One thing to keep in mind when choosing tires is to never replace just one or two at a time. The best way to get the most bang for your buck is buying the full set, or all four tires, at once. Tires improve the safety of your SUV and may improve your fuel economy as well. If it is time to purchase a new set of tires for your SUV, here is a look at some of the best tires you can buy.
Best Highway Tire
Living in a place with mild weather can be beneficial when it comes to buying tires. Rather than needing a new set of tires that will make it through a harsh winter, you only need to worry about purchasing tires that perform great on the highway. There are two equally great SUV tires for highway driving: Michelin LTX M/S2 and Bridgestone Duravis R500 HD.
Michelin LTX M/S2 is one of the best in its category -- not only does it have hydroplane resistance, but it also assists in dry traction, cornering stability, and has better steering resistance. Plus, this tire reduces the noise in the cabin of your SUV while also improving your ride quality. The MSRP is $165 per tire.
The Bridgestone Duravis R500 HD is an all-weather tire, so it can also handle a bit of light snow if you ever get a dusting of winter weather. The treadwear is superior when compared to other tires. This means you will get more miles out of the tires as long as you rotate them on a regular basis. Some customers have even reported plenty of tread after driving 40,000 miles. The MSRP starts at $191.99 per tire.
Best Winter Tire
If you have harsh winters to prepare for each year, a good tire can mean the difference between a car accident and a close save. The two best tires in this category are the Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 and Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1.
Michelin makes the list again with its Latitude X-Ice Xi2 tire model. Most people who purchase these tires state that they’d definitely buy them again. Light to moderate snow allows this tire to really shine. Not only does it provide more control, but you’ll also have a quieter ride and better fuel economy. The only downfall is that this tire isn’t the greatest with heavy, deep snow. The Latitude X-Ice Xi2 pricing will vary depending on your vehicle model.
The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 is designed with SUVs in mind. Not only can you drive through the snow with this tire, but you can also drive in heavy rain and ice. It provides more stability and steering so you can navigate your way home during bad weather of any kind. The Blizzak DM-V1 also reduces noise in the cabin, increases ride quality, and has a long lifespan. The MSRP of the Blizzak DM-V1 is $144.99 per tire.
Pricing and Cost Comparison
Each of these tires can be quite costly at $150-$220 per tire. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will have to pay that much. One of the best ways to cut down on cost is to compare prices from different tire shops around town. While one shop may quote $200, another may quote only $150. That’s a total saving of $200 for a whole set!
Another way to save on price is to visit discount tire locations or websites like Groupon. Groupon may have a coupon you can use at a store near you that gives you savings of up to $150 when you purchase a full set of tires. Browse for tire coupons and ask each tire store if they have any ongoing sales at the moment.