Chevy Tahoe is a common sight on American roads thanks to its ultra-powerful engine, expansive cargo space, and class-leading fuel economy. A user-friendly infotainment system and spacious seating also do their bit to keep this large SUV’s sales numbers strong.
Its serene ride quality also enables the Tahoe to win passengers’ hearts. Unlike many of its competitors, this XXL SUV doesn’t use its size as an excuse for a stiff ride. A redesigned rear suspension system makes sure that you don’t feel tired after a long highway trip.
However, as excellent as the Chevy Tahoe is, not everyone knows how to get the best out of it. Most people aren’t aware that this SUV’s OE tires strike a balance between cost and convenience. The factory tires won’t let you make the most of the above qualities.
For this reason, it’s imperative that you replace the OE tires with high-quality aftermarket models at the first chance you get. This article will help you choose the best tires for Chevy Tahoe. Aside from that, we’ll reveal the criteria we used to pick these models.
#1. Michelin Premier LTX – Best Overall
The Michelin Premier LTX checks many boxes for the average Chevy Tahoe driver. This premium touring tire offers excellent dry and wet performance, best-in-class fuel economy, and extra protection against punctures. Plus, it ensures a refined driving experience on the highway.
A silica and sunflower oil tread compound is why this tire performs reliably in hot and cold weather. Silica gives the rubber the firmness it needs to stay glued to dry tarmac, while the sunflower oil equips this tire with the flexibility needed to stay useful in inclement weather.
Unlike most tires, the LTX won’t suffer a dangerous loss of traction in the last few days of its road life. EverGrip Technology sees to it that brand-new grooves replace their built-in counterparts once the latter wear out, ensuring enhanced traction over the long term.
Its lightweight construction has also dampened the tire’s rolling resistance, enabling it to improve on your Tahoe’s EPA estimated fuel ratings. A tough sidewall has given it the sturdiness to resist punctures. You can count on this tire to stay useful during light off-roading trips.
Unfortunately, while most premium tires are backed for 70,000 miles or up, the LTX only comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty. This is the only area where this tire disappoints.
Pros
- Offers long-lasting dry and wet traction
- Might improve your Tahoe’s fuel economy
- Ensures a refined driving experience
Cons
- Average treadwear warranty for a premium touring tire
#2. Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus – Best Runner Up
The Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus shows why we were disappointed with the Premier LTX’s warranty numbers. Despite coming in the same price bracket, this model is backed for 20,000 extra miles (80,000 vs. 60,000). As such, you can count on it to last much longer.
Its symmetric tread pattern delivers more good news. The tread design has the unique ability to soak up road vibrations and deflect road noise, ensuring a comfortable and quiet driving experience. This is why almost all premium highway tires have a symmetric tread design.
What most highway tires don’t opt for is parallel grooves. Instead, the majority has circumferential channels for water evacuation. But as the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus shows, the side-to-side grooves do an equally commendable job of reducing the risk of aquaplaning.
A continuous center frame and knurled shoulder block guarantee high-speed stability. The frame’s direct connection with the rubber also enables it to take road feedback and deliver it straight to your steering, enhancing this tire’s feedback and responsiveness.
Yet, there are reasons why this tire isn’t our top pick for Chevy Tahoe. The H/L Alenza Plus comes with zero biting edges (sipes) and is thus totally unreliable in snow. Plus, unlike our top pick, this model’s tread compound doesn’t look like it can resist punctures off the highway.
Pros
- 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers reliable year-round traction
- Quiet and comfortable ride
Cons
- Not designed for snow driving
#3. Continental CrossContact LX20 – Best Wet Traction
The Continental CrossContact LX20 has been on the market for almost a decade. A few years after its release, its successor, the LX25, hit the shelves. Yet here we’re, in the third decade of the 21st century, urging Chevy Tahoe drivers to trust the LX20. Here’s why.
The LX20 is one of those few tires that weigh light on your pocket as well as on the environment. That has been made possible by its eco-friendly tread compound, which has reduced this tire’s weight to improve its fuel economy and decrease its carbon emissions.
High-speed stability is another area where this tire shines. Multiple independent tread blocks and a continuous center rib keep it from wobbling on the other side of the speed limit. Still, the moment you put pressure on the accelerator, ride quality will go down.
Like the H/L Alenza Plus, it has parallel grooves for water evacuation. This is surprising given that the tire also has circumferential grooves for the same purpose, giving it something in common with the Premier LTX (our top pick). So, quick water evacuation is guaranteed.
