• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

TireTerrain

  • Home
  • Comparisons & Reviews
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Home » Comparisons & Reviews » Best Tires for SUV

Best Tires for SUV

January 3, 2023 by Emrecan Gurkan Leave a Comment

  • A short note here: As a former Bridgestone engineer, I strongly recommend checking Discount Tire - Treadwell out. Now, you can effortlessly get recommendations based on value, performance, and local favorites without going to the Discount Tire store.
    TRIED & TRUSTED!

Picking the best tire for an SUV is challenging. Due to their high-torque engines and heavy internal structures, luxury SUVs need durable and reliable tires. In this article, as a former Bridgestone engineer, I choose the best tires for your luxury SUV. No worries, I didn’t forget to put good-looking into consideration. Let’s begin!

Longevity and comfort are the first conditions for being a part of this list.

At a Glance

  • Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 – 18”, 20”, 22” rim sizes – Best All-Round Tire
  • Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S  – 18”, 20”, 22” rim sizes – Best On/Off Road (Mainly Highway)
  • Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV – 18”, 20”, 22” rim sizes – Best Winter Traction
  • Falken Wildpeak AT Trail  – 19” rim size – Best On/Off-Road Tire (Best for Adventure)
  • Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 Plus  – 21” rim size – Best Performance Tire (Dry & Wet Regions)
  • Vredestein Wintrac Pro  – 21” rim size – Best Winter Comfort

Table of Contents

What are the Sizes?

In this article, you will find the best tires on 18”, 19”, 20”, 21” and 22” rim sizes. 18”,20” and 22” are common sizes. However, 19” and 21” isn’t available for every pattern. Thus, I will divide this article into two pieces.

  • Best tires for 18”, 20” and 22” rim sizes
  • Best tires for 19” rim size
  • Best tires for 21” rim size

Note: All the tires in this list have an H or higher speed rating!

Best Tires for 18'' , 20'' and 22'' Rim Sizes

These are the most popular sizes among luxury vehicles. Though worth reminding, you should pay attention to the load and speed index before buying the tire. I will share brief information about tire selection at the end of this article.

Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 - Best Touring All-Season Tire

Scorpion AS Plus 3 is Pirelli’s last-generation all-season touring tire. It’s my pick because of its wide application range. This tire is available on 17”, 18”, 19”, 20” and 22” inch rim sizes. While offering a smooth and relatively quiet ride, Scorpion AS Plus 3 also has long-lasting rubber. Moreover, Pirelli built this tire only for North American drivers. They know what you expect and what to present!

@pirelliusa

As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 is a smooth and quiet tire. It has massive traction ability. Due to its wide circumferential grooves and open shoulder blocks, it’s a beast on wet ground. Moreover, Pirelli’s unique compound selection made this tire the long-lasting one in its segment. Even though it doesn’t fail in winter(beast on light snow), though worth reminding, its ice and deep snow performance are limited(8 out of 10). 

You can confidently use this tire in every application but off-road.

Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S - Best On/Off Road Tire

Discoverer AT3 4S is Cooper’s all-terrain tire. The good news is it’s pure American. This tire has AT3 LT and AT3 LTX versions. Those tires have better durability. Yet, they’re not smooth as AT3 4S. You can click here to see a detailed comparison between these three. Cooper AT3 is a solid tire. Yet, it has some disadvantages due to being an all-terrain tire. Let’s dig into it!

Good looking all-terrain tire

In summary, Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S is cozy and extremely durable but slightly noisy compared to the other tires in this list. Well, that’s what you should expect from all-terrain tires. Due to its intense sipe ratio, it has huge traction on wet grounds. Moreover, its winter capability is huge. What I like most about this tire is the steering response. It has an extremely quick steering response that is highly important for high-speed vehicles. Even though you won’t need it, worth reminding that, this tire isn’t usable for severe off-roading like rock crawling and deep-mud riding.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV - Best Winter Tire

Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV is Nokian’s winter tire. Nokian is known for its success on winter tires. This Finnish company is highly familiar with winter conditions. Well, that’s the reason beyond Nokian’s success. This tire can reduce the road noise like no others. Moreover, they trust their sidewall design so much and they replace your tire in case of any sidewall failure.

