2023 Best SUV Tires Tested

Sadly Tire Reviews isn't performing an SUV summer tire test this year, but luckily the German publication AutoBild once again have us covered if you want to know what the best tire is for your SUV!

This year AutoBild tested twelve SUV tires for the crossover SUV segment in the 225/65 R17 tire size.

As usual, all the tires were tested in the dry and wet, and had their rolling resistance and noise / comfort levels graded, but as this category of tire is also intended for some "light off-roading" they tested the twelve SUV tires in mud, sand, dirt and even on wet grass! This means this really is the best test this year you show you what the best tire is for your SUV!

There's a LOT of data from this test, so we won't preface anymore - This is how the best twelve SUV tires fared in the dry, wet, gravel, mud, dirt and sand!

Wet

Wet braking was led by the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV. The Michelin looks a little out of place in this test, the Pilot Sport 4 SUV is an ultra high performance summer tire, and all the other tires in the test are more touring / comfort bias tires. Perhaps the Michelin Primacy 4 would have been a better match for the test, but this does give us an excellent insight into the differences between the two categories of tires.

It should come as no surprise that the Aplus A919 in last place was the cheapest tire on test, but it might be a surprise that the Cooper Zeon 4XS Sport also struggled to stop the car.

The Michelin was also the fastest around the wet handling lap, beating the new Bridgestone Turanza 6.

The Michelin also had the best straight aquaplaning resistance, significantly ahead of all the tires bar the Uniroyal RainSport 5, which usually wins the deep water tests!

Dry

The Pirelli Cinturato P7 managed to beat the Michelin to be best in dry braking, with the Aplus once again trailing the field buy a significant margin.

The more comfort bias Pirelli couldn't hold off the more sporty Michelin during the dry handling test.

Off Road

The dirt handling course was led by Pirelli, with the new Hankook Ventus Prime 4 a close second! 

The next three data points are gravel, sand and mud traction tests, measured as a pulling force. It's important to note that offroad testing is some of the hardest testing in the world, none more so than mud, so worry less about the precise order and more about general trends.

These general trends are that the budget Aplus might not be able to grip on wet roads, but is great on wet grass and in mud but not sand. The General Grabber GT Plus was best in sand but poor on grass... it seems even general trends are difficult with offroad testing!

Environment

External noise is a much easier test, and the Goodyear EfficientGrip 2 SUV proved to be the quietest tire of the group by a huge margin!

The new Bridgestone Turanza 6 continued Bridgestones excellent performance in the rolling resistance tests, leading the Hankook and Uniroyal.

The Aplus was the cheapest tire on test, but this time the Michelin wasn't the most expensive tire of the group, it was the joint most expensive with Goodyear!

