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Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
You need a 245/50R20 tire that fits your SUV’s 20-inch wheels, carries its weight safely, and doesn’t howl on the highway. The short answer: the Starfire Solarus HT is the best all-round value for most SUV owners, the Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3 is the wet-grip upgrade, and the Cooper Discoverer Road and Trail AT is the pick for mud, gravel, and packed snow.
This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
First, a quick word on what those numbers on the sidewall actually mean. The “245” is the tread width in millimeters, the “50” is the sidewall height as a percentage of that width, and the “R20” is the wheel diameter in inches — so the tire only fits a 20-inch rim. The load index and speed letter that follow matter just as much, because they tell you how much weight each tire can carry and how fast it is rated to run. Below you’ll find the best 245/50r20 tires for suv broken down by how you actually drive.
Top Picks
How To Choose The Best 245/50R20 Tires for SUV
Buying a 245/50R20 tire is mostly a fitment and load question before it is a brand question. Get those two wrong and even a great tire will feel wrong or, worse, be unsafe. Once fitment and load are right, the remaining choice is ride noise versus snow and mud traction.
Match the load index to what your SUV carries
The load index is a code for how much weight one tire can support — a 102 rating corresponds to 1,874 pounds per tire in the data here, and a 105 rating corresponds to 2,039 pounds. If you tow a trailer or load the back with gear and passengers, that headroom matters. The load range letters (SL for standard load, XL for extra load) tell you the same story in a different way: XL tires are built to carry more.
Decide how much winter you actually face
An M+S rating (mud and snow) means the tread is designed to clear packed snow, while a 3PMSF marking (the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) is a stricter certification for severe snow. If your winters are mild, M+S is plenty. If you regularly drive through real snow, look for the 3PMSF symbol on the sidewall.
Read the treadwear warranty as a value signal
A 50,000-mile limited warranty and a 70,000-mile limited warranty are not just promises — they hint at how hard the rubber compound is engineered to wear. A longer warranty usually means a harder compound that lasts longer but can trade a little grip; a shorter one often means a softer, grippier tire.
Speed rating and noise matter more than you think
The letter after the load index (H or V here) is the speed rating — V is rated for higher sustained speeds than H. For most SUV drivers the practical difference is in how the tire is built, not how fast you’ll go. Noise is the other daily factor: touring tires are tuned for a quieter cabin, while all-terrain tires trade some of that quiet for grip on loose surfaces.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Model | Best For | Load Index | Item Weight | Treadwear Warranty | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starfire Solarus HT All-Season★ Best Overall | Everyday SUV value | 102 | 29.1 lbs | 50,000 miles | Amazon |
| Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3Wet-Grip Leader | Wet-weather grip | 102 | 32.1 lbs | — | Amazon |
| Pirelli Scorpion STREveryday Value | Year-round highway traction | 102 | 28 lbs | 50,000 miles | Amazon |
| Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring A/S | Quiet passenger-car feel | 102 | 32.6 lbs | — | Amazon |
| Firestone All Season Touring | Long treadwear coverage | 102 | 27.2 lbs | 65,000 miles | Amazon |
| Continental CrossContact LX25 | Fuel-saving touring | 102 | 30.9 lbs | 70,000 miles | Amazon |
| Cooper Discoverer Road and Trail AT | Trails and packed snow | 102 | 33.7 lbs | — | Amazon |
| Michelin Cross Climate 2 A/W | All-weather safety | 105 | 31.4 lbs | 60,000 miles | Amazon |
| Michelin Primacy Tour A/S | Long-distance touring | 102 | 32.2 lbs | — | Amazon |
Detailed Reviews
1. Starfire Solarus HT All-Season 245/50R20 102H Tire
Our pick — 4.5+★ from 4,500+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The quietly confident all-rounder that makes a 20-inch SUV feel smooth again.
If you drive a pickup or an SUV and just want a tire that behaves on the commute, this is the one to start with. It carries a 102 load index, which corresponds to 1,874 pounds of capacity per tire — enough for a loaded family SUV or a light-tow pickup. The 50,000-mile limited warranty gives you a long runway before replacement, and the M+S rating means the tread is designed to clear mud and packed snow rather than clog up.
