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SUVs were only loved by enthusiasts in the past, but today they are a common sight on public roads. Buyers simply love the versatility these cars offer, especially when it comes to space and practicality, all-terrain capabilities, and image. This do-everything nature of modern SUVs makes choosing the right set of SUV tires a daunting task, especially considering the myriad of options on the market.
What everyone will agree on, at least when it comes to SUV owners, is that these vehicles are best suited by all season tires. Summer tires were popular in the past, but today they are mostly reserved for sports coupes and sedans due to their sporty handling, something that SUV owners don’t really need. On top of that, modern all season tires offer excellent traction, grip, and braking in most conditions, including dry and wet pavement. The best tires for SUVs in all seasons even offer light-snow traction, which makes them an excellent choice for places that don’t have very harsh winters. Sure, they won’t replace a proper winter tire in freezing weather and a lot of snow or ice, but overall, they are good enough for warmer places.
Does that mean that you should just go and buy the first set of all season tires you run into? Of course not! Apart from choosing a set of tires according to the weather in your area, you also need to choose from other categories, such as touring tires, highway tires, all-terrain tires, mud-terrain tires, maximum traction off-road tires, best all season truck tires, etc. These categories are very confusing to some people, which is why we will explain what each one of them means. Choosing SUV tires according to your driving style, the terrain in your area, and the type of SUV you possess is extremely important if you want a safe, reliable, and comfortable driving experience.
Before we explain every all-season tire category for SUVs there is, you can see our choice of the 10 best all season tires for SUVs immediately after the jump. In that list, we will put our favorite SUV tires from several categories so everyone can find a favorite. You can even buy the set of SUV tires you want by clicking the “Check Price” button, which we strongly recommend because online prices are lower than those in tire stores.
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Top 10 List of The Best All Season Tires for SUV Recommended
1. Continental CrossContact LX25
Best Touring All Season Tires for SUV
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Pros
- Balanced handling on dry tarmac
- Excellent grip in dry conditions
- Best-in-class wet traction and handling
- Very good light-snow traction (for an all season tire)
- Plush and quiet ride
- Excellent treadlife and long treadwear warranty
Cons
- Loud when it hits larger potholes
- The steering could be more responsive
The CrossContact LX25 is by far the most accomplished touring all season tire for SUVs and crossovers available on the market right now. It’s really hard to find faults with this product – it excels in almost every category. Apart from the noisy thump when you hit a pothole and the less-than-stellar steering response, the LX25 is perfect.
Notably, this tire provides the highest traction on dry and wet surfaces among its peers, accompanied by balanced handling and natural behavior at the limit. The CrossContact LX25 is also capable of handling light snow with ease, providing class-leading traction.
As a cherry on top, the ride quality is superb, and noise isn’t an issue, even at very high speeds.
2. Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra
Best Touring All Season Tires for SUV
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Pros
- Exceptional grip and responsive steering on dry tarmac
- Excellent handling and good braking in rainy weather
- Works well on light snow
- Very comfortable over bumps
- Remains quiet on the highway
- Longest treadwear warranty in the category
Cons
- Slightly worse braking in dry/wet/snow conditions than its closest premium rivals (though I’m nitpicking here)
- Noisy over rough roads
The Alenza AS Ultra is an excellent option for those valuing longevity, as it’s the tire with the longest treadwear in its category, rated at 80,000 miles for all sizes.
But Bridgestone’s latest crossover/SUV all season tire has a lot more to offer than just longevity. For instance, it’s by far the smoothest tire in its category over bumps, which comes in handy lately, as SUVs and crossovers lately have tires with short sidewalls. It’s also quiet on most roads, though it’s slightly noisier than its rivals on rough patches.
As for traction, apart from the slightly longer stopping distances than the class-leading tires, the Alenza AS Ultra is excellent. The lateral grip on dry and wet tarmac is exceptional, and the tire is easy to control at the limit. Light snow traction is also very good for the category, though not class-leading.
Considering everything, the Alenza AS Ultra gets an easy recommendation for buyers who value comfort, safety, and durability.
3. Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV
Best All-Weather All Season Tires for SUV
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Pros
- Responsive steering and excellent grip on dry roads
- Best braking on a wet tarmac in its category
- Excellent lateral grip in rainy conditions
- Outstanding traction and drivability on snow-covered roads
- Exceptionally quiet
- Handles repetitive impacts very well
Cons
- Short treadwear warranty for the price and category
- It can be firm on smooth roads
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 SUV is easily one of the most innovative tires on sale today, thanks to its unique directional tread design. And that translates into one of the best all season/all-weather tires on sale today – apart from the shorter 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, I really can’t fault the CrossClimate 2 SUV.
And there are numerous reasons for that, with the main one being traction. Unlike most all season tires on sale today, the CrossClimate 2 SUV works exceptionally well in all weather conditions, providing you with a strong lateral grip and excellent longitudinal traction. It’s also easy to control at the limit, regardless if the surface is dry, wet, or covered with snow.
Furthermore, the CrossClimate 2 SUV is also a very comfortable tire. You might catch a tad more vibrations on the highway than with its closest rivals, but that’s only if you compare them side-by-side. Michelin’s product is actually one of the best over repetitive impacts, though, and also the quietest in its category.
4. Cooper Discoverer SRX
Best Touring All Season Tires for SUV
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Pros
- Excellent handling in dry and wet conditions
- Very comfortable over bumps
- Excellent 75,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Below-average snow traction
The Discoverer SRX is another excellent touring tire for SUVs, and also one of the best tires for suv all seasons, but one that is cheaper than its premium rivals. Despite the lower price, the SRX offers excellent handling on dry roads, with very high levels of grip, traction, and strong braking. Traction and grip in heavy rain are excellent as well.
However, light-snow traction is slightly worse than its premium rivals. On the positive side, the comfort is outstanding, especially the ride quality. The Cooper competitor also offers a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty for T-Rated models and 70,000-mile for H-Rated models, the best result for budget tires.
5. Yokohama GEOLANDAR CV G058
Best Touring All Season Tires for SUV
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Pros
- Excellent traction and handling in rainy conditions
- Very capable on dry roads
- Smooth ride on the highway
- Quiet at higher speeds
- Good treadwear warranty for the price
Cons
- Unrefined over larger impacts
- Average snow traction
The GEOLANDAR CV G058 shows that you don’t have to spend a fortune for good performance. Sure, it has some disadvantages when compared to the more expensive premium competition, but it’s still an excellent buy overall.
Notably, the GEOLANDAR CV G058 isn’t a particularly good tire over snow-covered roads, but it’s not too bad, either. In other words, if you live in areas where it doesn’t snow frequently, you’ll be fine, but more challenging wintry conditions are a no-go.
Still, you won’t have any issues in dry/wet conditions, as the GEOLANDAR CV G058 performs almost as well as its premium competition. Moreover, its soft sidewalls make the ride very refined over smoother roads, and the noise is very well controlled, too. The ride becomes a bit worse when you hit a larger pothole, but it’s nothing too objectionable.
Finally, the GEOLANDAR CV G058 comes with a solid 65,000-mile treadwear warranty on all sizes, which is very good for the price.
6. Continental TerrainContact H/T
Best Highway All Season Tires for SUV
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Pros
- Outstanding braking and handling on wet tarmac
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
- Good traction and handling on light snow
- Very good lateral grip and braking on dry roads
- Comfortable on smooth roads and quiet on the highway
- Excellent treadlife and long treadwear warranty
Cons
- Not the best option for off-roading
- It might be expensive for some
Much like its touring counterpart, the CrossContact LX25, the TerrainContact H/T leads the category in rainy conditions. With this tire, you’ll get the shortest stopping distances on wet roads, along with excellent lateral grip and natural behavior at the limit.
But the TerrainContact H/T has so much more going for it – it’s also supremely capable in dry conditions. The handling is very balanced, and there is enough grip to keep you planted at higher cornering speeds. LT-metric models also work great when towing, providing you with good stability.