By offering a treadwear warranty of 70,000 miles, this tire literally hits the middle spot between our top two picks, a fantastic achievement for a model released all those years ago.
Pros
- 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Delivers enhanced steering response
- Offers excellent fuel economy
Cons
- Ride quality takes a hit at higher speeds
#4. Cooper Discoverer SRX – Best Touring Tires
The Cooper Discoverer SRX isn’t as famous as the three models you saw above. Neither is this tire as costly as our top three picks. Yet, once you look beyond its lack of fame and competitive asking price, this model has plenty to offer that might excite you.
A high-silica tread compound made with competition-grade resin helps this tire deliver the best of both worlds. The presence of silica helps the rubber behave reliably in hot weather. The resin’s flexibility, meanwhile, rubs on the tire to improve its wet traction.
The fact that it has a stiff sidewall for a touring tire could go both ways. On the one end, it might excite drivers who want more feedback than what regular touring tires deliver, but who don’t want to splurge on performance tires. For them, the SRX will be an excellent choice.
However, for anyone who can feel the tiniest of vibrations inside their vehicle’s cabin, the stiff sidewall is more bad news than good. This model’s ride quality isn’t too far off but is still somewhat poorer than what you expect from premium touring tires.
Lastly, its StabiliEdge Technology helps this model offer supreme high-speed stability. It does that by forcing otherwise disparate blocks to come together during hard acceleration, aggressive cornering, and sudden braking to help this tire offer the added grip crucial in those scenarios.
Pros
- Competitively priced for an all-season touring tire
- Delivers exceptional responsiveness and straight-line tracking
- Very stable at higher speeds
Cons
- Ride quality could have been better
#5. Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max – Best Fuel Efficient
According to EPA estimates, the most fuel-efficient Tahoe trim has fuel economy ratings of up to 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. These are outstanding numbers for a large SUV. Yet you can still improve them by installing a set of Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max tires.
Goodyear’s internal testing found this model’s rolling resistance to be 27% lower than rival tires. The company claims that this should enable the CS Fuel Max to save up to 2,600 miles worth of fuel throughout its lifespan, a remarkable number no matter how you slice it.
All in all, if you’re like most drivers and are worried about rising fuel prices, the CS Fuel Max should be a no-brainer for you. However, if you need more reasons to spend your hard-earned money on this model, look no further than its two specialized tread zones.
This tire’s shoulder blocks feature a Dry Tread Zone for enhanced steering responsiveness and grip in dry conditions. Move inside from there, and the Wet Tread Zone will appear, featuring grooves for water evacuation and sipes or biting edges for reliable performance on light snow.
A 65,000-mile treadwear warranty is another thing that goes in this tire’s favor. After all, it’s 5,000 miles higher than what you get from the Premier LTX. Yet, be sure to note that this model’s steering responsiveness and feedback are below-average for a touring tire.
Pros
- Offers outstanding fuel economy
- Decent amount of grip and traction on dry roads
- Excellent aquaplaning resistance
Cons
- Average steering responsiveness
#6. Michelin Defender LTX M/S – Best Premium Highway Tires
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S is one of the best highway tires on the market for passenger cars, small and large SUVs, crossovers, and even light trucks. In fact, if its asking price wasn’t as astronomical as it actually is, this tire might have featured a few places higher on our list.
An EverTread compound enables this tire to give reliable performance year-round. The compound features the right mix of firmness and flexibility and is, therefore, as useful on scorching summer roads as in wet and dicey conditions, unless you drive it off the highway.
MaxTouch Construction has resulted in a round contact patch that expands as soon as it hits any surface, resulting in better road contact and even tread wear. As you might guess, this translates into better road manners and enhanced treadlife.
Like most premium highway tires, the LTX M/S has a symmetric tread pattern. One that can deflect road noise and absorb vibrations before either of them can disturb passengers sitting in the cabin. The tread pattern also features independent tread blocks for improved performance.
Various 3D sipes or biting edges are also on offer. These biting edges are the reason why this tire can plow through light snow and ice with minimal risk of skidding and slipping. Aside from that, four circumferential grooves help raise this model’s guard against hydroplaning.
Pros
- Comes in a large number of sizes
- Backed with an excellent 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers excellent levels of grip in dry and wet conditions
Cons
- Doesn’t come cheap
#7. General Grabber HTS 60 – Best for Light Off-Roading
The General Grabber HTS 60 has all the attributes to be an excellent companion for the Tahoe Z71. Just as the Z71 comes with multiple off-road-specific features (adjustable air suspension, two-speed transfer case, standard AWD system), the HTS 60 is also designed for rough terrains.