What wins people over is the quality and the calm. The ride is smooth, the tread wears evenly, and the cabin stays quiet at highway speed — drivers on long road trips call the ride comfortable and the handling stable through sharp turns. One owner who put these on a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee summed up the long-haul experience nicely: “At 5000 mi: excellent in sand, 5-8% better MPG, slight highway noise at 70mph. At 15000 mi: minimal wear, 100% satisfied.” That combination of minimal wear and better fuel economy after thousands of miles is exactly what a touring tire should deliver.
Here’s the honest catch: tread life is the one thing buyers are still watching. A number of owners describe durability as unproven rather than poor, and one noted that balancing took more weight than the tires it replaced — often a sign you’ll want a careful shop to mount them. There are also occasional reports of a sidewall defect, which is worth a visual check at delivery. None of that changes the overall picture for a tire that fits most SUV budgets comfortably.
Where it earns its keep
- 102 load index rated for 1,874 pounds per tire — solid for a loaded SUV
- 50,000-mile limited warranty backs the treadwear claim
- Quiet, smooth highway ride with even wear
- M+S rated for light mud and packed snow
What to keep an eye on
- Tread life is still being proven by owners long-term
- Balancing can require extra weight on some wheels
- Occasional sidewall defect reports — inspect on arrival
Go for it if: you want a balanced all-season SUV tire that keeps the cabin quiet and the budget comfortable.
Think twice if: you need a 3PMSF severe-snow certification for heavy winter driving.
2. Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3 245/50R20 102V
The Pirelli built for rain-soaked commutes and confident cornering.
The standout here is the tread design. Full-depth sipes (thin slits cut into the tread blocks) work from the first mile to the last, and 3D sipe technology locks those blocks together so the steering feels sharp even as the tire wears. If you live somewhere that gets real downpours, this is the pick that earns its keep in the wet — buyers describe grip that holds through heavy rain and corners that feel noticeably tighter than the tires they replaced.
It’s also a comfortable highway tire. The weight comes in at 32.1 pounds, and the 102 load index carries the same 1,874 pounds per tire as the Starfire above. One owner who moved from an older Scorpion model to these described the change as night-and-day: the highway number stayed at “21.7 hwy at 72mph” with no fuel-economy penalty, and the ride absorbed potholes that used to feel harsh.
The trade-off is treadwear. A handful of owners flag tread life as a wait-and-see item, so if you expect a set to last a decade you’ll want to watch rotation intervals. Sizing is also worth a second glance: the model number here is 245/50R20, but some review experiences came from other fitments, so confirm your exact sidewall size before buying. If wet grip is your top priority, this is the tire to reach for.
The wet-weather case: full-depth sipes and 3D sipe technology mean grip doesn’t fade as the tread wears down.
The cost of the grip: tread life is the aspect owners are least settled on, so plan to rotate on schedule and watch the wear bars.
Reach for this if: your commute involves heavy rain and you want the sharpest wet-road feel in this list.
Look elsewhere if: you prioritize maximum treadwear life over ultimate wet grip.
3. Pirelli Scorpion STR 245/50R 20 102H SUV/Crossover Tire
Light on its feet and smart enough to tell you when it needs attention.
This one carries a feature you don’t see often at this level: Quick View Indicators, small visual markers built into the tread that show how the tire is performing in dry, wet, and snow conditions and hint when an alignment check is due. Add the X-Sipe technology — sipes shaped to improve braking, cornering, and acceleration on wet, snow, and ice — and you get a highway tire that punches above its price point.
It’s also the lightest tire here at 28 pounds, which makes a real difference to ride quality and steering effort. The 102 load index still delivers the same 1,874 pounds of per-tire capacity, and the 50,000-mile limited mileage coverage matches the Starfire. What wins people over is the calm: distinct quality and ride-quality positives dominate, and it’s described as smooth and quiet with solid grip in rain.
The durability story is mixed rather than settled, so treat it as a good highway tire rather than a high-mileage marathoner. Also note the seller disclaimer: this product is not for sale in the state of Arkansas, which is worth confirming before checkout if you’re shipping there. For the money, it’s a smart pick for a crossover that mostly sees pavement.
