Best tires: 5 best all-terrain tires for SUVs and crossovers

SUVs are quickly becoming the most popular vehicles in the United States thanks to their spacious interior, extra storage room, and high quality performance. While most SUVs spend all of their time on paved roads, some drivers are venturing off road with their SUVs (and CUVs!), even buying lifted vehicles or adding a lift kit to their ride. If the latter is the case, drivers need to make sure that their tires are also built to perform on any terrain—that’s where all terrain comes in.

Typically featuring an aggressive tread pattern and reinforced construction, all terrain tires give drivers strong traction and performance on and off road, while also enhancing strength and durability for a higher load carrying capacity and extra confidence against punctures, cuts, chips, tears, and other damage. All terrain tires might be more well known for their use on Jeeps and light trucks, but there are plenty of great options on the market right now for SUVs, and even CUVs.

Here are our top 5 recommendations for great all terrain tires that you should consider for your SUV or CUV:

Toyo Open Country A/T III

The Toyo Open Country A/T III rolled onto the scene in March 2020 and has quickly become one of the best overall tires on the market.

Design

It features a brand new rubber compound and tread design that strengthen off road grip, wet braking, and handling capabilities while also boosting cut and chip resistance. It also utilizes extra lateral grooves to enhance traction on dry, wet, snowy, and off road surfaces and has an evenly distributed void area and open shoulders increase traction on and off road by forcing mud, dirt, stones, water, slush, and melting snow out of the tire—aka all the common hazards faced when driving on and off road. For those seeking fashion and function, the tire is available with outlined White Letter or Black sidewall depending on the tire’s size.

Warranty

The Open Country A/T III is backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for LT metric and flotation, plus a 65,000 mile limited warranty for P/Euro metric sizes.

Price

The Open Country A/T III typically starts at around $125 per tire so a set of four will cost at least $500.

Weather certification

Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified.

TLDR

This tire’s excellent performance, state-of-the-art construction, and longer tread life make it an excellent choice for SUV and CUV drivers who truly want strong performance on any terrain.

Why our customers love it

The tires I purchased, Toyo Open Country A/T III, are really great. I thought with the aggressive tread that they would be loud, but they are quite the opposite. I love to ride with my windows open and there was no tire grinding noise. - Julie

Falken Wildpeak A/T3W

Like the Open Country A/T III, Falken’s Wildpeak A/T3W is one of the best tires on the market today, and that’s largely driven by the tire’s excellent ability to perform any time and in any weather condition.

Design

The Wildpeak A/T3W utilizes a deep tread depth to promote a longer tread life and increase traction and performance] in wet and snowy weather. Rugged and rigid tread blocks boost stability and control off road while also forcing rocks, stones, water, slush, and melting snow out of the tire for consistent traction, and the Wildpeak A/T3Ws features Falken’s exclusive 3D Canyon Sipe Technology to increase handling performance and reduce uneven wear. The Wildpeak A/T3W is commonly used on many of today’s most popular SUVs, such as the Jeep Cherokee, Nissan Frontier, and [Toyota 4Runner][8].

Warranty

Backed by a 55,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for all sizes.

Price

The Wildpeak A/T3W is priced at $137 per tire with a set of four costing at least $548.

Weather certification

Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified.

TLDR

Still wondering if the Wildpeak A/T3W is a good all terrain tire for your SUV? Well, the Wildpeak A/T3W is the tire of choice by Team Falken driver Cole Mamer in the tough Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, who received the Fastest Lap Award for Round 7 in 2020 before finishing as the fastest qualifier, recording the fast lap time, and finishing first overall in Round 8. All this is to say, the Wildpeak A/T3W is truly built to perform at the highest level on the roughest terrains.

Why our customers love it

This is my second set of Falken Wildpeaks on two different vehicles. They have a great look with the aggressive sidewalls. They run quiet on the street and dirt. Awesome traction in all weather. Can't say enough about these tires. - Jeremy

Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus

Pirelli is typically associated with their provision of high quality tires to Formula 1 racing and as the perfect match for high performance cars. But, they’re far more than a racing tire company, and the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus backs that up beautifully.

