Best SUV Tyre for 2024

[FastMitch]

Whats your budget per tyre and whats your tyre size. If you give me this info id be happy to suggest some good options for you.

Tiguan Highline RLine [ 255/40 R20 V XL ] currently on Continental Conti SportContact 5
Only front are worn so only need to replace 2

Looking to spend $270 - $330 per tyre. Was looking at either the 40% Off Kumho or 50% Off Pirelli offers.

On a side note, the Kumho CRUGEN HP71 appear to come in both EV and a non-EV version (see different tread patterns below).

HP71 EV Version


HP71 Non-EV version

[Lucas_R]

OK so tyre prices have increased quite a bit over the last 3-4 years, so your relatively small budget isn't going to get you too far when looking for expensive tyres unfortunately. Add on to this that the Tiguan uses an unusual sized tyre (therefore they are more expensive) which isn't helping.

The 50% off sale that Mycar will have in the next few weeks will probably be your best opportunity to get a good quality tyre at a 'cheap tyre' price.

Without knowing your location, I dont know if you have access to places like Tempe Tyres (for Sydney folk) where you can get cheap tyres. Im not sure in Melb, Brissy or Perth have places like this, but Sydney has various (St George tyres / Tempe tyres etc).

Jax Tyres and Bob Jane dont have anything in your budget unless you want a garbage no-name Chinese tyre, and all of the traditional tyre promo's they offer on the decent brands are only if you buy 4 tyres.....and you only want 2.

Kumho HP71 as mentioned in our chats previously. This tyre is a comfort/touring design, so smooth ride but not as good grip as the PS91 KUMHO CRUGEN HP71 255/40R20 101W Tyres | Tyresales

Kumho PS91 is a more sporty tyre, so better grip but perhaps a slightly rougher ride: KUMHO ECSTA PS91 255/40R20 101Y Tyres | Tyresales

Hankook Ventus S1 Noble 2 are an older model tyre but they are another option. I have the newer version of these on my Audi SQ5 and they are a good tyre: Hankook 2554020 101H H452 VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2 | Tyres | Tempe Tyres

Continental6Q Contiseal if you wanted to keep the same brand: Continental 255/40R20 101T ContiEcoContact 6 Q ContiSeal | Tyres | Tempe Tyres

But with that budget there isn't a great deal to choose from unfortunately. But if you want the best tyre for that kind of money then probably go with the Pirelli's via the MyCar black Friday sale.

For reference, my Audi SQ5 also uses an unpopular tyre size, so when I replaced them last year I moved from a 255/40/21 to a 265/40/21 which is a very common thing to do with this car. Doing so opens up many more tyre options (brands and models of tyre) and the tyres are on average about $80 cheaper each because the 265/40/21 is a more popular tyre size. I still had to pay $515 per tyre though for the Hankook's but thankfully I waited for a 'buy 4 and pay for 3 deal' so the cost was about $1,600 or so in total with a wheel alignment done at the same time also.....still very expensive but better than full price which would have been about $2,100.

[FastMitch]

Kumho HP71 as mentioned in our chats previously. This tyre is a comfort/touring design, so smooth ride but not as good grip as the PS91 KUMHO CRUGEN HP71 255/40R20 101W Tyres | Tyresales

Kumho PS91 is a more sporty tyre, so better grip but perhaps a slightly rougher ride: KUMHO ECSTA PS91 255/40R20 101Y Tyres | Tyresales

Hankook Ventus S1 Noble 2 are an older model tyre but they are another option. I have the newer version of these on my Audi SQ5 and they are a good tyre: Hankook 2554020 101H H452 VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2 | Tyres | Tempe Tyres

Continental6Q Contiseal if you wanted to keep the same brand: Continental 255/40R20 101T ContiEcoContact 6 Q ContiSeal | Tyres | Tempe Tyres

Thanks mate, your knowledge of tyres is awesome and has helped narrow the selection.
I would have liked to get the same Conti SportContact 5 as I have now, but never see them on special.

The Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 are also in the price range atm.
Hankook 255/40R20 101Y K127 VENTUS S1 EVO3 | Tyres | Tempe Tyres

Based on the Kumho / Perilli 40%/50% specials, tossing up between Kumho HP71 / PS91 | Hankook S1 Evo3 | Pirelli Scorpion Verde.

For reference, my Audi SQ5 also uses an unpopular tyre size, so when I replaced them last year I moved from a 255/40/21 to a 265/40/21 which is a very common thing to do with this car.

Did you have to buy new RIMS to move to a wider tyre size from 255/40/21 to 265/40/21 ?

[Lucas_R]

The Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 is a good tyre - i actually have those fitted to my car currently funnily enough. They are listed as ‘out of stock’ so i left them off the list previously. But definitely worth a look if you can get your hands on them.

To answer your question about whether a wider tyre will fit on your wheels - yes in most cases you will be able to fit a 1-2cm wider tyre on the same rim without a problem.

[Mozzz]

Hi Mozzz,

Just checking after 6 months how have the Kumho HP71 EV compared to the previous Pirelli Scorpion Verde ?

Gotta say I do love the new Kumho's, yes much smoother touring type ride compared to Verde originals, slightly less performance when pushed, but that's a tradeoff I am happy with.

