9 Best All-Season Tires for Ford Explorer – Year-Round Grip and Comfort
Which rubber will keep your Explorer calm when the weather — and the load — gets dramatic?
Your Explorer deserves tires that don’t panic. You want grip in rain, confidence in light snow, and a long, quiet life on the highway. Short trips, long hauls, or weekend trails — the right tire makes the difference.
Pick a tire that matches how you actually use your Explorer. Comfort, towing ability, and year-round traction are the priorities. Below are nine solid all-season choices so you can choose with confidence.
Top Picks
MICHELIN Defender LTX M/S All-Season Tire
You get class-leading durability and confident traction in wet and light snow, with a 70,000-mile limited warranty that underlines longevity. The construction and compound are optimized for towing and heavier SUVs, so it pays off if you regularly haul or drive long distances.
Purpose and who it's for
You should consider this tire if you run a Ford Explorer and prioritize longevity, towing capability, and year-round confidence. The Defender LTX M/S is built for light trucks, SUVs, and crossovers and is especially suited to drivers who carry loads, tow occasionally, or simply want a durable, low-noise all-season option.
Key features and benefits
The tire uses a proven tread design with an EVETTREAD compound and MaxTouch Construction to deliver long wear and improved fuel economy. It also offers solid wet braking and competent snow traction without forcing a winter tire swap.
Real-world performance and practical insights
In practice, you can expect quiet highway cruising and predictable steering feel. If you frequently tow or drive on gravel and rough surfaces, the reinforced compound will resist severe wear better than many passenger-style all-seasons. Owners consistently report low noise and steady mileage across seasons.
Limitations and final take
This is a premium tire aimed at durability and confidence rather than the absolute lightest rolling resistance or lowest upfront cost. If your priority is the lowest purchase price or aggressive off-road traction, you'll want to look elsewhere. For most Explorer owners who want a quiet, long-lasting all-season with towing capability, it remains an excellent choice.
MICHELIN CrossClimate2 All-Season Premium Tire
You receive exceptional stopping power in dry and wet conditions and notably strong behavior in cold and light-snow situations, even as the tire wears. The CrossClimate2 is engineered to bridge the gap between all-season convenience and near-winter performance.
What it's built to do
This tire is aimed at drivers who want a true all-weather performer that minimizes the need for seasonal tire swaps. If you live in a region with cold winters, frequent rain, and occasional snow, it gives more confidence than typical all-season tires.
Technology and benefits explained
A V-shaped tread design evenly distributes forces across the contact patch, while 3-D SipeLock technology aids wear resistance. Acoustic tuning reduces road noise for a comfortable ride and the compound is formulated to preserve braking performance even as tread depth decreases.
Practical experience and trade-offs
You can expect shorter stopping distances on wet and dry pavement and dependable grip in light snow, which is why many drivers treat these as a one-set solution through multiple seasons. The trade-off is a premium price and a slightly firmer road feel compared with softer touring tires.
Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 Tire
You benefit from an adaptive compound and AquaTred grooves that maintain wet traction and slush handling throughout the tire life. Comfort inserts and a long tread-life warranty make it a practical, confidence-inspiring choice for everyday driving.
Purpose and target driver
This is a practical all-season designed for a broad range of drivers who want consistent wet performance and confident handling through rain, slush, and light snow. If you drive an Explorer in mixed climates with frequent wet weather, this tire is tuned to keep you moving safely.
Design highlights and what they mean for you
The WeatherReady 2 uses AquaTred Technology and Evolving Traction Grooves to actively displace water and slush, which helps reduce hydroplaning risk and keeps braking distances predictable. Variable tread blocks and comfort inserts tame road noise and improve ride quality.
Practical use and ownership experience
On the road, you'll notice strong wet braking and secure handling in light winter storms. The 60,000-mile limited warranty reflects Goodyear's confidence in wear life for typical drivers. For Explorer owners who want a balanced mix of safety, comfort, and value, it checks most boxes.
Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus Tire
You get a plush, quiet ride with a focus on long tread life—backed by an 80,000-mile warranty—making it ideal for mileage-focused highway driving. The tire balances low noise, good wear characteristics, and reduced rolling resistance for efficient cruising.
Who should pick this tire
Choose this if you prioritize a quiet, comfortable highway experience and long, predictable wear. It is aimed at drivers who log significant miles on pavement and want lower cabin noise and stable handling from their Explorer.
Notable engineering and benefits
The Alenza Plus emphasizes optimized casing and footprint design to reduce interior noise and improve contact consistency. A new tread polymer mix includes recycled rubber, which modestly reduces environmental impact while maintaining wear performance.
On-road behavior and considerations
In everyday driving you'll notice a balanced ride and steady grip in dry and wet conditions; it's tuned for highway stability rather than aggressive cornering or heavy-duty off-road traction. If you regularly need snow-specific capability, you may want a winter-rated option for severe conditions.
