The Honda Pilot is an SUV that has always stood out for its comfort, versatility, reliability, but above all for its quality. Proof of this is that the Honda Pilot has won several awards, including JDPower’s Top-Rated Family SUVs in Quality, Top-Rated Luxury SUVs in Quality, and Top-Rated Small SUVs in Quality, among others.
That said, what would be the best tire for the fantastic Honda Pilot? Read on to find out.
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Honda Pilot Tire Size Overview
The correct size of your tires is as important as the brand or the tread design. Therefore we have prepared the following list with the OEM sizes used by Honda over time.
- OEM Tire Size(s):
- Front/Rear: 235/70R16
- OEM Tire(s): Bridgestone Dueler HP, Continental ContiProContact, Michelin Primacy MXV4
- Trim(s): EX, LX
- OEM Tire(s): Bridgestone Dueler HP, Continental ContiProContact, Michelin Primacy MXV4
- Trim(s): EX, EX-L, LX, Touring
- OEM Tire(s): Bridgestone Dueler HP, Continental ContiProContact, Michelin Primacy MXV4
- Trim(s): Black Edition, Elite, EX, EX-L, LX, Special Edition, Touring
Choosing New Honda Pilot Tires
While most Honda Pilots are used as family SUVs, it is also true that its versatility allows it to fulfill other roles. How do you plan to use your Pilot? What are your expectations regarding tire life? These and other questions will have a big impact on your purchase decision. Therefore, we will discuss them below.
What’s Your Weather Like?
Some drivers make the mistake of thinking that the Pilot’s sophisticated all-wheel-drive system is all they need for driving in rain or snow. Nothing could be further from the truth. The tires play a critical role in maintaining traction with the road. So if you live in an area where rain or snow is common, you should choose tires designed to cope with these weather conditions.
What Do You Use Your Honda Pilot For?
As mentioned above, you should choose the most appropriate tire depending on how you use your Pilot. If you only drive on-road, then an excellent all-season tire may be sufficient. However, if you plan to ride on dirt trails frequently then an all-terrain tire is recommended.
Comfort, Performance, Budget. Pick Two.
Chances are when choosing tires for your Pilot, you will have to make some compromises. We’re not just talking about price, but factors such as durability, comfort, and grip. As a general rule, tires with low noise levels use very flexible compounds, which in turn decrease tire life. Playing with these aspects can be tricky, which is why we list the best tires for your Honda Pilot in the next section.
Comparison of the Best Tires for Honda Pilot
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The Best Tires for Honda Pilot
The biggest challenge in choosing tires for the Honda Pilot is to match the quality of this incredible SUV. Here are the absolute best options for your Pilot, depending on your use case.
Best Overall
Continental CrossContact LX25
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.60 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.60 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.45 / 5
Treadwear: 4.60 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.25 / 5
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If money is no object, the Continental CrossContact LX25 is undoubtedly the best tire to install on your Pilot. Continental implemented the most advanced technology to create this tire, resulting in a tread pattern that gives you maximum grip in dry, wet, and snow.
Moreover, the CrossContact LX25 offers a quiet, smooth ride worthy of a luxury SUV like the Honda Pilot. In terms of durability, the Continental CrossContact LX25 is among the best in its class, with an estimated tread life of 90k miles. All in all, this tire offers all the benefits you are looking for in a tire, unmatched grip in various conditions, excellent braking power, and great durability.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 740 A A
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 Years / 70K Miles
Price Range: $200 to $213 per tire
Best All-Terrain Tires for Honda Pilot
Firestone Destination A/T2
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.60 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.35 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.50 / 5
Treadwear: 4.60 / 5
Offroad Performance: 4.30 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.25 / 5
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When it comes to on-/off-road use, no other tire beats the Firestone Destination A/T2. The key to its success is that this tire is engineered to offer a comfortable and quiet ride while giving you an amazing level of traction in dirt, sand, mud, and rock.
Furthermore, Firestone’s HydroGrip Technology makes the Destination one of the safest tires in inclement rain and snow. In terms of durability, the Destination A/T2 offers a tread life in the 55k to 65k mile range, which is an accomplishment given its excellent comfort.
In short, if you plan to use your Honda Pilot on and off-road, the Firestone Destination A/T2 is your best choice.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: None
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 5 Years / 55K Miles
Price Range: $208 per tire
Best Cheap Tires for Honda Pilot
Cooper Evolution H/T
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.65 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.45 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.55 / 5
Treadwear: 4.60 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.55 / 5
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Just because a tire is cheap doesn’t mean it can’t give you good performance. Proof of this is the Cooper Evolution H/T, one of the best alternatives for your Pilot if your budget is tight.
The Evolution H/T gives you an excellent balance of dry, wet, and snow grip. This is possible thanks to its 3D Micro-Gauge Siping and high-silica, all-season compound, which also offer comfortable handling. When it comes to longevity, with proper maintenance, the Cooper Evolution H/T’s tread can last 60k miles, not bad for its price range.
All in all, we consider this to be one of the best value tires for your Honda Pilot.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 600 A B
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 Years / 50K Miles
Price Range: $170 per tire
Best All-Season Tires for Honda Pilot
Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.65 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.60 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.55 / 5
Treadwear: 4.40 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.15 / 5
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The Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II is a tire as capable as the Continental CrossContact LX25, in fact, it has better ratings in some areas. So why isn’t it in the first place?
Basically, because of two factors, both its tread life and its snow/ice performance are slightly inferior to that of the CrossContact LX25. However, when it comes to comfort, dry grip, and braking power, the Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II is clearly superior, which is why we choose it as the best all-season tire for the Honda Pilot.
In other words, this tire may be your best choice if you live in an area where snow and rain are less frequent or if you prefer comfort above all else.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 740 A A
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: Unlimited time / 65K Miles
Price Range: $180 to $210 per tire
Best Snow Tires for Honda Pilot
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.30 / 5
Wet Performance: 4.60 / 5
Overall Comfort: 4.40 / 5
Treadwear: 4.15 / 5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.70 / 5
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If you live in an area where winter is inclement, then you will need more than an all-season tire; you will need a premium winter tire like the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2.
When it comes to snow/ice performance, the Blizzak DM-V2 is second to none. For this tire, Bridgestone used state-of-the-art tread and an exclusive compound that maintains flexibility at extremely low temperatures. This combination allows the Blizzak DM-V2 to be tremendously safe on slippery trails and in inclement weather conditions.
All in all, if you are looking for the best winter tire for your Honda Pilot, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 will not disappoint.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: None
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 5 Years / Prorated until 2/32″ remaining depth
Price Range: $195 to $228 per tire
Conclusion
Finding the best tires for your Honda Pilot doesn’t have to be a daunting task. If you follow the tips in this article and ask the right questions, it will be easy to find the best option for your use case, whether it’s daily driving, on-/off-road usage, commuting, or a family SUV.
People Also Ask
If you still have questions about tires for your Honda Pilot, this section is for you.
Depending on the year and trim of your Pilot, it can come equipped with tires ranging from 235/70R16 on the first generation models to 245/50R20 and 245/60R18 on the latest generation models.