Can You Put SUV Tires on a Car?

Can you do it? Is it safe? It is certainly possible to install tires that came from an SUV onto your car. As long as you use the right tire diameter for your car and the right width for the wheel cavity, whatever you choose should be appropriate for your vehicle. Make sure your choice of tires is also a good fit for your plans as a driver and the kind of weather you face. Here’s everything you need to know about picking the right tires for your car.

Is It Safe To Put SUV Tires on a Car?

In general, the answer is, “Yes, you can put a suitable set of SUV tires on a passenger car.” As long as you aren’t using an incompatible size of tire for your car, meaning one that is not too big or wide, there’s no real reason SUV tires wouldn’t work. It’s common to look at SUV tires and wonder if they would work on your car as a way to go up an inch or two in diameter and enjoy that rugged, mud-crawling look.

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Common automotive tires are typically categorized based on their purpose, such as all-season or winter, and their size in total diameter. Some brands design tires specifically for SUVs and how they drive, with the intention of getting the best performance out of them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are SUV-exclusive tires. You could put them on a car, although it might change the performance and driving experience a little.

Choosing the Right Tires for Your Car

There are a few crucial factors to take into account when purchasing tires for your car. In general, a set of SUV tires is meant to handle heavier braking, carry more weight, and still offer the same high-speed capability on a larger class of vehicle as it would for a passenger sedan. Let’s briefly go through some guidelines to choose the right tires for your car, whether that means you stick with standard passenger vehicle ones or switch to SUV tires.

• Driving style: Your chosen tires should match up with the way you drive or what you need most out of a tire set. Different tires are designed for city driving, seasonal travel, off-roading, or even extreme track driving.
• Performance: There are plenty of SUV tires designed for the size and weight of the average SUV or crossover. Many of them specify whether they are also suited to cars. See what kind of performance your potential choice of tires is meant for because a mismatch could lead to an unsatisfying performance or even compromised driving safety.
• Seasonality: If you drive anywhere that gets very hot or faces a lot of rain or snow at some times of the year, you can find tires that are specifically made to maintain traction, performance, and longevity under those particular conditions. For example, you don’t want to be caught with track performance tires on icy roads, since the tread design doesn’t help you as much with traction on slippery surfaces.
• Tire size: Choosing just the right tire size can take some nuance. Larger tires have a greater surface area in contact with the road, improving acceleration potential and forward motion, but overly large tires can also become unwieldy, and your car’s wheel wells will be designed to only fit up to a certain diameter. Also, larger tires require more energy to turn, so going up in size might cost you slightly in fuel economy.

These are some of the main standards you should take into account when choosing whether to put SUV tires on your car. Always consider the type you want as well as the specifications and manufacturer recommendations for your vehicle.

How Are SUV Tires Different From Sedan Tires?

Compared to passenger cars, SUVs are typically heavier, and they have the capability to enter some kind of all-wheel-drive configuration. SUVs also usually ride higher off the ground and are more likely to be used for off-roading. When it comes to passenger versus SUV tires, here are the most notable differences:

• SUV tires might have a knobbier tread pattern suited to off-roading, whereas passenger car tire tread grooves are more lateral and swept back for maximized dry-road grip.
• Due to their more deliberate, thicker tread, SUV tires tend to have lower speed ratings.
• The heavier weight and greater size of SUV tires can slightly impact fuel economy, compared to driving with smaller, sedan-oriented tires.
• SUV tires tend to have tougher and stronger rubber composition to withstand the added friction of a heavier vehicle.
• The harder rubber compounds of SUV tires give less cornering grip and braking control than the softer tires used on the average car.
• SUVs usually have taller tire sidewalls that are harder to puncture.

Every driver is different, but there are some potential drawbacks to putting SUV tires on a car. For instance, the larger size, deeper tread, and greater durability of an SUV tire set could lead to a slightly different feel to your driving experience, particularly with handling at higher speeds. It’s also possible for SUV tires to make your passenger car vibrate more and lose a little of its fuel economy.

What Happens If You Put SUV Tires on Your Car?

The wide range of SUV tires can satisfy all of your safety needs, provide enjoyable off-road driving, and enhance handling for the best performance. With the right set, your car could manage the occasional off-road trip or take on a new look while still giving you a comfortable and smooth ride. Just make sure you check your owner’s manual so you know the right diameter, wheel width, and other specifications that will mean your new tires fit and operate effectively on your car.

Feel free to get tires for your vehicle at the Cochran Buick-GMC using our online tire finder or contacting our tire center directly. For all other automotive needs around Boardman, Ohio, contact or visit us at your convenience. As well as car and tire sales, we can help with applying for financing, choosing between buying or leasing, getting the right parts or services, and much more. Our team can affordably and quickly install a new set of SUV or other type of tires or check your vehicle’s tire condition at our advanced service lanes.