Best Tires for the Jeep Grand Cherokee
The best tires for your Jeep Grand Cherokee will depend on who you ask, how you drive and your needs. Because the Grand Cherokee is such a versatile SUV, the balance between cost, treadwear, and capability will differ according to how your Jeep gets used.
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Your priority may be off-road use, cost, winter driving capability, or fuel economy. Each of these priorities can change the ideal tire choice for your Jeep Grand Cherokee. This overview should guide you towards finding the best tires for your Grand Cherokee. Most Grand Cherokee models come with 17-inch wheels as standard while some have 18- or 20-inch wheels as an upgrade. All of our tire options below come in all wheel sizes available for the models listed.
Have an older Jeep Grand Cherokee? See tire sizes for previous years.
Best Tires for the Grand Cherokee Laredo, Limited:
- Fuzion SUV in 17- or 18-inch 110T model - Best budget tire
- Sumitomo Encounter HT in 17-, 18-, or 20-inch 110T model - Best mid-priced tire
- Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT in 17-, 18-, or 20-inch 110T model - Best superior tire
Best Tires for the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk:
- Kumho Road Venture AT52 in 108T - Best budget tire
- Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar in 119/116S - Best budget tire
- Firestone Destination X/T in 119/116S - Best superior tire
Best Tires for the Grand Cherokee Overland, Summit:
- Laufenn S Fit A/S in either wheel size - Best budget tire
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season Plus 3 in 20-inch wheel size - Best mid-priced tire
- Michelin Premier LTX in 20-inch wheel size - Best superior tire
Best Tires for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, Trackhawk:
- Pirelli P Zero Run Flat 110Y - Best budget tire
- Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season Run Flat in 110Y - Best mid-priced tire
- Pirelli P Zero Run Flat Max Performance 110Y - Best superior tire
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Original Equipment Grand Cherokee Tires
The current-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with several tires and wheel sizes, depending on trim choice. Knowing what tires came with your Grand Cherokee can help make decisions as to what replacements might be best. Keep in mind that original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tires may not always be what suits your needs most. The current-gen Grand Cherokee is sold in multiple trims with several tire sizes:
The Laredo and Limited models come with 17-inch wheels bearing 245/70R17 wheels or with 18-inch or 20-inch wheels with 265/60R18, 265/50R20 sized tires. These models come mounted with Goodyear Fortera HL Edition tires in 108T configuration when 17-inch wheels are opted. The Limited model’s 18- and 20-inch wheel options come equipped with Michelin Premier LTX tires.
The Trailhawk model comes standard with 18-inch wheels. These are clad in Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar in 265/60R18 110T size/configuration.
The Overland and Summit models come with 20-inch wheels as standard. These bear Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 Plus sized at 265/50R20 and with a 107T rating.
The SRT and Trackhawk performance models have 20-inch wheels and come with Pirelli P Zero Run Flat Max Performance Summer tires in 295/45ZR20 110Y.
Top Replacement Tire Brands for Jeep Grand Cherokee
For each wheel size available on each model of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in its current generation, we’re recommending three tires. These are budgeted by lower cost, mid-range cost with better performance, and money is no object, best-of-the-best options. The Grand Cherokee, depending on model, has wheel sizes in 17-inch, 18-inch, and 20-inches. All of the tires listed here have ratings of four-stars or higher, based on consumer surveys:
17-inch Tires for the Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Budget: Fuzion SUV 110T - This is a good, general purpose tire with a low price point and excellent consumer feedback.
- Moderately Priced: Sumitomo Encounter HT 110T - A solid, long-life tire with a good reputation for all-weather performance and stopping power.
- Cost-No-Object: Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT 110T - is a top choice. These tires have good tread life, excellent street and weather performance, and a strong aptitude for occasional off-road use.
18-inch Tires for Grand Cherokee
Budget: Laufenn S Fit A/S - are superior highway-ready tires meant for long distance comfort at a great price point.
Moderately Priced: Kumho Road Venture AT52 in 108T - for good on-road and very good off-road capability. These tires receive top ratings from consumers and are a good choice for both the Limited and Trailhawk models.
Cost-No-Object: Firestone Destination X/T in 119/116S - are our top pick for off-road use. Great consumer ratings and a reputation for readiness, these tires aren’t cheap in any way.