TOYO Open Country A/T 3 All-Terrain Tire
You benefit from a tire that balances all-season on-road comfort with competent off-road traction, making it a strong option if you occasionally take your Explorer onto light trails. The construction is robust for heavier vehicles and larger load sizes.
Who should consider this tire
Pick this if your Explorer splits time between highway commuting and light off-road trails or dirt roads. The Open Country A/T 3 is designed to give you more versatility than a strict touring tire without the extreme harshness of an aggressive mud-terrain.
Design highlights and usable benefits
The tread pattern provides strong bite for loose surfaces while maintaining respectable on-road stability and braking. In larger sizes, the construction helps support heavier loads and truck/SUV weights.
Practical guidance and limitations
On paved highways you'll notice a firmer, more pronounced tread noise relative to touring tires, but you'll gain much more traction off the beaten path. If you rarely go off-road and want the quietest ride, a dedicated highway/all-season might suit you better.
Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II
You get a touring-oriented all-season that improves wet braking and lowers rolling resistance, which helps fuel economy. Noise is reduced through optimized tread design, making it well-suited for comfortable daily driving on an Explorer.
Intended purpose
This tire targets drivers who want a refined, fuel-efficient touring tire with reliable year-round performance. If you value quieter cabin noise and improved fuel consumption, it's an attractive choice for mid-to-large SUVs like the Explorer.
Key technological advantages
The silica-functionalized polymer and optimized footprint deliver better wet performance and lower rolling resistance for improved mileage. Pirelli's design also focuses on noise control through tread pattern tuning.
Real-world use and limitations
On the road you'll notice confident wet braking and a composed ride at highway speeds. The tire is best used on-road and in light snow; it isn't aimed at aggressive off-road use. For drivers seeking the quietest touring experience with eco-minded benefits, it performs well.
Yokohama Geolandar X-CV All-Season Tire
You get a quiet, comfortable ride and reliable wet-handling from an asymmetric tread with reinforced shoulders. The Geolandar X-CV is a practical option for SUV drivers who prioritize a composed on-road experience and predictable handling.
Intended use and strengths
This tire is aimed at SUV and crossover owners who want a quiet, comfortable ride with dependable year-round grip. If you use your Explorer primarily on pavement and emphasize comfort and low noise, this model excels.
Construction and performance notes
An asymmetric tread pattern, reinforced shoulders, and four circumferential grooves help with water evacuation, stability, and reduced road noise. The compound balances dry stability with tenacious wet and light-snow performance.
Practical tips and limitations
In everyday use you'll appreciate the composed feel and low cabin noise. While it performs well in wet weather and light snow, it is not a replacement for a dedicated winter tire in severe conditions or for aggressive off-road use.
Continental PureContact LS Touring Tire
You get a well-rounded, comfortable touring tire with good wet handling and a solid life expectancy for the price. It delivers a smooth ride and consistent behavior without stretching your budget excessively.
Who this suits
This is a sensible option if you want an affordable, comfortable touring tire for daily driving and highway miles. It fits Explorers used primarily on pavement and offers a dependable mix of comfort and handling for the money.
Features that matter on the road
An asymmetrical tread pattern and optimized construction provide balanced grip in wet and dry conditions. The design also focuses on ride comfort and reducing noise for long drives.
Practical takeaways and limitations
On your Explorer you should experience a quiet, composed ride and reliable wet traction. It's a value-oriented tire rather than a premium performer for extremes—so if you require the highest snow or off-road capability, you'll want a different model.
Firestone Weathergrip All-Weather Touring Tire
You get all-weather capability with a 3PMSF rating, giving confidence in light-to-moderate snow while still performing well on wet pavement. The 65,000-mile limited warranty also helps make it a practical touring option for daily drivers.
Intended use and driver profile
This tire is best if your Explorer sees a mix of rain and occasional light snow and you want a single tire that handles both without seasonal swaps. It blends wet-weather stopping with acceptable winter traction for milder climates.
Key attributes and benefits
Designed as an all-weather touring tire, it carries the three-peak-mountain-snowflake certification for credible winter capability. The tread compound and pattern focus on water evacuation and stable handling, which improves confidence on wet roads.
Practical considerations and trade-offs
You should expect a safe, predictable tire for year-round use in moderate climates. For drivers facing deep snow, extended cold spells, or frequent off-road outings, a specialized winter or all-terrain tire would still be recommended.
Final Thoughts
For most Ford Explorer drivers who need a true all-rounder with exceptional longevity and load-carrying strength, go with the MICHELIN Defender LTX M/S. It delivers class-leading durability, confident wet and light-snow traction, and a 70,000-mile limited warranty—ideal if you tow, carry heavier loads, or put high mileage on your SUV.
If you live where winters are unpredictable and you want the closest thing to a year-round tire with extra cold-weather stopping power, choose the MICHELIN CrossClimate2. It gives standout dry, wet, and light-snow braking as the tread wears, making it the smarter pick for mixed climates where occasional snow performance matters.
