Best SUV and Truck Tires

Consumer Reports’ testing reveals the tires in several categories that stand out for performance and safety

Jeff S. Bartlett, Consumer Reports Managing Editor, Autos.

By Jeff S. Bartlett
Managing Editor, Autos

Updated October 1, 2026

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Chevrolet Silverado used for testing tires for hydroplaning resistance. — Consumer Reports tests tires year-round, evaluating four-season performance. Here, our Chevrolet Silverado is used to measure resistance to hydroplaning on a specialized section of our track, where we can precisely control water depth.

SUV and truck owners face a challenge in choosing the best replacement tires for their needs, with options ranging from all-season to all-terrain tires. Among tires designed for SUVs and pickup trucks, there’s a wide range of performance characteristics to consider, and marketing messages can make it difficult to distinguish between claims and proven capabilities. That’s where we come in.

"Modern trucks and SUVs demand tires that can handle the rigorous demands of heavy towing and payload hauling while still delivering reliable four-season performance, along with a comfortable and quiet ride,” says Ryan Pszczolkowski, CR’s tire program manager

To help with choosing the right tire, Consumer Reports presents the very best SUV and truck tire models in each category based on our extensive testing.

In this article

How to Choose the Best SUV and Truck Tires
How Consumer Reports Tests Tires
Best SUV and Truck Tires

How to Choose the Best SUV and Truck Tires

When choosing a tire, it’s important to understand which category to focus on. Buying the first set of replacement tires for a vehicle can be straightforward because you can use the ones currently on it as a reference. But if you bought the vehicle used or you previously replaced the tires, check the recommendation in your vehicle’s owner’s manual or the tire information placard found on the driver’s doorjamb to determine the size and type.

How Consumer Reports Tests Tires

Consumer Reports tests more than 40 tire models every year, including those suited for cars, SUVs, and trucks. This massive program involves purchasing, installing, and evaluating about 800 individual tires every 12 months. We test them at our track in Connecticut for wet and dry braking and handling, ride comfort and quietness, and resistance to hydroplaning (when water gets between the tire and the pavement). We perform our snow-traction tests at our Auto Test Center and sometimes in northern Michigan. Ice-braking evaluations are done at a skating rink.

Best SUV and Truck Tires

2017 Tire Testing on Ice with Silverado — CR's ice-braking evaluations are done at a skating rink.

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Jeff S. Bartlett

Jeff S. Bartlett is the managing editor for the autos team at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2005. Previously, Jeff served as the online editorial director of Motor Trend for 11 years. Throughout his career, Jeff has driven thousands of cars, many on racetracks around the globe. Follow him on X: @JeffSBartlett