The clever bit: Quick View Indicators give you a built-in read on dry, wet, and snow performance so you can spot alignment trouble early.
What to weigh: at 28 pounds it’s the lightest tire in this list, but long-term durability is the open question owners are still answering.
Best suited to: crossover owners who want a light, quiet highway tire with built-in wear indicators.
Not the one for: buyers who need proven high-mileage longevity above all else.
4. Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring A/S 245/50R20 102V
A touring tire that turns a 20-inch-wheel SUV back into a quiet cruiser.
Uniroyal tunes this one for the people who spend their days on the highway. It carries a 102V speed rating — V is rated for higher sustained speeds than the H-rated tires elsewhere in this list — and the 1,874-pound-per-tire capacity from its 102 load index. What people rave about is the quiet ride; it’s the aspect this tire is praised for most, with smooth-ride and weather-performance notes close behind.
Owners describe it as a genuine upgrade over the premium tires it replaced. One driver who put these on a 2013 Honda Pilot called them better than prior Michelins in noise, traction, and price, and reported flawless behavior on a Pennsylvania-to-North-Carolina road trip. Another praised the fit and the thick tread, noting the tires “seem to be wearing well” with the caveat that only time will confirm it.
The honest limit is tread life. It’s the one aspect owners are least sure about, and a few note they need a full wear cycle before they’ll commit to a top score. If you’re a high-mileage driver who wants a guaranteed wear number, look at the longer-warranty picks. For everyone else, the quiet ride makes a strong case.
What sells it
- 102V rating for confident highway cruising
- Quiet ride is the most-praised quality
- Handles rain and dry with equal composure
- 1,874-pound-per-tire load capacity
What to plan for
- Tread life is still being proven over full wear cycles
- No published treadwear warranty in the listing
Choose this: if cabin quiet on long highway stretches is your top priority.
Skip if: you need a stated treadwear warranty to feel confident.
5. Firestone All Season Touring Tire P245/50R20 102 H
The longest treadwear coverage in this list, aimed at the high-mileage commuter.
Firestone backs this one with a 65,000-mile limited treadwear warranty, and that number tells you how the compound is engineered — hard enough to go the distance. Deep sipes are cut into the tread to keep wet and all-season grip alive as the tire wears, and the 102 load index carries the same 1,874 pounds per tire. At 27.2 pounds it’s the lightest tire in this whole guide, which keeps steering light and ride quality easy on a heavy SUV.
It’s also one of the best-loved tires here by sheer volume, and the pattern is clear: quality, smoothness, and quiet highway behavior come up again and again. Traction in both wet and dry gets strong marks, and the all-season design is described as working well from the first mile to well past the 10,000-mile mark. One long-term user put it simply: “very nice tires for the price one of my go to tires timeless look and good in traction.”
Where it stumbles is small: sidewall damage from road debris has been reported, and a few buyers wish the tire were priced more aggressively. Neither is a reason to skip it — just something to keep in mind if you drive rough roads. If longevity is your priority, this is the tire in the group with the biggest stated wear promise.
The long-game advantage: a 65,000-mile limited warranty plus deep sipes means you’re buying both mileage and grip that lasts.
One thing to note: sidewall damage from road debris has been reported, so keep an eye on the lower sidewall if you drive gravel or construction routes.
Worth buying if: you rack up highway miles and want the longest treadwear promise here.
Keep looking if: you drive a lot of rough, debris-strewn roads where sidewall damage is a real risk.
6. Continental 245/50R20 102H CONTI CROSSCONTACT LX25 BW
A premium touring tire engineered to stretch fuel and tread at the same time.
The headline number is the warranty: up to 70,000 miles of limited tread life coverage, the longest in this guide. Continental’s EcoPlus Technology is the reason — it’s designed to save fuel, tune range, shorten braking distances on wet roads, and extend tread life all at once. The 102 load index matches the group at 1,874 pounds per tire, and at 30.9 pounds it sits in the middle of the weight range, so the ride stays composed without feeling floaty.
