There’s no doubt about it, the SUV revolution is here to stay.
In fact, Ford sold a staggering 145,415 of the compact SUV in 2021 alone, and well over 1 million if you count up sales from the last decade or so! The reason behind the success of the Ford Escape comes down to one word: flexibility. Whether you’re commuting in the dead of winter, or packing your Escape full of camping gear for a summer excursion to the mountains, the Ford Escape does the job with car-like driving dynamics.
For owners of the Ford Escape, tires often are put through the gamut, and choosing a tire that offers balanced handling, ample grip in a variety of conditions, and a quiet composed ride can be a challenge.
Lucky for you, we’ve broken it all down to determine the best tires for the Ford Escape.
Ready to jump in? Let’s do it!
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Ford Escape Tire Size Overview
Over the course of 4 generations, the Ford Escape has been offered in a dizzying array of trims and styles:
- OEM Tire Size(s)
- Front/Rear: 225/70R15, 235/70R16
- Trims: XLS, XLT
- OEM Tire Size(s)
- Front/Rear: 235/70R16, 225/65R17
- Trims: XLS, Hybrid, XLT, Limited, XLT V6
- Front/Rear: 225/65R17
- OEM Tire Size(s)
- Front/Rear: 235/55R17, 235/50R18, 235/45R19
- Trims: S, SE, SEL, Titanium
- OEM Tire Size(s)
- Front/Rear: 225/65R17, 225/55R19
- Trims: S, SE, SE Sport Package, SEL, Titanium
Choosing New Ford Escape Tires
Choosing the right tires for your Ford Escape comes down to one thing: what do you use your Escape for? Forget generic tire reviews or shopping via brand. Deciding on the right tires for your Escape comes down to how you will use your compact SUV on a daily basis.
What’s Your Weather Like?
Bottom line: your local weather will have a huge effect on your tire choice.
If you’re lucky enough to live in the Southwest, well, winter weather may not have much bearing on which tire you choose. Conversely, if you call the Northeast your home, winter driving is definitely a part of your life and it could affect your choice of tire. Even with an optional all-wheel-drive system that’s available on every generation of Escape, tires designed for sub-optimal conditions may be necessary to feel completely confident on the road.
What Do You Use Your Ford Escape For?
Beyond weather, it’s imperative to keep in mind how YOU will use your Escape.
If you plan on using it to shuttle around children or commute to the office daily, then your tire choice should be aimed at on-road comfort and quietness. However, if you plan to use your Escape to haul camping gear off the beaten path on weekends, then you may want tires with a better level of grip in the dirt or snow.
Comfort, Performance, Budget. Pick Two.
Not every driver requires a tire that can be pushed to 10/10ths, or provide grip in the worst conditions possible.
Some drivers just need a tire that provides a solid grip in a variety of conditions without affecting the carlike ride/handling balance of the Ford Escape, while still staying under a predefined budget. Choose two priorities (comfort, performance, budget, etc.) when choosing tires to narrow down your choices more effectively.
Inexpensive, but comfortable? Comfortable, and high performance? The choice is yours.
Comparison of the Best Tires For Ford Escape
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The Best Tires for Ford Escape
There are hundreds of possible tire choices out there for owners of the Ford Escape, but not to worry because we’ve chosen the best of the best based on real data, and real reviews.
Best Overall
Continental CrossContact LX25
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.7
Wet Performance: 4.7
Overall Comfort: 4.5
Treadwear: 4.7
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.4
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Continental’s ContactSport LX25 is an excellent example of a tire that’s built for today’s modern SUV.
Users remark the LX25 offers a quiet ride, and retains a comfortable ride quality in a wide variety of conditions, making it perfect for a long commute. Despite the comfortable, quiet ride, the LX25 also provides high levels of cornering grip and fantastic tread life. If there’s any place where the LX25 doesn’t do as well, it’s snow performance, but even then, the scores from others users indicate it can handle snow and ice but other tires may do a better job.
A true jack of all trades, the Continental ContactSport LX25 is our top choice for the ultimate compact SUV tire for the money.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 740 A B
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 yr | 70K
Price Range: $163 – $188
Best All Terrain Tires for Ford Escape
Cooper Tires Discoverer AT3 4S
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.6
Wet Performance: 4.6
Overall Comfort: 4.5
Treadwear: 4.4
Offroad Performance: 4.5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.3
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Cooper Tire’s Discoverer AT3 4S is a perfect compromise between off-road ability and on-road comfort.
