Best Tires For Ford Escape

8 Best Tires For Ford Escape

As far and away the most popular crossover or SUV offered by Ford, the Escape has been on the roads all over the country since 2001. Over the past two decades, there have been four generations of Escape, each with its own design and nuances.

With each new generation and various trim levels came new tire and wheel packages. But no matter what tires originally came on it, they will eventually need to be replaced. The tire search can be daunting, but we’re here to help.

A Ford Escape owner looking for new tires might be in the market for a high-quality all-season, a long-lasting highway or touring option, a season-specific tire for dedicated use, or something a bit more performance-oriented. No matter what kind of tire is being considered, our list below will have a recommendation for that category.

Let’s stop putting the tire search off and let’s find the perfect tire for a Ford Escape here today. The following table shows the 8 best tires on the market for a Ford Escape:

Michelin Premier LTX — Best All-Season

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For the best all-around tire on the market for a Ford Escape, the only choice is a high-quality all-season that can perform year-round. The best all-season tire for a Ford Escape is the Michelin Premier LTX.

Designed for crossovers, SUVs, and light duty trucks and vans, the Premier LTX all-season offers class-leading wet handling and braking from when it's new all the way until it's worn down and needs to be replaced. With EverTread technology, the Premier LTX continues to offer maximum traction and grip on wet and dry roads even when it’s worn.

The tread compound is made with Michelin’s Extreme Silica blend and enriched with sunflower oil to enhance traction in poor weather conditions even including light snow. The circumferential grooves and many sipes around the tire direct water away from the contact patch to ensure reliable contact between the tire and the road.

As a Michelin Total Performance tire, the Premier LTX offers drivers a slew of benefits and features including stopping power, control, handling, and even enhanced fuel efficiency. They are the total package.

Offered in all major tire sizes from 16” through 22” wheel diameters, Ford Escape owners will have no problem whatsoever finding the perfect set for their vehicle, no matter what year or model it is.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 60,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,929lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 44 psi
• Tread Depth: 9/32”
• Tire Weight: 28 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 620
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A
• EverGrip tread compound enhances traction on wet and dry roads
• Provides class-leading stopping distance in all conditions

FAQ

How are these better than the Michelin Defender T+H?

In terms of the total tire packing, the Premier LTX just edged out the Defender T+H as our favorite all-season — though we do recommend it below! The Premier just has a better combination of performance, life, and comfort that makes it our top pick.

What sizes are offered?

The Premier LTX is one of the most popular tire choices among crossovers, SUVs, and light trucks. As such, it’s offered in major tire sizes from 15” through 22” diameters. For the common 17” and 18” sizes found on most Ford Escapes, it’ll be easy to find a set in the right size.

Why is the tread life warranty shorter than other options?

The tread life warranty of 60,000 miles is a bit lower than our recommendations below for the best touring and highway tires. This is because the slightly softer tread compound that offers better traction and a more comfortable ride than other tires slightly reduces its life expectancy.

Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season — Best Touring

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The Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season is Pirelli’s environmentally friendly tire, hence its name — Verde means green in Italian. This tire is not only eco-friendly, however, it also offers drivers great performance and reliability, making it the best touring tire on the market for Ford Escapes.

Through a reduced rolling resistance due to its tread compound and construction that resists deflection and deformation, the Scorpion Verde increases fuel efficiency. To further help the environment, these tires were designed with weight-savings in mind as well to lower the total vehicle weight and therefore reduce CO2 emissions as well.

The silica tread compound is molded into an asymmetrical tread pattern to provide traction in all conditions and create a uniform contact patch to promote even wear and consistent grip. The Scorpion Verde offers reliable traction in dry, wet, and even snowy conditions.

With a 65,000-mile tread life warranty and many sizes including the Pirelli Noise Cancelling System to absorb noise and increase comfort, the Scorpion Verde has everything that Ford Escape drivers could hope for in a touring tire.

The Scorpion Verde is offered in all typical tire sizes from 16” through 22” wheel diameters, making it easy to find a set in the perfect size.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 65,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,609 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 psi
• Tread Depth: 11/32”
• Tire Weight: 26 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 600
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Silica-enhanced rubber compound offers traction in all conditions
• Uniform contact patch ensures even wear

FAQ

What makes these good touring tires?

