Pirelli vs Goodyear SUV Tires: All-Terrain or Highway?

Why the tread family matters more than the badge

When you compare Pirelli and Goodyear for an SUV, the first thing to notice is that both brands sell more than one kind of SUV tire. The real question is not which name is on the sidewall but which tread family fits how you drive. A highway-tread all-season tire and an aggressive all-terrain tire from the same brand can behave very differently on wet pavement, gravel, and snow.

A useful way to start is to sort your driving into two broad categories: on-road most of the time, or a real mix of pavement and trails. That distinction maps to the difference between highway-terrain and all-terrain designs, and it will narrow your choices faster than brand loyalty. For a deeper look at the categories, see our comparison of highway-terrain vs all-terrain tires and our guide to off-road tire types.

Pirelli's approach to SUV tires

Pirelli's SUV line is built around the Scorpion family, which covers everything from street-focused all-season models to versions with more aggressive tread for light off-road work. If most of your miles are on pavement, a Scorpion all-season tire is a reasonable starting point: it is designed for the crossover and SUV shapes that dominate today's market, and it is offered in many of the sizes those vehicles use.

For the buyer who spends a little time on dirt, Pirelli offers all-terrain Scorpion models that keep more open shoulders for loose surfaces while retaining the kind of tread that stays quiet on the highway. The tradeoff is the same one you will find in any all-terrain tire: the more off-road capability you add, the more you give up in rolling comfort and noise on asphalt. Our Pirelli tire guide lists the line's picks by size and use.

Goodyear's approach to SUV tires

Goodyear's counterpart is the Wrangler family, one of the most widely recognized names in SUV and light truck tires. The Wrangler family includes highway-tread models aimed at comfort and fuel economy, plus all-terrain and mud-terrain models for progressively harder off-road duty.

The all-terrain Wranglers are a common pick for owners who want one set of tires for daily driving and weekend trail use. Goodyear also sells Wrangler models in light truck sizes, so if you tow or carry heavy loads, you can move up to an LT rating without leaving the family. You can see the range in our Goodyear tire guide.

Load ratings, construction, and sizing

One of the most important spec decisions for an SUV is whether to use a passenger car (P-metric) tire or a light truck (LT) tire. Federal regulations define a passenger car tire as one intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. An LT tire is designated by its manufacturer as primarily intended for lightweight trucks or multipurpose passenger vehicles.

If you install a passenger car tire on a multipurpose passenger vehicle, the tire's load rating is reduced by dividing by 1.10 before you compare it to the axle's gross axle weight rating. That built-in derating is why many SUVs that tow or haul use LT tires instead, even when a P-metric size would bolt on. Read the load index and load rating guide to learn how to check the numbers for your vehicle.

Treadwear, traction, and temperature grades

Both Pirelli and Goodyear mark their passenger car tires with the Uniform Tire Quality Grading grades that federal rules require: treadwear, traction, and temperature. The traction grade uses the letters AA, A, B, and C, and the temperature grade uses A, B, and C. These grades give you a side-by-side way to compare two SUV tires from either brand, as long as both are passenger car tires.

Tires that fall outside the passenger car grading rules, such as deep tread winter snow tires or very low-volume specialty sizes, do not carry the full set of grades. That means you cannot always compare an all-terrain and a mud-terrain tire on the same scale. Our treadwear rating guide explains how to read the numbers.

Inflation pressure and TPMS

Inflating an SUV tire correctly is a big part of getting the most from either brand. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve gas mileage by 0.6 percent on average, and up to 3 percent in some cases. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by about 0.2 percent for every 1 psi drop in the average pressure of all tires.

Federal rules require a tire pressure monitoring system on most light vehicles that will illuminate a warning within 20 minutes when a tire is at or below 25 percent under the manufacturer's recommended cold inflation pressure. The correct pressure for your SUV is on the door jamb label, not on the tire sidewall. See tire pressure basics and TPMS for the details.

Matching the tire to your driving

Once you know your own pattern, the Pirelli versus Goodyear decision becomes easier. If you commute on highways and rarely leave pavement, look at a highway-oriented all-season SUV tire from either brand, and let the UTQG grades guide your comparison. If you take gravel roads or light trails on weekends, an all-terrain model from the Wrangler or Scorpion family will serve better.

If you tow a trailer or carry a heavy payload, step up to an LT-rated tire and confirm the load rating covers your axle loads. And if snow is a factor, consider an all-weather or winter-specific tire; federal rules define a snow tire as one that meets a snow traction test and carries the Alpine Symbol. The guides below will help you narrow the field by size and use.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Which brand is better for highway driving, Pirelli or Goodyear?

For paved-road use, both brands offer capable all-season SUV tires, so let the UTQG grades and your preferred ride comfort guide you. Look for a highway-tread model rather than an all-terrain or mud-terrain design.

Can Pirelli Scorpion tires handle light off-road?

The Scorpion family includes all-terrain versions designed for gravel, dirt, and light trails. If you plan to drive on rough off-road terrain routinely, a dedicated all-terrain or mud-terrain tire is the safer choice.

Do Goodyear Wrangler tires come in LT sizes?

Yes, the Wrangler family includes light truck sizes, which is useful if your SUV carries heavy loads or tows. Check the load rating on the sidewall against your axle ratings.

What do UTQG grades tell me about an SUV tire?

UTQG grades are the treadwear, traction, and temperature ratings that federal rules require on passenger car tires. Traction grades run from AA to C and temperature grades from A to C, so you can compare two tires from different brands on the same scale.

Should I choose P-metric or LT for my SUV?

P-metric tires are designed for vehicles with a GVWR up to 10,000 pounds and are fine for most SUVs. If you tow or carry heavy loads, an LT tire carries a higher load rating and is built for heavier duty, though it will ride firmer.