Best Tires for the Ford Bronco Sport

The Ford Bronco Sport is one of the most popular small SUVs in America. Ford kept the wheel and tire options pretty simple for this model. It comes with two basic wheel and tire setups. In our overview here of the best tires for the Ford Bronco Sport, we will break down the best tires primarily by the type of driving an owner may be most interested in. Where the best pick differs by size, we will make a note of that for our readers.

Car Talk's Top Tire Picks for the Ford Bronco Sport

• Best Overall Tire: Falken ZIEX CT60 A/S »

• Best All-Season Touring Tire: Michelin CrossClimate2 »

• Best 4-Season Tire For Light Off-Roading: Falken WildPeak A/T Trail »

• Best 4-Season All-Terrain Tire: Falken WildPeak A/T3W and Toyo Open Country A/T III »

• Best Dedicated Winter Tire: Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 »

The Base, Big Bend, First Edition, Badlands, Heritage, Heritage Limited, and Outer Banks have a 17-inch diameter wheel with 65-series sidewalls and a width of 225mm. Though Ford fits a 225mm tire standard, there is a popular option offered on some trims for the wheel to be a bit wider and have a 235mm width. So the two sizes are 225/65R17 or 235/65R17. The generous sidewall of this setup is well-suited to off-roading and off-pavement adventure. It affords the tire a bit more flex, a bit more ability to air down for use on sandy surfaces, and a bit more resistance to sidewall damage in comparison to a low-profile tire.

There is also an 18-inch diameter wheel with a 60-series sidewall standard on Outer Banks and optional on Big Bend. The width is also 225mm.

Ford may modify these offerings, so don’t rely on our guide here when it comes to size. Simply look at the sidewall of your tire and read what it says. We are simply trying to explain the sizes in a general sense.

Best Tires For The Bronco Sport

Falken Ziex CT60 A/S - Best overall budget tire for mainly on-road use

If you are not heading off-road, the Falken Ziex CT60 A/S is a grand touring tire that has been designed specifically for SUVs and crossover vehicles. Offering a smooth and quiet ride, we found the CT60 A/S all-season tire to be superb in our own testing. This tire is roughly 30% less expensive than some premium tires offering the same performance.

• Smooth and quiet ride
• 65K treadwear warranty
• All-season
• Designed specifically for SUVs and crossovers

See prices on Falken Ziex CT60 A/S from Discount Tire, Amazon and SimpleTire.

Falken WildPeak A/T Trail - Best 4-season tire for occasional light off-roading

If you bought a Bronco Sport SUV from Ford instead of an Escape crossover, we suspect you may want to go beyond the pavement once in a while. However, you may not be an extreme rock-hopper planning to do extractions of mud-stuck Wranglers on a regular basis. If you are a soft-roader who likes to explore places where the paved roads end occasionally, check out the Falken WildPeak A/T Trail tire. This tire’s design started as a touring tire, but Falken beefed up the sidewall and tread significantly. This trail-rated tire is outstanding on dirt roads, carriage paths, logging trails, and access roads to hiking paths and kayak launches. It even earns the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, denoting severe snow duty. We tested this tire on a Subau Forester for two years and found it was the perfect balance for those who don't really need (or want to live with) a true all-terrain tire.

• Severe snow duty rated
• 65K treadwear warranty
• Off-pavement tested and approved by Car Talk
• 4-season capability

See prices on the Falken WildPeak A/T Trail from Discount Tire, Amazon and SimpleTire.

Falken and Toyo - Best 4-season all-terrain tires for off-roading

All-terrain tires are rapidly evolving. While you can still get mud-oriented and extreme off-road tires, manufacturers are producing some excellent off-road capable tires that are very livable on highways and byways. People who own vehicles such as the Bronco Sport are fiercely brand loyal about off-road tires, so we won't say that one is truly the best by a country mile, but we do have a favorite. We also have an important note to share.

Falken WildPeak A/T3W and new 4W

The Bronco Sport Badlands and First Edition both have an option for a slightly wider 29-inch tire from Falken. The WildPeak A/T3W fits this specific trim perfectly for those who plan some off-roading on a regular basis. This tire is “well-rounded” in the sense that it can be aired down, sports the 3PMSF severe snow duty rating, has a deeply-lugged tread, and a rugged reinforced sidewall. It also works great on the Badlands and First Edition in all on-road scenarios. We know because we tested the WildPeak A/T3W on both trims for a period of many months in all seasons. So, why isn’t it the slam-dunk best choice? Two reasons.

