The 9 Best Tires for the Kia Sportage

#1. Michelin Premier LTX

Several qualities make the Premier LTX one of the best all-season tires for Kia Sportage.

The first of which is superb road manners. I have used this tire myself and was impressed by how quiet the ride felt. Even on brick roads, there was no noticeable increase in the noise entering the cabin, indicating this tire’s excellent sound absorption qualities.

Another reason it gets my vote is that it won’t require replacement year-round. True, almost every all-season tire claims to stay useful 365 days a year. But only a few have what the Premier LTX possesses – a tread compound that stays flexible in mild-to-moderate climes.

The Premier LTX can also maximize your Sportage’s fuel economy, especially when paired with the Sportage’s Eco mode and driving smoothly around the town.

To further sweeten the deal, Michelin backs the Premier LTX with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty. This indicates that the average American driver can expect to get at least 4 years out of this tire. Which seems just about right, considering that the Premier LTX doesn’t come cheap.

#2. Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II

The Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II is a quintessential Pirelli tire.

Every aspect of Pirelli’s outstanding craftsmanship shines through in this tire, including outstanding fuel economy, excellent traction on wet roads, and high steering feedback. You could thus count on this tire to keep you happy and your wallet full.

Another thing I like about this tire is that it reacts quickly to steering inputs. There is minimal (if any) lag between steering movements and those of the tire on the road. As a result, executing quick lane changes (often a nemesis of A/S tires) is seamless.

Four circumferential grooves deliver even more good news. These water channels are designed to aid water evacuation through the tread blocks, even when there’s standing water on the roads. As a result, the risk of hydroplaning is almost negligible.

Yet there are areas where it could do better. For instance, while the sipes on its tread may indicate otherwise, this tire isn’t designed for snow driving.

#3. Continental CrossContact LX 25

The CrossContact LX25 epitomizes what SUV tires should be all about.

On dry roads, it delivers the kind of handling that minimizes body roll, even when you’re cornering at high speeds. Plus, they stay glued to the road during a sudden burst of speed. So, there won’t be any unwanted surprises the next time you go hard on the accelerator.

Its wet performance isn’t bad, either. The combination of superb wet traction and high aquaplaning resistance translates into short braking distances in the rain.

A symmetric tread pattern and all-season tread compound ensure a plush and quiet ride, though one that does take a hit the moment you push it to its limits. The same could be said about its fuel economy, which is above average as long as you drive it to the edge.  

Speaking of above-average things, a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty could also be categorized as such, putting it ahead of the likes of Premier LTX, Scorpion Verde All-Season Plus II, and many other all-season tires. However, just like those two, it’s unreliable on thick snow.

#4. Hankook Kinergy GT

The Hankook Kinergy GT tires are incredibly popular among Sportage drivers. In real life as well as on forums like Reddit, you could see that Sportage drivers adore them.

The most obvious explanation for this fondness is price. You could buy four of the Kinergy GTs, replace them with another set, and still spend less than one set of Michelins. This makes them an attractive proposition for drivers on a tight budget.

However, low asking price isn’t the only major factor behind their attractiveness. Had that been the case, models from other mid-tier brands (which cost less) would be equally popular among Sportage drivers. But they aren’t. So, other factors are also at play here.

One of which is year-round utility. Similar to models costing twice (and, in the case of Michelins, thrice) as much, the Kinergy GT tires are as useful on dry roads as in the rain. This means you won’t have to replace them when the weather turns inclement.

Another is that they come with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty. This guarantee is much longer than you get from many competitors from premium brands. Another reason why many Sportage drivers love these tires is that their refinement levels are pretty high.

#5. Goodyear Assurance MaxLife

Of all the Goodyear tires for Sportage, the Assurance MaxLife is perhaps the best (at least in my opinion) for everyday driving, commuting, and running errands around town.

Mainly because its rated tread life is 30% higher than rivals. Goodyear backs the MaxLife to last up to 85,000 miles, which means you’re getting 15,000 miles more than other premium all-season tires. That too at a much lower price.