Winter Beast!

In summary, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV is unbeatable in winter conditions. Due to its sticky but durable rubber, it can grip ice and snow with ease. Moreover, this tire isn’t noisy like other winter tires. It has alpha-plus tread life for a winter tire. There is no negative comment from my side.

Note: Winter tires wear quickly if you use them over 7 Celcius degrees.

Best Tires for 19'' Rim Sizes

Availability isn’t a big issue for 19” rim sizes. Some of the tires in the above section are also available for 19”.

  • Best tire for winter – Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV
  • Best touring all-season tire – Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3

Falken Wildpeak AT Trail - Best On/Off Road Tire

Wildpeak AT Trail is the Falken’s on/off-road tire. What I like most about this tire is it’s designed only for CUVs and SUVs. Therefore, it has a massive handling ability. Moreover, it has 3PMSF which means it can handle severe winter conditions with ease.

Highest-rated all-terrain SUV tire

In summary, Falken Wildpeak AT Trail is a perfect tire if you wanna put an aggressive look on your vehicle. It has solid wet and dry performance. Due to its well-optimized pattern, it’s quiet and comfy. It has long-lasting rubber and Falken supports this feature with 65,000 miles treadwear warranty. Moreover, it has a unique winter performance unless you use it on deep snow. However, its off-road capability is limited. You can use Falken Wildpeak AT Trail(review) on any mild off-road without hesitation.

Note: 19” rim size is generally used on small SUVs and CUVs. If you have a big SUV like Infinite QX80, I don’t recommend using it.

Best Tires for 21'' Rim Size

This section is what makes this article unique. 21” is a rare size. Even dealers supply this size upon request. So, if you want to return it due to dissatisfaction, you should wait for a long time. No worries, I will relieve you from this process.

Note: All-terrain tire market is highly narrow for 21” rim size. In fact, I don’t even evaluate these tires as an all-terrain. Thereore, I will remove all-terrain section for 21”.

Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 Plus - Best All-Season Tire

Extreme Contact DWS06 Plus is Continental’s all-season tire. Actually, this tire has been released as an ultra-high performance tire. That’s the reason you can find it on 21”. No worries, it doesn’t have wear life and noise problem like other ultra-high performance tires.

All-season tires perform best over 7 Celsius degrees

In summary, Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06 Plus offers highly cozy ride. Moreover, it’s exceedingly quiet for its aggressive design. Its wet performance is as good as its dry performance(imagine the dry performance of the UHP tire). Even though it has the best grip, its rubber also lasts long as summer tires. Regarding light snow, it meets any customer expectations. Yet, ice and deep snow aren’t their expertise.

Note: These tires have weak sidewalls. For this reason, I don’t recommend using them on loaded applications and under severe conditions. The highway is its best usage.

Vredestein Wintrac Pro - Best Winter Tire

Wintrac Pro is Vredstein’s performance winter tire. This tire is unique due to its movement capability even in hardest winter conditions. The bonus point is it looks like beast. I love it!

Due to its v-shaped pattern, it offers decent wet performance

In summary, Vredestein Wintrac Pro has very good dry and wet traction. Moreover, its ice traction is extraordinary. Due to its very-well optimized pattern, it wears evenly and that feature increases its tread life significantly. However, it has a bit firm ride and tends to produce slight road noise from time to time. Still, I strongly recommend it if you like to use your vehicle at high speed. It has trustworthy handling and steering response.

