, asymmetric pattern, with sequence-tuned shoulder blocks, you can expect improved dry handling with minimized road noise. On the other hand, the optimal mold profile ensures even wear and enhanced performance on wet surfaces. With evenly distributed grooves and channels, you do not have to worry about hydroplaning either.

Although, the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 has great traction throughout the year, it does not perform well in extreme winters. Additionally, the selection of tire sizes is much lower compared to some of its competitors.

Budget vs. Premium: Which is Better for Your SUV?

While purchasing tires is not the most exciting part of SUV ownership, it can greatly impact the performance of your vehicle. This is also where the age-old question appears: are premium tires actually worth the investment? Why do some drivers choose budget tires instead? You could say it's all a matter of preference, but the fact is that it's all about cost versus benefit.

Cheaper tires seem like a better choice at first, but when you consider how often you'll have to replace them, premium tires provide better long-term value. Premium tires are made by leading brands, often featuring advanced designs ensuring improved safety and performance. They are built to last longer, providing better traction, shorter braking distances, sharper turns, and better overall handling. Not to mention that some premium tires can boost fuel efficiency, saving you money in the long run.

However, for individuals who don't drive often, premium tires can seem unnecessary. So, when should you choose budget tires? These tires make sense for short-term use. Budget tires could also be the right choice for drivers who live in areas without extreme winters, heavy rain, or other harsh weather conditions. In these situations, you might not even notice the difference in performance.

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Purchasing new tires seems like a straightforward task, right? But many drivers make mistakes that lead to lower safety and reduced performance, resulting in additional expenses. These mistakes are avoidable if you conduct proper research beforehand. Remember, “good enough” should not be the standard you go for when purchasing tires, considering this compromises everyone's safety on the road.

So, let's go over the basic do's and don'ts of purchasing the best tires for SUVs!

Choosing the right size:

Do: Always check your vehicle's recommended tire size. This can be found on your current tire's sidewall, or you can check your vehicle's manual instead.
Don't: Rely on guesswork or ignore the numbers on the tire's sidewalls. Tire size affects everything, from fuel efficiency to handling.

Mixing tire types:

Do: Check the vehicle's information about recommended tire type and size, and always replace them in pairs. Avoid mixing tire types.
Don't: Ignore the tire's size, load index, and tread pattern. Mixing tire types can affect the vehicle's performance.

Ignoring the age of your tires:

Do: Check the age of your tires! Your tires deteriorate with time, worsening their performance and increasing the risk of blowouts and tread separation. If your tires are older than six years, have a professional car expert inspect them.
Don't: Ignore the DOT code stamped on the tire's sidewall. The last four digits indicate the tire's manufacturing week and year.

Tire alignment and rotation:

Do: Check whether your tires are aligned properly to prevent issues like pulling to one side or drifting. You should rotate your tires every 5-6,000 miles.
Don't: Neglect the importance of tire rotation and alignment. Ignoring this can shorten the tire's life.

Conclusion

Finding the best tires for SUVs is more than just picking out any set that fits. It's about matching comfort, safety, and performance to match your driving needs. Whether you spend most of your time driving on city roads, highways, or rugged terrain, good tires can significantly improve handling, fuel efficiency, and ride quality. Always consider factors such as weather and road conditions, tread design, load capacity, and your driving style.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best brand of tires for an SUV?

Generally speaking, there is no single brand that is considered the "best." This is because we all have different driving needs and preferences. But, some of the better brands of SUV tires include: Michelin, Cooper, BFGoodrich, and Continental tires.

What is the life expectancy of an SUV tire?

SUV tires can last anywhere from 35,000 to 70,000 miles, typically averaging about 50,000 miles. This can vary greatly depending on your driving style, maintenance, road conditions, and some other factors.

How do I know when to replace SUV tires?

If the tire’s tread depth is close to 2/32", it is time to replace your tires. You should also replace your SUV tires if they have developed uneven or irregular wear, or if you notice signs of tread or structural damage. You can also have your tires inspected by a professional if you need any help.

What are the different categories of best SUV tires available?

All season, all weather, summer, winter, performance, and off-road are the main categories of SUV tires. These are chosen based on weather conditions and terrain they can handle. Choose your SUV tires based on your specific driving needs.

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