2016~2023 255/50R20 Tire Comparison Table for Gen-2 CX-9 - Many to Choose From

[yrwei52]

As tires are getting very expensive nowadays and it's easy to cost over $1,000 for a new set, it's become very important to do a thorough research making sure the money spent on tires is a good investment.

There's no such thing as a true "all-season" or "all weather" tire. There has to be some compromises one way or the other. Like a true sport tire it can never be a high mileage tire due to the much softer rubber. Depending on the area you live in, unless you change to snow tires for the winter season otherwise all-season tires won't give you the best performance on wintery road conditions. But in areas like Dallas, Texas, all season tires is good enough to handle most snowing weathers especially with the AWD. No need to have extra set of winter tires and wheels just for occasional wintery weather conditions. Hence most car owners are getting a good set of all-season tires trying to handle most road conditions.

Here are specs and prices from 3 stock tires on gen-2 CX-9:

Stock Tires	Size	UTQG	Maximum Inflation Pressure	Tread Depth	Tire Weight	Warranty	Price*
Yokohama® Geolandar H/T G056B	P255/60R18 107H SL	280 B A	51 psi	10/32"	35 lbs.	5 Years	$277.88
Bridgestone® Ecopia H/L 422 Plus	P255/50R20 104V SL	600 A A	51 psi	10/32"	34 lbs.	5 Years	$235.99
Falken® Ziex CT50 A/S	P255/50R20 104V SL	300 A A	51 psi	10.3/32"	35 lbs.	5 Years	$267.99

* Price from Tire Rack on 10/28/2021.

I collected some tire comparison information for 225/60R18 tires used on lower-trim gen-2 CX-9's in the following thread:

Replacement Tire recommendations - 255/60R18

Here are specs and prices from most major-brand 255/50R20 tires on all-season or all-weather tires with different categories based on good UTQG ratings and customer's reviews from Tire Rack for comparison:

Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season Tires	Size	UTQG	Maximum Inflation Pressure	Tread Depth	Tire Weight	Warranty	Price*
Bridgestone® Alenza Sport A/S	255/50R20 105H SL	500 A A	44 psi	9/32"	31 lbs.	5 Years	$143.24**
BFGoodrich® Advantage T/A Sport LT***	255/50R20 109H XL	700 B A	50 psi	11/32"	38 lbs.	65,000 Miles 6 Years	$211.99
Yokohama® Geolandar CV® G058	255/50R20 109V XL	740 A A	50 psi	11/32"	33 lbs.	65,000 Miles 5 Years	$219.92
Pirelli® Scorpion Verde™ All Season Plus II	255/50R20 109H XL	740 A A	50 psi	11/32"	34 lbs.	65,000 Miles Unlimited Time	$227.70**
Pirelli® Scorpion™ AS Plus 3	255/50R20 109V XL	800 A A	50 psi	11/32"	35 lbs.	70,000 Miles Unlimited Time	$237.10
Bridgestone® Dueler H/L Alenza Plus	255/50R20 109V XL	800 A A	50 psi	11/32"	40 lbs.	80,000 Miles 5 Years	$245.92**
Bridgestone® Alenza AS Ultra	255/50R20 109V XL	800 A A	50 psi	10/32"	34 lbs.	80,000 Miles 5 Years	$252.34
Michelin® Premier® LTX®	255/50R20 109V XL	620 A A	50 psi	10/32"	35 lbs.	60,000 Miles 6 Years	$263.18
Michelin® Latitude® Tour HP™	255/50R20 109W XL	440 A A	50 psi	9.5/32"	34 lbs.	45,000 Miles 6 Years	$281.25

Grand Touring/Standard Touring/Highway All-Season Tires	Size	UTQG	Maximum Inflation Pressure	Tread Depth	Tire Weight	Warranty	Price*
General® Grabber™ HTS 60	255/50R20 109H XL	660 A A	51 psi	12/32"	35 lbs.	50,000 Miles 6 Years	$187.07
Vredestein® Quatrac Pro***	255/50R20 109Y XL	400 A A	51 psi	10.3/32"	33 lbs.	50,000 Miles 8 Years	$205.78
Firestone® Destination LE3	255/50R20 109H XL	700 A B	50 psi	10/32"	34 lbs.	70,000 Miles 5 Years	$205.88
Cooper® CS5 Ultra Touring™	255/50R20 109V XL	640 A A	50 psi	11/32"	33 lbs.	70,000 Miles Unlimited Time	$217.99
Goodyear® Assurance® MaxLife™	255/50R20 105H SL	820 A B	51 psi	?	34 lbs.	85,000 Miles 6 Years	$219.99
Continental® TerrainContact™ H/T	255/50R20 109H XL	720 A A	51 psi	12/32"	32 lbs.	70,000 Miles 6 Years	$222.99
Goodyear® Assurance® WeatherReady®***	255/50R20 109V XL	700 A A	50 psi	11/32"	36 lbs.	60,000 Miles 6 Years	$224.99
Michelin® Primacy™ Tour A/S	255/50R20 105H SL	540 A A	44 psi	9/32"	33 lbs.	55,000 Miles 6 Years	$238.99
Michelin® Defender® LTX® M/S	255/50R20 109H XL	720 A A	50 psi	10.5/32"	34 lbs.	70,000 Miles 6 Years	$259.57

Ultra High/High Performance All-Season Tires	Size	UTQG	Maximum Inflation Pressure	Tread Depth	Tire Weight	Warranty	Price*
Goodyear® Eagle® Sport All-Season	255/50R20 109V XL	560 A A	50 psi	11/32"	35 lbs.	50,000 Miles 6 Years	$226.99
Continental® ExtremeContact™ DWS 06 PLUS	255/50R20 109Y XL	560 A A	51 psi	10/32"	30 lbs.	50,000 Miles 6 Years	$285.99
Goodyear® Eagle® Sport All-Season	255/50R20 109H XL	560 A A	50 psi	10/32"	32 lbs.	50,000 Miles 6 Years	$310.99