A cut- and chip-resistant tread compound makes it plain that this tire has what it takes to handle uneven and challenging road conditions. However, once you’re back on the highway, this model’s vehicle-tuned tread pattern won’t need much time to recall road manners.
General produces the HTS 60 in two versions. The heavier version is better suited to off-roading and will for hauling and towing heavy loads. That isn’t the case with the lighter versions, which makes them more suitable for the base versions (LS, LT, RST) of this large SUV.
Aside from that, its Comfort Balance Technology ensures that the tire’s ride quality stays adequately comfortable on rough terrains. It is helped in that by the tire’s soundbar, a neat design element General has used to keep excess road noises away from the cabin.
Its 65,000-mile warranty might look average on paper, but it’s beyond excellent for a tire that can handle rough and challenging conditions. What isn’t beyond amazing, though, is this tire’s performance on snow and ice. You’d thus do better to keep it away from wintry roads.
Pros
- Competitively priced
- 65,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers a relatively quiet and comfortable ride in challenging conditions
Cons
- Isn’t a reliable performer on snow
#8. Kumho Crugen HP71 – Best Budget Tires
The Kumho Crugen HP71 offers excellent value for money. This all-season touring tire is as stable at higher speeds as performance tires costing twice as much. The credit for keeping it controllable at the limit goes to its wide center rib, 4 ribs on the shoulder area, and reinforced shoulder blocks.
Wet traction is another area where this tire shines. Circumferential grooves ensure quick and effective water evacuation and aggressive shoulder blocks exploit the dry contact patch for enhanced wet traction. The biting edges, meanwhile, help the tire stay glued to wet roads.
Since your Tahoe’s ride is quite refined to begin with, the HP71’s symmetric tread design will make it even plusher. It will do that by absorbing vibrations and deflecting road noise. The result? Everybody except the driver will have every reason to doze off on a long road trip.
On top of everything else, the HP71 is available in various sizes, meaning you can install it on all but the High Country and ZR71 trims of Chevy Tahoe (both trims come with all-terrain tires).
Pros
- Available in a budget
- Offers commanding dry and wet performance
- Has the ability to enhance your Tahoe’s ride quality
Cons
- Won’t perform reliably in harsh wintry conditions
#9. General Grabber UHP – Best Street/Sport Performance
The General Grabber UHP isn’t your average ultra-high-performance tire. Mainly because your standard UHP model isn’t as reasonably priced as this tire, doesn’t come in 50+ sizes, or remains useful in wet/slippery conditions at high speeds.
A 2nd generation silica tread compound is the driving force behind this model’s excellent dry and wet performance. Yet, like most things in life, it needed support to go the extra mile. That helping hand was offered by the directional tread pattern.
The tread pattern has equipped this tire with an excellent steering response, cornering performance, and high-speed stability. It is also to credit for the Grabber UHP’s braking distances on dry and wet roads, which are the shortest among tires in this category.
Unique V-shaped grooves and wide shoulder blocks join their forces to let you attack corners like you’re angry. This combination gives the kind of cornering grip needed to enter and exit corners at speed, with the V-shaped grooves doubling as water-evacuating channels.
This is not to say that the Grabber UHP has no shortcomings. One of the most common complaints we have heard about this tire is related to its noise. Another issue some people have raised is that it offers zero traction in wintry conditions. Both these problems are a staple of UHP tires.
Pros
- Aggressive and sure-footed cornering performance
- Superb steering response and feedback
- Isn’t astronomically priced like most UHP tires
Cons
Loud
Not suitable for wintry conditions
#10. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 – Best All-Terrain Tires
Whether you are driving the off-road-oriented Tahoe Z71 or intend to test the limits of this SUV’s pricier trims, you could do much wrong than opting for the BFG All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires.
A double-thick tread compound teams up with the Tri-Gard sidewall design to make the T/A KO2 a serious candidate for heavy-duty off-roading. Their combination gives the tire the toughness needed to stay useful in rough conditions as well as to keep punctures at bay.
Side biter lugs help the tire dig into snow and ice to generate the traction it needs to keep going. They also positively impact the T/A KO2’s rock climbing traction, especially when they’re aired down. Mud-buster bars self-clean the tread area from mud particles.
BGG’s internal tests reveal the effects of these design elements. The T/A KO2 boasts 10% higher mud traction and 19% higher traction on snow than the T/A KO, its predecessor. As a result, you can expect the T/A KO2 to be doubly reliable than the model it replaced.