Results

View Results as a single table and adjust the score weighting

1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
225/65 R17 106V EU Label: C/A/72	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 2nd +0.6 M 98.3% Dry Handling 1st 100% Wet Braking 1st 100% Wet Handling 1st 100% Wet Circle 1st 100% Straight Aqua 1st 100% Curved Aquaplaning 1st 100% Gravel Traction 1st 100% Dirt Handling 7th -0.6 Km/H 99.1% Sand Traction 10th -1142 N 87.15% Grass Traction 5th -450 N 84.61% Mud Traction 3rd -239 N 92.67% Noise 3rd +1.6 dB 97.68% Price 11th +310 49.18% Rolling Resistance 8th +1.02 kg / t 87.91% Test winner with top driving characteristics on wet and dry roads, exemplary safety reserves in aquaplaning, precise steering behavior, good off-road capability, good comfort. None mentioned. Exemplary. Read Reviews    Buy from £117.59
2nd: Bridgestone Turanza 6
225/65 R17 102H EU Label: B/A/69	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 8th +2 M 94.54% Dry Handling 3rd -0.9 Km/H 99.13% Wet Braking 6th +3.1 M 94.15% Wet Handling 2nd -0.4 Km/H 99.54% Wet Circle 3rd +0.17 s 98.83% Straight Aqua 6th -6.9 Km/H 92.81% Curved Aquaplaning 6th -0.19 m/sec2 93.56% Gravel Traction 2nd -11 N 99.87% Dirt Handling 9th -0.9 Km/H 98.65% Sand Traction 4th -540 N 93.92% Grass Traction 12th -635 N 78.28% Mud Traction 4th -331 N 89.85% Noise 7th +2.1 dB 96.97% Price 9th +270 52.63% Rolling Resistance 1st 100% A new tire with well-balanced performance potential, top performance on wet and dry roads, good off-road qualities, safe aquaplaning properties, fuel-saving rolling resistance. None mentioned. Exemplary. Read Reviews    Buy from £155.90
3rd: Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun
225/65 R17 106H EU Label: C/A/69	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 6th +1.6 M 95.58% Dry Handling 8th -2.9 Km/H 97.19% Wet Braking 5th +3 M 94.33% Wet Handling 8th -2 Km/H 97.7% Wet Circle 11th +0.6 s 96% Straight Aqua 3rd -4.9 Km/H 94.89% Curved Aquaplaning 4th -0.07 m/sec2 97.63% Gravel Traction 4th -125 N 98.49% Dirt Handling 3rd -0.2 Km/H 99.7% Sand Traction 2nd -464 N 94.78% Grass Traction 7th -480 N 83.58% Mud Traction 7th -391 N 88.01% Noise 8th +2.3 dB 96.7% Price 5th +165 64.52% Rolling Resistance 10th +1.17 kg / t 86.38% Good off-road qualities, dynamic off-road handling, good aquaplaning reserves, safe dry handling, short wet braking distances. Average wet cornering grip. Exemplary. Read Reviews    Buy from £91.59
4th: Goodyear EfficientGrip 2 SUV
225/65 R17 106V EU Label: C/A/71	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 7th +1.9 M 94.79% Dry Handling 6th -2.8 Km/H 97.29% Wet Braking 2nd +2.2 M 95.78% Wet Handling 6th -1.6 Km/H 98.16% Wet Circle 6th +0.33 s 97.76% Straight Aqua 5th -5.7 Km/H 94.06% Curved Aquaplaning 5th -0.12 m/sec2 95.93% Gravel Traction 7th -394 N 95.23% Dirt Handling 6th -0.5 Km/H 99.25% Sand Traction 6th -784 N 91.18% Grass Traction 4th -419 N 85.67% Mud Traction 4th -331 N 89.85% Noise 1st 100% Price 11th +310 49.18% Rolling Resistance 9th +1.07 kg / t 87.4% Premium profile with well-balanced, safe driving characteristics, good aquaplaning resistance, short wet braking distances, good off-road capability, good comfort. Slightly higher price level. Exemplary. Read Reviews    Buy from £101.59
5th: Hankook Ventus Prime 4
225/65 R17 102H EU Label: B/A/69	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 4th +0.9 M 97.46% Dry Handling 6th -2.8 Km/H 97.29% Wet Braking 4th +2.7 M 94.87% Wet Handling 5th -1.4 Km/H 98.39% Wet Circle 5th +0.31 s 97.89% Straight Aqua 10th -9.7 Km/H 89.89% Curved Aquaplaning 8th -0.38 m/sec2 87.12% Gravel Traction 8th -469 N 94.33% Dirt Handling 2nd -0.1 Km/H 99.85% Sand Traction 5th -582 N 93.45% Grass Traction 8th -489 N 83.28% Mud Traction 8th -458 N 85.96% Noise 11th +2.9 dB 95.87% Price 7th +185 61.86% Rolling Resistance 2nd +0.21 kg / t 97.25% Good off-road qualities, balanced wet and dry handling, sporty steering behavior, short wet braking distances, fuel-saving rolling resistance. Moderate aquaplaning resistance. Exemplary. Read Reviews
6th: Pirelli CINTURATO P7
225/65 R17 106V EU Label: C/A/70	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 1st 100% Dry Handling 2nd -0.6 Km/H 99.42% Wet Braking 3rd +2.3 M 95.59% Wet Handling 3rd -1.1 Km/H 98.73% Wet Circle 2nd +0.05 s 99.65% Straight Aqua 4th -5 Km/H 94.79% Curved Aquaplaning 3rd -0.04 m/sec2 98.64% Gravel Traction 12th -1125 N 86.39% Dirt Handling 1st 100% Sand Traction 9th -888 N 90.01% Grass Traction 10th -527 N 81.98% Mud Traction 12th -924 N 71.67% Noise 9th +2.8 dB 96.01% Price 10th +290 50.85% Rolling Resistance 7th +0.93 kg / t 88.86% Sporty, dynamic handling with short braking distances on wet and dry roads, good aquaplaning reserves, agile off-road handling. Average mud and gravel traction. Good. Read Reviews