20-inch Tires for Jeep Grand Cherokee
Budget: Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season Plus 3 - are a top-rated, well-rounded tire for the Grand Cherokee. With comfortable SUV characteristics and a good performance rating, a budget is well-spent here.
Moderately Priced: Pirelli P-Zero Run Flat 110Y - are performance tires aimed towards optimal street credibility and capability. With some off-road expectation and good daily use metrics, these are a good choice for several Grand Cherokee models.
Cost-No-Object: Pirelli P Zero Run Flat Max Performance 110Y - for the performance models of the Jeep Grand Cherokee are definitely all they’re promised to be.
When Should You Replace Tires?
Time and mileage are the two milestones most commonly associated with tire replacement. Tires have a “use by” date that notes the expiration of the rubber compounds. Mileage is a general note of wear and tear and, while not an exact measurement of tread life, it’s a good generalized way to track tire life before replacement. Let’s look at what is noted on your Grand Cherokee’s tires.
Every tire has a stamped rating on its sidewall, which gives a lot of information. These numbers usually appear near or alongside the tire’s size and speed ratings.
100 or more - This is the durability of the tire. 100 is the control number with numbers usually climbing by 20 or 100. This is a voluntary measurement that is not regulated by any entity outside of the manufacturer. The higher the number, the longer the predicted tread life. The grade is compared to the control number of 100, which indicates a tread life of 11,520 kilometers (7,158.2 miles). Thus a tread grade of 500 would mean an expected life of 57,600 km (35,791 miles).
A, AA, B, C - This is the traction rating for the tire, indicating how well that tire stops in wet conditions. The highest letter grade is AA, followed by A, B, and C.
Second A, B, C - The second letter in the universal tire rating nomenclature is a temperature rating. This indicates how well the tire holds up to heat extremes. A is the highest, followed by B and C.
The Goodyear Fortera HL Edition that comes originally with many models of the Jeep Grand Cherokee have a UTQG rating of 540 A B. These tires, barring road damage, would last about 36,000 miles and have an excellent wet stopping capability and good temperature rating.
Note that when getting close to the tire’s expected mileage, it’s important that tread depth be monitored as the expected mileage is only an average and tires may need replacement sooner or last longer. Tire professionals have several rules of thumb for measurement of tread on your Grand Cherokee.
Time comes for all things and tires are no exception. Manufacturers stamp a made-on date to tires and usually warranty those tires as “new” for five years from that date or until installed. The date is required by the Department of Transportation and is stamped into the tire’s sidewall as DOT followed by 12 numbers in three four-digit groups. The date group is the third group of four digits, indicating a week and year for the tire’s production. Thus a date code of 3217 indicates a manufacturing date of September 11-17 of 2017 (Week 32, 2017). The tire can be used until five years from that date, or September 11, 2022.
Tires are more than just rubber compounds and steel or nylon radials. Today’s tires are made with a mixture of complex chemicals that create the properties expected of the tire and its performance. Most importantly in that mix is resistance to UV rays from the sun, temperature variances, and some of the environmental hazards present in modern roadways. Some of the important chemicals in that mixture begin breaking down after about five years and that changes the properties of the tires themselves.
Why Not Replace with Original Equipment (OEM) Tires?
The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tires that came with your Jeep Grand Cherokee were chosen by Jeep as a best fit for several reasons. Engineers wanted a tire that matched the most common, general uses for the SUV and executives at Jeep considered the relationship teh company has with various manufacturers and the availability of the tires needed for production rates on the Grand Cherokee. These metrics may or may not match the criteria you might have for tires on your personal Grand Cherokee.
Because tires are a large purchase item that only comes along once in a while for your vehicle, it’s important to consider them carefully before purchase. If, for example, your Grand Cherokee came with highway-focused Bridgestone Ecopias standard on the Overland model, but you are spending more time off-road, then perhaps going to a more aggressive tread like one of those recommended for the Trailhawk model would be a better fit for your lifestyle.
Other metrics to consider are price, safety (stopping distance), longevity, and fuel economy. Finding the right balance for your needs is important and chances are the OEM tire choice may not fit those needs.
Changing Grand Cherokee Tire Sizes
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has several tire and wheel sizes as standard, depending on the model and options chosen. Changing tire sizes or wheel choices is a popular way to personalize a Grand Cherokee to the owner. Bear in mind, however, that changing the overall diameter of the tire and wheel together has implications beyond cosmetics.
