One of the most preferred kinds of tires for SUVs is all-season tires. In all-weather circumstances, they increase a vehicle’s fuel economy, handling characteristics, traction, and comfort. SUV tires, especially all-season SUV tires, maybe the hottest-selling rubber on the market, as SUVs and crossovers are sweeping the American vehicle market and engulfing the rest of the world.
To create this handy reference to the huge catalog of SUV all-seasons, we’ve combined real-world experience, laborious research, and user and professional feedback. Take a look around, and don’t worry, as we’ve covered all of your bases.
All-Season SUV Tire Reviews & Recommendations
Pirelli’s Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II
Pirelli’s Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II has been a fantastically well-rounded tire for the discriminating SUV driver. It’s a rare example of being a jack-of-all-trades and actually a master at some. On Tire Rack’s handling course, objective testing revealed exceptional dry traction and a best-in-class lap time. With impressive wet and snow traction, inclement weather performance has been greatly enhanced over its predecessor. It gets points for having a larger footprint and new rubber compositions. The road noise and ride quality are said to be unobtrusive. Downsides? You need to ensure it fits. Sizes beyond 19-inch wheels stop and jump to 22 inches, which could be a considerable gain for owners of larger vehicles. As the tire ages, expect the sizing list to catch up to its siblings. Furthermore, while its winter traction is quite adequate, it trails behind more targeted competitors. However, other customers indicated that they would suffice in light snow and that they had no wish to upgrade to proper winter tires.
Sumitomo Touring LX T
“These are quite decent tires, provided you can live with the fact that they scream, ‘I purchased my sneakers from Payless,'” says a backhanded compliment in a customer review. That is to say, the Sumitomo Touring LX T is a superb, budget-friendly option that rewards your frugality with admirable all-around performance in most situations. On Tire Rack’s survey table for crossover/SUV all-seasons accompanied by high-end brands, it rates remarkably high. Wet traction is said to be excellent, and one customer praised the vehicle’s light snow performance. While the tread life isn’t the best we’ve seen, it’s still adequate for lengthy hauls, with customers claiming 50,000 to 60,000 miles from a single set. The ride quality is reasonably compliant, and road noise is negligible. Simply double-check the sizing to make sure they’ll fit. Only 17-inch and 18-inch wheels are offered, which should suffice for many compact and mid-size crossover owners, as well as certain full-size SUVs with essential model wheels. Keep in mind that the “meh” snow traction of winter tires when fresh supposedly devolves to “terrible” with age.
Bridgestone’s Dueler H/P Sport AS
The Dueler H/P Sport AS from Bridgestone provides athletic and well-rounded performance for drivers who usually drive in sunny conditions. In comparison to rivals from other luxury manufacturers, the steering reaction is crisp and direct, and dry handling is excellent, with a performance befitting sporty crossovers. Wet weather is ordinary, which means it’s perfectly OK and gives adequate traction. With some owners claiming 60,000 to 70,000 miles from a single pair of tires, tread life is quite good. However, keep in mind that middle-ground alternatives generally come with trade-offs, and this entry is no exception. Mild road noise has been reported, with a few owners reporting it to be far worse in their circumstances than Tire Rack’s accounts. The ride is a little hard, and most of the glowing evaluations come from those who rarely or never drive on snow. Because winter traction is poor, residents in the Snowbelt should keep a pair of Blizzaks or Pilot Alpins on hand.
Michelin CrossClimate SUV
The CrossClimate SUV, one of the more acclaimed options on the market and featured in our recent guide completely on Michelin tires, is a beautifully constructed and adaptable masterpiece. This tire’s directed, polyamide-reinforced tread design provides surefooted stability as well as unexpectedly athletic dry handling. When the weather turns cool, the interlocking sipes and grooved shoulders keep the party going. The improved winter traction has earned it a three-peak mountain snowflake grade, indicating that it is truly four-season capable. It’s almost the ideal tire for individuals who deal with practically every type of weather imaginable – almost. Although the snowflake grade shows that the tire can confidently tread most winter situations, manufacturers and dealers refuse to label them as winter tires. When blizzards form and the snow becomes unusually deep, stay icy. Furthermore, the directed tread pattern, which has shown to be extremely effective in wet weather, stops you from rotating your tires normally. Be aware of steadily rising road noise over time, a short-ish life lifetime, and minor fuel economy and EV range decrease.
Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail
This is what a Subaru Crosstrek would look like if it were a tire. And in the most flattering and the most rad possible manner. Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires have been seen on everything from Jeeps to rally-built Miatas, and it’s easy to see why. The street finesse for a set of adventure-ready tires astounded both customers and tire Rack personnel. Road noise is low, and traction on both dry and wet ground is assured, with athletic-like reactions for an off-road tire. The various sizes are diverse enough to accommodate most drivers’ rally rigs. While this model is rated for mud and snow, it is said to perform poorly in the winter when compared to others in its class. Although it will get you through the snow, there are better solutions for the job. Furthermore, the aggressiveness has resulted in some consumers noticing slight fuel economy losses when compared to less adventurous touring tires.
Pirelli’s Scorpion Zero All Season Plus
Pirelli’s Scorpion Zero All Season Plus is considered a great choice suitable for performance SUVs for those searching for a versatile pick to shave a few tenths off their 24 Minutes of Costco loop. This product, which is clearly influenced by the P Zero range and targeted at sport trucks and “strong crossovers,” uses broad shoulders and a hard center tread block to quicken reflexes and improve handling in all weather circumstances. These can serve double duty in the winter, with a surprising amount of light snow grip thanks to a high-silica rubber compound and multiple zig-zagging sipes, similar to top-performance all-season tires for cars. In order to stay up with premium performance tires, these Pirellis come with a hefty price tag, which increases dramatically depending on size. Thankfully, as long as the size is between 20 and 22 inches, you can choose any size you desire. At this point, you can practically hear Macan owners with 19-inches wringing their hands. Due to the vehicle’s road-hugging grip, a few owners have reported minor decreases in fuel economy.
Vredestein Quatrac Pro
With the renowned Quatrac Pro, Vredestein, a historic European tire maker only recently introduced to American shores, bursts onto the market. It’s marketed to a wide range of vehicles, from coupes and sports sedans to smaller SUVs, and it’s simple to see why it’s one of the best, if not the best, compact crossover tires. Wet weather traction is reputedly the best among its counterparts, with high-silica rubber and a plethora of zig-zagged studs, earning it a three-peak mountain snowflake trademark. Experts appreciate the all-sporty season’s handling and dry traction, while customers praise the quiet operation, which is said to be significantly less noisy than other premium all-seasons. However, steering feel isn’t the finest, and ice traction isn’t the best, according to Tire Rack’s instrumented testing; braking and accelerating required a little more wiggle room than the other test subjects. While significantly superior to many all-seasons, overall winter performance is only adequate when combined with decent light snow traction.
The Continental Terrain Contact H/T
The Continental Terrain Contact H/T is a high-performance touring all-season tire for trucks and full-size utility vehicles. Instrumented testing has revealed Continental’s superior dry and wet traction and ample grip, and confident stability. Light snow traction is also class-leading in terms of usability and predictability. SUV and light-duty pickup truck owners alike laud its ride comfort and handling, with some even claiming better-than-expected winter performance. A disconcerting lack of steering feel, and faint road noise, have been reported by test drivers. Also, be careful of possible quality inconsistencies in a few Terrain Contacts since a few customers reported balancing issues that could only be resolved by purchasing a second, fresher set.
Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia
The Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia was considered a popular and effective all-season touring tire that provides a nice, quiet ride without draining your wallet at the pump. This is the most frugal option on the list, with testing finding significant savings over other premium all-seasons. Fuel economy was equivalent to that of previous eco tires, but it coupled its fuel-saving features with apparently stronger dry, wet, and light snow grip for a more versatile tool. Bridgestone’s “Fuel Saver” and “NanoPro-Tech” compositions may reduce frictional drag without causing a stiff ride, but the overall result is still inferior to most all-season tires. While snow traction is present, it lags well behind more capable competitors, and reduced rolling resistance means dry and wet handling lacks the athleticism of others on this list. Expect a short size list, as only 18 inches and 19 inches are now available. Fortunately, for a huge portion of mid-size crossover and SUV owners, it should be sufficient. (Note: A later-generation Bridgestone, the Ecopia H/L 422 Plus, was considered in place of the Dueler but lacked sufficient instrumented testing and consumer reviews to form a proper review.)
Our Verdict on All-Season Tires For SUVs
So that ends our reviews of the top SUV all-seasons currently available. The Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus II has been a multi-talented, ultra-capable tire that receives excellent ratings for its high quality and well-rounded performance in practically all circumstances. Sumitomo Touring LX T offers excellent performance for the money at a reasonable price but in a limited size range. The Dueler H/P Sport AS from Bridgestone is a versatile all-season touring tire with a sporty twist. Please don’t hesitate to let us understand if you’ve come across any similar or better tires in your travels; we’re always eager to learn more from you.
See more at: How To Choose The Tires About Technique For your SUV
What We Should Consider When Buying All-Season Tires For SUVs
Every season has the same primary goal: to get you from point A to point B every day of the year. All-seasons must aspire to be the all-around choice, from low-slung performance guns to monstrous heavy-duty trucks, but that doesn’t mean some varieties can’t accomplish specific duties better than others. Here are a few distinct disciplines where an all-season tire might set itself apart to better fit your SUV or crossover.