7th: Uniroyal RainExpert 5
225/65 R17 102H EU Label: C/A/71	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 11th +3.3 M 91.29% Dry Handling 11th -5.4 Km/H 94.77% Wet Braking 8th +3.9 M 92.75% Wet Handling 7th -1.8 Km/H 97.93% Wet Circle 9th +0.42 s 97.17% Straight Aqua 2nd -1.4 Km/H 98.54% Curved Aquaplaning 2nd -0.02 m/sec2 99.32% Gravel Traction 5th -161 N 98.05% Dirt Handling 4th -0.4 Km/H 99.4% Sand Traction 3rd -488 N 94.51% Grass Traction 2nd -255 N 91.28% Mud Traction 2nd -57 N 98.25% Noise 5th +2 dB 97.11% Price 6th +175 63.16% Rolling Resistance 3rd +0.25 kg / t 96.74% Top performance offroad, very good safety aquaplaning resistance, well-balanced wet qualities, low rolling resistance, fair price. Moderate grip in the dry. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £93.69
8th: Toyo Proxes Comfort
225/65 R17 106V EU Label: C/A/70	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 5th +1.1 M 96.92% Dry Handling 5th -1.6 Km/H 98.45% Wet Braking 9th +4.8 M 91.22% Wet Handling 4th -1.3 Km/H 98.5% Wet Circle 4th +0.23 s 98.43% Straight Aqua 9th -8.8 Km/H 90.82% Curved Aquaplaning 9th -0.39 m/sec2 86.78% Gravel Traction 10th -742 N 91.02% Dirt Handling 12th -1.5 Km/H 97.75% Sand Traction 11th -1479 N 83.36% Grass Traction 3rd -335 N 88.54% Mud Traction 11th -739 N 77.34% Noise 5th +2 dB 97.11% Price 4th +130 69.77% Rolling Resistance 5th +0.74 kg / t 90.93% Balanced safe handling on wet and dry roads, short dry braking distances, low rolling resistance, low price. Average aquaplaning performance, average offroad performance. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £123.79
9th: General Grabber GT+
225/65 R17 102H EU Label: C/A/71	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 10th +2.6 M 93.01% Dry Handling 10th -4.9 Km/H 95.26% Wet Braking 10th +5.1 M 90.73% Wet Handling 10th -2.5 Km/H 97.12% Wet Circle 10th +0.49 s 96.71% Straight Aqua 7th -8.1 Km/H 91.55% Curved Aquaplaning 10th -0.47 m/sec2 84.07% Gravel Traction 9th -513 N 93.79% Dirt Handling 8th -0.7 Km/H 98.95% Sand Traction 1st 100% Grass Traction 9th -509 N 82.59% Mud Traction 4th -331 N 89.85% Noise 4th +1.8 dB 97.4% Price 8th +210 58.82% Rolling Resistance 4th +0.36 kg / t 95.37% Strengths Well-balanced off-road qualities, strong off-road traction, low rolling resistance. Understeering handling on wet and dry roads, slightly longer dry braking distances. Fair. Read Reviews    Buy from £128.22
10th: Nexen N Fera Sport SUV
225/65 R17 102H EU Label: D/A/71	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 3rd +0.7 M 98.02% Dry Handling 9th -3.4 Km/H 96.71% Wet Braking 7th +3.7 M 93.1% Wet Handling 9th -2.4 Km/H 97.24% Wet Circle 8th +0.38 s 97.43% Straight Aqua 7th -8.1 Km/H 91.55% Curved Aquaplaning 7th -0.31 m/sec2 89.49% Gravel Traction 11th -766 N 90.73% Dirt Handling 11th -1.3 Km/H 98.05% Sand Traction 6th -784 N 91.18% Grass Traction 6th -470 N 83.93% Mud Traction 9th -514 N 84.24% Noise 2nd +1 dB 98.54% Price 2nd +50 85.71% Rolling Resistance 10th +1.17 kg / t 86.38% Short wet and dry braking distances, good traction on sand and grass, low price level. Delayed steering response with significantly understeering handling on wet and dry roads. Fair. Read Reviews    Buy from £134.50
11th: Cooper Zeon 4XS Sport
225/65 R17 102H EU Label: C/A/70	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 9th +2.5 M 93.26% Dry Handling 4th -1.3 Km/H 98.74% Wet Braking 11th +11.2 M 81.67% Wet Handling 11th -2.8 Km/H 96.77% Wet Circle 7th +0.36 s 97.56% Straight Aqua 12th -12.1 Km/H 87.38% Curved Aquaplaning 11th -0.54 m/sec2 81.69% Gravel Traction 3rd -26 N 99.69% Dirt Handling 10th -1 Km/H 98.5% Sand Traction 12th -1656 N 81.36% Grass Traction 11th -592 N 79.75% Mud Traction 10th -688 N 78.9% Noise 12th +3.1 dB 95.6% Price 3rd +120 71.43% Rolling Resistance 6th +0.92 kg / t 88.97% Dynamic dry handling, good traction on gravel, lower rolling resistance. Moderate grip on wet roads, significantly longer wet braking distances, limited protection against aquaplaning. Conditionally recommended. Read Reviews    Buy from £92.49
12th: Aplus A919
225/65 R17 102H EU Label: E/C/71	Test # Difference % Dry Braking 12th +5.7 M 85.86% Dry Handling 12th -5.9 Km/H 94.29% Wet Braking 12th +13.7 M 78.46% Wet Handling 12th -4.3 Km/H 95.05% Wet Circle 12th +0.82 s 94.62% Straight Aqua 11th -12 Km/H 87.49% Curved Aquaplaning 12th -0.6 m/sec2 79.66% Gravel Traction 6th -197 N 97.62% Dirt Handling 4th -0.4 Km/H 99.4% Sand Traction 8th -874 N 90.16% Grass Traction 1st 100% Mud Traction 1st 100% Noise 9th +2.8 dB 96.01% Price 1st 100% Rolling Resistance 12th +2.14 kg / t 77.62% Good off-road qualities, low price. Severely limited safety reserves in the wet and aquaplaning, dangerously long wet and dry braking distances, significantly increased rolling resistance. Not recommended. Read Reviews    Buy from £93.74