There are advantages to downsizing wheels:
- Better ride quality – More rubber means more cushion on rougher roadways.
- Cost reduction – Smaller wheel sizes often mean smaller cost for both tires and wheels.
- Seasonal changes – In many areas, adding winter tires is important and that can mean different wheels as well.
- Off-road – Like ride quality on the road, off-road capability also increases with larger tire sidewalls.
On the flip side, going up in wheel size has its benefits too:
- Better handling – Slim profile tires can lighten the vehicle’s unsprung weight.
- Better looks – Many think that large wheels and slim profile tires look great.
- Better braking – A larger, wider tire means more rubber in contact with the ground which means faster stopping.
See our recommendations for the Best Extended Warranty for your Jeep Grand Cherokee
How to Read Tire Sizes
The numbers in a tire’s size are important. Each has a meaning and should be understood. Some of the Grand Cherokee’s 20-inch wheels come with 295/45ZR20 110Y tires. Here’s what that means:
- 295 - indicates the width of the tire from one sidewall to the other in millimeters. This tire is 295 millimeters wide
- 45 - is the aspect ratio (sidewall height) noted as a percentage of the tire’s width. In this case, it’s 45 percent or of the tire’s width (132.75mm).
- The Z - denotes this as a performance tire.
- R - mean these are radial tires. These are the most common type of automotive tire. Radials are woven into the sidewalls and tread of the tire to help strengthen the tire and allow it to keep its shape during high rotation and pressure. Most radials are nylon while some are steel or steel belted.
- 20 - is the diameter of the wheel (aka the “rim size”) the tire mounts to.
- 110 - is the tire’s load rating
- Y - is the tire’s speed rating. Y-rated tires can be driven over 186 mph and the Z found earlier is an industry standard combination for high-speed tires.
The various wheel sizes and tire diameters found on the Jeep Grand Cherokee are combinations that generally add up to the same total diameter overall. This allows Jeep to use only one or two speedometer settings for the Grand Cherokee. Changing that diameter means the speedometer must be reprogrammed as well.
Most tires available for vehicles today have generalized descriptive terms added to their names. These descriptions, which are an industry standard, give an idea of what the tire is specifically tuned for by default. They include:
- Touring and All-Season tires - are made to give a smooth ride, good traction in varied road conditions, at least average or better winter traction, and a long tread life.
- Performance tires - focus on handling, dry traction, and a sport-tuned return. Their higher grip and speed ratings come with a tradeoff of shortened tread life and reduced ride quality.
- All-Terrain tires - maximize off-road capability and grip at the expense of treadwear longevity. These aggressive tires are usually noisier on the road and may not have the best winter traction.
- Winter and snow tires - are specifically made for wintry road conditions such as snow and ice. Usually passable in wet weather, these tires are not expected to be used year-round and are often swapped out annually. Most have a low tread life due to the patterns carved into the tread for maximum grip in slippery conditions.
Tires Sizes By Year
| Year | Trim | Size |
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Grand Cherokee Tire FAQ
- What are the best tires for my Jeep Grand Cherokee?
That will vary wildly based on what trim you have. A TrackHawk, for example, has very different requirements. For most of the Grand Cherokees on the road, though, the Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT in 17-, 18-, or 20-inch sizes will fit the bill very well.
- What is the best Grand Cherokee tire pressure?
Inside the driver’s side door is a white and yellow label that lists exact tire pressure recommendations for your Jeep Grand Cherokee. That tire pressure can change depending on the load of passengers or cargo being carried. Note that the pressure on the tire itself is a maximum, not a recommended setting.
- How often should I rotate my Grand Cherokee’s tires?
Rotating tires is more about the tire than it is about the vehicle. Typical rotation intervals happen between 5,000 and 7,000 miles. On many vehicles, this coincides with oil change intervals (every or every other). A four-wheel drive model Grand Cherokee will require tire rotations more often when 4WD is used regularly.
- What is the best Jeep Grand Cherokee tire change kit?
The Grand Cherokee usually comes equipped with a full-sized spare tire or a compact spare, depending on the model. Tire changing tools are also included and will be located below the rear cargo area’s top cover. It is recommended, however, that an added roadside emergency kit with lights/flares, jumper cables, a better lug wrench, and a safety (high-visibility) vest be added to your regular gear.
