Best 225/65R17 All-Season Tires for Crossovers & SUVs (2026)

Choosing the best 225/65R17 all-season tires for a crossover in Southern California means solving two problems with one set of rubber: surviving long, hot freeway commutes during the week, then holding up on the graded dirt of a forest access road on the weekend. This size is the factory fitment on some of the most common vehicles on the 405 and the 10 — the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, and Subaru Outback — so the right tire matters for a lot of LA-area drivers.

TL;DR:

• Best value (and where most crossover drivers should start): EngineX MaxTour H/T
• Best overall for tread life and quiet comfort: Michelin Defender2
• Best for light fire roads and graded dirt: Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus

How this list is organized

• What this list prioritizes: quiet, stable freeway behavior for the daily SoCal commute, paired with enough tread and casing toughness for occasional light fire-road use.
• What this list does not assume: it does not assume you crawl rocks or drive in snow. None of these picks is a mud or winter tire, and only the Pirelli is a true all-terrain design.
• Who this list is for: owners of compact and mid-size crossovers running the 225/65R17 original-equipment size who split their miles between pavement and the occasional dirt road in the Angeles National Forest.

Every tire below is a genuine 225/65R17 with a 102 load index and Standard Load (SL) construction, and the spec figures are taken from each product's FixGo detail page rather than estimated. If the difference between H/T, all-season, and all-terrain is fuzzy, our guide to H/T tires is a good primer before you shop.

Top picks at a glance

A quick note on that table: the product pages publish Load Range (SL, or Standard Load) rather than a marketing ply count, so that is what we list. Every option here meets the 102 load index that this size carries from the factory.

The picks in detail

Best value: EngineX MaxTour H/T

EngineX is a high-value brand offered through FixGo, and the EngineX MaxTour H/T is where we point most 225/65R17 crossover owners first. It is a highway-terrain touring tire built for exactly the kind of daily driving the LA basin demands: long stretches of hot freeway with the occasional unpaved detour.

• Why it makes the shortlist: It carries a 500 A A UTQG rating and a 50,000-mile manufacturer mileage warranty, plus listed road-hazard coverage — a strong package for a value tire. The comfort-tuned tread keeps low-frequency road hum down on coarse concrete, which is what you feel most on the I-10 through the San Gabriel Valley.
• Tradeoffs: It is T-rated (good to 118 mph), the lowest speed rating in this group, and as a highway-terrain design it handles packed dirt and graded fire roads but is not meant for loose sand or mud.
• Best for: Daily commuters who want quiet, durable, no-drama pavement manners and real value, with light fire-road capability as a bonus. If you want the background on the brand, see our EngineX tire guide for everyday drivers.

Best overall: Michelin Defender2

The Michelin Defender2 is the longevity-and-comfort benchmark of this list. If your crossover lives on the freeway and you want to replace tires as rarely as possible, this is the safe pick.

• Why it makes the shortlist: It is rated H (good to 130 mph) and backed by an 80,000-mile mileage warranty — the longest here — with a high 840 UTQG treadwear figure and a 10.5/32" tread depth. That deep, hard-wearing tread is well suited to the abrasive, sun-baked asphalt of an Inland Empire summer commute.
• Tradeoffs: It is a premium touring tire, so it sits at the top of the price ladder, and its road-focused tread is happiest on pavement rather than sharp granite.
• Best for: High-mileage commuters who prioritize tread life and a quiet, composed ride above all else.

Best comfort: Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive

As the name suggests, the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive is tuned to take the edge off rough pavement, which makes it a natural fit for the patched, grooved concrete of the 210 and 405.

• Why it makes the shortlist: It pairs an H speed rating with a 700 A A UTQG rating and a 60,000-mile mileage warranty, and Goodyear builds in shock-absorption and wear-resistant tread features aimed squarely at ride comfort.
• Tradeoffs: Its strengths are comfort and quietness on the road; like the other touring tires here, it is not intended for anything rougher than a well-graded dirt road.
• Best for: Drivers whose top complaint is harshness and cabin noise on broken freeway surfaces.

Best balanced crossover tire: Yokohama Geolandar CV G058

The Yokohama Geolandar CV G058 is engineered specifically for crossover-utility vehicles, splitting the difference between passenger-car refinement and SUV stability.

• Why it makes the shortlist: It carries an H speed rating, a 740 A A UTQG rating, and a 65,000-mile mileage warranty. The A temperature grade and crossover-specific construction are reassuring for sustained high-speed running in the heat between Ontario and the high desert.
• Tradeoffs: Steering feel is a touch softer and more relaxed than the sharper touring tires, which most commuters will read as comfort rather than a flaw.
• Best for: RAV4, CR-V, and CX-5 owners who want one well-rounded tire that does everything on pavement competently and shrugs off SoCal heat.