The combination of longevity, comfort, and performance makes the Scorpion Verde a great touring tire. The best touring tires are ones that you don’t even notice are there until you need them to perform. That’s the Scorpion Verde.

What sizes are offered?

The Pirelli Scorpion Verde all-season is Pirelli’s major crossover, SUV, and light truck all-season touring tire. As such, it’s offered in just about every size from 16” wheel diameters up to, and including 22” diameters.

What is the tread life warranty?

The Scorpion Verde comes with a 65,000-mile tread life warranty. Although there might be longer warranties in this class, the comfort and performance of the Scorpion Verde make it the best overall touring tire for your Ford Escape.

Continental CrossContact UHP — Best Summer

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Any Ford Escape owners looking to really test the performance limits of the popular SUV need to be in the market for a dedicated summer tire. The best summer tire available is the Continental CrossContact UHP.

As Continental’s ultra-high performance (UHP) tire designed for sport trucks, SUVs, and crossovers, the CrossContact UHP is tailor-made for the Ford Escape and other vehicles in its class.

With a silica-enhanced tread compound designed to really come alive during the warm temperatures of the summer months, the CrossContact UHP provides unparalleled traction and stability under aggressive driving including cornering.

The asymmetric tread compound works in conjunction with circumferential grooves, sipes, and tread blocks direct water out from under the center of the tire to promote traction even in wet conditions.

Surprisingly, some sizes of the CrossContact UHP are even branded as M+S rated, meaning they offer some traction even in light snow. For a summer tire, that’s almost unheard of.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,709 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 psi
• Tread Depth: 10/32”
• Tire Weight: 27 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 420
• UTQG Traction: AA
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Designed for high-end SUVs to offer maximum summer performance
• Bionic contour shortens stopping distance

FAQ

How many summers will these last?

If cared for and stored properly when not in use, you can expect to get at least 3-4 summers out of these tires depending on how hard you’re driving your Escape. If you leave them all outside of summer, they’ll wear out far quicker.

Is it worth getting summer tires?

It depends on what you’re trying to get out of your Ford Escape in the summer. For most people in most circumstances, it isn’t really worth getting a set of dedicated summer tires. But for those who want to maximize performance, the CrossContact UHP will do exactly that.

Can I drive on these all year?

As a summer-dedicated ultra-high performance tire, it is not recommended to drive on the CrossContact UHPs all year long. They were not designed for cold temperatures and snow and will offer reduced traction and performance during those times. They’ll also wear out faster!

Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 — Best Winter

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As the industry-leading winter tire for just about every vehicle on the market, the Bridgestone Blizzak again makes an appearance on this list as the best winter tire for a Ford Escape. In this vehicle class and tire size, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is the pick of the litter.

A studless ice and snow tire, the Blizzak WS90 is as easy to use as any other tire. Just have them installed on your Ford Escape and drive off, there’s no need for the addition of metal studs like older snow tires used to require.

With a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating, the Blizzak WS90 has exceeded the industry standards for reliability and traction during the most severe snow and ice conditions thanks to its biting edges digging into the snow and ice.

The biting edges are able to work because of the Multicell technology that moves the top layer of water off the snow and ice to allow for the stiffened tread compound and edges to get into the snow and ice below and propel the vehicle forward.

Offered in sizes ranging from 15” through 19” wheel diameters, the popular 17” and 18” wheels that come on the Escape make this the perfect option on the market.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 1,819 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 psi
• Tread Depth: 12/32”
• Tire Weight: 30 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: N/A
• UTQG Traction: N/A
• UTQG Temperature: N/A
• 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake Rating exceeds requirements to excel in severe weather
• Unique tread pattern adds countless biting edges to cut through ice and snow

FAQ

Why isn’t there a warranty on these, are they bad quality?

Don’t let the lack of a warranty deter you, these are the best snow tires on the market. They just don’t have a tread life warranty because they’re designed strictly for use during the winter for traction in cold temperatures. If used year-round, they will wear out quickly.

Is the stiff compound loud and uncomfortable?

The stiffened tread compound provides excellent traction in snow and ice, but it is a little louder than normal all-season tires. But compared to snow tires — especially older ones with metal studs — these are relatively quiet and very comfortable.

What does a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake Rating mean?

The 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake Rating found on the sidewall of these tires indicates that they meet the strictest requirements in the industry for traction and reliability in the most severe snow and ice conditions. It’s the highest available rating in the tire industry.

