Best Tires for a Small SUV

Small sports utility vehicles should be fitted with SUV or light truck tires, which are designed to accommodate the weight of those vehicles and to maximize their performance. There are a number of different models of these tires available for your small SUV, which vary in terms of price as well as suitable driving conditions. Some of the best tires for a small SUV include Pirelli Scorpion ATR, General Grabber HTS, Firestone Destination M/T and Goodyear Fortera SilentArmor.

Pirelli Scorpion ATR

According to ConsumerSearch.com, Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires are the best handling all-terrain tires when it comes to driving on roads. Once they leave the pavement, Pirelli Scorpion ATRs are perfectly capable of conquering mud, hills, gravel and dirt. However, intense off-roading, such as rock-crawling and mud-bogging (driving through deep pools of mud), is not recommended. As of 2009, each Pirelli Scorpion ATR tire costs approximately $125.

General Grabber HTS

According to ConsumerSearch.com, General Grabber HTS tires are not only some of the best tires for a small SUV but also are some of the most affordable at approximately $95 per tire, as of 2009. The all-season tires have excellent maneuverability and breaking capabilities, both on dry and wet roads. However, according to ConsumerSearch, General Grabber HTS tires are not well-suited for driving off-road, so if you are the adventurous type you may want to choose another model.

Firestone Destination M/T

If you plan on taking your small SUV through thick mud or over large, jagged boulders, Firestone Destination M/T tires are the tires for you. According to ConsumerSearch.com, while most serious off-roading tires are bulky and expensive, Firestone Destination M/Ts are compact and affordable at approximately $130 per tire as of 2009. While especially equipped to handle the most sharp and slippery obstacles, these tires also perform fairly well on paved roads.

Goodyear Fortera SilentArmor

According to ConsumerSearch.com, Goodyear Fortera SilentArmor tires--once leaders in the field of all-terrain tires--have lost ground in performance tests as of the late 2000s. Regardless, the tires are still some of the best for small SUVs, especially if you desire a comfortable and quiet ride. One big complaint, however--according to ConsumerSearch--is that the tires lose tread easily and perform poorly on snow and ice. As of 2009, the tires cost about $135 each.