First, although you can still get this tire as an upgrade on 2024 Bronco Sport vehicles, it is being replaced by the WildPeak A/T4W. The new tire seems to be even better, but it is not identical to the 3W (obviously). It is different enough that we would think twice about replacing a single 3W with a new 4W if one was damaged. Since it is brand new, we cannot bless it as an ideal choice. Early reviews are coming in positive, but at Car Talk, we make recommendations on what we know, not what we hope. So, the WildPeak A/T4W is one of our top picks, but readers need to be aware it is a new tire from a trusted brand. Not a tested and proven pick (yet). Here are our summary points for the new A/T4W.

• Great tire for most off-road adventures
• 3PMSF severe snow duty rating
• Should do well on-road (3W was very good on-road)
• 65K treadwear warranty (3W was 55K)

See prices on the Falken WildPeak A/T3W from Discount Tire, Amazon and SimpleTire.

See prices on the Falken WildPeak A/T4W from Discount Tire, Amazon and SimpleTire.

Toyo Open Country A/T III

An additional choice many owners will find an easy one is the Toyo Open Country A/T III. This tire is a lot like the Falken WildPeak A/T3W. It has many positive reviews from owners. The treadwear warranty is a generous 65K miles. It has earned the 3PMSF symbol, denoting severe snow duty. This tire is available in the 235/60R17 size that matches the largest tire size Ford fits from the factory.

• Positive reviews
• 65K treadwear warranty
• Severe snow duty rated

See prices on the Toyo Open Country A/T III from Discount Tire, Amazon and SimpleTire.

Page down to our section about changing tire sizes for more all-terrain tire recommendations.

Best all-season touring tires for sporty on-road driving - It’s Michelin for the win

If your Bronco Sport is a daily driver for you and you also take highway trips but almost never venture off pavement, we would suggest a touring all-season tire as the best option for your needs. In this tire segment, Michelin is hard to top. There are three Michelin tires we would recommend, and all three earn very high scores from owners in reviews.

Michelin Defender2

The Defender2 is a great touring tire that offers a balance of a smooth, quiet ride and good handling in all weather short of a winter storm. In our testing, this tire has been outstanding in all conditions, particularly on wet roads and on sloppy, slushy roads. The Defender2 also offers a very long 80K mile treadwear warranty.

• Great handling
• Very good in wet weather and mixed precipitation
• Long 80K treadwear warranty
• Moderate to premium pricing

See prices on the Michelin Defender2 from Discount Tire, Amazon and TireRack.

Michelin Primacy A/S

The Primacy A/S is also very good but has a shorter 55K treadwear warranty. Your choice between these two may simply come down to size and availability.

• Great handling
• Quiet and smooth
• 55K treadwear warranty
• Premium-priced

See prices on the Michelin Primacy A/S from Discount Tire, Amazon and TireRack.

Michelin CrossClimate2

If you're driving mostly on-pavement driving, but you need a tire that can handle moderate winter snow, we suggest the Michelin CrossClimate2. This tire offers four-season usability and has no bad habits. The CrossClimate2 is very popular in areas that see harsh winters. Car Talk has tested the CrossClimate2 on a small SUV for over three years. It has proven remarkably good in winter and comes close to being as good as a grand touring tire in milder weather. Need a second choice in this category? The all-new Falken Aklimate is starting to turn heads with a lower price point and similar performance.

• Excellent in all weather conditions short of an ice storm
• Moderate noise levels (similar to all-season tires)
• Good overall performance
• 60K treadwear warranty

See prices on the Michelin CrossClimate2 from Discount Tire, Amazon and TireRack.

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 - Best dedicated winter tire without studs

We polled Bronco Sport owners in a large social media club dedicated to the model to see what type of tire they use in winter. 42% say they use the all-season tires the vehicle came with. 43% use either the Falken WildPeak A/T3W winter-rated tires the vehicle came with or another winter-rated all-terrain tire, and just 10% say they use dedicated winter tires. Only 3% use studded winter tires. Our pick for the few owners who want to own winter-specific tires they swap on and off twice per year is the tried and true Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2. All dedicated winter tires work well, but availability in a given size is often a limiting factor. If you cannot find a Blizzak to fit your Bronco Sport, your local retailer will have some good suggestions. Our tip is to use the narrower 225 sizing since extra width is not a plus in winter.

• Long-running model with a history of value
• Likely a 3 or 4-season durability
• Widely available
• Affordable

See prices on the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 from Discount Tire, Amazon and SimpleTire.

Best dedicated tires for winter with studs

For those rare owners who want to use studded snow tires, we suggest checking out the Cooper Evolution Winter and the General Altimax Arctic 12. Our search revealed very few options in the sizes for Bronco Sport. We suggest shopping in the fall to ensure availability.