Specs

Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3Vredestein Wintrac ProFalken Wildpeak A/T TrailNokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUVContinental Extreme Contact DWS06 PlusCooper Discoverer AT3 4S
CategoryCrossover/SUV Touring All-SeasonPerformance Winter/SnowAll-Terrain TireCrossover/SUV Winter TireUltra High Performance All-SeasonAll-Terrain Tire
VehicleSUV, CrossoverSUV, Crossover, sedans, coupesLight Truck, SUVSUV, CrossoverSUV, Crossover, sedans, coupesLight Truck, SUV
Available Sizes (Rim)17”, 18”, 19”, 20”, 22”17”, 18”, 19”, 20”, 21”, 22”16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 19”, 20’’, 21”16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 19’’, 20”, 21”, 22”15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20”, 22”
Made InUSANetherlandsThailand or ChinaFinlandUSAUSA
Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF)NoYes (3PMSF)Yes (3PMSF)Yes (3PMSF)NoYes (3PMSF)
Warranty (P-metric)70,000 MilesN/A65,000 MilesN/A50,000 Miles65,000 Miles
Warranty (LT Sizes)N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A65,000 Miles
PricesCheck price section to see best possible pricesCheck price section to see best possible pricesCheck price section to see best possible pricesCheck price section to see best possible pricesCheck price section to see best possible pricesCheck price section to see best possible prices

Price

The tire market has a dynamic price policy. Hence, in my point of view, sharing tire price is pointless.

Though, I’ve analyzed the top 10 brands of most popular tire brands.

Here are the dealers with a reasonable price range,

DiscountTire

  • Biggest dealer in the US. Founded in 1960
  • 1000 stores in 35 states. You most probably find one on your parallel street
  • Free rotation and balancing
  • 5% off for DiscountTire cardholders on online purchase
  • Highest rated online tire dealer in Consumer Affairs
  • Almost all brands are available
  • Delivery takes 2-4 days (30% shorter average waiting time when you book online)
  • Frequent discounts and promotions

Pirelli Scorpion A/S Plus 3: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/pirelli-scorpion-all-season-plus-3

Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-at3-4s

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/nokian-tire-hakkapeliitta-r3-suv

Falken Wildpeak AT Trail: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/falken-wildpeak-a-t-trail

Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 Plus: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/continental-extreme-contact-dws-06

Vredestein Wintrac Pro: Not available

TireRack

  • Fast and Free shipping
  • Usually delivered in 1 day
  • Joint venture with DiscountTire(their installers and dealers are on your service)
  • Tons of installer options, they also help you to choose the best one
  • Mobile installers in many areas, your tires will be replaced while you’re working in the office
  • Tire test results and comparisons can be found on the most product page
  • 4.6/5 points on Google rate

Pirelli Scorpion A/S Plus 3: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/pirelli-scorpion-as-plus-3

Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/cooper-discoverer-at3-4s

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV: Not available

Falken Wildpeak AT Trail: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/falken-wildpeak-a-t-trail

Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 Plus: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/continental-extremecontact-dws-06

Vredestein Wintrac Pro: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/vredestein-wintrac-pro

SimpleTire

  • Free shipping
  • Delivered in 2 days
  • Verified shops near you(for mount and balance)
  • Mobile installation option
  • 7 million customers since 2021
  • 4.7/5 points on Google rate
  • Top-notch customer service, you may even request a price match

Pirelli Scorpion A/S Plus 3: https://simpletire.com/brands/pirelli-tires/scorpion-all-season-plus-3

Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S: https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/discoverer-a-t3-4s

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV: https://simpletire.com/brands/nokian-tires/hakkapeliitta-r3-suv

Falken Wildpeak AT Trail: https://simpletire.com/brands/falken-tires/wildpeak-a-t-trail

Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 Plus: https://simpletire.com/brands/continental-tires/extremecontact-dws06

Vredestein Wintrac Pro: https://simpletire.com/brands/vredestein-tires/wintrac-pro

While choosing dealers, I especially pay attention to reliability. All of the dealers on this list have 15-20 years of experience in the online tire business. Therefore, I can guarantee a smooth and fast tire buying process.

I highly recommend checking the below pages out before making any purchase:

  • DiscountTire Deals:
    https://www.discounttire.com/promotions
  • TireRack Deals:
    https://www.tirerack.com/specialoffers
  • SimpleTire Deals:
    https://simpletire.com/tire-deals

What are High-Torque SUVs?

