Goodyear SUV Tires

Every winter season I'm asked, "Do I need winter tires on my four-wheel drive vehicle?" Your four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle can indeed see a significant benefit by installing a set of winter / snow tires. 

It's a common misconception that a four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle will not see much benefit from winter tires. This couldn't be further from the truth! The extra traction of four winter tires putting power to the ground is quite obvious in acceleration and cornering. 

Most four-wheel drive owners don't have a problem with getting the vehicle going. An all-wheel drive vehicle equipped with good all-season tires can usually start moving without getting stuck. However, braking is another story.  

A four-wheel drive vehicle with all-season tires can accelerate quicker than a two-wheel drive vehicle in slippery conditions. While this sounds like a good thing, it offers no advantage to braking and can create over confidence. In fact, most four-wheel drive vehicles are actually heavier and take longer to stop in slippery conditions than their two-wheel drive counterparts. A good set of dedicated snow tires make a big difference in braking during winter conditions.  

As illustrated above, you can see how much of a difference winter / snow tires can make in braking, even if you have a 4WD SUV. It could be the difference between rear ending another car at an intersection (or worse). 

I've owned a traditional four-wheel drive SUV (Toyota Land Cruiser) and went from Bridgestone's Dueler A/T REVO 2 all-terrain tires to Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires. Even though the all-terrain tires were quite good in snow, I can tell you from experience that there was quite a difference going to the Blizzaks, especially during braking.  

On my Audi A4, an all-wheel drive sedan, I had the same experience when going from all-season Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires to the Bridgestone Blizzak WS series of tires. The same results applied on my crossover SUV, a Mazda CX-7, when I installed a set of Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1. All three upgrades were on different types of four-wheel drive systems on very different vehicles and all showed the same result: winter / snow tires make a huge difference.

While shopping for winter tires, consider creating a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package to make the changeover even easier!

For optimum snow grip, nothing compares to dedicated winter / snow tires. But, what if you live on the edge of the Snowbelt and need to run one set of tires year-round? Then you're better served by purchasing a set of all-season tires with decent light snow capability. 

How do different all-season tires perform in the snow? Our test team has traveled to Sweden the past few winters to find out. Below are brief recaps of five different all-season categories and how certain tires performed during our time near the Arctic Circle.

Ultra High Performance All-Season Test

In comparing the Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position, Continental ExtremeContact DWS, Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus and Pirelli PZero Nero All Season we found the Continental ExtremeContact DWS to perform best in the snow with the Pirelli finishing a close second. On ice, the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus led the way with Continental's ExtremeContact DWS and Pirelli's PZero Nero All Season coming in next. Bridgestone's Potenza RE970AS Pole Position trailed the others by a fair margin. Complete test results can be found here.

Eco-Focused All-Season Test

When driving on the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422, Continental ProContact with EcoPlus Technology, Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max and Yokohama AVID TRZ we found the Goodyear and Bridgestone options to be tops in the snow and on ice. Goodyear's Assurance Fuel Max delivered impressive results, especially under braking. Yokohama AVID TRZ tires were competitive, but showed lower overall snow traction than the other three tires.

High Performance All-Season Test

The Dunlop SP Sport Signature, Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval AS and Goodyear Eagle GT all offered decent snow and ice performance. The fourth tire in the test, the Yokohama AVID ENVigor, couldn't match the others on both surfaces. It provided a considerably lower level of acceleration, braking and cornering traction. To see how Dunlop's aggressive tread pattern paid a dividend in the snow, read "Testing High Performance All-Season Tires."

Eco-Focused Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season Test

Amongst the Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia, Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology and the Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max, the Bridgestone did the best in the snow with the Goodyear coming in next. When it came to braking on the ice, Goodyear's Assurance CS Fuel Max edged out the Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia. The Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology was fairly easy to control, but showed somewhat lower overall traction than the other two.

Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season Introductory Comparison Test

In assessing the General AltiMAX HP, Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season, Hankook Optimo H727 and Michelin HydroEdge with Green X, the Hankook Optimo H727 performed the best in snow and on ice. It was rather impressive in the snow, delivering very good overall traction and predictable handling. To view results from our test, take a look at "Testing the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season."

In the United States, Volvo made a big change to their game plan by discontinuing the V70 station wagon to focus on the XC70 Cross Country and XC90.

XC90 drivers like the fact they're getting the combination of safety and versatility in an SUV. If there's one quibble, it's a pattern of very average tire wear. Perhaps it's a combination of a higher center gravity and suspension dynamics, but whatever the root causes, many SUV/CUV vehicles wear their tires markedly faster compared to a sedan of similar mass. Therefore, XC90 drivers should also look at wear relative to cost so they can lower their treadwear cost per mile.

Be sure to check your tire size as Volvo used both 235/65R17 and 235/60R18 as Original Equipment. The best choice for your vehicle will depend on the weather conditions you encounter. If you're running the 235/65R17 size and need an all-season option to use year-round, consider the following options: 

• General Grabber HTS
• Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia
• Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season

General Grabber HTS $152*

Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia $158*

Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season $169*

The General Grabber HTS stands out to me because of its wet grip capabilities. It was designed to combine style, comfort, durability and performance in a tire that offers pleasant road manners and a long life, in addition to year-round traction, including in light snow.

When testing the Bridgestone Dueler H/L422 Ecopia, I found it to offer average traction in wet conditions. The tire does provide handling and comfort with a reduced environmental impact. Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia tires are designed to enhance vehicle fuel economy by reducing tire rolling resistance along with the vehicle's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while delivering year-round all-season traction.