I have my 2018 Wolfie lowered with an upgraded rear sway bar, (DBA slotted rotors and ceramic front pads) and keep 40 - 42psi in the tyres and it rides well for me (remembering it's a bloody brick of a car, not a Golf GTI), not looking to change cars for at least another 5 years while the world sorts out the EV vehicle market. Solid state batteries with 1500km range from the big manufacturers like Toyota will probably get my next vehicle choice.

[FastMitch]

I have my 2018 Wolfie lowered with an upgraded rear sway bar, (DBA slotted rotors and ceramic front pads) and keep 40 - 42psi in the tyres and it rides well for me (remembering it's a bloody brick of a car, not a Golf GTI), not looking to change cars for at least another 5 years ...

I am in a similar boat. 6 months left on the warranty and only ~ 30K kms on the clock.

With the unreliability of VW's (my trans had issues at 20K kms), not excited to keep it beyond the warranty period.

Unfortunately there is no SUV out there around the $60K mark that I would consider buying as a replacement that has a powerful turbo petrol engine (190 kw+) and a torque converter (ZF would be nice).

I maybe forced to keep the 162 Tig 12 months post the warranty expiry

[Lucas_R]

I am in a similar boat. 6 months left on the warranty and only ~ 30K kms on the clock.

With the unreliability of VW's (my trans had issues at 20K kms), not excited to keep it beyond the warranty period.

Unfortunately there is no SUV out there around the $60K mark that I would consider buying as a replacement that has a powerful turbo petrol engine (190 kw+) and a torque converter (ZF would be nice).

I maybe forced to keep the 162 Tig 12 months post the warranty expiry

Just keep it. With 30,000km its still brand new and like you said, there are no other replacement cars that you would consider. The only reason you had a transmission issue is because there were a bad batch of DSG's in the Tiguans which were underfilled with oil from the factory and caused quite a few owners trouble. You have had that recified now so its happy motoring. The only thing you have to look forward to is replacing the waterpump because it will be just about ready to start leaking if it hasnt already. Other than that, they are very reliable engines and I certainly would not have an issue owning one out of warranty if I had to.

[FastMitch]

The only thing you have to look forward to is replacing the waterpump because it will be just about ready to start leaking if it hasnt already.

Do you know what I should be looking for to know if the water-pump is leaking?

Does the coolant level drop or do I see coolant leaking over the engine?

[tek199]

Do you know what I should be looking for to know if the water-pump is leaking?

Does the coolant level drop or do I see coolant leaking over the engine?

Look for salty type deposits under the water pump. Obviously water spots in the garage etc.

To bring this back to the tyre thread. Our Tiguan 132 has just got the treads replaced to Kumho KL21 SUV. The existing Hankook ran out of threads at 24000kms. Considering its my wife's daily, and shes not a hothead behind the wheel i find Hankook usage to be far from acceptable. The Kumho seems to be more quiet and appears to be a quite a good replacement even in the recent downpours we got in Brisbane.

[FastMitch]

Thanks mate. With the current BF 50% Off Sale, going to pull the trigger tomorrow on either:

- Pirelli Scorpion Verde S-I XL 101V - $302 each

- Continental ContiSportContact 5P (MO) - $290 each

[Lucas_R]

Thanks mate. With the current BF 50% Off Sale, going to pull the trigger tomorrow on either:

- Pirelli Scorpion Verde S-I XL 101V - $302 each

- Continental ContiSportContact 5P (MO) - $290 each

Id go for the Continental out of those 2x choices. The Pirelli is an eco tyre so although it will likely last longer, it will sacrifice overall grip to give a lower rolling resistance and longer life.

The Continental is the more sporty tyre of the two, and will have better grip in both wet and dry conditions. But wont last as long as the Pirelli's as a result of the better grip and handling.

[FastMitch]

Id go for the Continental out of those 2x choices. The Pirelli is an eco tyre so although it will likely last longer, it will sacrifice overall grip to give a lower rolling resistance and longer life.

The Continental is the more sporty tyre of the two, and will have better grip in both wet and dry conditions. But wont last as long as the Pirelli's as a result of the better grip and handling.

Based on the Treadwear / Fuel Efficiency / Silence Ratings, I went for the Pirelli 'Scorpion Verde Seal XL' ... BF 50% special
... (not sure what XL stands for ??)

I couldn't ignore the Treadwear rating of 400 vs 240

If the Bridgestone Turanza were on special, probably would have gone for those but they were $700+ at MyCar ...ouch!

[petemac110]

... (not sure what XL stands for ??)

It usually means that the tyre has a higher load rating (extra load).

[BeigeJet]

"I couldn't ignore the Treadwear rating of 400 vs 240"

This is one attribute that does not get much airplay here in OZ.

For those of us wanting some longevity from a set of tyres, getting a higher treadwear rating is the way to go but also knowing full well that treadwear is a trade off with grip.

I personally am happy to trade off as the 235/50/19 size tyres on my Tig are quite expensive due to availability as it is not a common size at present.

[FastMitch]

It usually means that the tyre has a higher load rating (extra load).

Thanks mate, makes sense.

Q: If I am only replacing the front 2 tyre (rears are ok), is it worth paying extra for the 'wheel alignment' or is that a gimmick?