Another reason why I love these tires is that they offer a quiet and comfortable ride. Now, I know that you know of many all-season tires that claim to offer just that. But having driven the MaxLife myself, I can vouch that these tires walk the talk.

These tires also deliver an assured performance on wet roads. Also, unlike many all-season tires, they don’t wobble at high speeds and during aggressive cornering. As a result, the risk of body roll (all too familiar to Sportage drivers) is pretty slim.

All in all, if you are looking for an all-season tire that will keep going for years, the Assurance MaxLife deserves your attention.  

#6. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6

After years of serving the car market, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 is finally available in sizes that enable it to cover popular SUVs such as the Kia Sportage.

The above piece of news should excite you for several reasons. First, the F1 Asymmetric 6 delivers a higher grip and sharper handling than your average performance tire. The result? Better high-speed stability, more controlled maneuvering, and shorter braking distances.

Secondly, Goodyear has equipped the Asymmetric 6 with Wet Braking Pro technology. This technology has made several improvements to the tire’s rubber and construction. All of which improve its traction and grip on wet roads.

Thirdly, while UHP tires are rarely quiet and comfortable, the Asymmetric 6 is an exception. Now, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it rivals models from Goodyear’s touring lineup. But I would say it’s much quieter than most performance tires.

Lastly, despite offering all the above features, it costs less than rivals from Michelin and Continental. Think of Pilot Sport 5 and PremiumContact 6. What more can you ask for!

#7. Michelin Latitude Sport 3

The Michelin Latitude Sport 3 is another good option for adventurous Sportage drivers.

This tire performs really well in dry conditions, no matter how fast you drive. A combination of silica-containing tread compound and special tread design makes sure of that. You can thus max out your Sportage without worrying about things going haywire.

Its steering feedback may also catch you by surprise, as you can feel every turn, twist, and lane change. To make things even more interesting, it’s super-quick to respond to steering inputs, letting you execute quick lane changes seamlessly.

All the above are qualities that you expect from ultra-high-performance tires.

What you don’t expect from them is assured performance in wet conditions. Yet that is precisely what the Latitude Sport 3 offers. Its specialized tread design and multiple grooves (channels) in the tread ensure that even on wet roads, the stopping distances remain short.

Another thing you don’t expect from UHP tires is a treadwear warranty. Fortunately, this tire is an exception. A 60,000-mile treadwear guarantee is proof of that. As such, you can count on this model to not require replacement anytime soon.

#8. Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail

Although it has been on the market since early 2019, the Wildpeak A/T Trail continues to be a popular tire among off-road enthusiasts.

One of the major reasons its popularity has stayed strong over all those years is because this tire is (almost) impenetrable to cuts, chips, and punctures. You can drive an entire journey on dirty terrains without taking any forced stops along the way.  

Another is that it comes with a dual-function sidewall. One that also functions as a heat shield besides keeping the rubber protected on off-roads. The sidewall features little pores that help dissipate heat before it can build up and cause blow-outs.

Still another reason this tire is so popular among the off-roaders community is its superb traction on dirt, gravel, mud, and even rocks. Plus, it features voids for self-cleaning, thereby keeping its superb grip intact on dirty roads.

To sweeten the deal even further, Falken backs this tire with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty. This gives this tire a huge lead over its fellow all-terrain tires, most of which come with no warranty whatsoever.

#9. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV

Nokian’s expertise in winter tires shines through the Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV.

Independent tests reveal that this model offers 3% better traction than competitors. Its stopping distances are also reportedly 5.6 meters shorter than rivals. Plus, its aquaplaning resistance (the ability to resist slippage on wet roads) is among the best in type.

Another thing you may notice about this tire is that it contains a lot of sipes. Or, per Nokian, 10% more than those of rivals. How would that benefit you? In the shape of better traction on snow- and ice-laden roads as well as shorter stopping distances.

Moreover, despite having more sipes than any winter tire on the market, this tire isn’t loud. Which is surprising, considering that there’s often a direct relationship between biting edges and road noise.

Yet another difference between this tire and its rivals (the studless ones) is that it features built-in studs. Ones that only emerge as the tread wears down and the sipes give way. As a result, you can expect it to offer unparalleled traction throughout its road life.