Owners describe it as a tire that holds up over time. The build quality and the low road noise are what earn the most praise, with ride quality close behind. One long-term owner who mounted a set on a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe reported instant gains in handling and ride comfort, and noted after a year and eight months that the treads were “still good” with handling, wear, and road noise all worth the price. A protective rim lip is another detail that shows up in the feedback — useful if you regularly park tight against curbs.
The premium price tag is the honest catch. Several owners describe it as pricier than alternatives but worth it, so it fits best if you plan to keep the vehicle long enough to use the full 70,000-mile warranty. If short-term budget is the deciding factor, the value picks above will serve you well.
Reasons it justifies the tier
- 70,000-mile limited tread life warranty — the longest here
- EcoPlus Technology targets fuel savings and shorter wet stops
- Low road noise and responsive year-round handling
- Protective rim lip noted in owner feedback
Reasons to pause
- Premium price compared with the value picks in this list
- You need to keep the vehicle long-term to get full warranty value
This is your tire if: you want fuel-saving engineering and the longest warranty coverage in this guide.
Look at the value picks instead if: the upfront premium is the deciding factor for you.
7. Cooper Discoverer Road and Trail AT 245/50R20
An all-terrain that takes the mud and snow without turning the highway into a concert.
Most of this list is built for pavement. This Cooper is built for the gravel driveway, the trailhead, and the packed snow. Its continuous tread pattern extends further down the sidewall than other tires, and the angled design is twice as thick — giving you more gripping area on soft or uneven surfaces. Underneath, interlocking tread blocks hold grip on uneven terrain and connected center lugs add stability on snow. It carries a severe snow designation, which is the stricter winter certification that matters if you truly drive through snow.
The surprise here is the quiet. For an all-terrain tire, owners describe it as remarkably calm on the road, with one driver who put it on a ’99 Ranger noting “they’re super quiet and I don’t hydroplane anymore.” Another described the appearance as semi-aggressive and praised its durability even on rocky dirt roads. The 102 load index keeps the 1,874-pound-per-tire capacity, and at 33.7 pounds it is the heaviest tire in this guide — a real part of why it feels planted on loose ground.
The obvious trade-off is that weight and the all-terrain tread pattern itself. Some drivers report a small increase in road noise versus the factory tires, which is normal for the category. If you never leave asphalt, a touring tire like the Uniroyal Tiger Paw will be quieter. If you do, the Cooper’s deeper sidewall tread and severe snow rating keep it moving.
Why the trail crowd loves it: a sidewall that extends further down and a severe snow designation give you grip on loose and snowy ground where touring tires come up short.
The honesty check: at 33.7 pounds it is the heaviest tire here, and a small noise penalty versus factory touring tires is the real cost of the off-road grip.
This one’s for you if: your driving includes dirt lanes, packed snow, or real trails on a regular basis.
Look past it if: your SUV never leaves pavement and you want the quietest possible ride.
8. Michelin Cross Climate 2 245/50R20
The snow-certified all-season that carries more weight than anything else here.
Two things separate this tire from the pack. First, the numbers on the sidewall: a 105 load index in an XL load range, which corresponds to 2,039 pounds of capacity per tire — the highest per-tire rating in this entire guide. If you tow a heavy trailer or load a full-size SUV to the roof, that headroom matters. Second, the 3PMSF certification (the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake), the stricter industry marking for severe snow performance. It’s a true all-weather tire, not just an all-season one.
Michelin also backs it with a 60,000-mile limited mileage warranty, supported by the Michelin Promise Plan that includes a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. Owners describe it as durable and quiet with a smooth all-weather ride, and the mountain-area drivers who use it without four-wheel drive report strong confidence. One described driving through four inches of a twelve-to-eighteen-inch snowfall in a Ford Explorer Platinum AWD and being unable to make it fishtail.
The one real caveat is the price tier — reviewers consistently describe it as pricey but very, very good. That’s the honest trade: you’re paying premium for the highest load rating and the snow certification. If you don’t tow heavy loads or drive real snow, the 102-load value picks cover you. If you do either, its 105 XL load index and 3PMSF rating make it the safest pick here.
The heavy-duty edge: a 105 load index in XL load range for 2,039 pounds per tire — the most load capacity of any tire in this guide.
What it costs you: the premium price tier is the price of admission for the 3PMSF snow certification.
Your match if: you tow, haul a loaded SUV, or face real snow and want the safest all-weather tire here.
Maybe not for you if: your driving is light and you’d rather spend less on the value picks.
9. MICHELIN PRIMACY TOUR A/S (V) 245/50R20 102V
Built for the SUV that lives on interstates and eats miles without fuss.
This is Michelin’s touring answer for the 245/50R20 fitment: a 102V-rated tire (the V speed rating is built for sustained highway cruising) carrying 1,874 pounds per tire and weighing 32.2 pounds. It’s the one pick with real included services — 3 years of roadside assistance, a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, flat tire changing assistance, and free towing up to 150 miles. The flat tire changing assistance and towing coverage are worth having if your SUV does long trips away from home.
The owner experience is deeply consistent. These tires are described as quiet, superb quality, and at home in all weather, and one long-haul driver summed up a couple of years of ownership by saying they’ve “been all over the country and they still have great tread.” That’s the touring tire promise delivered: the ride stays quiet, the traction stays predictable, and the tread goes the distance.
Be honest about the trade here. The overall feedback volume is smaller than the big-selling picks, so long-term wear data is thinner. The fitment note is also strict: this is listed as a vehicle-specific fit, so confirm your exact SUV model and wheel before you order. If you take long road trips and want the safety net of included roadside help, it earns its place.
Why it belongs in the bag
- 3 years of roadside assistance and free towing up to 150 miles
- 60-day satisfaction guarantee backs the purchase
- 102V rating for confident highway cruising
- Quiet, all-weather traction that holds up over years of travel
Where it falls short
- Smaller body of long-term owner feedback to draw from
- Vehicle-specific fit — model match is essential before ordering
Pick this one for: long road trips where included roadside coverage gives real confidence.
Second-guess it for: anything you can’t verify fits your exact SUV model and wheel.
Know the Specs
What 245/50R20 actually means
The first number, 245, is the tread width in millimeters — about how wide the tire footprint sits on the road. The 50 is the sidewall height expressed as a percentage of that width, which is why a wider tire with the same number has a taller sidewall. The R20 tells you it fits a 20-inch wheel and that it’s a radial construction. If you order the wrong width, the tire won’t mount; get the sidewall ratio wrong and it won’t sit at the right height on your SUV.
Load index and load range explained
The load index is a code for how much weight one tire can carry when properly inflated. In this guide, 102 corresponds to 1,874 pounds and 105 corresponds to 2,039 pounds. The load range letters — SL for standard load and XL for extra load — describe the tire’s build strength. If you tow, carry passengers and cargo regularly, or drive a heavier SUV, the higher index and XL rating give you a real safety margin.
Common Questions
Will a 245/50R20 tire fit my SUV as a direct replacement?
What is the difference between a 102 and 105 load index?
Is M+S or 3PMSF better for snow driving?
Do I need to replace all four tires at once?
How long should 245/50R20 tires last?
What does the letter after the load index mean, like 102H or 102V?
Can I put an all-terrain tire on an SUV that normally uses touring tires?
Do I need a wheel alignment after installing new tires?
Are tires sold online the same as what a local shop sells?
What should I check when a tire is delivered?
The Bottom Line
For most SUV owners, the 245/50r20 tires for suv winner is the Starfire Solarus HT All-Season because it balances a 50,000-mile warranty, a 102 load index rated for 1,874 pounds per tire, and a quiet, smooth ride without asking you to spend premium money. If wet-road grip is what you care about most, the Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3 leads on full-depth sipes and sharper cornering feel. And if you tow heavy loads or face real snow, the Michelin Cross Climate 2 is the one to reach for, with a 105 load index for 2,039 pounds per tire and a 3PMSF severe-snow certification. The Starfire is also the crowd favorite, rated 4.5+ stars across 4,500+ reviews.
How we choose
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of October 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
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