Ford Expedition shows what happens when size meets substance. One of the biggest SUVs in Ford’s lineup, the Expedition has the passenger space to carry you, your family, and your friends wherever you intend to go without as much as squeaking under its passengers’ weight.
Its towing capacity shows what we meant by substance. When the Expedition was first introduced in 1997, it boasted a towing capacity of 8,100 pounds. Nearly two and a half decades later, this SUV can tow and haul up to 9,200 pounds, a massive number for a full-size SUV.
However, as good as the Expedition is, it could still get better. Especially if you could pair this SUV with tires that could enhance its languid acceleration and improve on its mediocre fuel economy. As difficult as it might be to believe, tires that do both these things exist.
This article will rate and review the top 10 best tires for Ford Expedition. We’ll also provide you with a buying guide to help you choose from the following models. Aside from that, we’ll answer some of the common questions you may have about the Expedition’s tires.
#1. Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus – Best Overall
Four features make the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus our top tire pick for Ford Expedition. The first of which is its 80,000-mile treadwear warranty which enables this tire to last 6 to 7 years, especially if you drive it with a light foot on decent quality roads.
Its symmetric tread pattern might also make this tire endearing to Expedition drivers. Apart from absorbing road vibrations and deflecting road noise for a comfortable driving experience. The tread pattern ensures flush road contact for even wear.
A continuous center frame and sturdy internal construction provide this tire with high-speed stability. They also make sure that the tire doesn’t deform upon being regularly pushed to its limits. As such, the risk of premature deformation is negligible here.
This tire also shines on damp roads and in light wintry conditions. The credit for this goes to parallel grooves (which evacuate water to keep the contact patch dry) and the siping detail (which shortens this model’s braking distances in harsh weather conditions).
However, the fact that this tire possesses all the above qualities doesn’t mean it is faultless. Even with the above siping detail, this model doesn’t have what it takes to stay useful on thick snow. Thus, if you live in an area with harsh winters, go for dedicated snow tires.
Pros
- 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers reliable year-round traction
- Provides a quiet and comfortable ride
Cons
- May struggle on thick snow
#2. Michelin Defender LTX M/S – Best Runner Up
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S is one of the best all-season tires on the market, especially for those people who can afford to pay its asking price. This model’s dry and wet performance, road manners and tread life, and fuel economy won’t give you any reason to look elsewhere.
Start with its excellent dry and wet performance. An all-season tread compound gives this tire’s rubber adequate firmness to reliably grip dry roads at high speed. But it doesn’t stop at that. The compound also makes the rubber flexible, helping this tire stay useful on damp roads.
MaxTouch Construction enhances this tire’s tread life and fuel economy. It does that by expanding the contact patch every time the rubber meets the road. This ensures an even distribution of pressure forces your SUV puts on this tire, ensuring even wear and low fuel consumption.
Just like our top pick, the Defender LTX M/S can be used on light snow and ice. Multiple aggressive-looking 3D Sipes give it the traction needed to deal with harsh weather conditions. They also shorten this tire’s braking distances, minimizing the risk of any mishaps on snow.
Despite all these qualities, this model isn’t our top pick. Want to know why? Not only does the Defender LTX M/S cost more than the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus, its treadwear warranty (70,000 miles) is also much shorter. So, you may end up paying more in the short- and long-term.
Pros
- Backed with an excellent 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Ensures even road contact for an extended tread life
- Offers excellent traction on wet roads
Cons
- Doesn’t come cheap
#3. General Grabber HTS 60 – Best Budget All-Season
The General Grabber HTS 60 ticks various boxes for the budget-minded Ford Expedition driver. Despite coming in at a reasonable price, this tire offers the kind of dry and wet performance, treadwear warranty, and fuel economy that can put many premium A/S models to shame.
A cut and chip-resistant tread compound isn’t the first thing you expect from an all-season tire. But as the Grabber HTS 60 shows, models that aren’t using this compound are missing out on enhanced puncture resistance as well as superb dry and wet performance.
Unique sound barrier ribs and Comfort Balance Technology are responsible for this tire’s plush ride. Both these features complement each other in deflecting road noise and absorbing vibrations before either could reach the cabin, thus enhancing this SUV’s driving experience.
Wet performance is another area where this tire belies its mid-range asking price. Not only does it evacuate water quickly and effectively, but the speed of water evacuation is such that the contact patch rarely stays wet, a signal of excellent wet traction.
Yet there are areas where this model could do better. Unlike our top two picks, the HTS 60 doesn’t come with biting edges. This means you cannot count on this tire to stay useful on snow and ice. However, this is only an issue if your area experiences harsh winters.
Pros
- Available at a mid-range price point
- Backed with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Provides excellent high-speed stability
Cons
- Not the best tire for snow
#4. Continental TerrainContact HT – Best Highway Tire
The Continental TerrainContact HT isn’t your average highway tire. Mainly because your run-of-the-mill highway tire isn’t quite at high speeds. Neither can it offer you a plush ride. This model offers both these qualities at a price that won’t pinch most drivers.