If you’re a Ford Escape owner who frequently ventures off the beaten path, whether you live down a dirt road, or you’re hauling camping gear to your favorite spot, the Discoverer AT3 4S can help get you there. What makes this such a great tire is that despite its impressive off-road ability, the Discoverer AT3 4S remains a quiet, comfortable tire when you’re not off-road and offers fantastic treadwear life and a stupendous warranty.
For those that like to hit the dirt, but still need a comfortable tire to ride home on, the Discoverer AT3 4S is a great choice.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 620 A B
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: Unlimited Time | 65K
Price Range: $153 – $189
Best Cheap Tires for Ford Escape
Kumho Crugen HP71
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.7
Wet Performance: 4.4
Overall Comfort: 4.5
Treadwear: 4.4
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.0
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Kumho’s Crugen HP71 is a great example of a budget tire that doesn’t give up performance, or ride comfort.
Cheap can be a bit of a misnomer, especially since the Kumho Crugen HP71 pulls in ratings that are similar to tires that cost anywhere from $30 to $60 more per tire. The Kumho Crugen HP71 was designed to work with crossover SUVs like the Ford Escape and provides an exemplary ride, and solid performance in wet conditions. Snow performance could be better, but the high levels of grip in the dry make the Kumho Crugen HP71 a joy to drive on a winding road.
For budget-conscious Ford Escape owners, the Kumho Crugen HP71 is a great choice with little compromise.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 640 A A
Directional: Semi
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 yr | 65K
Price Range: $125 – $166
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Best All-Season Tires for Ford Escape
Michelin CrossClimate SUV
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.8
Wet Performance: 4.8
Overall Comfort: 4.5
Treadwear: 4.4
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.4
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Michelin’s CrossClimate SUV offers stunning performance in dry, wet, and snowy conditions but this performance comes at a premium price.
Originally designed for usage on Mercedes-Benz SUVs, the Michelin CrossClimate SUV is the ultimate tire for all four seasons. Stunning dry performance allows for a connected, sporting feels while the specially designed, hyper-aggressive directional design channels water for ultimate wet performance. Earning severe snow service requirements, the CrossClimate SUV makes short work on seasonal snowfall and offers exemplary ride comfort that allows the finest vehicles in the world to shine. All this performance comes at a price that is $60 to $90 more per tire than the Kuhmo.
For drivers looking for the ultimate 4 seasons tire, Michelin’s CrossClimate SUV makes the shortlist for a true, do it tire with little compromise.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 580 A A
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 yr | 50K
Price Range: $233 – $265
Best Winter Tires for Ford Escape
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.5
Wet Performance: 4.6
Overall Comfort: 4.4
Treadwear: 4.2
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.7
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Bridgestone’s incredible Blizzak DM-V2 tires offer the ultimate solution for the Ford Escape drivers who regularly deal with intense winter conditions.
A solid set of winter tires can help drivers who live in climates with intense snowfall easily traverse the roads, and the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is our top pick for the ultimate winter tire. You expect solid snow and ice performance out of the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2, but what comes as a surprise is that Bridgestone was able to retain a solid ride quality. In addition, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 offers great hydroplaning resistance, making it a great choice for slushy roads or an early spring rain shower.
If you deal with an intense winter, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 will make getting through the tough, cold days just a bit easier.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: N/A
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: No
Treadlife Warranty: N/A
Price Range: $139 – $192
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Conclusion
Choosing tires for your Ford Escape comes down to one thing: your unique needs. Some drivers are looking for the ultimate all-seasons performance for their Ford Escape, and don’t mind paying for it. While others still need solid performance but are working with a tight budget.
No matter what needs you choose to prioritize, our top picks ensure that your Ford Escape will be ready for the road ahead.
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People Also Ask
Still, have questions? Here’s some more information to help you find the best tires for the Ford Escape.
Depending on the trim, and year of your Ford Escape; you can expect to find tire sizes that range all the way from 15 inches, up to 19 inches. Check TIreRack.com for your specific year and trim for more information.
Factory rims are only designed to work with a range of tire sizes. However, you can add bigger tires on your Ford Escape if you are also willing to change out the factory rims for aftermarket rims that are in the size you desire.