Types of All-Season Tires For SUVs
- Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake: All-seasons with a “3PMSF” will often have better winter capabilities than normal touring all-seasons, as indicated by this symbol. High-silica rubber compounds, bigger tread blocks, and an abundance of the siping combine to resist hardening in the cold, expel moisture, and grab at the snow. They’re frequently touted as options for those who drive in the snow but not enough to necessitate a specialist winter tire. Winter rubber can essentially perform the same thing as 3PMSF all-seasons, but with more impact in thicker snow and colder weather. The cost of being less smooth and durable in hotter temperatures, as the rubber becomes too soft and hence unsuitable for year-round use.
- Touring: All-season touring vehicles are designed for long life, efficiency, and highway cruising. Some may have greater speed ratings and are designed with highway stability in mind. They’re what you’ll find on most basic passenger cars right out of the factory, and they often make no claim to improved off-road, high-performance, or snow driving. They may have strengthened sidewalls and tread blocks for longer wear and lower rolling resistance for improved gas mileage. Premium brands may use cutting-edge technology to deliver on these promises, such as reduced road noise or a smoother ride. In most cases, dry and wet weather traction is average, which is to say that it is perfectly suitable for most drivers in good weather. While some tires perform better in the snow than others, you should use caution if you insist on using them. We would personally recommend keeping winter rubber on hand or looking at 3PMSF all-seasons for them.
- High-Performance: It only makes sense for tire manufacturers to produce tires to complement utility vehicles with leviathan V8s or twin-turbocharged works of whimsy mixed with handling that puts sport sedans to shame. Performance all-seasons, which are most usually found on luxury models, will employ the latest tire technology to continue to give remarkable year-round traction with the dry grip of a sports vehicle. They’ll still have improved tire compositions and increased siping to help with light snow, so fans can still enjoy their hot-hatch-on-stilts in the winter. Expect the thinnest sidewalls, which will improve steering response but at the expense of ride quality. They’ll usually be the most expensive of the lot due to their performance and technology.
Related post: Best All Terrain Tires For Snow – Top 10 Best Snow Tires
SUV All-Season Tire Key Features
- Tread Pattern: This is the lovely pattern cut into the surface of your tire that determines how it performs. All of those cuts and grooves have meaning. Therefore you should look at how each tread pattern is made. What is the depth of the channels? How wide are the grooves that run around the tire’s circumference? Are they directed in nature? Tires with deep grooves and channels that are heavily siped (those tiny, thin cuts) will frequently evacuate moisture better and grasp at the snow to preserve grip in the winter. Directional tires can help you get rid of moisture faster, but they may limit your ability to rotate them because they work best when rolling in one direction.
- Rubber Compound: The rubber composition has a significant impact on how well your tires grip. Softer compounds, such as those used in winter or some high-performance tires, provide better grip but at the cost of increased frictional drag, which affects fuel economy and increases road noise. Firmer compounds may produce less rolling resistance and boost efficiency, but they may also result in slightly stronger ride quality and less grip. Most all-season and winter tires include a specific filler substance called silica, which has the unique ability to create a “just right” composition for inclement weather. When combined with standard rubber fillers, it softens the total compound significantly, allowing for useful traction as temperatures decrease. Some premium touring tires use the material as well to help give a more comfortable ride.
- Sidewall: The sidewall’s structure impacts everything from longevity to ride comfort and even steering feel, making it a key component in judging a tire’s performance. Sidewalls can be reinforced to prevent shredding in off-road tires or bending in extreme cornering in sports cars, which is a victory in the books. Stronger sidewalls can also sustain higher air pressures, which may be beneficial to large SUVs that occasionally tow furniture or even a trailer. Shorter sidewalls or those with a firmer structure produce a harsher ride, but the reduced flex can help with steering responsiveness and convey additional steering feel. Taller sidewalls can essentially operate as an extension of the suspension system, absorbing more of the road’s hard bumps.
SUV All-Season Tire Pricing
On several mid-size to full-size crossovers and SUVs, many of the tires on our list cost between $900 and $1,100 for a set. 18-inch to 20-inch wheels are the most common. A collection of specialized models from premium brands like Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season Plus starts at around $900 for the cheapest set and quickly rises to over $1,500. Most compact to mid-size crossovers may get by with a set of less expensive tires for under $800. Reduce the price of a group of Sumitomo Touring LX T to far under $700 in the case of our Best Value winner. You should be able to find some rubber for most 16-inch to 18-inch wheels in those pricing ranges.
Conclusion
Choosing tires isn’t always straightforward. The most crucial thing is that you understand your driving needs (at the absolute least) and why certain tires are better than others. Knowing which tires operate best in different scenarios can not only improve the performance of your car but would also save you money and time in the long run. A decent rule of thumb is to put a lot of money and thought into the items that come between you and the earth.