Even though most SUVs have a powerful engine, some SUVs stand out in this regard. While preparing this, these vehicles were my reference point. So, if the tires can handle these beasts, they can handle any other SUVs on the market. Well, here are my reference vehicles,

  • Lexus LX570
  • Mercedes-Benz G550
  • Mercedes-Benz G63
  • Toyota Land Cruiser
  • Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  • Audi A8
  • BMW X5

The list can be expanded with other vehicles like Cadillac Escalade or Lamborgini Urus. However, these are the most popular ones.

Conclusion

I’d like to state one crucial point before coming to the end. Tire sizes, load index, and speed index change from vehicle to vehicle. These metrics are highly important for a safe ride. You may also put the below points into consideration for a better selection.

Let’s narrow your choices down,

  • If you’re an SUV owner and Michelin lover, I highly recommend checking the ‘Best Michelin Tires for SUV‘ out. You can find masterpiece suggestions that are classified by needs.

Take-Home Points,

  • LT sizes have stronger sidewalls. That feature makes them more durable. Yet, these tires offer a rougher ride. (LT vs P-Metric tires)
  • XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you’ll go with p-metric sizes, they might be a better pick for hauling and towing( XL vs SL tires)
  • Please pay attention to the load range and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
  • There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires

A side note here: If you’d like to get local advice and find the best fit for your driving habits, location, and road conditions DiscountTire – Treadwell Tire Guide can give you masterpiece recommendations.

I hope this article was helpful for those who need it. If you need further help, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Have a safe ride folks!

Guide Me Bruh!

This section contains my research and top picks. Depending on your need, you may choose a category and easily find the best fit for yourself. Remember, nobody knows your driving conditions and requirements better than yourself. You’re in the charge out here.

Start Here:

Top-Notch All-Season Tires

  • Michelin Primacy Tour A/S Review
  • Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive Review
  • Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra Review
  • Goodyear Assurance MaxLife Review
  • Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack Review

Blue-Ribbon All-Weather Tires

  • Firestone WeatherGrip Review
  • Michelin Crossclimate 2 Review
  • Nokian WRG4 Review

Real Bargain All-Season Tires

  • Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring A/S Review
  • Starfire Solarus AS Review
  • Kumho Crugen HP71 Review
  • Fullway HP108 Review
  • Waterfall Tires Review
  • Goodyear Eagle Touring Review
  • Goodyear Assurance All-Season Review

Top-Notch Performance Tires

  • Pirelli P Zero Review
  • Pirelli P Zero Nero All-Season Review
  • Pirelli P Zero All-Season Plus Review
  • Pirelli P Zero M+S Review

High-End Tires by Category

  • Best All-Terrain Tires
  • Best Rugged-Terrain Tires
  • Best Mud-Terrain Tires
  • Best All-Season Tires for Snow
  • Best Tires for Snow Plowing
  • Best Semi-Truck Tires

Blue-Ribbon Tires by Vehicles

  • Best Tires for SUV
  • Best Tires for 3/4-ton Trucks
  • Best Tires for Range Rover Sport
  • Best Tires for Tesla Model 3
  • Best Tires for Chevy Suburban
  • Best Tires for Mercedes ML350

Be a Professional

  • Get the Longest Life from Your Tires
  • Can I Replace Just One Tire?
  • How to Read Tire Size?
  • How Long Can You Drive on a Spare Tire?
  • Tire Wear Patterns
  • How to Check Tire Tread Depth with Penny?

Filed Under: Buyer's Guide to the Best Tires Tagged With: best tires, SUV

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Find Tires

About Me

Hey, It's Emre. Industrial and Civil Engineer, former Bridgestone field test inspector. In love with being an overlander. Bigger is better moonie! Read More…

Contact Channels

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

High-End Tires by Category

Best All-Terrain Tires

Best Rugged-Terrain Tires

Best Mud-Terrain Tires

Best All-Season Tires for Snow

Best Tires for Snow Plowing

Best Semi-Truck Tires

Categories

Copyright © 2023

  • Disclaimer
  • About Me
  • Contact

List of current deals I found:

DiscountTire - $110 instantly off sets of 4 BFGOODRICH® & MICHELIN® tires (Ends June 11, 2023)