Furthermore, the TerrainContact H/T is among the best highway all season tires on snow-covere roads and slush. Sure, it won’t replace a proper winter tire, but it doesn’t get better in any other highway all season model.
Finally, the TerrainContact H/T is very comfortable and quiet at higher speeds. Thus, if you don’t plan on using it for off-roading, I think it’s worth the money.
7. Michelin Defender LTX M/S
Best Highway All Season Tires for SUV
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Pros
- Excellent dry handling in warm and cold conditions
- Outstanding wet traction
- Can be used for towing and hauling
- Quiet and comfortable
Cons
- Not the best option for harsh wintry conditions
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S is the best tire for those that tow large trailers with their SUVs and also the best tire for suv all seasons. It provides the driver with excellent high-speed stability, thanks to the MaxTouch construction. Grip, traction, and braking are excellent, too, both in dry and wet conditions. Unlike other highway tires, the Defender is made of a chip-resistant EverTread compound, which means that you can use it on dirt. Comfort levels are very high, as well. However, light-snow traction lags behind the best.
The Michelin Defender LTX comes with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty for T- H- & V-Speed Rated and 50,000 miles for W-Speed rated models, one of the best results in the highway category.
8. Firestone Destination LE3
Best Highway All Season Tires for SUV
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Pros
- Direct steering and excellent lateral grip in dry conditions
- Good handling and braking on wet tarmac
- Solid performer on light snow
- Comfortable and quiet on the highway
- Long treadlife and excellent treadwear warranty for the price
Cons
- No LT-metric sizes available for this generation
- Choppy ride on broken roads
- Not the best option for off-road driving
The Destination LE3 is another excellent highway all season tire for owners of compact, mid-size, and large SUVs that don’t tow with their vehicles. Namely, unlike its competitors, Firestone’s latest highway tire isn’t available in LT-metric sizes, meaning no high load ratings are available.
Still, for those that don’t do heavy-duty stuff with their crossovers or SUVs, the Destination LE3 is excellent. Notably, it’s one of the best highway tires on dry and wet roads, providing solid traction and good handling balance at the limit. It also performs well on snow, with good lateral grip and braking.
Furthermore, the Destination LE3 will give you a very quiet ride, even at higher speeds, and a fairly comfortable ride over smaller road imperfections. However, it’s not perfect – the ride gets unrefined over sharper and repetitive imperfections.
Still, Firestone offers a class-leading 70,000-mile treadwear warranty to convince you buying into this tire, despite its insignificant disadvantages.
9. Toyo Open Country A/T III
Best All-Terrain All Season Tires for SUV
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Pros
- One of the best tires for hardpacked surfaces, like gravel and dirt
- Very good traction in mud for an all-terrain tire
- You could do some light rock crawling
- Very good lateral grip and braking on dry roads
- Solid in rainy conditions
- Excellent performance on snowy roads and snow-covered off-road trails
- Smooth ride
- Best-in-class 65,000-mile treadwear warranty (regular sizes)
Cons
- The steering isn’t responsive and feels truck-like
- Not fit for very demanding off-road trails
- Might be expensive for some
If you want to upgrade your SUV’s off-roading abilities, the first thing on your list should be a set of all-terrain tires. And currently, one of the best such models, and my favorite, is the Toyo Open Country A/T III. Toyo’s latest and greatest all-terrain tire combines its undeniable off-road prowess with good all-around road traction and best-in-class durability.
For me, the Open Country A/T III is all I’d ever need from an off-road tire. There is loads on traction on hardpacked surfaces, like dirt and gravel, even when wet. Your SUV also won’t suffer in mud, provided it’s not too deep, and rock crawling is not out of the question. Naturally, the Open Country A/T III works excellently on turf and also on the sand when aired down.
The Open Country A/T III continues to impress on paved roads, where it provides good traction, regardless if the weather is dry or rainy. Moreover, Toyo’s all-terrain tire performs very well on snow, both on packed snow (street) and unpacked snow (off-roading).
Furthermore, the ride is very comfortable, which was surprising to me considering the category, and noise is well-suppressed at highway speeds. Finally, the Open Country A/T III comes with a class-leading 65,000-mile treadwear warranty on regular sizes and 50,000 miles on LT-metric sizes.
10. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3
Best Mud-Terrain All Season Tires for SUV
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Pros
- Exceptional traction in deep mud and over large rocks
- Very good performance on dirt, gravel, sand, and turf
- Tough and durable construction that withstands punctures
- Good performance in dry conditions
- Not very noisy at lower speeds
- Excellent traction in deep and unpacked snow
Cons
- Noisy at higher speeds
- Uncomfortable ride over repetitive bumps
- Not as good in rainy conditions as the class-leading tires
- Lackluster performance on compacted snow
If you want the best possible off-road traction in mud, over large rocks, and on the sand, the BFGoodrichh Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is the best choice on the market. This is a true off-road beast that will bring you places few other tires can.
Furthermore, the KM3 is a very durable tire with a tough casing and works well on the road. It is a bit more nervous in rainy conditions than its rivals, but for the target audience, it’s not a big deal. Also, although it provides excellent traction in deep and unpacked snow, it doesn’t work well on compacted snow.
As far as comfort goes, it’s better than most similar tires, though not as good as the class-leading General Grabber X3. Still, considering how good the Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 is in the wild, these are only small annoyances.
Best All Season Tires for SUV: Buying Guide
1. Crossover/SUV Touring Tires are the Best Choice for the Average SUV Driver
Touring tires are what you’ll usually find on new SUVs and crossovers from the dealer, but also on almost every passenger car on the road today. The reason why these tires are so popular is their balanced nature. Touring tires are specifically designed to work in all conditions you throw them in, especially because most touring tires today have an all season tread compound.
The main advantage of these tires is durability. SUV and crossover drivers in the USA usually cover around 15,000 miles annually, so having tires that will last longer is certainly important. Modern SUV touring tires today usually come with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty, which means that you can use them for 5 whole years before replacing them with another set of tires. This not only makes life easier for the owner, but it is also cost-effective. The longer you use your tires, the cheaper they become. Touring tires, even the premium models, aren’t expensive to buy in the first place. Paired with the outstanding tread life, this means that touring tires are the cheapest of any other tire type by a significant margin.
The second well-documented quality of touring tires is the comfort. Thanks to the softer and larger sidewalls, these SUV tires offer outstanding ride quality, both over small imperfections on the road and larger bumps. With a set of touring tires on your SUV, the ride quality will be as plush as possible. On top of that, the tread pattern is specifically designed to minimize noise. Thanks to that, touring tires produce the least amount of noise at higher speeds, which makes them an excellent choice for long road trips.
But what about performance? Touring tires aren’t very fun to drive and lack ultimate responsiveness, but the average crossover and SUV owner will be hard-pressed to notice that. For everyday driving, touring tires provide a safe and reliable driving experience. They offer enough traction and grip for the average modern crossover or SUV, have excellent high-speed stability, and strong braking. Touring tires also work very well in wet conditions, especially in heavy rain, thanks to the outstanding resistance to hydroplaning. You probably noticed there is a pattern here – touring tires are designed to be safe rather than fun to drive.
That said, touring tires aren’t the best choice for very powerful SUVs or if you plan to tow larger trailers with your SUV. On powerful cars, they will lack traction and grip, especially if you drive more aggressively. As for towing, there are some touring tires with higher load range capacities that can be used for towing small to mid-size trailers. However, if you plan to tow larger trailers with your SUV, or haul a lot of cargo, then you will want highway tires.
2. Highway Tires are the Best Choice for Towing or Hauling
Highway tires are similar in most things to touring tires, with the main difference being the load range capacities. To achieve higher load ratings, highway tires have stiffer sidewalls with more plies inside the tire. Thanks to that, highway tires behave much better on the road with a lot of cargo on board or when towing large trailers. More precisely, high-speed stability is much better, as well as responsiveness and overall grip and traction.
Highway tires also offer a comfortable and quiet driving experience, albeit not on the level of touring tires. The main difference is the ride quality, which is a tad harsher, especially over larger bumps. These tires are also not a very good choice for drivers that don’t tow with their SUVs or crossovers. They are heavier, which makes them less responsive when the car is unloaded, and also hinders the performance and fuel economy of your car.