Design

The Scorpion All Terrain Plus is commonly used on four wheel drive SUVs and light trucks and utilizes a tough, innovative rubber compound that increases resistance to cuts and chips to improve durability and help promote a longer tread life. It features deep grooves with stone ejectors that force rocks, mud, stones, water, slush, and melting snow out of the tread for consistent traction and to protect the casing from damage. It also features alternating tread blocks to further boost traction on and off road.

Warranty

This tire is backed by a 55,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, meaning that drivers can expect plenty of use out of their purchase.

Price

Starting at $141.50 per tire, a set of four Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires will cost at least $566 for a set of four tires.

Weather certification

Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified.

TLDR

With the release of Scorpion All Terrain Plus, Pirelli once again proves that it's a brand synonymous with performance—but not just for high performance vehicles. Your SUV will thank you for giving it a tire that truly performs on and off road.

Why our customers love it

Excellent all around tires much better than the tires they replaced. They are nice and quiet and grip well in the rain and snow. I would buy these again. - Allen

Nitto Terra Grappler G2

Based in California, Nitto is known for their excellent light truck, passenger, competition, and Side by Side (SxS) tires. The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 gives light trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs drivers strong traction and performance on and off road.

Design

Nitto Terra Grappler G2’s reinforced coupling joints increase strength and durability for a higher towing capacity and extra protection when driving off road. Full depth siping throughout the tire improves traction on and off road while also maintaining the tire’s look, and the Terra Grappler G2’s variable pitch tread blocks reduce noises on the highway for a quiet, comfortable ride. The Terra Grappler G2 utilizes staggered shoulder lugs for additional traction off road and features a raised thunderbolt and blade sidewall design so that drivers can select the look that matches or enhances their SUV.

Warranty

Backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for LT metric and flotation sizes, and a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer warranty for hard (Euro) metric sizes.

Price

The Terra Grappler G2 costs at least $143 per tire, with a set of four costing at least $572.

Weather cerification

Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified.

TLDR

Nitto is known for creating excellent tires, and the Terra Grappler G2 gives drivers of CUVs and SUVs (and light trucks and Jeeps) strong traction on any terrain plus the aggressive looks that are needed for your ride.

Why our customers love it

Best tires I have ever had. This is my 3rd set on my Jeep Wrangler.50k plus miles on each set. I have no desire to try any other tire. - Stacy

Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail

While drivers might think of all terrain tires as Jeep, light truck, and (now) SUV specific, some CUV drivers are joining the fun of taking their ride off road by utilizing a lift kit and a set of all terrain tires. One of the best CUV-specific all terrain tire on the market right now is the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail, which blends strong off road performance with consistent on road traction.

Design

The Wildpeak A/T Trail’s unibody construction allows it to handle a CUV’s higher center of gravity while also boosting handling performance. An aggressive sidewall and tough construction protect the tire from rocks, stones, twigs, and other off road hazards, and the Wildpeak A/T Trail utilized Falken’s exclusive 3D Canyon Sipe Technology and deep tread depth to boost traction and performance in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions on paved roads.

Warranty

This tire is backed by a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Price

Starting at $125 per tire, with a set of four costing at least $500.

Weather certification

Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified.

TLDR

The features and construction of the Wildpeak A/T Trail makes it the perfect choice for CUV drivers of cars like Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Crosstrek, and Toyota Rav4.

Why our customers love it

Excellent tire to replace stock tires on my Outback. They're great for light off roading and have survived winter like a champ so far. Have no issues in deep snow or mud so far. Some slippage in water but not too bad and it was a rocky creek I was crossing. Overall, excellent tire. No noticeable road noise or MPG hit either. - Tyler

Not just a hobby

What may have previously been viewed as a hobby for Jeeps and light truck drivers, conquering tough terrains and off roading is becoming more than just a hobby SUV and CUV drivers too. The tire market is answering the trend with the addition of excellent all terrain tires that fit today’s most popular SUVs and CUVs. Whether you drive a Honda CR-V23, Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota Rav4 or some other type of SUV or CUV, SimpleTire has plenty of great all terrain tires that will make your next off road adventure.