A combination of +Silane additives and TractionPlus Technology helps this model perform at its best in mild-to-moderate cold weather. It also gives the TerrainContact HT the biting force that could propel any tire through slush, gravel, and a few inches of snow.
Given that it’s a highway tire, Continental knew that some drivers might use it for light off-roading. That is why it has provided this model with a cut- and chip-resistant tread compound that makes it less likely for sharp objects to penetrate the rubber and stop your journey.
Continental wants you to believe that this model will behave excellently on wet surfaces. The reason we believe in their word is because we have seen what is on the tire’s tread – four circumferential grooves that all but guarantee quick and effective water evacuation.
This model also comes with noise blockers that help reduce its growl at high speeds and on uneven tracks. You also get a 60,000 or 70,000-mile warranty on this tire (depending on size). A 6-month workmanship and materials warranty is on offer too.
Pros
- Extremely quiet and comfortable
- Backed by a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Performs marvelously on dry and wet roads
Cons
- May struggle on ice
#5. Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S – Best All-Terrain
The Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S is one of the best all-terrain tires on the market. This model offers excellent high-speed stability, has a functional water evacuation system to keep hydroplaning at bay, and a self-cleaning system to offer excellent traction on challenging terrains.
An innovative silica tread compound helps this tire offer the best of both worlds. It enhances this model’s dry grip and high-speed handling while also giving it the traction needed to stay useful on wet roads, allowing you to use the Discoverer AT3 4S 365 days a year.
As stylish as it is, the five-ribbed design does more than attract glances from onlookers. Together with the detailed siping structure, it makes this model stable at high speeds. This means you won’t experience wobbling while driving close to the speed limit.
Cooper has also equipped this model with circumferential grooves and self-cleaning voids. The grooves justify their presence by minimizing the risk of hydroplaning. The self-cleaning voids, meanwhile, evacuate stones, rocks, and mud to help this tire offer consistent traction on rough terrains.
As if all the above features weren’t enough to make your mind in favor of this tire, Cooper slapped it with a 55,000-mile treadwear guarantee. If we are not mistaken, this is one of the biggest tread guarantees you can get on any model in this class.
Pros
- Outstanding grip on dry and wet roads
- Surprisingly quiet for a highway tire
- Incredibly stable at high speeds
Cons
- Pricey
#6. BFGoodrich T/A KM3 – Best Mud Terrain
The BFGoodrich T/A KM3 features several improvements over a model that was already doing wonders on mud, snow, slush, and gravel. As such, if you liked what you got from the T/A KM2, be ready to be blown away by its successor’s performance.
BFG states that this model offers 30% more puncture resistance than its predecessor. It then names the three features – Krawl-Tek tread compound, 3-ply sidewalls, and shoulder protection – which are responsible for this model’s enhanced puncture resistance.
The T/A KM3 also offers 5 percent improved traction in mud, thanks mainly to the spike blocks that are clearly visible on the tread area. These raised rubber segments enable the KM3 to dig into any soft surface (mud, slush, snow, etc.) and find the hard surface underneath.
However, giving the spike blocks all the credit for this model’s excellent mud traction would be akin to doing a disservice to the massive voids dotting its tread area. If it weren’t for these voids, this tire would never have been able to self-clean itself of mud particles.
The voids don’t just settle for evacuating mud particles, though. They also evacuate stones, rocks, and any other debris that may dare enter the tread channels. For this reason, we can also credit them for this model’s excellent puncture resistance.
Pros
- Outstanding traction in deep mud
- Puncture-resistant tread compound
- Brilliant traction on snow, slush, and gravel
Cons
- Isn’t designed for city or highway driving
#7. Hankook DynaPro HT – Best Budget Highway Tire
The Hankook DynaPro HT deserves your attention if you’re on a budget. However, apart from the amount written on its price tag, nothing about this tire screams cheap. Need proof? A 70,000-mile treadwear is a very good place to start, in our opinion.
An all-season tread compound has been molded into a symmetric tread design. The result? A noise-free and plush driving experience on the highway, regardless of whether you’re driving close to the speed limit or are just enjoying the trip in the slow lane.
Zig-zag sipes on the tread area offer further proof that no corners have been cut to keep this model’s asking price low. These biting edges help this model cruise through light snow and ice, conditions where most mid-range models struggle to find traction.
Yet there are areas where this model disappoints. Its sidewall is way too soft, even for an all-season highway tire, preventing this model from offering an above-average cornering grip. As such, it’s recommended to slow down a bit when taking turns.
Pros
- Affordably priced
- 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Can hold its own on light snow and ice
Cons
- Cornering grip could be better
#8. Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra
Bridgestone recently released a few models, including the Alenza AS Ultra. The manufacturer claims to have made some improvements over its predecessor, meaning that we should see better performance.
As an all-season model, the Alenza AS Ultra is a tire designed with a special high-silica compound. The result of this rubber is a tire that can offer year-round performance, as long as you’re not asking too much of it in harsh winter conditions.