3. Street/Sport Tires are the Best Choice for Sporty SUVs
If you own a sporty SUV with a V6 or V8 engine or just want a more focused driving experience, then we recommend Street/Sport tires. These SUV tires are similar to high-performance tires for passenger cars in the way that they are designed for better handling. Compared to other SUV tires, they are much more responsive, have better grip and traction, excellent high-speed stability, and strong braking. With a set of these SUV tires, you can drive faster through the corners without worrying about losing grip or traction, and you can also brake later. Modern Street/Sport tires also work very well in wet conditions, even in heavy rain, thanks to the excellent resistance to hydroplaning.
That said, Street/Sport tires don’t offer the same comfort as touring or highway tires. Ride quality can be harsher, especially over larger potholes. Noise can also be an issue at higher speeds, although modern SUVs already have excellent sound insulation, and this is becoming a non-issue for most drivers. The biggest disadvantage of these SUV tires is the price, which is higher than almost any other tire type, and the tread life. Modern Street/Sport tires are very good in this regard but still can’t compare to touring or highway tires.
4. All-Terrain Tire is an Excellent Choice for a Combination of On-Road and Off-Road Traction
SUVs are vehicles that aren’t only driven on the road – some owners go off-roading with them. If you are one of the few off-roaders out there, we highly recommend going for all-terrain tires. These tires offer a combination of good on-road dynamics and advanced off-road traction. The off-road performance they offer is much, much better than touring or highway tires, especially on demanding tracks.
The best all-terrain tires for SUVs today offer reliable traction on gravel and dirt, mud, sand, and rocks. Almost every all-terrain tire also has an all season tread compound, which means that you can use it throughout the year. Thanks to the deeper and more aggressive tread pattern, all-terrain tires also work very well in light and unpacked snow. Some of them even come with the 3PMSF rating (Three-Peak Mountain SnowFlake), which means that they are ready for severe winter driving.
That said, while they are completely safe for driving on the street or highway, all-terrain tires aren’t really made for very fast driving. They are far less responsive than touring or highway tires in the corners and might feel cumbersome. Grip and traction are also only average, and braking distances are longer too. All-terrain tires also produce more noise, especially at higher speeds, which can be easily felt in the cabin.
5. Mud-Terrain and Maximum Traction Off-Road Tires are the Best Choices for Enthusiast-Level Off-Roading
Modern all-terrain tires are very good at tackling harsh off-road conditions, but they still lack ultimate traction that off-road enthusiasts want. If you want the best possible traction on any type of terrain other than the street or highway, you need mud-terrain or maximum traction off-road tires. These tires are designed primarily for driving off-road and offer absolutely the best traction on every type of surface, including gravel and dirt, mud, and rocks.
These tires are also designed to withstand uneven terrain and have puncture-resistant casings. However, they usually have shorter treadlife than all-terrain and highway tires, but not by much. On the road, these tires aren’t at their best. They are not very responsive and lack ultimate traction and grip. They are even worse in wet conditions, especially in heavy rain. However, most mud-terrain and maximum traction off-road tires are excellent for unpacked snow, thanks to the aggressive and deep tread pattern. Almost every tire in this category has an all season tread compound, which means that it can be used throughout the year.
Final Words
After reading the guide to choosing the best all season tires for SUVs, you probably noticed that we only included high-quality SUV tires in the list above – there is a very good reason for that. Very cheap tires from manufacturers you don’t know are unsafe to drive, especially in wet and snowy conditions. Big tire companies invest a lot of effort in R&D to make the highest-quality tires that will be safe to drive in any condition. Companies that started producing tires a few years ago lack that knowledge, and their tires don’t offer a safe and reliable driving experience. Oh, and they also have much shorter tread life, which means that they might be more expensive in the long run. For completely safe driving in all weather conditions, we strongly recommend buying best tires for suv all seasons from manufacturers that you know and trust. The models on the list above are a great example of that.
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