Michelin Defender T+H — Best Highway

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Coming in as the best highway tire for a Ford Escape is the Michelin Defender T+H, and it isn’t really close.

With a class-leading 80,000-mile tread life warranty, the Defender T+H is designed to be both long-lasting and comfortable. Replacing the standard Defender, the new model was designed with an entirely new tread compound that focuses on durability and longevity, and it's shown in its long tread life warranty.

The asymmetric all-season tread pattern works in conjunction with Michelin’s IntelliSipe technology that acts as a connected network of sipes that lead underneath the tread blocks that increase the rigidity of the blocks while also channeling water away from the contact patch to increase traction in wet conditions.

Within the tire, the steel belts are reinforced with a ply of polyamide to add stability, increase the steering response, and help the tread last longer.

Designed for smaller SUVs, crossovers, and passenger cars, the Michelin Defender T+H is offered in sizes from 14” up through 18”, including the common 17” and 18” wheel packages found on the Ford Escape.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 80,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,709 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 44 psi
• Tread Depth: 10/32”
• Tire Weight: 26 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 820
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: B
• Comfort Control Technology Ensures a quiet and comfortable ride
• The long-lasting compound offers class-leading highway performance

FAQ

What is the tread life warranty?

The tread life warranty of the Michelin Defender T+H is 80,000 miles, which is a class-leading warranty. These tires are known to last even longer, with many drivers getting up to 90,000 or even 100,000 miles out of them before they need replacing.

Are these tires noisy?

Not at all. The Michelin Defender T+H is a Michelin Total Performance tire, which means it has a combination of many different attributes making it high-quality. One such attribute is a quiet, comfortable ride throughout its life.

What does “T+H” stand for?

The T+H that you see stamped on the side of these Michelin Defender tires are the speed ratings. These tires have two different speed rating options, T and H. This means that depending on which ones you get, they will have a different speed rating (with the T-rating signifying a higher speed tolerance, for example).

Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico — Best Performance Street

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As Ford’s smaller crossover, slotting in below the Explorer and Edge, many drivers want to test its performance limits without going all the way for a dedicated summer tire. To get the best of both worlds — decent longevity compared with excellent performance — Escape owners should consider the Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico.

Even though it doesn’t come with a tread life warranty, the Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico is expected to last around 50,000 miles or more according to drivers who have used them in the past.

Although the expected lifetime of the Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico is great, the real reason to go for this tire is the year-round performance that they offer.

The all-season compound is molded into an asymmetrical tread pattern to provide traction in all seasons and road conditions, even light snow. This special tread compound actually prompts progressive grip during aggressive cornering, ensuring consistent grip throughout the entirety of the corner.

Inside the tire, twin steel belts are strengthened with wrapped nylon to increase handling and enhance high-speed durability, enabling Escape drivers to put their crossover to the limit.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: None
• Max Load Capacity: 2,271 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 50 psi
• Tread Depth: 10/32”
• Tire Weight: 33 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 520
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Asymmetric tread pattern with a Z profile enhances traction and braking
• Stiffened compact shoulder blocks increase stability during aggressive cornering

FAQ

What is the tread life warranty?

Unfortunately, there is no tread life warranty on the Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico. As a tire designed for performance, traction, and grip, the Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico is still expected to last upwards of 50,000 miles or more.

What sizes are offered?

Designed as the best performance-oriented tires for crossovers, SUVs, and light trucks, the Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico is offered in all the major sizes for these vehicles from 18” through 22”. This includes the most common tire sizes of Ford Escapes.

Can I drive on these all year?

Even though these are an ultra-high performance tire, they are actually an all-season option, not a dedicated summer tire as people may think. That said, you can be confident in this tire’s ability to provide reliable traction throughout the year.

GT Radial Champiro Touring A/S — Best Temporary Spare

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To prevent the risk and damaging the transfer case in the AWD Ford Escape models, it’s important to have a full-size spare tire rather than a smaller space-saver (or donut) spare tire. For a temporary spare tire, it’s important to be affordable and reliable, and that’s exactly what the GT Radial Champiro Touring A/S is.

As a budget-friendly all-season tire, the Champiro Touring A/S offers reliable traction just in case a tire on your Ford Escape goes flat at any point during the year. Being able to trust the temporary spare to get you safely to the shop or back home is a necessity, and you can rest assured knowing the Champiro Touring A/S will be there as your spare.

