For most SUVs that can take advantage of it, four-wheel drive is often offered as an option, and few consumers take it. In contrast, four-wheel drive is much more common on large SUVs and premium SUVs.
In other words, while SUVs may claim to have a rugged aesthetic, they are not necessarily equipped with an inter-deck differential lock or a short off-road gearbox. While they retain the ride height and rugged appearance of a 4x4, many have only two-wheel drive and have given up some of their off-road ability for better handling.
If your SUV has 4 wheel drive, you can follow the same selection criteria but MICHELIN strongly advises you to equip it with 4 identical tyres, i.e. of the same make and model, size and level of wear.
Do you have to change all 4 tyres on your 4-wheel drive SUV?
For optimum performance, we recommend changing all four tyres at the same time if your SUV is a four-wheel drive vehicle. Your vehicle owners manual will also provide guidance on this topic.
If your SUV has only two wheel drive, you do not need to change all four tyres at the same time. But it is recommended that you do it in pairs, i.e. the two tyres that are on the same axle.
How to choose your SUV tyres in seconds
To make it easier for you to choose, the diagram below will give you a very precise and quick idea of the most suitable tyres for your SUV: