The Nissan Murano stands out from the competition with its striking exterior design, comfortable seats, and plush ride quality. This mid-range SUV also offers decent fuel economy, with its 2022 FWD and AWD models rated at 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
That is where the good news ends. This SUV’s V-6 engine, which is powerful on its own, drones when hooked to its continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Furthermore, when compared with other mid-range SUVs, its towing capacity appears lackluster.
Almost everyone that drives this SUV is aware of the above facts. What you may also be mindful of is how a set of tires can either enhance its qualities and downplay the drawbacks or do the precise opposite. As such, it’s crucial that you pick the right tires for Nissan Murano.
That is why we have come up with this guide. In this article, we’ll provide you with detailed reviews of the ten best tires for Nissan Murano. Including touring, performance, and winter tires, the below list is so in-depth you’d be able to pick a model meeting your requirements.
#1. Michelin Premier LTX – Best Overall
The Michelin Premier LTX ticks almost all the boxes for most Murano drivers out there. This all-season tire combines plush ride quality with excellent dry and wet performance and above-average fuel economy. An extended tread life further distinguishes it from the competition.
A sunflower and silica oil tread compound is responsible for this tire’s excellent dry and wet performance, with sunflower oil giving the rubber the flexibility to grip wet roads. As for silica, it has provided this model with the firmness needed for reliable performance in dry conditions.
Treadlife is another area where this model shines, thanks mainly to the ‘hidden’ grooves you won’t be able to see on installing this tire. These grooves will only come into view once this tire’s built-in grooves are almost worn out, helping this tire offer extended tread life.
The comfort and noise level on this tire is also exceptional. The same goes for its strength and durability, which are reinforced by twin steel belts under the polyester casing ply. Plus, since this tire comes in 40+ sizes (16 – 22 inches), it can be installed on almost every Murano trim.
However, there is one area where this model could do better. A 60,000-mile warranty might look excellent on paper. However, as with the Murano’s towing capacity, it appears lackluster compared to the backing other tires have received from their manufacturers.
Pros
- Offers long-lasting dry and wet traction
- Provides a refined driving experience
- Usable in light snow
Cons
- Average treadwear warranty
#2. Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season Plus – Best Runner Up
The Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season Plus rivals our top pick on various counts. Similar to the Premier LTX, this model will keep things quiet and comfortable on the highway and in city traffic. Its tread life and fuel economy won’t give you any reason to complain either.
One of the things that set this tire apart from its rivals is that it’s incredibly comfortable. A sound-absorbing device placed between the treads and the symmetric tread pattern makes sure that little if any road vibrations and noise make their way inside the cabin.
Fuel economy is where these tires are better than the Premier LTX. Pirelli’s internal tests show that this model consumes up to 3.4% less fuel than their rivals on city/highway. Depending on how much you drive, such fuel savings might translate into thousands of dollars saved.
A 65,000-mile treadwear warranty means that, at least in theory, this tire is designed to last longer than its much pricier counterpart above. Plus, with their circumferential and lateral grooves, these models can resist hydroplaning equally well if not better than the previous tire.
Despite all these qualities, the Scorpion Verde All-Season Plus isn’t our top pick. That is because this tire’s wet traction is notably lower than that of the Premier LTX.
Pros
- Offers enhanced fuel economy
- Provides a comfortable and noise-free ride
- Great handling and traction at speed
Cons
- Wet traction could be better
#3. Continental CrossContact LX25 – Best Touring Tire
The Continental CrossContact LX25 is one of the best touring tires for sedans, SUVs, hatchbacks, and even crossovers. That is mainly because this model offers the complete package: luxuriously comfortable ride, meager fuel consumption, and long tread life.
Another thing that makes this tire endearing to drivers is that it features several improvements over the CrossContact LX20, its predecessor. The most notable of which is its treadwear warranty (70,000 miles), 10,000 miles longer than its previous version, and our top pick.
The LX25 also has more water grooves than you get on your regular touring tire. The result is better traction on wet roads and improved reliability on light snow and ice. Comfort Control Technology, which has made its ride plush, is another feature the LX20 lacked.
A symmetric tread pattern and extra rubber layer inside the tread ensure balanced road contact, resulting in even wear and extended tread life. Juxtaposed with its (relatively) affordable asking price, this makes the LX25 a pocket-friendly tire in the short and long run.
Bear in mind, though, that the LX25 has its fair share of flaws. This model’s dry handling and cornering performance are lower than Premier LTX. So don’t expect it to win you any races.
Pros
- Competitively priced
- Backed to last 70,000 miles
- Offers superb ride quality
Cons
- Not the best tire for spirited driving
#4. Michelin Defender LTX M/S – Best Highway Tire
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S epitomizes what highway tires should be all about. Its high-speed stability, steering response and feedback, and straight-line tracking all make this tire a must-have for long road trips with the entire family sitting inside the Murano.
An EverTread compound helps this tire offer excellent year-round performance. It does that by striking an optimal balance between firmness (needed for adequate grip on dry roads) and pliability (which helps the rubber offer consistent road contact on wet roads).
MaxTouch Construction does the rest, helping the contact patch achieve even road contact for even wear and, by extension, extended tread life. The fact that the above Premier LTX lacked this feature explains why that tire is warrantied for 10,000 fewer miles.
Independent tread blocks are something you expect to see in performance tires, not in all-season models like the Defender LTX M/S. This explains why this model’s performance (high-speed handling and steering feedback) is much higher than its class members.
All the above features come at a price, though, which is pretty steep for most people. However, if you have no issues with the amount on its price tag, go ahead and bite the bullet.
Pros
- Comes in a large number of sizes
- Backed with an excellent 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers excellent grip and traction year-round
Cons
- Doesn’t come cheap
#5. Cooper Discoverer SRX – Best Budget Touring
The Cooper Discoverer SRX proves that sometimes in life you get more than what you pay for. This mid-range all-season tire offers (almost) the same features that its pricier competitors charge heavy sums for, with its steering feedback much higher than on an average A/S tire.
A high-silica tread compound featuring competition-grade resin enables this model to provide the best of both worlds. The combination of the two materials is the reason why this model is as reliable on dry roads as it’s in the rain, though don’t expect it to perform miracles on ice.
Any all-season tire with a stiff sidewall will inevitably divide opinions. Such a model will be preferred by drivers who are always eager to push their cars to their limits. However, it might serve as a deal-breaker for anyone who doesn’t want to know what’s going down there on the road.
The StabiliEdge Technology further enhances this tire’s performance credentials. It locks this tire’s treads during high-speed driving, aggressive cornering, and braking, expanding the contact patch to give this model extra traction and grip when needed.
As noted above, this tire won’t do well on ice and snow. It has very few biting edges on the tread area, which seem incapable of making this model functional in even mild wintry conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional responsiveness and straight-line tracking
- Ensures superb high-speed stability
- Comes with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Not for wintry conditions
#6. Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail – Best All-Terrain
Multiple features make the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail one of the best all-terrain tires for Nissan Murano. These include its dual-function sidewall, which not only resists cuts, nips, and punctures with its toughness, thus minimizing the risk of unwanted midway stops.
Together with the step-down etching and built-in heat diffusers, the sidewall also functions as a heat shield, dissipating heat that would otherwise build up inside the rubber. As such, regardless of your driving speed or road conditions, the risk of blow-ups will be minimal.
Another quality that this tire possesses is that of self-cleaning. Regardless of how much mud or slush there is on the road, after a few miles of clean track, its treads will be squeaky clean. This will positively impact this model’s traction and grip in challenging terrains.
You won’t have any complaints about its steering response and feedback either, thanks to the 5-rib tread pattern, which also enhances this model’s handling on the highway. What’s more, it also has enough siping (biting edges) to stay useful on mild-to-moderate wintry roads.
In fact, this tire is so capable on snow and ice that it has earned a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol. This means that the rater deems it capable of safely carrying you from point A to point B in the most severe winter weather conditions.
Pros
- Backed to last 65,000 miles
- Exceptional highway and off-road traction
- Offer a crisp and responsive steering response
Cons
- May hurt Murano’s fuel economy
#7. Nitto NT 421Q – Best High-Performance All-Season
The Nitto NT 421Q isn’t your average high-performance tire. Your standard HP model doesn’t stay quiet at high speeds, comes with a respectable treadwear warranty, or offers a decent ride quality. Neither does its traction on wet roads induce any confidence.
Yet there are areas where this model holds the banner of its class. Its high-speed stability and grip can rival that of most extreme performance tires. The same goes for steering response and feedback, meaning you can count on it to give you a better feel of the road.
Cornering performance is another area where this tire shines. The credit for this goes to its outer shoulder blocks, which let you enter and exit turns at speed. Moreover, a 3D interlocking sipe design has provided it with some of the shortest braking distances of HP tires.
The NT421 Q also comes fitted with maintenance indicators. You can therefore check how its tread is wearing and the wheels’ alignment status at home. A 60,000 or 75,000-mile treadwear warranty (depending on tire size) will also come as part of the package.
Keep in mind that this model will wear quickly if pushed to its limits. Also, its noise levels are pretty loud (especially at high speeds) compared to the above touring tires.
Pros
- Class-leading treadwear warranty
- Superb dry, wet, and snow traction
- Excellent dry handling and cornering
Cons
- May wear quickly if pushed to the limits
#8. Vogue Signature V Black SCT – Best Budget High-Performance All-Season
The Vogue Signature V Black SCT proves that relatively unknown brands can also churn out quality, high-performance all-season tires. Designed to fit SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks, this tire has multiple features that might convince you to install it on your Murano.
Start with the cutting-edge tread compound that is infused with silica to offer more responsive handling and better traction. Then there are its broader shoulder elements, which increase this model’s cornering performance, making it alive around corners and bends.
Next come the four wide circumferential grooves. These channels ensure quick and effective water evacuation to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. In not letting water particles stay inside treads for long, the grooves also help shorten this tire’s wet braking distances.
The second-last feature that enhances this tire’s reputation is its ride comfort. Thanks to Vogue’s Tech Comfort Ride and Whisper Tuning technologies, it offers a much smoother and quieter ride than other models in this class.
In its final attempt to convince you to buy this tire, Vogue has provided it with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, almost the same as you get on some sizes of the Nitto NT421Q.
Pros
- Brilliant dry and wet traction
- Comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers a relatively smooth and quiet ride
Cons
- Average winter traction (which was expected)
#9. Sumitomo HTR A/S P03 – Best Street Performance
The Sumitomo HTR A/S P03 offers extreme performance at an affordable price. This distinguishes it from 99% of summer performance tires, whose asking price can blow a hole in anyone’s pocket.
An advanced silica tread compound helps this model offer the best of both worlds. Apart from helping it perform at its best at the speed limit, it makes sure that the tire remains pliable on wet roads. In doing so, the tread compound has increased this model’s utility in the rain.
For better performance, Sumitomo took the recipe from the previous two versions of this model and made it even better. This tire features much more aggressive shoulder blocks than the A/S PO and A/S PO2, delivering improved high-speed stability and handling.
An asymmetric tread design with three circumferential and plenty of lateral grooves should help with water evacuation. Surprisingly, this tire also has ‘teeth’ (biting edges or sipes) to help it bite onto the road. So, expect short braking distances on damp roads.
As you may expect from a performance tire, the HTR A/S P03 isn’t as quiet or comfortable as a touring tire.
Pros
- Best-in-class braking distances
- Tons of lateral grip
- Marvelous driving dynamics
Cons
Wet traction could be better
#10. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 – Best Winter Tire
The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is one of the best winter tires on the market. A super-flexible tread compound, MultiCell structure, and angular shoulder edges have helped this model earn the 3PMSF symbol, indicating its excellent winter performance credentials.
Its flexible tread compound has the uncanny ability to stay flexible in sub-zero temperatures. This, in turn, keeps the rubber pliable, helping it deal with harsh wintry conditions.
MultiCell structure traps snow within the treads. The resulting friction created by snow-on-snow traction helps propel this model forward on thick, hard-packed snow.
Angular shoulder edges have the aggressiveness needed to bite in hard-packed snow and snow banks, thereby helping this model safely carry you from point A to point B in severe winter weather.
Pros
- Features the 3PMSF emblem
- Provides superb ice and snow traction
- Delivers exceptional hydroplaning resistance
Cons
- No treadwear warranty
Best Tires for Nissan Murano
All-Season Touring Tires
All-season touring tires are the preferred choice of many Nissan Murano drivers. That is because these tires offer the highly sought-after trifecta of above-average fuel economy, excellent road manners in dry and wet conditions, and extended tread life.
Performance Tires
Performance tires might be better if you like pushing the Murano to its limits. These tires’ high-speed stability, steering response and feedback, and cornering performance are such that those who like high-speed driving will find plenty to like about these tires.
All-Terrain Tires
All-terrain tires might be worth a shot if you use this SUV for light off-roading. Their cut- and chip-resistant tread compounds, ultra-stiff sidewalls, and self-cleaning design elements make these tires more than capable of handling slush, snow, gravel, and even mud.
Winter Tires
Winter tires are a no-brainer if your area receives more than its fair share of snow. You might want to note that these tires come in two versions: studless and studdable. Both these tires offer excellent winter traction, though studded tires might perform better over hard-packed snow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sizes of tires fit on a Nissan Murano?
One of the best things about the Nissan Murano is that it only comes with two OEM tire sizes. These include 235/65R18 and 235/55R20. This makes it extremely easy to know which tire size will go on your Murano.
For instance, if your Murano has 18″ wheels, you need to look for 235/65R18 tires. If it has 20″ wheels, then you’ll need to find 235/55R20 tires.
How long do Nissan Murano tires last?
Although multiple variables affect a tire’s longevity, you can expect Nissan Murano tires to last an average of 45,000 to 60,000 miles. This translates to a road life of about four years.
How often should you rotate your tires on Nissan Murano?
According to a rule of thumb, you should rotate your Nissan Murano tires every 5,000 miles.
Conclusion
Your search for the best Nissan Murano tires ends here. All the above models have what it takes to enhance this SUV’s ride-related qualities. You can thus count on them to improve the driving manners and dynamics of this mid-size SUV.
