Few family SUVs are as talented as the Hyundai Santa Fe. This seven-seater combines amazing ride quality with agile maneuverability and tons of active safety kit. An infotainment system with nicely laid-out buttons and user-friendly controls is another massive plus.
Another of Santa Fe’s big advantages is that its base models come with most of the equipment that rivals only offer in their pricier trims. Throw its roomy cabin, useful technology, and class-leading warranty into the mix, and it may seem that this SUV is close to perfect.
Which is true if you exclude its factory tires. The Santa Fe’s OE tires might not be the worse on the market, but they hurt its ride quality in small yet noticeable ways. Think of vibrations when you drive over bumps or a slight noise when you press the accelerator too hard.
This article will provide you with the 10 best tires for Hyundai Santa Fe. All the models you see below can be installed on most, if not all, trims of this mid-size SUV. We’ve also included a buying guide to help you decide which of the below models might be better for you.
#1. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady – Best Overall
The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady is one of the best tires for Hyundai Santa Fe. This all-weather tire combines brilliant road manners with amazing wet traction and extended tread life. Its remarkable handling on dry and wet roads is another big plus.
An all-season compound and Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol indicate that this model can perform at its best in dry and wet conditions, as well as light snow and ice. The 3PMSF sign only comes on tires that can hold their own in harsh weather.
Weather Reactive Technology helps the tread compound stay flexible in mild wintry conditions, thus making this tire reliable in light snow and ice. Plus, the 3D TredLock Technology shortens braking distances by bringing together the sipes as you apply brakes.
The Evolving Traction Grooves enable this tire to provide consistent traction. They are designed only to come out when the built-in grooves start wearing out. In doing so, they ensure that this tire doesn’t suffer from a loss of traction in its last few days on the road.
Dual Aqua Channel grooves enhance wet traction by ensuring quick water evacuation. Their effective action also keeps hydroplaning (uncontrolled sliding on damp surfaces) at bay. You can therefore drive the Assurance WeatherReady doubt-free in the rain.
Pros
- Offers supreme wet performance
- Comes with the 3PMSF emblem
- Refined ride quality
Cons
- Treadlife warranty (60,000 miles) could be better
#2. Continental CrossContact LX25 – Best All-Season
The Continental CrossContact LX25 isn’t your average all-season touring tire. That is mainly because your standard A/S touring model doesn’t offer the complete package of a comfortable and luxurious ride, incredibly low fuel consumption, and equally long tread life.
Apart from offering all the above qualities, the LX25 features several improvements over its predecessor, the LX20. The most notable of which is its treadwear warranty of 70,000 miles, which is 10,000 miles long and, at least in theory, promises an extra year or two of road life.
Another improvement is the grooves in its tread area. The LX20 also has grooves, but they are far fewer in number than what you get from the LX25. As such, you can count on this tire to be an even better performer in wet conditions and on light snow and ice.
Comfort Ride Technology is another nice addition, which guarantees a plush ride. An additional rubber layer inside the tread area ensures better road contact for even pressure distribution. The result is even tread wear and, equally importantly, low fuel consumption.
However, despite all these improvements, there are one or two areas where this tire disappoints. For instance, it won’t win any awards for its dry handling or cornering performance. Still, for a family-friendly SUV like the Santa Fe, this tire is one of the better picks.
Pros
- Backed by a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers excellent ride quality
- Consumes less fuel than most of its rivals
Cons
- Not the best for spirited driving
#3. Michelin Defender LTX M/S – Best Premium All-Season
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S ticks many boxes for deep-pocketed Santa Fe drivers. An all-season compound helps these tires strike the perfect balance between firmness and flexibility, enabling them to stay as useful on dry roads as in wet and light wintry conditions.
Their symmetric tread pattern delivers more good news. It enables the rubber to absorb road vibrations and deflect noise before either could reach the cabin and disturb ride quality. On the flip side, it’s also responsible for this tire’s muted steering response.
MaxTouch Construction is another ace up this tire’s tread. Its unique design enables it to expand the contact patch for even road contact. The result? Better distribution of pressure forces your Santa Fe will subject this tire to, ensuring even wear and long tread life.
What’s more, unlike many A/S tires on the market, the Defender LTX M/S comes with what look to be extremely aggressive 3D sipes. Their shape makes us suspect that the sipes won’t just settle for improving this tire’s snow traction – they will also shorten braking distances.
Despite all these qualities, many people will think twice before opting for the LTX M/S. Want to know why? This tire’s exorbitant asking price is as good a reason as any to convince you to look for other options (like the ones recommended below).
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
#4. General Grabber HTS 60– Best Mid-Range All-Season
Mid-range asking price? Check. Offers a quiet and vibration-free driving experience? Yup. Offers better steering responsiveness than its rivals? Absolutely. All these qualities help the Grabber HTS60 stand out in the crowded market of all-season tires.
A cut- and chip-resistant tread compound isn’t something you’d expect to see in an all-season tire. Which is a shame considering how puncture-resistant the tread compound has made this tire’s rubber, making the HTS 60 capable for light off-road duty.
