Hyundai Tucson is one of the best compact SUVs around, thanks in part to its premium interior, roomy seating and cargo space, and composed ride and handling. A user-friendly infotainment system and eye-catching exterior further distinguish it from rivals.
Yet there are areas where this SUV could have done better. For example, its acceleration is adequate for everyday driving. But you might find it a little sluggish when you need an injection of speed, such as when crossing any of this SUV’s competitors on the highway.
Another area where the Hyundai Tucson disappoints is OEM tires. Many Tucson drivers have stated that this SUV’s factory-installed tires are of cheap quality, compelling them to purchase and install aftermarket tires even before the stock tires’ warranty period was over.
Which explains why we have come up with this article. This comprehensive guide contains reviews of the top 11 best tires for Hyundai Tucson on the market. All of which will enhance the Hyundai Tucson’s strong points, while also giving its acceleration a much-needed boost.
#1. Continental TrueContact Tour – Best Tire Overall
The Continental TrueContact Tour has everything to be one of the best tires for Hyundai Tucson. This all-season touring model offers excellent fuel economy, has plush ride quality and comes with long treadlife. Plus, it’s backed with a market-high 80,000-mile treadwear warranty.
Start with the fuel economy. Continental’s EcoPlus Technology has lowered this tire’s rolling resistance to help it raise your Tucson’s fuel mileage. That’s not all. The ease with which this tire rolls will also cause this mid-size SUV’s lackluster acceleration to liven up.
Next comes plush ride quality. An all-season asymmetric tread compound ensures its road contact never breaks, resulting in excellent grip in dry and wet conditions. The tread compound also soaks up road vibrations and noise for a hushed highway driving experience.
Continental’s internal tests reveal that the TrueContact Tour has a 27% longer treadlife than its predecessor, the TrueContact. That means you won’t have to replace this tire anytime soon, an extra perk given that it comes at a competitive price to begin with.
QuickView Indicators are also on offer to let you gauge how this tire will perform in specific conditions. These markings will show when the TrueContact Tour is no longer reliable for Dry, Wet, or Snow driving. You’ll also get an Alignment Verification system with this tire.
Pros
- Excellent treadwear warranty (80,000 miles)
- Excellent handling and braking on dry surfaces
- Quiet and comfortable handling in most conditions
- Best in class wet performance
Cons
- Poor ice traction
#2. Michelin CrossClimate 2 – Best Runner Up
Only two things kept the CrossClimate 2 from being our top tire pick for Hyundai Tucson. The first is that this model comes with a premium price tag. Secondly, its treadwear warranty is smaller than our top pick. Other than these two ‘flaws’, this tire is faultless.
A Thermal Adaptive tread compound enhances this model’s traction in wet and slippery conditions. The tread compound’s flexibility also remains intact in harsh wintry conditions, enabling the CrossClimate 2 to safely carry you from point A to point B on snow.
Speaking of snow, the CrossClimate 2 is one of the few grand touring tires that come with the 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) and M+S (Mud and Snow) rating. Both these symbols should leave no doubt that this tire will perform reliably on snow.
V-Ramp chamfers and biting edges on this tire’s asymmetric pattern help this tire latch onto wet and snowy surfaces. In addition, Michelin’s PIANO Noise Reduction Technology (that was a mouthful) deflects road noise to help you enjoy your ride in complete silence.
The CrossClimate 2’s treadwear warranty is at the same time good and bad. On the one end, it’s an improvement over the CrossClimate, which was backed for only 50,000 miles. However, the warranty is smaller than what you get from premium GT tires.
Pros
- Superb aquaplaning resistance
- Excellent performance in snow
- Incredibly short braking distances
Cons
- Comes with a premium price tag
#3. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack – Best All-Season
The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is our top all-season pick for Hyundai Tucson. Primarily because this model reinforces everything that makes this SUV one of the best on the market. At the same time, the Turanza QuietTrack minimizes the issues that plague Hyundai Tucson’s performance.
One of the unique selling points of the Turanza QuietTrack is that it is incredibly quiet. The credit for this goes to Bridgestone’s QuietTrack technology and the ridges in the grooves. Both these design elements work together to reduce road noise as much as possible.
Four circumferential and multiple lateral grooves help this tire with water evacuation, keeping the risk of aquaplaning at a minimum. In doing so, the grooves help keep the contact patch dry. This enables the Turanza QuietTrack to boost admirable wet traction for a grand touring tire.
ComfortCruise Technology is another thing you should know about. After all, this technology helps the tread compound soak up road vibrations for a bump-free ride. What’s more, the technology also makes the contact patch rounder, resulting in improved wet performance.
Unfortunately, it seems that Bridgestone didn’t care much about snow when designing this tire. Sure, this model comes with biting edges, raising hopes that it will perform decently in harsh wintry conditions. But our experience indicates that it won’t be a reliable performer on snow.
Pros
- Backed with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Boosts best-in-class wet traction
- Very low noise levels, especially for a grand touring tire
Cons
- Snow performance is quite limited
#4. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady – Best All-Weather
The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady epitomizes what distinguishes all-weather tires from their all-season colleagues. This model offers the kind of dry and wet performance you have come to expect from premium A/S tires. At the same time, its snow performance is much better.
Goodyear’s Evolving Traction Grooves help this tire provide consistent traction, even when its tread is nearing its expiry date. These grooves are designed to replace their built-in counterparts when the latter wear out, helping the WeatherReady avoid dangerous loss of traction.
Speaking of traction, the WeatherReactive technology enhances wet traction. It is aided in that by Goodyear’s dual aqua channel grooves, which quickly and effectively evacuate water from the tread area, making this tire highly resistant to hydroplaning.
A Three Peak Snowflake Mountain (3PMSF) symbol indicates that this tire will perform reliably in mild wintry conditions. But it won’t go any further. The absence of the M+S rating means you’ll be putting your safety in danger if you use this tire on hard-packed snow.
That said, there is one area where the WeatherReady disappoints. A 60,000 treadwear warranty leaves it looking up at rival models from Continental and Bridgestone, most of whom receive backings of 80,000 or at least 70,000 miles from their manufacturers.
Pros
- Comes with the 3PMSF emblem
- Incredibly stable at high speeds
- Supreme wet performance
Cons
- Relatively small (60,000-mile) treadwear warranty
#5. Cooper CS5 Grand Touring – Best Tires for Hyundai Tucson SEL Trim
The Cooper CS5 Grand Touring is an excellent choice if you own the Tucson SEL trim. This tire is quiet and comfortable at higher speeds. It also offers excellent high-speed stability, especially for a grand touring tire, and comes with an above-average treadwear warranty.
This tire sides and differs from other grand touring tires on one count each.
The CS5 Grand Touring is similar to other touring tires in that it comes with a silica tread compound. This is done to help it perform reliably in dry and wet conditions. Simultaneously, silica’s famous flexibility enables this model to hold its own in mild wintry conditions.
However, unlike most grand touring tires you see on the market, the CS5’s tread compound hasn’t been molded into a symmetric tread pattern. Instead, Cooper decided to opt for an asymmetric tread design with this tire. The result? Added high-speed stability.
Cooper has equipped the CS5 Grand Touring with Wear Square Indicators too.
These maintenance bars are located underneath the tread, but they won’t be visible at first. In fact, you’d prefer that they stay hidden from your eyes. For, their appearance will indicate that the tire’s tread has started decreasing, meaning the time for tire replacement is afoot.
Pros
- Backed with an excellent 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offer better high-speed stability than most grand touring tires
- Perform excellent in dry and wet conditions
Cons
- Not usable on snow
#6. Michelin Defender LTX M/S – Best Tires for Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S has all the attributes to be the perfect highway companion for the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, an SUV that woos existing and potential customers with its dynamic handling, comfortable ride quality and lively acceleration.
A symmetric tread pattern means the LTX M/S will grip the road much better than your average SUV tire. In addition, its tread design helps this tire hoover up road vibrations, letting you make the most of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid’s already plush ride quality.
The only area where the Hyundai Tucson falters – it has a so-so mileage for a hybrid – is where the LTX M/S comes to its aid. This tire has low rolling resistance for an all-season tire. The result? Your SUV’s batteries won’t have to expend much power to keep this tire rolling.
Both of these – the SUV and the tire – have the same shortcoming. Just as the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid costs more than the standard Hyundai Tucson. Similarly, the Defender LTX M/S costs more than all-season touring tires, even the premium ones. So, be prepared to blow your budget.
But there is one major reason you might want to throw your checkbook at this tire. Unlike other Michelin tires we have seen in this review, the Defender LTX M/S comes with an above-average (70,000-mile) treadwear warranty. So, its long road life will help balance the higher initial price.
Pros
- Available in a large number of sizes
- Offers excellent levels of grip in dry and wet conditions
- Comes with an excellent 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Doesn’t come cheap
#7. Kumho Crugen HP 71 – Best Tires for Hyundai Tucson Sport
Why is the Kumho Crugen HP 71 our top pick for Hyundai Tucson Sport?
Start with its high-speed stability. The Crugen HP 71 might be a luxury touring tire, but it is as stable at higher speeds as any performance tire. Its wide center rib, reinforced shoulder blocks, and 4 ribs on the shoulder area make this model incredibly controllable at the limit.
Another reason you might want to pick this tire for your Hyundai Tucson Sport is its excellent performance in wet conditions. Four circumferential grooves, aggressive shoulder blocks and multiple deep sipes help the HP 71 be a sure-footed performer during or after rain.
The HP 71 also fetches brownie points in the comfort department. Its symmetric design works side by side with the Tucson Sport’s soft suspension to block out the majority of vibrations and high-pitched noise. The result? A quiet and comfortable driving experience.
It isn’t only on its plus points where this tire shares similarities with HP tires. Its major drawback – an inability to perform on snow – is also one that is borrowed from performance tires. That means it will only be useful in summer conditions or on wet roads.
Pros
- Competitively priced
- Plenty of size options to choose from
- Has an excellent 65,000-mile treadwear warranty for a budget tire
Cons
- Poor performance on snow and ice
#8. Goodyear Assurance MaxLife – Best Treadlife
The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife isn’t your average A/S touring tire. Your average all-season touring model doesn’t come with a treadlife as big as the one backing this model. Neither is its road manners are great. Nor can you count on every A/S touring tire to perform reliably in snow.
Goodyear’s TredLife Technology does exactly what its name makes you think it would. This technology increases the tire’s treadlife by expanding its contact patch. In addition to increasing this model’s tread life, a wider contact patch will also reduce your Hyundai Tucson’s fuel economy.
A symmetric tread design might not make this model ultra-stable at higher speeds. But it benefits in other ways. The tread pattern has been designed to soak up road vibrations and deflect road noise before either of them could reach inside the cabin. The result is better ride quality.
This tire’s amazing wet performance might catch you by surprise. A combination of circumferential grooves keeps hydroplaning at bay and the contact patch dry. This allows the rubber to retain its excellent dry grip in wet conditions, resulting in a sure-footed driving experience.
However, the same issues ail this tire’s performance which plague other touring tires. The absence of an asymmetric tread pattern prevents this model from giving much steering feedback and responsiveness. As a result, it takes a few seconds to respond to steering inputs.
Pros
- Market-high 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Outstanding grip and traction in dry and wet conditions
- Puts up incredible resistance to hydroplaning
Cons
- Lackluster steering feedback and responsiveness
#9. Kumho Solus TA11 – Best Budget
The Kumho Solus TA11 shows that you don’t always have to break the bank to land a set of high-quality tires. This competitively-priced model boasts excellent road manners and a long treadlife. Sure, there are areas where premium tires do it better. But on the whole, the TA11 is a reliable option.
A dual-silicone tread compound doesn’t let heat stay inside the tread area for longer. Quick and effective heat evacuation helps this model perform well in all road conditions. Aside from that, it gives better fuel economy and lowers the risk of this tire suffering premature deformation.
