Hyundai’s mid-size utility vehicle has long been one of the most attractive options in the segment thanks to plenty of features, a solid price point and a roomy cabin. And now with Hyundai continuing to prove it’s reliability ratings are not just a blip on the radar, there’s even more value to a vehicle like this.
When it comes time to put new tires on your Santa Fe we’ve brought together a list of tire options for you to choose from based on important factors such as performance, warranty and, of course, price.
Hyundai Santa Fe Tire Sizes
Regardless of the trim level, each Santa Fe is available in one of the following three tire sizes.
235/65/17 or 235/60/18 or 235/55/19
What Tire is Best for the Hyundai Santa Fe?
Best Hyundai Santa Fe Tire
Continental Cross Contact LX 25
One of our favorite all-season tires for crossovers and SUVs, the Continental Cross Contact LX 25 offers a near-perfect blend of performance, mileage, comfort and price. Wet and dry braking performance are exceptional. The tires aren’t overly engaging to drive, but on a more family-focused vehicle like the Santa Fe we figure that’s ok.
Engineered under the tread is an additional absorption layer that helps improve ride quality by soaking up bumps.
Importantly, this tire is also built using Conti’s latest EcoPlus+ technology tread compound. This new rubber mixture is designed to cut rolling resistance to optimize fuel economy, while not impacting grip.
A 65,000 mile tread life warranty is good, though not the best you can get. However, the price point for these tires is quite reasonable.
Best Hyundai Santa Fe Tire (alternative)
Michelin Defender LTX MS
An excellent tire is so many ways, the Defender LTX MS is packed full of the latest tire technology. In particular it features low rolling resistance technology that can save up to 65 gallons of fuel over the life of the tire. As well, the brand’s Evertread technology means it retains its capability even when driven hard.
Dry braking and handling are excellent. Wet weather braking is good, though not quite as good as some rivals. Impressively, the tire has more winter capability than most all-seasons so it’s more versatile too.
In addition to all this it has a 70,000 mile tread life warranty.
So why isn’t this impressive tire our first choice? Well, it’s as simple as price. If the difference was just a few dollars, we’d pick the Michelins. Unfortunately it’s not and you will pay a premium for this tire.
That said, there are often deals available, so compare this one and if Michelin is running an offer, that can help make your decision for you.
Best All-Season Tire for Hyundai Santa Fe
Goodyear Assurance Weather Ready
Another premium tire with a premium price tag, the Goodyear Assurance Weather Ready makes a solid argument for its asking price. The real reason is that if you opt for this tire, you won’t need winter tires, or even have to think about swapping tires seasonally. A unique tread compound and tread design mean the tire is certified for extreme winter use.
To maximize the tire’s capability over the length of the tread life, the water evacuation slits in the tire actually wear wider as the tire tread wears down. This helps maintain tread life.
During more spirited driving Goodyear engineered the tire with tread blocks that lean onto each other and lock together, giving added stability in corners and under braking.
As a result of all these features, the tires handle and brake excellently in all conditions. A 60,000 mile tread life warranty is a bit on the low side, but that’s somewhat to be expected in exchange for true winter grip.
You will, however, pay for the privilege.
Longest Lasting Hyundai Santa Fe Tires
Goodyear Assurance MaxLife
The longest lasting tire available for the Hyundai Santa Fe is the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife. An overall high performer in terms of dry and wet weather all-season grip, it also surprisingly well priced. And delivering on the real promise of the tire, it gets a guarantee of 85,000 miles.
Best Budget Tire for the Hyundai Santa Fe
Kumho Crugen KL33
A practical tire that’s not a stand-out in any one category, it offers reasonable performance, ride quality and a decently long life at a modest price point. Little surprise then that Hyundai actually outfits many Santa Fes from the factory with this exact tire.
Designed with extra biting edges and plenty of siping, it’s built to better tackle winter than most all-season tires.
A 60,000 mile tread life warranty is solid and the price makes this a compelling option.
Cheapest Hyundai Santa Fe Tire
Laufenn S Fit AS
This tire might be a bit more performance-focused than most Santa Fe owners are looking for, but it’s hard to argue with the price.
While an all-season tire it’s designed more like a summer performance tire (and is technically classified as an ultra high performance all-season tire) with plenty of rubber hitting the ground thanks to large tread blocks with little siping. The shoulder tread blocks are also connected to help with cornering responsiveness. As a result, driving dynamics are quite impressive in the dry, although wet weather grip isn’t the best.
A 45,000 mile tread life warranty is on the low-end, but not for the type of performance you get and certainly not for the price.
Cheapest Hyundai Santa Fe Tire (alternative)
Sentury Crossover
Extremely affordable, the Sentury Crossover provides impressive grip for the price, at the cost of overall tire life. With a rigid center rib turn in response and highway ride are good with thick tread blocks for cornering capability.
Tread life is quite short with just a 40,000 mile warranty, although for the price, it’s decent.
