What Is the Best Tire for an SUV?

Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) achieved enormous popularity in the 1990s and 2000s before rising gasoline prices in the mid 2000s caused much of the glitter to wear off their golden age. Many drivers traded in their long-standing relationships with cars for SUVs because the hefty bulk of these vehicles was considered to be much safer, but many of those same drivers underestimate the importance of the kind of tires upon which they drive their SUV.

Considerations

The most important thing to consider when buying the right tire for a SUV is knowing and sticking with the right load rating and size. This information can be found in the owner's manual or online. Since different SUVs come in different sizes, it is vitally important to buy a tire that is rated specifically for the load of your individual make and model.

Size

A very popular trend among some owners of sports utility vehicles is to buy plus-sized tires. Drivers like the look of these tires, which may be as much as three inches bigger than standard tires, giving the vehicle a more aggressive appearance. As long as these tires have the same load rating as recommended or a slightly higher rating, this is perfectly safe. One of the best plus-sized tires is the Michelin Cross Terrain SUV Truck/SUV Tire.

Effects

The effects of traction become greater as the vehicle becomes heavier. For this reason, it is essential to consider the tread width of a SUV tire. Tread widths on these tires can vary from as little as six inches to more than ten inches. The tread design can make a huge difference in how the load is carried, the speed rating of the tire and how the vehicle handles during skidding. Check the tires of SUVs that are similar to your own when shopping for new tires. For heavy-duty off-road driving, nothing beats B.F. Goodrich's Mud-Terrain T/A tires. Another good choice for tough terrain would be the Pro Comp Xtreme M/T.

Function

The real function of the design of a sports utility vehicle is one that most drivers never taken advantage of: off-road driving. To meet the true function of a four-wheel drive's capability, there has to be a trade-off, and in this case it will be the sacrifice of the life of the tread in order to get better performance. The best tires for conducting off-road driving in a SUV are all-terrain tires that come equipped with a higher load rating.

Features

For SUV drivers who live in more moderate climates and don't engage the vehicle in off-road driving, the best tires are all-season tires. These tires provide excellent traction, combined with long wear on the tread. In addition, all-season tires provide quality performance and a ride that is much more akin to that of a car. Although all-season tires are capable of performing well in light snow and ice, they are not suitable for more extreme weather conditions. Highly recommended all-season tires are the Goodyear Fortera Silent Armor, Dunlop Rover A/T and the Hankook DynaPro AS RHO3, although the latter is not quite as good in snow and ice as the others.

Types

When buying a replacement tire, it is important to purchase the exact same type of tire that is already on the vehicle. If you decide to upgrade to a bigger tire, you will have to purchase all four tires. The reason that driving on identical tires is important is because failure to do so could create braking problems or difficulties with your transmission. SUVs have highly sophisticated computer systems, and the change in balance caused by driving on mismatched tires can cause the computer system to misread the information it relies upon to ensure the brakes and transmission work properly.

Misconceptions

The tires that come already equipped on an SUV are not necessarily the most ideal tires for that vehicle. Those tires are rated for load and speed correctly, but they are also designed for generic driving conditions. What factory-equipped tires do not take into account are such things as whether the vehicle will be used mainly for off-road driving, highway driving or traveling to areas with more extreme weather. Do not assume that the tires that came with the vehicle are the best choice for the kind of driving you will be doing.