Two unique design elements help this model stay quiet on the highway. They include Comfort Balance Technology (which deflects road noise before it can reach the cabin) and specially designed sound barrier ribs (which absorb road disturbances).
A continuous center rib and notched shoulders make the HTS 60 more responsive than most all-season or even highway tires. Wide circumferential grooves evacuate water for a confidence-inspiring driving experience in the rain or on damp roads.
The only thing we don’t appreciate about this model is that some of its sizes are backed by a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is average for an all-season tire.
Pros
- Comes at a mid-range asking price
- Superb dry handling and steering responsiveness
- Offers excellent ride quality
Cons
- Average treadwear warranty on some sizes
#5. Goodyear Assurance MaxLife – Best Treadlife
The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife comes with a class-leading 85,000-mile treadwear warranty, rivaling the one you get on the Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring and CS5 Grand Touring tires. In theory, such a long warranty makes this tire capable of lasting 6 to 7 years of daily use.
Goodyear’s TredLife Technology is the major reason why this tire can keep going for years and years. This technology expands the contact patch every time you press the accelerator, ensuring better road contact, which is crucial for even and long wear.
The expansion of the contact patch doesn’t just increase this model’s tread life. It also has a positive impact on this tire’s road manners and fuel economy.
Wet traction is another area where this model shines. The credit for this goes to the quartet of circumferential grooves circumscribing the tread area. These grooves’ unique placement and design also minimize this tire’s hydroplaning risk.
For an all-season touring tire, the Assurance MaxLife offers exceptional cornering performance and grip, meaning you can attack the turns at speed. Unfortunately, though, its steering response and feedback are as muted as you expect from models in this class.
Pros
- Class-leading 85,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Outstanding grip in dry and wet conditions
- Offers a quiet and comfortable driving experience
Cons
- Average steering feedback
#6. Nitto NT 421Q – Best High-Performance All Season
The Nitto NT 421Q promises to be an exciting pick for speed-loving Santa Fe drivers. At the same time, anyone who uses this SUV for everyday driving and hopes to get added feedback at the steering than what all-season touring tires can offer might also appreciate this model.
Their asymmetric tread pattern helps this model offer excellent grip and traction levels in dry and wet conditions. The tread pattern’s unique design also creates a better connection between the steering and the road, giving the driver a better feel of what is going down there.
Outer shoulder blocks give this tire the stability needed for high-speed driving. They also enhance this model’s cornering grip and performance. Plus, thanks to the 3D interlocking sipe design, the NT 421Q boasts one of the shortest braking distances of any model in this class.
A 60,000 or 75,000-mile treadwear warranty (depending on tire size) is above-average for a tire in the all-season category, let alone for an HP model like the NT 421Q. To further sweeten the deal, Nitto has provided treadwear and wheel alignment indicators on this tire’s tread.
Bear in mind, though, that the NT421Q may wear quickly if you push it too hard. Also, while its noise levels are pretty low for a high-performance all-season tire. This model is still pretty loud (especially at high speeds) than the models recommended above.
Pros
- Above-average treadwear warranty
- Best-in-class dry, wet and winter traction
- Superb dry handling and cornering
Cons
- May wear quickly if regularly pushed to the limit
#7. Yokohama Parada Spec X – Best Budget High-Performance All Season
The Yokohama Parada Spec X proves that you don’t always have to break the bank to land a set of high-performance tires. This mid-range model offers excellent cornering performance, straight-line tracking, and high-speed stability, making it a must-have for budget-minded shoppers.
An aggressive tread pattern helps this model in more ways than one. Apart from enhancing its dry grip and preventing it from wobbling at high speeds. The tread pattern also ensures quick evacuation of water particles for a hydroplaning-free driving experience on wet roads.
Compared with the Nitto NT421Q, this model is pretty quiet. The credit for this goes to Yokohama’s exclusive Variable Pitch Technology. Furthermore, a sturdy internal construction comprising steel belts won’t let road disturbances make their way to your Santa Fe’s cabin.
The ultra-stiff sidewall further reinforces this tire’s sports credentials. One which ensures enhanced steering feedback and increases the tire’s reaction time to steering inputs. However, the sidewall’s stiffness might not be appreciated by those who don’t like a firm ride.
Unfortunately, the absence of a treadwear warranty might prove to be a deal-breaker, especially when you consider the backing the NT421Q has received from its manufacturer.
Pros
- Offers superb cornering performance
- More economical than rival high-performance tires
- Ensures amazing steering response and feedback
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a treadwear warranty
#8. Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport – Best Summer Performance
The Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport has all the credentials to be an exciting pick for Santa Fe Sport, provided you don’t live in an area where harsh weather conditions are the norm.
A high-silica tread compound has given this model the grip needed for extreme high-speed stability on dry roads. Silica has also slashed this tire’s weight and, by extension, rolling resistance. You’d thus have no complaints about this model’s ‘pick’ on the highway.
The UNI-T Technology and symmetric tread pattern ensure even road contact for a comfortable driving experience, especially for models in this class. Plus, two continuous center ribs expand the contact patch as you enter and exit turns, enhancing this tire’s cornering grip.