Its asymmetric tread pattern shows that Kumho wants this model to challenge performance tires. Which is precisely what it does. The tread pattern joins with the rounded shoulder design to increase the area of the contact patch, enhancing the tire’s steering response and feedback.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about its wet performance. The TA11 will perform reliably in wet conditions as long as you aren’t pushing it too hard. But it doesn’t offer the kind of traction or water evacuation needed to conduct high-speed rides in the rain.
A 75,000-mile treadwear warranty shows that this tire can go all the way with your Tucson. Availability in 13-inch to 18-inch diameters indicate that it can fit almost all of this SUV’s trims.
Pros
- Price-tag defying 75,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Available in a budget price point
- Gives decent levels of steering response and feedback
Cons
Wet traction could have been better
#10. Michelin Pilot Super Sport – Best Summer Tire
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport shows that age is just a number. This summer performance tire has dominated race tracks and street races all over the world since 2011. At the time of writing, it’s in the 2nd decade of its existence. Yet this tire’s popularity shows no signs of abating.
A twin steel belt gives this tire all the strength it needs to roll reliably at breathtaking speeds. The cord has been wounded using the FAZ (Filament At Zero Degrees) Technology to lower the tire’s weight. This results in improved performance and handling.
Michelin’s Acoustic Technology helps address the noise issue, a major problem with summer tires. This technology has seen to it that a noise-absorbing foam is placed in this model’s inner lining. Why so? To absorb the road noises that would otherwise enter the cabin area.
A 30,000-mile warranty is more than decent for summer tires, which are notorious for their exceedingly short tread lives. Furthermore, the fact that this model is over a decade old has forced Michelin to slash its price tag. So, you’d get the same performance at less price.
Pros
- Excellent warranty for a summer-performance tire
- Superb cornering performance and steering responsiveness
- Costs much less than newer summer performance tires
Cons
- Wet grip could have been better
#11. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 – Best Winter Tire
The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 has everything that defines dedicated winter tires. These include a special tread compound that doesn’t stiffen up in the face of sub-zero temperatures, aggressive and deep biting edges that plow through snow, and excellent hydroplaning resistance.
MultiCell Technology is another ace up this tire’s sleeve. This technology enhances the DM-V2’s traction on snow and ice by trapping snow and ice within the tread area. The subsequent snow-on-snow and ice-on-ice contact improve this model’s already reliable winter traction.
This distinguishes the DM-V2 from other winter tires you see on the market, most of which require their tread compound to do all the heavy lifting. Yet another thing that distinguishes this model from its rivals is that it isn’t nowhere near as expensive as the latest among them.
Unfortunately, the reduction in prices comes at a cost. The MultiCell Technology covers only the first 55 percent of the tread area. As soon as your driving has eaten up half the tread, this tire’s winter and ice performance will see a significant drop.
Pros
- Has superb braking power
- Offers great hydroplaning resistance
- Provides excellent traction on snow and ice
Cons
- MultiCell structure covers only the first 55% of tread depth
Best Tires for Hyundai Tucson
Touring Tires
Touring tires are undoubtedly the best choice for the average Hyundai Tucson driver. These tires come with a symmetric tread pattern to offer a comfortable driving experience. Touring tires also cut down on fuel consumption and in most cases don’t cost much either.
Treadlife warranty is another area where touring tires excel. As you may have noted, the best touring tires are backed for as many as 85,000 miles. No matter how you slice it, this number is very good, especially for tires that don’t cost you to blow your budget.
Performance Tires
Performance tires might be a better choice for enthusiast drivers as well as those of you who drive the Hyundai Tucson Sport trim. Their stiff sidewall, low rolling resistance and lightweight construction allow performance tires to fulfil all your speed-related requirements.
Having said that, let there be no doubt in your mind about performance tires’ prices. These models are as expensive as they come. Aside from that, it isn’t uncommon for premium performance tires to be backed with no treadwear warranty whatsoever.
Conclusion
Selecting the best tires for Hyundai Tucson isn’t easy. You have to make sure that the set you pick complements this SUV’s strong points as well as backs up your driving style. The tires should also be suitable for the conditions you’re going to drive them in.
