We are in the midst of a full-blown SUV revolution here in the states, and one of the original entrants into this now crowded field was the Acura MDX. Introduced in 2001, the MDX is a sport-focused, luxury SUV that can haul up to seven passengers, while still providing a fantastic combination of ride and handling balance.
Equipped with Super-Handling All-wheel drive (SH-AWD), the Acura MDX is capable in conditions that range from deep snow to dirt roads and high-speed highways. Drivers looking to swap out tires on their Acura MDX will want a tire that offers a good balance of ride comfort, handling, and ability in inclement weather (depending on where you live).
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Acura MDX Tire Size Overview
Let’s take a look at the different sizes.
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 265/65/R17
- OEM Tire(s): Pirelli
- Trim(s): All trims
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- 2007-2009
- Front: 255/55/R18
- Rear: 275/45/R19
- 2010-2013
- Front/Rear: 255/50/R19
- Front/Rear: 255/55/R18
- 2007-2009
- OEM Tire(s): Pirelli
- Trim(s): All trims, Advance, Base Model, Technology Package
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front: 245/60/R18
- Rear: 245/55/R19
- OEM Tire(s): Pirelli
- Trim(s): All, A-Spec, Advance, SH-AWD Advance, FWD Standard, SH-AWD, FWD Technology, SH-AWD Sport Hybrid
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 255/50/R20
- Front/Rear: 245/50/R19
- OEM Tire(s): Pirelli
- Trim(s): A-Spec, Advance, Technology, Base model
Choosing New Acura MDX Tires
There are 2 major questions that any tire shopper should ask when shopping for new tires: “What tire is my vehicle designed for?” What are my daily driving needs?”.
The Acura MDX is a sporty SUV with several trims that include Acura’s excellent All Wheel Drive system. Beyond the sporting intentions, the Acura MDX also tends to be an everyday driver for most households, so solid tires that are optimal in all weather conditions are a must.
To narrow down the best tire option for you here’s some great questions to get you thinking.
What’s Your Weather Like?
Acura MDX drivers are all over the country, in a huge variety of weather types. The weather can range from the dry and heat of the desert to occasionally snowy roads in the Midwest and East Coast. The MDX is built for most weather conditions, potentially excluding the ice roads that Alaskan truckers drive on or extreme off-roading environments. An Acura MDX driver will want a tire they can count on whether the roads are dry, or covered in a few inches of slushy snow.
What Do You Use Your Acura MDX For?
Drivers of the Acura MDX tend to use the vehicle to get around the city or rural areas, primarily for getting to work or doing errands. An Acura MDX is rather unlikely to tow, though a hitch can be installed. Acura MDX tires need to be able to handle city living comfortably and high-speed highway driving as well. Keep in mind, the MDX is designed for spirited driving and most generations offer a well-controlled and sporty ride.
Comfort, Performance, Budget. Pick Two.
As with most products, there are several levels of tires available for purchase. An all around performance tire that grips the road in the dry and wet will tend to cost more, while a noisier tire with a less refined ride will generally cost less. For most drivers, some tires sit squarely in the middle of the pricing range and offer a combination of both.
Comparison of the Best Acura MDX Tires
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The Best Tires for Acura MDX
We built a database of ratings for the best possible tires for the Acura MDX so you don’t need to spend your time reviewing multiple sites and wondering which ones are the most reputable. Researching tires can be repetitive and time-consuming, so focusing on real tests and real opinions is the best way to quickly narrow down the field.
Best Overall
Continental CrossContact LX25
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.7
Wet Performance: 4.7
Overall Comfort: 4.5
Treadwear: 4.4
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.4
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The purpose of an all season tire on a luxury SUV is to provide a balance of comfort and driveability. The Continental CrossContact LX25 earns the best overall spot for blending a decent price with better than average performance in all categories. Per our database, the 4.5 overall comfort rating is solid, especially considering the warranty. Continental has made a tire you might want to have beyond its warranty as reviewers have suggested it’s a well-balanced tire.
The CrossContact is an average performer in snow, which is good for a tire that isn’t technically a snow tire. We would certainly give these a shot based solely on the great dry and wet performance for your dollar. If snow is a reality in your location, consider a good set of snow tires instead.