Surprisingly for a summer performance tire, the H/P Sport contains circumferential grooves and lateral water channels to reduce the risk of hydroplaning. This model also has the biting edges needed to deliver enhanced traction on wet (but not snowy) roads.
Lastly, keep in mind that the Dueler H/P Sport is available in two versions. While the run-flat version offers better performance, it also wears quickly and consumes more fuel. It’s therefore recommended that you opt for the standard model.
Pros
- Excellent treadwear warranty for a UHP tire
- Offers unrivaled dry handling and cornering grip
- Provides superb high-speed stability
Cons
- Comes at a premium price
#9. Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 – Best All-Terrain
The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 is one of the most sought-after all-terrain tires on the market. Its exceptional off-road performance, affordable asking price, above-average treadwear warranty, and superb snow traction are reasons why.
Start with the off-road performance. An all-season compound featuring high-tech polymers has given this tire the flexibility needed to tackle sand, gravel, and slush. The tread compound also contains Orange oil for a sure-footed driving performance on wet roads.
Next comes their superb snow performance. The 3PMSF emblem on the tread all but guarantees that this model can plow through snow and ice. Need proof? Yokohama’s internal tests reveal that this model offers 25% reduced braking distances on snow than its predecessor.
A 50,000 or 60,000-mile treadwear warranty (depending on tire size) further distinguishes this tire from its rivals, most of whom receive no such backing from their manufacturer. What’s more, despite all these qualities, the A/T G015 costs much less than premium A/T tires.
Pros
- Backed by a 50,000- or 60,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers excellent traction in harsh wintry conditions
- Provides comfortable ride on the highway
Cons
May wear out quickly
#10. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 – Best Winter Tires
The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is one of the best winter SUV tires on the market. Whether you’re driving a seven-seater like the Santa Fe or you have a Hyundai Tucson parked in your garage, the DM-V2 will safely carry you from point A to point B on snow.
A unique tread compound helps this model perform at its best in frigid conditions. This compound has the unique ability to stay flexible in sub-zero temperatures. In doing so, it will help your Santa Fe plow through snow and ice with minimal slippage.
MultiCell structure of the treads helps them trap snow. The subsequent friction created by snow-on-snow contact ensures better traction than rubber-on-snow contact will ever provide. Unfortunately, the structure covers only the first 55% of the tread area.
The 3PMSF symbol on the tread area gives you all the proof you’d ever need to believe in this model’s excellent snow performance. All in all, if you live in an area where it snows buckets every winter season, installing a set of the DM-V2s on your Santa Fe might be a good idea.
Pros
- Has superb braking power
- Delivers exceptional hydroplaning resistance
- Provides superb snow and ice traction
Cons
- Pricey
Best Tires for Hyundai Santa Fe
All-Season Touring
All-season touring tires are the first choice of most Santa Fe drivers. Their excellent tread lives, superior road manners, and low fuel consumption are the reasons why. Another factor behind their popularity is that these models come with long treadwear warranties.
Need proof? Then you must check the backings the above A/S touring tires have received from their manufacturers. All but one of the models recommended above are rated to last 60,000+ miles, meaning you can easily get 5 to 6 years of road life out of them.
High-Performance All Season
High-performance all-season tires try to balance performance with tread life and road manners. These models deliver high levels of dry and wet grip but aren’t very good when it comes to winter traction, making them a good option for mild-to-moderate weather.
Another thing that you may appreciate about these tires is that they have an extremely low profile, so they’ll look very good alongside the Santa Fe’s stylish exterior.
Summer Performance
Summer performance tires do precisely what their name implies. These models are designed for regions that don’t receive much rain around the year. Used on dry roads, they offer precise handling and control with superior high-speed stability and straight-line tracking.
Summer tires have asymmetric tread patterns that allow for increased responsiveness and cornering and reduced braking abilities. However, their shallower tread depths mean that a set of these tires won’t last as long as that of an all-season tire.
All-Terrain
All-terrain tires are quietly becoming the first choice of drivers who previously used highway tires but wanted something that could rely on for light off-road duty. As such, if your daily commute involves gravel or you spend your weekends on dirt tracks, A/T tires might be worth a shot.
You might want to note that all-terrain tires aren’t designed for heavy-duty off-roading. Think of climbing rocks or pushing through deep mud. As noted above, they are only designed for highway driving and/or light off-roading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What brand of tires come on Hyundai Santa Fe?
Depending on the model year and trim level, the Hyundai Santa Fe often comes with Kumho tires, including the Crugen KL33 and Solus KL21.
What are good tires for a Hyundai Santa Fe?
All-season touring tires can be a good option for Hyundai Santa Fe drivers who use this family SUV for everyday driving. These models offer excellent road manners, dry and wet traction, and tread life. Their excellent fuel economy means you won’t be punished at the pump.
Conclusion
Paired with the right set of tires, the Hyundai Santa Fe can be an ideal family SUV for long road trips as well as quick jaunts around the neighborhood. It’s therefore essential to consider your driving style, the weather in your area, and road conditions when picking Santa Fe tires.
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