Best Tires for SUVs (2026)

The 225/60R17 is one of the most common fitments for compact and mid-size crossover SUVs — RAV4, CR-V, Equinox, and comparable models — which is why this CrossClimate2 size earns Best Overall: it fits the largest category of SUV buyers on the road today. At $149.99 per tire, it's $39 less than the 225/65R17 CrossClimate2 also on this page, identical tire technology at a lower price point for the more common size. The 3PMSF certification is the capability gap versus the Michelin Defender2 at $164.99: the Defender2 offers a longer 80,000-mile warranty but lacks the winter certification, while the CrossClimate2 carries a 60,000-mile warranty and meets the same snow threshold as dedicated winter tires. For SUV owners in snow-belt states who want one tire set year-round, the 3PMSF spec makes the CrossClimate2 the logical choice over the Defender2 regardless of the $15 per-tire price difference.

Electric SUVs weigh 400-800 lbs more than their gasoline counterparts due to battery packs — a Mustang Mach-E runs roughly 600 lbs heavier than the equivalent Escape, and the Rivian R1S approaches 7,000 lbs. Standard all-season tires wear faster under this load; Michelin engineered the Defender2 with load distribution specifically calibrated for this weight range. The 80,000-mile warranty is the proof point: it's only achievable because the rubber compound and casing are designed to sustain heavier-than-average loads over time. For gas-engine SUVs, the Defender2 still offers the best longevity on this page — 80,000 miles is 20,000 more than the CrossClimate2. The trade-off: the Defender2 is M+S rated rather than 3PMSF certified, meaning it's tested for light snow but not to the same standard as a dedicated winter tire. Buyers in mild-snow climates choose Defender2 for longevity; buyers in heavy-snow regions choose CrossClimate2 for winter capability.

Truck-based SUVs and full-size crossovers often require larger tire footprints than the 225/60R17 CrossClimate2 that earns Best Overall on this page — this $188.99 version covers those fitments. The tire technology is identical: same 3PMSF winter certification, same V-formation wet channeling, same 60,000-mile warranty, in a size that fits Highlanders, Pilots, Suburbans, and similar larger-platform SUVs. At $188.99 versus the smaller CrossClimate2 at $149.99, the $39 premium is purely a function of size — more rubber, higher manufacturing cost, same performance. The decision is straightforward: if your vehicle requires this fitment, this is the CrossClimate2 to buy. If your vehicle fits the smaller 225/60R17, the $149.99 version is the better purchase for identical capability. Both earn the 3PMSF certification that distinguishes Michelin CrossClimate2 from the Defender2 and Continental options on this page.

The Continental PureContact LS's M+S rating — Mud and Snow, not 3PMSF — defines its target buyer: SUV owners in the Southeast, Southwest, and Pacific Coast who encounter rain and mild winter weather but rarely drive in heavy snow. For this buyer profile, the PureContact LS's 70,000-mile warranty and EcoPlus fuel economy rating are more relevant than winter capability that will never be needed. The 70,000-mile warranty sits between the Michelin Defender2's 80,000 and the CrossClimate2's 60,000 — Continental's position is that you get Michelin-comparable longevity for slightly less ($162.91 vs $164.99 for the Defender2) with better highway ride quality. The quiet, smooth ride Continental engineers into the PureContact LS is most apparent on long highway commutes — drivers logging 20,000+ miles per year on the highway consistently cite this as the defining advantage over both Michelin options on this page.

The Goodyear Assurance earns rank 5 on this page because the three Michelin options and Continental each outperform it on at least one meaningful metric: the CrossClimate2 has 3PMSF winter certification, the Defender2 has an 80,000-mile warranty, the Continental has better ride quality and 70,000-mile coverage. The honest argument for Goodyear is simple: $174.99 per tire for 65,000 miles of reliable all-season performance without the Michelin brand premium. For SUV drivers in mild-climate states who rarely see snow and replace tires every 5-6 years regardless of wear, the Michelin features they'd be paying for never get used. Goodyear's 65,000-mile warranty falls in the middle of the pack — better than the CrossClimate2's 60,000 and worse than the Defender2's 80,000 — and the tire delivers solid wet and dry traction in the rain and light snow that most all-season SUV drivers actually encounter. Choose Goodyear when you want reliable tires without the premium that comes with Michelin's reputation.