Street/Sport Truck All-Season Tire	Size	UTQG	Maximum Inflation Pressure	Tread Depth	Tire Weight	Warranty	Price*
Toyo® Proxes® ST III	255/50R20 109V XL	500 A A	50 psi	10.1/32"	34 lbs.	40,000 Miles 5 Years	$193.65
Pirelli® Scorpion™ Zero All Season Plus	255/50R20 109Y XL	500 A A	50 psi	10/32"	33 lbs.	50,000 Miles Unlimited Time	$274.20
Michelin® Pilot® Sport 4 SUV	255/50R20 109Y XL	220 A A	50 psi	9.5/32"	32 lbs.	20,000 Miles 6 Years	$349.40

* Price from Tire Rack on 10/28/2021.
** Closeout price.
*** Severe Snow Service rated.


Here is the latest Tire Ratings Charts on Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season 255/50R20 tires from Tire Rack:

Here is the latest Tire Ratings Charts on Grand Touring All-Season 255/50R20 tires from Tire Rack:

Here is the latest Tire Ratings Charts on Standard Touring All-Season 255/60R18 tires from Tire Rack:

Here is the latest Tire Ratings Charts on Highway All-Season 255/50R20 tires from Tire Rack:

Here is the latest Tire Ratings Charts on Ultra High Performance All-Season 255/50R20 tires from Tire Rack:

Here is the latest Tire Ratings Charts on High Performance All-Season 255/50R20 tires from Tire Rack:

Here is the latest Tire Ratings Charts on Street/Sport Truck All-Season 255/50R20 tires from Tire Rack:

Checking each tire in the category you prefer, and choose a tire in your price range and rated the highest in the ratings, you usually would make a right decision for a $1,000+ investment.

 

[truckster]

@yrwei52 i see you’re in Plano and I’m not too far north/nw of you and the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 looks like they are the way to go if you live in an area with milder winters like ours

 

[yrwei52]

@yrwei52 i see you’re in Plano and I’m not too far north/nw of you and the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 looks like they are the way to go if you live in an area with milder winters like ours

Yes, Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 should be one of the best choices among so many selections. If I had a need for new tires right now with a CX-9, I’d definitely get Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S for the amazingly low price at $143.24 each from Tire Rack. I know it’s the “2018 Production” tire, but considering the fresh ones of the same tire cost $221.55 and $233.56, which makes this the best deal available for a decent set of new 255/50R20 tires!

 

[Odrapnew]

Just to comment, it's not on a CX9, but my 2014 Explorer has the same size tires (255/50/20).

I previously had Michelin Premier LTX tires on it. They lasted about 40k miles and were down to the wear bars. They were good tires except for the tread life. The OE tires were Hankook's and they were good tires for everything except for snow (they were atrocious in snow).

I just had Firestone Destination LE3's installed last weekend for $850 out the door (after $80 rebate). They were $190/tire before rebate from the Firestone shop (cheaper than Tirerack). I've only put on about 5 miles on the, but initial impression is that they are quieter (no surprise), handle similar, but I think they transmit a little more of the sharp bumps/cracks. Not really a big deal, just an observation. This is my wife's daily driver now, so I won't personally be racking up a bunch of miles on it like I used to.

I thought about the Bridgestone® Alenza Sport A/S, but I wasn't a fan of the slightly lower load rating. I'm sure they would have been fine, but I fell more comfortable with the higher load rating, especially on the 5000lb Explorer.

 

[Pele2048]

I've got Michelin Defender LTXes on both my CX-9 and my Ford Excursion.

Great long wearing tire.

Problem is that they're highway tread. They absolutely blow goats on any terrain that's not road. I can get stuck on wet grass.

 

[BrettLevy85]

Just got the new Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra tire installed on my cx9. Only have 10 miles on them so no real info yet. Seemed quiet and good steering response but will see in time.

 

[roundle1979]

I've got Michelin Defender LTXes on both my CX-9 and my Ford Excursion.

Great long wearing tire.

Problem is that they're highway tread. They absolutely blow goats on any terrain that's not road. I can get stuck on wet grass.

I had a set of these installed back in April.

How do they perform in snow and ice?

 

[Pele2048]

I had a set of these installed back in April.

How do they perform in snow and ice?

I've had them for over a year and some 40K miles on the Ford Excursion. They do well, though it is a heavy truck.

I haven't had them on the CX-9 long enough to verify the performance in snow; Just had them installed this past spring.

 

[roundle1979]

I've had them for over a year and some 40K miles on the Ford Excursion. They do well, though it is a heavy truck.

I haven't had them on the CX-9 long enough to verify the performance in snow; Just had them installed this past spring.

Thanks. I'll report back after the first snow fall.

 

[s0n1c]

I wish this post existed when I needed tires....I got a set of the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus for my CX-9 back in June on a Costco promotion, and I was out the door at $895.08, making them about $225 each, which includes their version of road hazard, as well as lifetime balancing, and all of the extras that show up with tire replacement (valve stems, disposal, mount, balance, etc.). Costco seems to have solid promotions, so I'd recommend to keep it in mind when you're shopping.

I only put about 2,000 miles on my new tires before my car ended up at the dealer, so I don't have much data, but I can tell you they are lightyears ahead of the stock Ecopia tires that they replaced. Based on my small sample, I would recommend them, especially if you can get a promotion on a full set.

 

[Pele2048]

The stock Ecopia 422s were very squirrley in the wet, especially after getting down to half tread life. I'm more pleased with the Michelins in the wet.