Best All-Terrain Tire for Hyundai Santa Fe
Falken Wildpeak AT Trail
If you do plan on taking your Santa Fe off-roading more than once or twice then you might want to consider investing in a set of all-terrain tires. And the AT tire we recommend for such a vehicle is the Falken Wildpeak AT Trail.
Designed to deliver a better balance of on and off-road performance than most all-terrain tires, it does so by offering less of the extreme capability and more on-road driving dynamics and wet wether braking (always a down-side of all-terrain tires). Still more than capable off-road, perhaps more importantly it’s durable. That means if you do use it, the tread won’t chunk apart or wear unevenly.
And speaking of tread wear it come wth a 65,000 mile trading, which is extremely high for an all-terrain tire.
Best Winter Tire for Hyundai Santa Fe
Yokohama Iceguard G075
Best can be a relative term. In fact, even among the highest performing winer tires, there are some drawbacks. Some of the better known winter tires offer better on-snow peformance but aren’t as good on icy roads, and some offer superior ice traction but can’t compete on snow packed roads.
Then you have the Yokohama Iceguard G075 that combined heavy siping with a unique tread compound and a tread compound that resists freezing to make an extremely well-rounded tire. It also just so happens to be available at a very attractive price point.
Best Run-Flat Tire for Hyundai Santa Fe
Bridgestone Driveguard
There are a lot of reasons to own run-flat tires. Price isn’t usually one of them.
Bridgestone’s Driveguard tire was designed specifically for the aftermarket, targeting owners of vehicles that don’t have run flat tires from the factory but who want them, or owner’s of cars with run-flat tires who are disappointed with the performance they’ve been getting on a different set.
Overall all-season performance is very good. Plus ride quality, a common critique of RFTs is impressive.
Bridgestone achieves this via its NanoPro-Tech Sidewall , with a reinforced interior section of the sidewall that’s lighter, which helps maintain a better comfort level.
Many run-flts don’t come with a factory warranty, but these do, with a life expectancy of 50,000 to 60,000 miles.
And as you’d expect, they offer all the run-flat protection you would expect with the ability to drive up to 50 miles at speeds of up to 50 mph after suffering a puncture.
All run-flat tires cost a premium and while that is true here, the Bridgestone Driveguard is slightly more affordable than most.
Additional Hyundai Santa Fe Tires
Pirelli Scorpion Strada All Season
What tires come on the Hyundai Santa Fe?
Below is a list of what different tire options available from the factory for the Santa Fe.
18-inch sizes
19-inch sizes
- Hankook Dynapro HP2
How long do Hyundai Santa Fe Tires Last?
Depending on the tire sizes and specific brand/type of tire equipped on the Santa Fe from the factory, the general life of the tire varies. However, it should be noted that a set of Santa Fe tires should last from approximately 60,0000 to 65,000 mile with the Kumho Crugen Premium factory tires on the lower end and the Hankook Dynapro HP2 on the higher end.
Tire Buying FAQ
Where can I find the best price on tires?
There is no one answer to this question unfortunately. Sites like Tire Rack and Discount tire offer deals all the time on specific brands. You can also find deals on Amazon though they are much harder to find and often only apply to a specific size or group of sizes. Visit our Tire Deals page for more info.
When is the best time to buy tires?
It’s common that many shoppers buy tires once its already too late. At that point you don’t have a lot of choice and can often over-pay. If you’re planning ahead, generally, retailers offer significant tire deals around major holiday weekends (especially in the summer), as well as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
How much is Shipping?
Shipping is often included when you purchase tires online. Many retailers offer free shipping if you get your tires shipped to an installer that they recommend. Even if you ship to your home, Tire Rack offers free shipping on purchases over $50. And if you’re buying new tires, that won’t be hard.
How long does shipping take?
Shipping can take just a few days, or over a week in the worst cases. Often it depends on where you live. anyone in a larger urban center or living closer to a tire distribution center can get them quite quickly.
Does anyone offer mobile tire installation?
Depending on where you live, there may be numerous local mobile tire installers available. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of tracking one down, TireRack offers its own service. You don’t even have to purchase tires from TireRack to use it.
While it’s more expensive than bringing your tires to the shop, it’s also a lot more convenient. Prices start at $25 per tire.
How much does it cost to install a tire?
Generally you’ll pay between $25 and $50 per tire for installation services. This includes mounting and balancing, while using the latest tools so your rims don’t get scuffed or scraped.
Do I need to replace the tire pressure monitoring system when I change tires?
It’s not necessary to replace TMPS sensors when you change tires, but you may want to consider it. The units can fail over time due to damage or corrosion. Also, most units contain a battery and as a sealed unit, they must be replaced when the battery wears down. While most tire installers will handle sourcing these parts for you, you can also buy your own here.
Do online tire retailers offer rebates?
Absolutely! In fact, rebates are offered by most brands (even premium ones). Often these incentives are offered with other deals including up-front discounts and credit card offers.