The only complaint one could have about this tire is noise, or the excess of it. The T/A KO2 is one of those all-terrain tires that don’t believe in staying quiet, especially on the highway. So, you’d have to tolerate its loud noise to take advantage of the above features.
Pros
- Offers class-leading snow traction
- Performs reliably on mud, slush, and even rock
- Comes with an exceptional 50,000-mile warranty
Cons
- Might get loud on the highway
#11. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 – Best Winter Tires
The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is one of the best winter tires for Chevy Tahoe. Not only because this model offers reliable performance in sub-zero temperatures. But also because it does all that without relying on studs (metal inserts).
A special tread compound that doesn’t stiffen up in harsh wintry conditions gives this model the stability to go from point A to point B on snow-laden roads. The tread compound also features sipes to help the DM-V2 to grip any surface reliably, regardless of snow coverage.
Multiple circumferential grooves evacuate water to reduce the risk of hydroplaning. In ensuring quick and effective water evacuation, the grooves also ensure the contact patch’s dryness, an essential factor in this model’s enhanced performance on wet and slippery roads.
MultiCell Technology takes things a level or two up. This technology traps snow and ice particles within the tire’s tread area. The resulting snow-on-snow and ice-on-ice contact generate the friction this model needs to keep rolling forward (or backward on reverse gear).
Unfortunately, the MultiCell structure only covers half (around 55%) of the tread area. As soon as half of the tread is eaten up, the structure will vanish, exposing this tire’s snow traction to a significant hit.
Pros
- Provides excellent traction on snow and ice
- Offers great hydroplaning resistance
- Has extremely short braking distances on slippery roads
Cons
- MultiCell structure covers only the first 55% of tread depth
Best Tires for Chevy Tahoe
Highway Tires
Highway tires are ideal for most Chevy Tahoe drivers. These models usually come with all-season tread compounds, thereby offering excellent dry and wet traction, fuel economy, and road manners. Plus, their higher load ratings (vis-à-vis touring tires) makes them more suitable for towing and hauling.
When compared to non-touring tires (as there isn’t much pricing difference between them and touring tires), highway tires seem pretty cheap. Aside from that, they come with long treadwear warranties. It isn’t common for the best highway tires to top at 70,000 miles.
Touring Tires
Touring tires are another exciting option for Chevy Tahoe. The main difference between them and highway tires is load rating. This means that touring tires will be a better option and drive better if your Chevy Tahoe isn’t carrying or towing heavy loads.
If you regularly tow or haul loads, highway tires should be your pick. Otherwise, if you only use your Chevy Tahoe for everyday driving and cross-country trips, touring tires, with their relatively bigger warranties (up to 80,000 miles) might be a better option.
Performance Tires
Performance tires deserve your attention if you intend to push your SUV to its limits. These models offering the kind of steering response that you’d never get with premium or touring tires. As such, they will enhance your driving experience and make it more fun.
Bear in mind, though, that performance tires do not come cheap. Neither do most of them come with treadwear warranties. Another potential deal breaker is their treadlife, which in most cases is less than half of that of their touring or highway counterparts.
All-Terrain Tires
All-terrain tires seem a no brainer if you’re driving the off-road-oriented Tahoe Z71. This SUV has everything that off-road adventurers look for in a vehicle, including a two-speed transfer case, meaty all-terrain tires, an adjustable air suspension, and rugged exterior.
All-terrain tires offer the enhanced traction for off-roading and safe driving experience on the highway. The all-terrain models listed above are also completely safe on dry and wet surfaces. That said, they have poor road manners compared with touring and highway tires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tires can I put on my Tahoe?
Chevy Tahoe comes in a range of sizes, including 265/65R18, 275/55R20, 285/45R22, and P275/50R22. Some older models come with 265/70R17 tires.
What tires come on new Tahoes?
The 2022 Chevy Tahoe trims come with the following tires:
- Tahoe LS and LT : P265/65R18 All-season tires
- Tahoe RST: P275/50R22 All-season tires
- Tahoe Z71: P275/60R20 All-terrain tires
- Tahoe Premier: P275/55R20 All-season tires
- Tahoe High Country: P275/60R20 All-terrain tires
Conclusion
Chevy Tahoe is one of the most exciting large SUVs on the market. To make the most of its qualities, make sure to install a set of premium tires on this vehicle. Only high-quality tires will help the Tahoe perform at its best and give you full value for the money you have spent on this SUV.