Continental is a well-known tire brand and has earned the top overall spot here for good reason.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 740 A B
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 year/ 70,000 miles
Price Range: $204 per tire
Best All Season Tires for Acura MDX
Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.7 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.7 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.7 / 5
Treadwear: 4.6 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.4 / 5
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The Pirelli Scorpion is about as well balanced as you are going to get for a tire on the Acura MDX.
The snow performance is solid for the purpose of year round driving, especially compared to other tires in the same class. In addition, you also get a generous 65,000-mile warranty. The overall comfort of this tire is very high for the price at a solid 4.7. Our database tells us that the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II handles many weather conditions admirably, making it a great no-fuss tire.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 740 A A
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 65,000 miles
Price Range: $227 per tire
Best Value Tires for Acura MDX
Kumho Crugen HP71
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.5 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.4 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.5 / 5
Treadwear: 4.4 / 5
Offroad Performance: 4 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4 / 5
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Kuhmo offers a tire that is the master of no category, but for a few dollars, less per tire than the Continental offers a solid blend of characteristics.
The Kuhmo Crugen combines comparable overall comfort according to our database for about $10-$20 less per tire while still offering a good treadwear rating and a significant warranty, especially at the price point. Many tires with higher price points have similar, if not the same warranty as to the Kumho.
This ‘value’ tire from Kumho also has well balanced wet performance though the snow performance dips a bit. These are great for your MDX unless you drive in the snow frequently or feel the need for extra snow grip. Otherwise, these are a great pair of often overlooked tires that will handle every day driving with ease.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 350 AA A
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 year/ 65,000 miles
Price Range: $196 per tire
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Best Summer Tires for Acura MDX
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.3 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.2 / 5
Overall Comfort: 3.9 / 5
Treadwear: 3.9 / 5
Offroad Performance:
Snow/Ice Performance:
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Summer tires are performance tires meant to maximize the Acura MDX’s handling capabilities in dry conditions.
Drivers who won’t be experiencing winter snow or ice will find these more pleasant to drive than those who have tires that are meant to be driven in the snow every year.
The treadwear and overall comfort are about what one would expect, per our database, for a tire that is meant to be driven hard and fast. The dry performance and wet performance are exemplary here, as one would expect.
Sport and summer tires often come with a limited warranty. Considering that you get both 6 years and 20,000 miles, Michelin doesn’t expect you to put many miles on these.
Overall, these are best in class to eek out that performance Acura is known for.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 220 A A
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 years, 20,000 miles
Price Range: $250 per tire
Best Snow Tires for Acura MDX
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.4 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.6 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.4 / 5
Treadwear: 4.2 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.7 / 5
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With a drivetrain that includes all-wheel drive, snow is among the conditions the Acura MDX can excel in.
To give your Acura MDX plenty of capable grip and traction in the snow, go with the incredible Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2. When the snow starts falling, you can be more confident with a 4.7 snow and ice performance, and a 4.9 for light snow. We suggest you drive like you normally would for conditions, of course, but the Blizzak DM-V2 makes it easier to handle tough winter weather.
You won’t get a warranty with these, but that’s because they are aggressive and designed to carve into the snow. On that note, you probably won’t need these year round unless you plan to travel to snow, or you live in a place with very frequent snow.
Other Specifications
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: None
Price Range: $251 per tire
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Conclusion
We’ve used our database to pick out both the best tires available for your Acura MDX, as well as some of the more underrated tires that are good at specific things like driving on dry roads or handing in snow or rain. You should ultimately consider your own driving needs and wants when purchasing any set of tires but this guide will help you determine the best tire for your Acura MDX.
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People Also Ask
Let’s answer a few more questions to set you on the right track.
We are going to preface this answer with: Any car with good tires is a capable machine in the snow. If you are talking about driving following a storm of freezing rain and you see other cars spinning their tires or sliding backward – then the tire isn’t going to matter.
That being said, the Acura MDX has traction control and a unique drive control system called SH – AWD or “Super Handling.” This system delivers dynamic power to the wheels based on current conditions and handles snow pretty well – and even better with good tires that can bite through snow and find pavement. So yes, the Acura MDX is engineered to get through the snow with ease.