Speaking of winter performance, there is a crucial feature of the Alenza AS Ultra designed to help with snow performance. Bridgestone went with a tread design with snow vices aimed at improving traction on packed snow.
The refinement is a crucial aspect of any touring tire, and Bridgestone also paid attention to that. Backed by the QuietTrack technology, this manufacturer aims to make the Alenza AS Ultra a quiet tire.
People go for touring tires mainly because they don’t sacrifice longevity. To back this claim, the Alenza AS Ultra comes with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is pretty good in this category.
Pros
- An excellent performer for daily driving
- Solid performance in snowy conditions
- Premium-like treadwear warranty
Cons
- Needs just a bit more wet performance to be on part with the best in class
#9. Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
From the highway all-season category, we have a premium model from Michelin. The Defender LTX/ M/S2 is the company’s updated tire, meaning we should see some improvements.
Like its predecessor, the Defender LTX M/S2 is an all-season tire, meaning that Michelin utilized its all-season rubber compound. As a result, we’re talking about a model that can be used in lighter winter conditions.
While we’re on the subject of winter, the Defender LTX M/S2 has a tread pattern designed to aid in snow performance. The main feature of the design is the increase in the number of biting edges, meaning that it should offer better traction.
A combination of the tread pattern and the rubber compound is an area where Michelin worked to make performance improvements with the Defender LTX M/S2. Notably, this combination should result in a tire capable of offering more traction on damp roads and better aquaplaning resistance.
In terms of durability, the Defender LTX M/S2 is designed with Michelin’s MaxTouch technology. The goal is to distribute the forces as evenly as possible, making it a longer-lasting tire.
Pros
- Very comfortable and composed over bumps
- Superb dry and wet performance
- Easy to control even when pushed to the limit
Cons
Not a massive improvement in winter performance compared with its predecesor
#10. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
Three features make the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 the best winter tire for Ford Expedition. These include its super-flexible tread compound, MultiCell structure, and Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) emblem that you can see on its tread area.
The super-flexible tread compound enhances this tire’s snow and ice performance. It does that by not letting the rubber stiffen up in sub-zero temperatures. As such, this model can hold its own in conditions where most tires would uncontrollably slip and skid around.
A MultiCell structure traps the snow within the treads to use the subsequent friction for enhanced traction. This enables this tire to provide better traction in harsh wintry conditions than all but premium winter tires (most of whom cost more than the DM-V2).
The 3PMSF symbol indicates that this model has met the rater’s strict criteria for excellent performance on snow and ice. Put simply, it’s a stamp of approval from tire rating agencies that this model can safely carry you from point A to point B in harsh wintry conditions.
Pros
- Comes with the 3PMSF emblem
- Provides excellent snow and ice traction
- Delivers exceptional hydroplaning resistance
Cons
- MultiCell structure covers only the first 55% of the tread area
Best Tires for Ford Expedition
All-Season Tires
Excellent dry and wet performance? Check. Superb road manners? Yes. Extended tread life and tread life warranties? Absolutely. Reliable year-round performance? Yup. All these qualities make all-season tires (touring and highway) the first choice of most Ford Expedition drivers.
Their low fuel consumption (vis-à-vis performance tires) also push A/S models near the top of the wish-list of Expedition drivers. All in all, if you use this SUV for everyday use, there aren’t many better options available out there.
All-Terrain Tires
There’s a common misconception that all-terrain tires can only be used for light off-roading. Nothing can be further from the truth. Premium A/T tires (like the one mentioned above) can come in as useful for highway use as for light-off-road duty.
You can therefore count on these tires to offer a quiet and comfortable driving experience on paved roads. That too while having the ruggedness needed to conquer gravel roads, slush, and light snow. So, opt for these tires if you want the best of both worlds.
Performance Tires
Performance tires deserve your attention if you want enhanced steering feedback, cornering performance, and high-speed stability. These models aggressive tread patterns, ultra-stiff sidewalls, and extended shoulder blocks help them boost all these qualities.
Bear in mind, though, that performance tires might weigh heavily on your pocket. That is because these models cost more up front (vis-à-vis touring or highway tires) and wear much quickly too. So you may have to replace them much sooner than a rival pair of touring tires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tires come on Ford Expedition?
Depending on the trim, the Ford Expedition comes with:
- King Ranch 285/45/22
- Limited 275/55/20 or 285/45/22
- Max King Ranch 285/45/22
- Max Limited 275/55/20 or 285/45/22
- Max Platinum 285/45/22
- Max XLT 275/65/18 or 275/55/20
- Platinum 285/45/22
- XLT 275/65/18 or 275/55/20
How long do tires last on a Ford Expedition?
Ford Expedition tires should last anywhere between 35,000 and 50,000 miles. The exact number can be smaller or bigger depending on your driving style, road conditions, and weather.
Conclusion
Ford Expedition might not be the most competent SUV on the road. Yet the things it offers – massive passenger space, above-average cargo capacity, etc. – are what most rival SUVs cannot match. If you want to get the best out of this vehicle, it’s essential to pair it with a set of premium tires.