Goodyear's Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season's predecessor, the Fortera TripleTred, was successfully used by many Snowbelt drivers. This newer model displayed good emergency handling and decent wet grip during our tests. CS TripleTred All-Season tires feature three unique zones designed to provide all-season traction in dry, wet and wintry conditions.

Installing a set of winter / snow tires is the best option if you experience harsh winter conditions. If you reside in an area where all-season tires are what you need, keep these three options in mind as you search for a combination of treadwear, road manners, wet grip and light snow grip. Getting the right tire will help make your XC90 that much safer.

*Prices subject to change

It will be here before we know it -- winter and snow. Tread depth is critical to winter traction, so if your tires are more than 2/3rd worn out it can be worthwhile to replace them before the snow flies. While dedicated winter tires are the best solution, this does require swapping twice a year. While it is in my opinion the best approach, it is not for everyone. I will explore those solutions in a future post. Today, though, let's look at the best solutions in the all-season categories.

For cars, you should look at the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring  and Michelin Primacy MXV4. Based on survey data, the Goodyear has a slight edge over the Michelin. However, the Michelin has been on the market longer. This means the survey results/reviews feedback we have will show lower tread depths on the Michelin. These are two very comparable options and will both do a great job. Size and speed rating offerings span a wide array.

For trucks and SUVs, I want to explore a couple different options. First from the more traditional Highway All-Season performance category, I would look at the  BFGoodrich Rugged Terrain T/A and the Michelin LTX M/S2 . The Rugged Terrain T/A has a nice, open-block tread pattern to get the critical snow-on-snow traction. The LTX M/S2 and its predecessor have been a favorite amongst consumers for years. As with the car options, neither will disappoint for an all-season solution. The second option I want to explore are the more aggressive all-terrains. Their snow and deep water traction will be superior to the standard highway tires, with some trade-offs in longevity and tread noise. I am going to recommend the Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor and the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO because in some sizes of these two tires, you will get the coveted mountain/snowflake rating. This is an indicator that the tire passed an extra test for snow traction. 

You can shop by vehicle to see which options are available for your vehicle.

Until recently, owners of the Toyota Highlander running 245/55R19 tires had struggled with replacement options. The 2008 Toyota Highlander was the first vehicle to utilize that size and the only option was the Original Equipment. This size was typically found on the limited and limited hybrid trim levels. As we see very frequently with Original Equipment, people weren't happy with them, particularly with the wear. There simply wasn't enough demand perceived by the manufacturers to step in with some of the premium aftermarket solutions. So much so, that we had to move many of our customers into 255/55R19 to open up some different choices. As time marched forward, we have seen the popularity of this size increase and along the way some attractive options have entered the market. 
 

Dunlop Signature CS

Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia

Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season

The Dunlop Signature CS, Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia and Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season are three examples of new entrants in the original size. I am confident these will offer much better solutions than the Original Equipment.

Take a look at what some Highlander owners are saying about these tires:

"Excellent, vehicle rides smooth and handles well." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2004 Toyota Highlander (Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All Season)

"The Bridgestones are a great touring SUV tire with a nice ride and traction for the cost and would recommend them to anyone."  -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2009 Toyota Highlander (Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia)

"Immediately after installing the tires the ride in our Highlander improved dramatically. Tires were quiet and extremely smooth."  -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2008 Toyota Highlander (Dunlop Signature CS)

If you want an option that has a longer track record, it may still be worth considering the alternate size. In this size you'll find the long time favorite Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza. It has maintained a top five ranking in the survey results even after millions of reported miles. The 255/55R19 is just under a 1/2" taller and just under 1/2" wider than the original size. That's a very minor size change and will work well on the Highlander. Again, I feel with the new entries this isn't as attractive as before, but in some situations it may still be worth considering.

In summary, as the market has evolved, some really nice alternatives to the Original Equipment have become available. When your Highlander is in need of replacements, there is less reason to explore alternate sizes than there was before. With all these new options, it's time to start shopping.

Although rising gas prices have pushed many buyers towards cars, SUVs and compact trucks, it's hard to beat the versatility of a 1/2 ton truck. Despite the high prices at the pump, the Ford F-150 still reigns as one of the best-selling vehicles in America.

Even though the F-150 has the capability to haul, tow and work off-road, many F-150 drivers are simply using their trucks for everyday driving and occasional trips to their local home improvement store. If you have racked up a lot of commuting miles on your truck, it may be time for new tires.

Focusing on the 275/65-18 size commonly found on many 2009 Ford F-150s, the following options provide good wet grip, improved overall handling, increased tire efficiency and decent treadwear:  

1. Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology
2. Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza
3. Michelin LTX M/S2

Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology $199*

Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza $218*

Michelin LTX M/S2 $244

The Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology tested well across the board and was particularly impressive during the wet session. Bridgestone's H/L Alenza has comparable strengths but we saw it trail the CrossContact LX20 in wet grip and tire efficiency. With a proven record of combining great treadwear with decent wet and dry grip, the LTX M/S2 is also a good option to consider.

2009 Ford F150 275/65-18 FAQ:

1. I tow moderate loads twice a month, shouldn't I get a LT Load Range E tire? Both standard Original Equipment tires - the P275/65-18 BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A and P275/65-18 Goodyear Wrangler SR-A - are Standard Load P-Metric tires. With each of these tires carrying 2,365 lbs. per tire, a P-Metric Standard Load tire has more than enough capacity.  
    
2. Will an LT Load Range D (8 ply) or Load Range E (10 ply) tire provide any benefit? No, the LT tire will hurt ride quality with its reinforced carcass, lower fuel economy and its heavier rotational weight. As an example, each 275/65-18 LT Load Range E Michelin LTX M/S2 weighs 8 lbs. more than the P-Metric 275/65-18 version.