Its all-season tread pattern allows for suitable and reliable traction in all weather conditions and temperatures, including even light snow. With a 60,000-mile tread life warranty, the GT Radial Champiro matches some of the much more expensive options on the market.

Even though this is our recommendation for a temporary spare, Ford Escape owners looking for tires on a tight budget could do far worse than these. But we do highly recommend checking out some of the other suggestions up above.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 60,000 miles
• Max Load Capacity: 1,709 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 44 psi
• Tread Depth: 10/32”
• Tire Weight: 23 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 540
• UTQG Traction: A
• UTQG Temperature: A
• An affordable option, great for a temporary spare
• All-season tire that offers traction throughout the year

FAQ

Why is this a good choice for a temporary spare?

A good temporary spare tire is reliable and affordable, and the GT Radial Champiro Touring A/S excels in both of those categories.

Can I use these on my Escape since they’re so affordable?

If you’re looking for a set of tires for your Escape on a budget, the GT Radial Champiro isn’t a bad option. An affordable all-season tire, the Champiro provides quality traction and performance, but we highly recommend one of the above suggestions instead for better performance.

Why is a full-size spare good to have?

Most Ford Escape models are all-wheel drive, meaning that you don’t want to drive around a shorter spare tire than the other three. That’s because the transfer case of an all-wheel drive car can be damaged if tires of different sizes are driven on for extended periods of time.

Continental ContiProContact — OEM Tire

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Ford did their customers right by providing a high-quality tire as OEM equipment straight from the factory in the Continental ContiProContact. Oftentimes manufacturers will put cheaper tires on the vehicles from the factory to reduce cost and get the cars sold, so the ContiProContact is better than most OEM tires out there.

An all-season grand touring tire, the ContiProContact offers excellent traction in all conditions and long tread life. With a 60,000-mile warranty from Continental, the ContiProContacts that come on the Escape will last drivers for a few years before needing to be replaced.

Wide circumferential grooves are used to resist hydroplaning while also increasing traction on roads both wet and dry. PROactive Edge Technology from Continental includes at least 800 edges in the tread to enhance traction in all conditions and promote stability during aggressive driving.

Although it’s a great tire as far as OEM tires go and it’d be easy to just go back with the same one since finding a set for the Escape would be easy, we recommend considering one of our other suggestions above. There are better options on the market for Escape owners to consider that will outperform the OEM ContiProContacts.

Specifications

Some specifications may vary based on the exact tire size selected.

• Warranty: 60,000 miles (for H speed ratings that come on the Escape)
• Max Load Capacity: 1,709 lbs
• Max Inflation Pressure: 51 psi
• Tread Depth: 10/32”
• Tire Weight: 26 lbs
• UTQG Treadwear: 400
• UTQG Traction: AA
• UTQG Temperature: A
• Quality OEM tire that provides a long-lasting and comfortable ride
• Low rolling resistance increases fuel efficiency

FAQ

Should I put ContiProContacts back on my Escape?

For an OEM tire, the ContiProContact is up at the top of the list. They are an above-average all-season tire that performs well and lasts a long time. But there are certainly better options on the market, and we suggest looking at some of our other recommendations above.

Do all Escapes come with this tire?

Over the years, there have been different OEM tires on the Ford Escape from the factory. But the ContiProContact is the most commonly recurring tire used on quite a few years and models of the Escape.

What does “low rolling resistance” mean?

A tire with low rolling resistance means that it can roll easier down the road depending on its tread compound and tire deflection. A low rolling resistance results in enhanced fuel efficiency and increased tread life.

Ford Escape Tire Sizes

The most common tire sizes for Ford Escapes over the last ten years have been 235/55R17 and 235/50R18, but there have been quite a few others along the way. In fact, the Ford Escape has had 7 different OEM tire sizes over the past decade to keep in mind during your tire search:

• 235/70R16
• 225/65R17
• 235/55R17
• 225/60R18
• 235/50R18
• 225/55R19
• 235/45R19

Trying to guess the tire size on your vehicle can be nearly impossible. To make it easier for you, we’ve come up with a table containing every Ford Escape model over the past decade (2011-2020). So if you know the year and trim level of your Ford Escape, you can easily find your tire size in the table.