Original equipment Bronco Sport tires

We have already spoken at length about the optional and very popular Falken WildPeak A/3W all-terrain tire upgrade for Badlands and First Edition models. Other OEM tires that Ford uses include Continental ProContact TX A/S, Continental All-Terrain (A/T), Michelin Energy Saver A/S, and the Pirelli Scorpion A/T. Reviews of these tires by Bronco Sport owners have been mixed. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and many owners report around 30,000-mile lifespans of the all-season tires. What is clear from our reading of the club posts is that many owners of the trims with all-season tires opt to buy Trail or All-Terrain tires when the all-season touring tires have lived out their lives.

Top replacement tire brands for the Ford Bronco Sport

Brands that offer great all-season options for the Bronco Sport Badlands include Michelin, Falken, Cooper, and Goodyear. Among the brands offering replacement tires for all-terrain use are Falken, BFGoodrich, Wrangler, Cooper, and Toyo.

When should you replace tires?

Aside from replacement due to unrepairable punctures or sidewall damage, tires should be replaced based on three main factors. The first is treadwear. Each tire design is different, so the penny trick is not really a good way to judge if a tire is ready for replacement. We like to look at the treadwear indicators. Every tire has them. A tire tread gauge is also a handy tool. Your mechanic has one in his shirt pocket and can tell you precisely how much tread remains. Always use the lowest tread depth across the width of the tire as your guide.

Wear and tear are also reasons to replace a tire. If your tire has nicks and tears or bubbles and bulges in the sidewall, replace them. If the tires cannot be properly balanced, it is an indication of internal damage requiring replacement. If the tires have worn improperly, align the vehicle and replace the tires.

Age is the last reason. Tires can be damaged by UV rays, heat, salt, and time. Follow your tire manufacturer’s guidelines for how long a tire can be in service in low mileage conditions. After five years in service, you are on borrowed time since the tires may not have been newly manufactured when they were mounted. Your mechanic can check the date codes if you see any small cracks appearing on the sidewall or in any part of the tread area.

Why not replace with original equipment tires?

One easy way to change the handling and ride quality of any vehicle is to change the tire model. The Bronco Sport is a very capable off-road vehicle, and many owners wish to enhance that capability with a tire they can enjoy in challenging conditions. Other owners want to enhance winter capability. One of the most common gripes vehicle owners have is the short life of the original tires. So, many shoppers opt for tires with a longer treadwear warranty when the time comes to shop for a new tire.

Related Story: Why Some Owners Dislike Their OEM Tires

Changing Bronco Sport tire sizes

Since the Bronco Sport is a “goes over any terrain” type of vehicle, many owners want to “upgrade” the tires to be bigger. The idea is that the bigger tires are somehow better for off-roading. For some owners, it is simply vanity. They like the look of bigger tires on a vehicle. Who are we to judge?

If you have a vehicle that comes equipped with the 18” wheel and the 60-series tires, one easy way to move up in overall size is to get the 17” wheels and the tires with the slightly taller sidewall and the 235mm width. If you do so, you can be assured they will fit on your vehicle since Ford already offers that size on other trims. If you wish to go bigger than that, consult with your fellow owners on Facebook clubs or at TheBroncoNation.com to see what has worked for them. We can’t suggest changing the wheel and tire sizes since we don’t know if it is safe and if your speedometer will still be calibrated correctly. The 235/60R17 tire size is a lot of tire for the small Bronco Sport. We know it sounds weird to have an 18-inch tire be smaller than a 17-inch, but remember, that number is the rim diameter. The added sidewall of the tire can make the 17-inch tire bigger than the 18-inch.

Many owners of SUVs and trucks feel the need to add more off-road capability. One way they think this will be accomplished is to lift the vehicle's suspension a bit to add ground clearance and also help to accommodate larger tires. Ford can help here. The Badlands and First Edition trims are already both lifted and equipped with larger tires than the other trims. However, we know some owners will want to go larger and more extreme than even that. So Ford makes the body-on-frame Bronco model, which has more of all those things.

Owners who wish to lift their Bronco Sport and equip it with larger tires will need to check on fitment, but the BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 tire series and the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure With Kevlar tire lines are popular among off-road enthusiasts.

If you have a Bronco Sport with the 17” tire and wheel setup and want your Bronco Sport to handle better on twisty paved roads, you could go the other way and move to the 18-inch setup with a lower profile sidewall. This may sharpen the handling a bit, particularly if you take off all-terrain tires and put on touring tires. Ford has made things very easy for owners of the Bronco Sport to adjust wheel and tire sizes two ways to achieve different outcomes.

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