5 Best All Year Round Tires | 60,000-Mile Tire That Laughs at Ice

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The mileage king that makes a set last as long as two cheap replacements.

If you spend your year on interstates and do not want to think about tire shopping until 80,000 miles are on the clock, this is the pick that pulls ahead. MICHELIN backs the Defender2 with an 80,000-mile manufacturer’s treadwear limited warranty — the highest number in this roundup — and claims it outlasts three leading competitive tires by up to 25,000 miles on a treadwear test. Buyers report they are “great wearing tire, quiet and stable,” and that the wet and dry grip stays strong even after significant mileage.

The trade-off is that this tire is built for a standard sedan or minivan profile — it runs a 16-inch diameter and a load index of 91 (1,356 pounds capacity per tire). That is plenty for a Camry or Honda CR-V, but falls well short of the 2,337-pound capacity of the Pirelli Scorpion Plus 3 below, so it is not for a heavy-duty SUV. The 91 load index is identical to the budget Goodyear Assurance, so the Defender2 competes on lifespan rather than sheer weight-handling. Its Locking 3-D Sipes (tiny slits in the tread that create extra biting edges) help deliver shorter stopping distances on both wet and dry pavement versus three leading competitors, according to Michelin’s own testing.

For the driver who racks up high mileage and wants a premium, well-rounded tire that does not need replacement for years, the Defender2 is the safest bet in this list. The catch is that its 16-inch sizing and SL load range limit it to lighter vehicles — if you haul heavy loads or drive a full-size SUV, you need the heavier-duty construction of the Pirelli.

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The one tire that legally qualifies as winter-rated without being a dedicated snow tire.

This is the only pick here that carries the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, meaning it passes the same snow-traction test as a winter tire — so you can drive through mountain passes that mandate winter rubber without swapping to a second set. MICHELIN says the CROSSCLIMATE2 stops shorter than four leading competitive tires in both dry and wet conditions, and claims it lasts up to 15,000 miles longer than those four. One buyer drove 30,000 miles on a set and reports “they still look new,” which backs up the 60,000-mile manufacturer’s treadwear limited warranty.

The tire is built for a 17-inch diameter with a 94 load index, meaning it can carry up to 1,477 pounds per tire, versus the Defender2’s 1,356 pounds, so it suits slightly heavier sedans, wagons, and crossovers. The CROSSCLIMATE2 is definitely not a summer tire, and customers note it feels a tiny bit less responsive on dry pavement than a dedicated summer tire would, but for the all-weather class it delivers confidence across rain, light snow, and ice. The single tire weighs 23.28 pounds, versus 21.03 pounds for the Defender2 and 36.3 pounds for the heavyweight Pirelli Scorpion Plus 3 below.

If you live in a region with real snow but want to avoid maintaining two sets of wheels, the CROSSCLIMATE2 is your best move.

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The 36-pound monster that takes the heaviest CUV and SUV abuse in stride.

Where the Michelin Defender2 and Goodyear Assurance each carry 1,356 pounds of load capacity and the Continental ProContact TX carries 1,477 pounds, the Pirelli Scorpion Plus 3 flexes a 110 load index that supports 2,337 pounds per tire. It is designed for the popular heavy-vehicle list: Acura MDX, Audi Q5, Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Toyota RAV4, and Volvo XC90 among many others. At 36.3 pounds per tire and a 31-inch diameter, it is a physically larger and heavier tire, which is exactly what a three-row SUV or light truck needs to carry both its own weight and cargo without sagging.

One buyer who runs these on an Audi Q7 reports they are “quiet, absorb bumps well, excellent in dry/rain/snow/ice” and that there was no MPG loss (21.7 highway), noting the old OEM Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico became loud after 12,000 miles and had poor snow performance. The Plus 3 has a 70,000-mile warranty — right between the Defender2’s 80,000 and the CROSSCLIMATE2’s 60,000 — so it is built to last as well as carry. A 22-year tire industry veteran bought them for a Toyota Highlander and calls them “excellent quiet ride, wet handling, and appearance.”

The catch is that this tire is massive — both in footprint and price — so it does not make sense for a sedan or compact hatchback. But if you drive a heavy SUV or a full-size truck and want a single set that handles your weight without sacrificing all-season confidence, the Scorpion Plus 3 is the strongest pick in the lineup.

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The quietest ride in this lineup, backed by one buyer’s 33,000-mile real-world wear test.

Road noise can make or break a long commute, and the Continental ProContact TX has a reputation for being whisper-quiet. One buyer on a 2024 Honda CR-V Sport-L Hybrid calls it “extra quiet ride,” while another notes “nice ride – really low noise level” as the standout feature. But the most compelling data point comes from a buyer who ran these for 33,000 miles and measured 7/32 of tread remaining — equating to about 30 percent wear — meaning the tire could realistically exceed 60,000 miles, which aligns with its 65,000-mile limited treadwear coverage. That is strong real-world evidence that the tire does not fade early.

At 20.8 pounds per tire with a 17-inch diameter, it is only marginally heavier than the Defender2 (21.03 pounds but 16-inch), so it fits the same class of sedans and crossovers but on a larger rim. The load index of 94 (1,477 pounds per tire) ties the CROSSCLIMATE2 and beats the Defender2’s 91, making it a slightly better match for heavier sedans or CUVs. The ProContact TX offers excellent wet braking and handling, according to the maker, and is designed for “comfortable and smooth on-road performance” with “low road noise.”

The catch is that its snow traction is not rated to the 3PMSF standard, so it is a standard all-season — fine for light snow but not a winter-legal tire. If your driving is mostly on interstate asphalt with occasional rain, this is the smoothest, quietest option among these five, and the real-world wear data is very convincing.

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The entry-level sedan tire that silenced a Jetta’s highway whine for half the price of premium rivals.

At 16.52 pounds per tire and a 24.9-inch diameter, the Goodyear Assurance is the lightest and smallest tire here, compared with the 36.3-pound Pirelli Scorpion Plus 3, so it is clearly designed for compact sedans and smaller cars. One buyer on a 2009 VW Jetta reports that these Goodyears replaced three different brands and “eliminated whining noise over 40 MPH, shaking, and pulling right” — a specific, real-world fix for common tire annoyances. That same buyer says the ride quality and longevity were comparable to Michelins costing twice as much, which speaks directly to its value proposition. It also carries multiple biting edges and wide tread grooves for water evacuation, plus a 65,000-mile tread life warranty that matches the Continental ProContact TX.

The load capacity is 1,356 pounds with a load index of 91 — identical to the Defender2 — so it can handle the same weight class of vehicle, but its standard-load (SL) construction and smaller size make it unsuitable for heavier crossovers or trucks. Buyers also note “excellent winter traction and road holding,” though this is subjective to mild-winter regions — the snow performance is not 3PMSF-rated. At the budget tier, it delivers the same 65,000-mile warranty mileage as the Continental tire while costing less.

The honest catch is that the Goodyear Assurance is a basic all-season tire; it lacks the XL sidewalls, the 80,000-mile coverage, and the advanced sipe technology of the Michelin players above. But if you drive a compact to mid-size sedan and need a dependable tire that covers all four seasons while staying affordable, this is the sensible choice.