Best for light fire roads: Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus

If your weekends actually involve dirt, the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus is the one tire here built for it. It is a true all-terrain design that still behaves on the street.

• Why it makes the shortlist: It has the deepest tread of the group at 12/32", an H speed rating, a 640 A B UTQG rating, and a 50,000-mile mileage warranty. The more open, aggressive tread blocks resist chipping on the coarse decomposed granite around Rowher Flats far better than a smooth touring tire.
• Tradeoffs: Those blocks add some highway hum compared with the touring picks, and per its FixGo product page this tire is not 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) rated, so do not treat it as a snow tire.
• Best for: Outback and RAV4 owners who regularly leave the pavement for graded forest and fire roads and want puncture-resistant, chip-resistant rubber.

Best rugged highway tire: Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT

The Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT leans more toward the SUV and light-truck end of the spectrum while staying a highway-terrain tire at heart.

• Why it makes the shortlist: It offers an H speed rating, a 680 A B UTQG rating, a 65,000-mile mileage warranty, and a 10/32" tread depth, with Goodyear's noise-reduction and wear-resistant tread technology. It is a sensible choice for a heavier or frequently loaded crossover that still sees light forest access.
• Tradeoffs: As an H/T tire it is built for pavement first; it handles graded dirt but is not an all-terrain tire like the Pirelli.
• Best for: Owners of larger or load-carrying crossovers and SUVs who want durable, quiet highway manners with a margin of toughness.

How to choose between these options

• If you prioritize value and everyday comfort: start with the EngineX MaxTour H/T. It covers the daily commute and light dirt without overspending.
• If you prioritize maximum tread life and a quiet ride: choose the Michelin Defender2, with the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive close behind on comfort.
• If you prioritize weekend fire roads and dirt durability: the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus is the clear answer, with the Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT as a more highway-biased alternative.
• If you want one do-everything pavement tire: the Yokohama Geolandar CV G058 is the balanced all-rounder.

For a broader framework on matching tread type to your driving, see our guide to choosing all-season tires and our overview of commuter tires for Los Angeles drivers.

Fitment and buying notes

• Match the placard, not just the size. Before ordering, check the tire placard on your driver-side door jamb. Every tire here is a 225/65R17 with a 102 load index, and you should meet or exceed that figure.
• Respect the speed rating. Five of these picks are H-rated and the EngineX MaxTour H/T is T-rated. Stay at or above your vehicle's original speed rating; do not downgrade.
• Set pressure for the heat. SoCal summer pavement runs hot, which raises tire pressure and accelerates wear on under-inflated tires. Check pressures when the tires are cold and follow the placard.
• Know your sidewall. If decoding the numbers feels confusing, our guide to reading tire sizes walks through every marking on the sidewall.

FAQ

Can I use these highway-terrain tires on unpaved fire roads?

Yes, with realistic expectations. Highway-terrain and touring tires like the EngineX MaxTour H/T, Michelin Defender2, and Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT handle well-graded dirt and light gravel at sensible speeds. If you regularly drive coarse decomposed granite or sharp rock — the kind of surface around Rowher Flats — the all-terrain Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus is the better-protected choice.

Why is 225/65R17 such a common crossover size?

It is the factory size for many compact and mid-size crossovers, including the RAV4, CR-V, CX-5, Rogue, and Outback. The 65-series sidewall is fairly tall, so it adds ride cushion over broken pavement and gives a little extra protection on light dirt compared with a low-profile tire.

Does Southern California heat really shorten tire life?

It can. Hot asphalt is abrasive and high ambient temperatures raise running temperatures, which wears softer compounds faster — especially if the tire is under-inflated. Higher-treadwear options like the Michelin Defender2 (840 UTQG) and Yokohama Geolandar CV G058 (740 UTQG) are designed to hold up well under sustained heat.

Bottom line

• Best simple answer for most drivers: EngineX MaxTour H/T — quiet, durable, and high value for the daily commute with light fire-road capability.
• Best if you care most about tread life and comfort: Michelin Defender2.
• Best if your weekends involve real dirt: Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus.

Whichever way you lean, FixGo offers competitive pricing on all of these 225/65R17 options with a Best Price Guarantee and hassle-free returns — and you do not have to mount them yourself. You can order online and book installation at any of our 200+ partner installation shops across the Greater Los Angeles area, from the San Gabriel Valley to the Inland Empire, so your new tires are fitted, balanced, and ready for both the freeway and the fire road.