Best Tires for SUVs

Loved for their ride height, space, and practicality, SUVs are more popular than ever. However, SUVs place more pressure on their tires because of their higher center of gravity. The added weight and cornering forces from the driving demands of an SUV require that a tire perform at a specific level. Unfortunately, SUV owners usually only look at tire prices and tread life warranties before purchasing a new set. But having the best tires for your SUVs is one of the most important things for you, your family, and any road-sharing driver's safety.

What to consider when buying tires for your SUV

Perhaps the biggest mistake consumers make is choosing the wrong tire. Tires can all look alike; they are round, made of rubber, and have tread, but not all tires are created equal. And since they are your vehicle's most important safety feature, buying the right tire is essential. When it comes to tires for your SUV, you can look at all-season, mud terrain, all-terrain, or snow & winter tires. So what are the best tires for SUVs? Well, that depends on your climate, the SUV you have, and where you will be driving it.

The best tires for SUV

All-season tires

The most popular tire category is all-season tires because they provide balanced performance. They perform well in warm and cold temperatures, provide a comfortable ride, and offer good handling. So what do we consider the best all-season tires for SUVs? The Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3, provides exceptional wet and dry traction, responsive steering, and high-speed stability. The Scorpion All Season Plus 3 also offers excellent braking response times. However, one of its biggest selling features is its extended tread life, and its 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Another strong all-season tire option is the Yokohama Geolandar CV G058. It offers exceptional performance in all weather conditions, responsive steering, and a quiet ride. One notable feature of the Geolandar CV G058 is the hundreds of 2D and 3D sipes that enhance traction in wet, dry, and light snow conditions. This tire also has an extended tread life and comes with a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Mud terrain tires

All-season tires are great on highways and streets in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions but not so much in an off-roading situation. So if off-roading is your thing, you may want to consider mud tires. They have the most aggressive tread pattern of any category of tires, larger tread blocks, and more durable sidewalls to handle seriously harsh terrain. Mud terrain tires are a good bet when you need a tire that offers more off-road grip to get you out of sticky trail situations. Here are our recommendations when it comes to the best mud terrain tires for SUVs.

The Mickey Thompson Baja Boss M/T is built with deep and wide tread voids to enhance off-road traction. The Baja Boss M/T also has mud scoops that prevent mud from clinging to the tire. In addition, it features a silica-reinforced rubber compound that provides resistance to cuts and chips while improving braking and handling on wet surfaces. This tire is built for extreme mud terrain and offers drivers unparalleled off-road traction.

The Nitto Trail Grappler M/T is another good mud terrain tire that provides performance in all facets of the trail and paved roads. The Trail Grappler M/T is built with a balanced void ratio that efficiently removes mud and dirt for continued off-road traction. In addition, the Trail Grappler M/Ts comes with a 3-ply sidewall that provides added durability to resist punctures.

All-terrain tires

Do you find yourself driving on gravel, dirt roads, ice, and snow? Maybe you're more in need of a hybrid between all-season and mud tires. If so, consider all-terrain tires. This category of tires provides a smooth ride and reliable traction on various challenging terrains. All-terrain tires have reinforced sidewalls that can handle the stresses of uneven off-road driving while supporting vehicles carrying a payload. Below are our recommendations for the best all-terrain tire for SUVs.

For SUV drivers who want an off-road tire specially designed for vehicles that require maximum traction, check out the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail. The Wildpeak A/T Trail will get you out of the most challenging situations, regardless of the driving terrain. With its durable 2-ply polyester construction for protection against sharp rocks and other off-road terrains, the Wildpeak A/T is as durable as they come. In addition, the Wildpeak A/T Trail utilizes a 3D Canyon Sipe Technology to give drivers added traction on wintery roads. With a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty and a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, you can't go wrong.

Another great all-terrain tire option is the (Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme RF12. It has no limitation when it comes to handling the highway or trails. With strength, durability, and comfort, the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12) offers traction on all types of terrain. It features multi-directional grooves and sipes that bite into the road for better traction in any direction. With a next-generation rubber compound that reduces uneven wear and tie bars within the tread blocks to reduce road noises and vibrations, the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12) is another excellent all-terrain tire option.

Snow & winter tires

There comes a point where the rubber compounds used to make all-season, mud-terrain, or all-terrain tires begin to harden and lose traction. This is where a winter tire becomes a better option. Winter tires are built with a softer rubber compound and specialized tread patterns designed for traction on ice and snow. So if you live in a place that experiences extreme cold and the frostiest asphalt, winter tires may be for you. Need to know what the best winter tires for SUVs are? We got you covered, here are our recommendations.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 SUV is a winter SUV tire that provides handling and grip on cold, dry pavement or snow-covered roads. The Hakkapeliitta 10 SUV utilizes Nokian's Double Stud Technology and Eco Stud 10 concepts to increase traction, grip, acceleration, and braking capabilities on icy, slushy, and snowy roads. Nokian's Aramid Sidewall technology guards the tire against damage by cuts, impacts, and potholes to promote an extended tread life. In addition, the Hakkapeliitta 10 SUV is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, meaning it performs in severe winter weather conditions.

If you are constantly facing cold roads, deep snow, and slushy, wet asphalt, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is a great winter tire option. The Blizzak DM-V2 offers excellent performance in all three conditions without compromising handling, braking, and traction. This tire is built with a hydrophilic rubber compound that guarantees grip on slick surfaces and remains soft and grippy as temperatures drop.

Whether you live in warmer or colder climates, we can help you find the best tires for SUVs across the country. Simply pick the tires you want, choose which local tire installer, and then select the appointment time that works best for you. You can also have your tires delivered to your home or a local installer that is not listed. No matter where you live or what you drive, SimpleTire can help get you the best tires for your vehicle and budget with a few clicks of a button.