Consumer Reports experts evaluated 52 tire models for trucks and SUVs from Bridgestone, Continental, Falken, Firestone, Goodyear, Michelin, Nokian, Pirelli, Yokohama, and other manufacturers in our latest round of testing. While many fared well, two brands stood out.
Most of these tested models come in a wide range of sizes to fit small to large SUVs and light-duty pickup trucks. In addition, we have ratings of nine models of all-season tires designed specifically for crossovers/SUVs.
The CR Testing Difference
Our tire ratings are the culmination of up to 14 tests. Most are conducted by an expert team at our 327-acre Auto Test Center in Connecticut.
Track testing reveals how well tires perform on dry and wet pavement, including stopping, handling, and resistance to hydroplaning. Plus, our engineers evaluate ride comfort on bumpy roads at our facility.
We evaluate tread life by driving thousands of miles on a road course in western Texas and use that information, along with the price we paid for the tire, to estimate the cost per 100 miles.
We even check braking on ice at a rink near our test track.
The cheapest tire isn't always the best value. A significant factor in getting a good idea of the true cost over a tire's lifespan is how long it will last before wearing out.
Combined, the data collected and analyzed from this extensive—and exhaustive—test program provides the most comprehensive, unbiased information available to consumers.
Tires for the Whole Year
All-season truck tires are designed to provide good performance in all weather conditions while delivering both a comfortable ride and long tread life. The Continental CrossContact LX20 EcoPlus, Firestone Destination LE 2, Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus, and Michelin Defender LTX M/S hit these targets the best out of the 23 models tested.
The Continental and Pirelli tires offer high levels of dry and wet grip, and the Firestone is a well-rounded performer.
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S has outstanding tread life, but another Michelin tire—the Premier LTX—scored higher, even though it has the shortest tread life in the group. Still, the Defender LTX ranks among the best tires because it has well-balanced all-weather performance and low rolling resistance, which helps improve fuel efficiency.
If the Terrain Gets Rough
All-terrain truck tires are for drivers who spend a lot of time on paved roads but also venture off the beaten path from time to time. These tires generally have a more open tread designed for some off-road grip. We test them on the road, which is the way most people use them.
The Continental TerrainContact A/T is the leader among all-terrain tires, with other high-scoring recommended models available from Michelin, Goodyear, Yokohama, Nexen, and Falken.
When Winter Blows In
Winter/snow tires are useful if you live in an area that has hard-packed snow on the roads throughout the winter or where the roads are routinely icy from repeated freeze-melt-freeze cycles. This is true even if your SUV or truck has all- or four-wheel drive.
These tires typically have extra tread slits—called sipes—and a rubber compound that stays pliable in the cold, which provides for more grip on snow and ice. This added traction often comes with the trade-off that the tread wears faster and provides less grip on clear pavement.
Our top rated winter/snow truck tire is the Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2, followed by the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV and Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2.
