Finding the right set of tires for your SUV or crossover doesn’t have to mean sacrificing performance for your budget. The 245/60R18 size is a popular fitment for many modern vehicles, and the market is filled with options that promise a great blend of handling, comfort, and durability without the premium price tag. Whether your daily drive involves school runs and highway commutes or you occasionally venture off the beaten path, there’s a tire designed to meet your needs.
This roundup focuses on all-season and all-terrain tires that deliver reliable performance where it counts. We have analyzed key features like tread life warranties, wet weather grip, and on-road comfort to help you make an informed decision. From trusted global brands to value-packed contenders, these eight selections offer a compelling mix of quality and affordability for the savvy driver in 2025.
Our Top Picks for 245/60R18 Tires
- Cooper Discoverer Road and Trail AT All-Terrain Tire
- Continental TerrainContact A/T All Terrain Light Truck Tire
- Starfire Solarus HT All-Season Tire
- Achilles Desert Hawk HT3 Highway SUV/Crossover Tire
- Mastertrack M-TRAC CUV Crossover CUV/SUV Tire Set of 4
- Cooper Discoverer EnduraMax All-Season Tire
- Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive Tire
- Michelin Defender LTX M/S Tire
Cooper Discoverer Road and Trail AT All-Terrain Tire
The Cooper Discoverer Road and Trail is an all-terrain tire built for drivers who need capability without compromising daily drivability. Its continuous tread pattern extends further down the sidewall, and the angled design is twice as thick, providing a larger contact area to grip soft or uneven surfaces. This makes it a confident choice for light off-road excursions.
On the road, you can feel secure in various conditions. The interlocking tread blocks help provide consistent control and grip on uneven terrain, while the design also performs well in both wet and dry weather. For durability, the tire is engineered for more even wear and helps resist the cutting, cracking, and tearing that can happen on tough trails.
Continental TerrainContact A/T All Terrain Light Truck Tire
Continental brings its engineering expertise to the all-terrain segment with the TerrainContact A/T. This tire is backed by a substantial 60,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, signaling a strong commitment to longevity. It’s designed for drivers who want a single tire that can capably handle both on-road and off-road situations.
The key to its performance is TractionPlus Technology, which is engineered to provide improved traction and overall durability. This technology also contributes to better grip on wet roads and helps manage road noise for a more comfortable and quiet driving experience. It successfully balances off-road traction with the smooth, predictable handling you expect from a highway tire.
Starfire Solarus HT All-Season Tire
The Starfire Solarus HT is a highway-terrain, all-season tire that offers a solid value proposition for SUV and crossover owners. With a 50,000-mile warranty, it provides peace of mind for drivers looking for a dependable touring tire. It is specifically designed to deliver a quiet and comfortable ride for daily commuting and long family trips.
This tire focuses on the fundamentals of good all-season performance. It is built to promote even treadwear, which helps extend its usable life and maintain consistent performance. You get reliable all-season traction that handles the typical changes in weather throughout the year, making it a practical and budget-friendly choice.
Achilles Desert Hawk HT3 Highway SUV/Crossover Tire
Designed for use on SUVs and light trucks, the Achilles Desert Hawk HT3 is a highway tire that prioritizes safety and handling. Its tread pattern includes circumferential grooves that are effective at forcing water out from under the tire’s contact patch. This design helps to resist hydroplaning, giving you more confidence when driving in rainy conditions.
Beyond wet weather performance, the tire’s shoulders are engineered for enhanced handling. This focus on the outer edges of the tread contributes to more responsive cornering and stable driving dynamics. It’s a straightforward tire that aims to improve your vehicle’s grip and control on paved roads.
Mastertrack M-TRAC CUV Crossover CUV/SUV Tire Set of 4
This offering from Mastertrack provides excellent value by coming as a complete set of four tires. Each tire includes a complimentary Road Hazard Warranty and a Tread Wear Out Warranty, covering specific failures like bulges or blowouts within the first 2 years and 4/32nds of an inch of tread wear. This added protection is a significant benefit for budget-conscious buyers.
The M-TRAC CUV features advanced tread blocks with an optimized design. This focus on the tread pattern aims to deliver superior wet handling while also working to minimize road noise for a more refined and pleasant driving experience. Furthermore, the stiffened shoulder blocks enhance handling and cornering stability, providing a precise steering response for modern SUVs.
Cooper Discoverer EnduraMax All-Season Tire
The Cooper Discoverer EnduraMax is an all-weather tire, a step above standard all-season tires, backed by a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty. It is engineered to provide reliable performance across a wider range of conditions, including light snow and slush, making it a versatile choice for drivers in regions with variable winter weather.
At the core of its design is the EnduraGuard technology, which provides a durable internal construction. This robust build helps the tire maintain its shape and integrity when driving over rough and uneven surfaces, contributing to both its longevity and its stable handling characteristics. It’s a tire built for year-round confidence and durability.
Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive Tire
Goodyear’s Assurance ComfortDrive is engineered with a focus on creating a serene and smooth driving experience. It utilizes advanced technologies to absorb road vibrations and dampen noise before it reaches the vehicle’s cabin. This makes it an ideal choice for drivers who spend significant time on the highway and prioritize a quiet, comfortable ride.
Beyond comfort, this tire is designed to deliver reliable all-season traction. It provides confident handling and grip in both dry and wet conditions, ensuring safety and stability. For families and commuters, the Assurance ComfortDrive offers the trusted performance of the Goodyear brand with a specific emphasis on reducing driver fatigue on long journeys.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S Tire
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S has a long-standing reputation for exceptional tread life and all-season capability. It is a premium choice for SUV and light truck owners who demand a tire that can go the distance while providing consistent performance. Its robust construction is built to handle heavy loads and resist wear over tens of thousands of miles.
This tire excels in various conditions, offering confident traction in rain, light snow, and on dry pavement. The tread compound and pattern are designed to remain effective as the tire wears, providing a longer period of reliable performance. For drivers seeking maximum longevity and dependable, no-fuss performance from a well-regarded brand, the Defender LTX M/S is a top contender.
How to Choose the Best 8/60R18 Tires for Performance on a Budget 2025
When I’m looking for new tires, especially for a performance car, the process can feel overwhelming. You want that sharp handling and grip without draining your bank account. For a specific size like 8/60R18, which is a common fitment for sports cars and performance sedans, knowing what to look for is key. Let’s break down the main things I consider when hunting for the best 8/60R18 tires for performance on a budget.
First, you need to decide on the tire category. For performance on a budget, you’re typically looking at Ultra-High Performance (UHP) All-Season tires. These are my usual go-to because they offer a great balance. They provide excellent dry and wet grip for spirited driving, and they’re also designed to handle light winter conditions, so you aren’t completely stranded by a surprise cold snap. If you live in a region with harsh winters, a dedicated set of winter tires is still the safest bet, but for most people, a good UHP All-Season is the perfect year-round compromise.
The next thing I always check is the treadwear rating. This number gives you a rough idea of how long the tire will last. A lower number, like 200, means a softer compound that grips better but wears out faster. A higher number, like 400 or 500, indicates a harder compound that will last longer but might sacrifice a bit of ultimate grip. On a budget, you want to find a tire that strikes a balance—something with a treadwear rating in the 300-400 range often gives you a good mix of performance and longevity without the cost of a super-soft track tire.
Wet weather performance is non-negotiable for me. A tire that’s great in the dry but scary in the rain isn’t a true performance tire; it’s a liability. I look for tires with clear, deep grooves and sipes (the small slits in the tread blocks) that help channel water away to prevent hydroplaning. Reviews and tests from reputable sources are invaluable here for seeing how a tire actually behaves in wet conditions.
Finally, don’t forget about road noise and comfort. Some performance tires can be really loud and transmit every tiny crack in the pavement into the cabin. Since this is your daily driver, you probably don’t want that. Look for tires that mention technologies like variable pitch treads or comfort-optimized casings. A quieter, more comfortable ride makes a huge difference on long trips and daily commutes, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice all civility for the sake of performance, even on a budget.
FAQ
What does the 8/60R18 tire size mean?
The numbers and letters describe the tire’s dimensions. In the 8/60R18 size, the “8” refers to the tire’s section width in inches. The “60” is the aspect ratio, which is the height of the tire’s sidewall as a percentage of its width (so, the sidewall height is 60% of 8 inches). The “R” stands for Radial construction, which is the standard for modern tires. Finally, the “18” is the wheel diameter in inches that the tire is designed to fit.
Can I use all-season tires for performance driving?
Absolutely. Modern Ultra-High Performance (UHP) All-Season tires are incredibly capable. While they won’t provide the same level of ultimate grip as a dedicated summer performance tire on a hot, dry track day, they offer excellent handling and responsiveness for street driving. For most people, a good UHP All-Season tire provides more than enough performance for enthusiastic driving on public roads, along with the added benefit of being usable in colder temperatures and light snow.
How long should I expect budget performance tires to last?
Tire lifespan varies a lot based on your driving style, vehicle, and local road conditions. However, for a solid set of budget-friendly performance tires, you can generally expect a lifespan of between 30,000 and 45,000 miles. The specific treadwear rating on the tire’s sidewall can give you a clue—a higher number suggests a longer potential life. To maximize mileage, keep your tires properly inflated and get regular rotations and alignments.
Is it worth buying older tire models on clearance?
This can be a fantastic way to save money. Tire manufacturers often update their models every few years, and when they do, the previous version gets discounted. The performance difference between a model from 2023 and its 2025 successor is often minimal for everyday driving. Just make sure to check the tire’s manufacturing date on the sidewall (a four-digit code for the week and year). You want to avoid tires that are more than five or six years old, as the rubber compound can degrade over time, even if the tire has never been used.
What’s the biggest trade-off with budget performance tires?
The most common compromise is in refinement. The very best, most expensive performance tires often manage to combine extreme grip with a quiet and comfortable ride. When you move into the budget category, you might find that the tires are a bit noisier on the highway or transmit more of the road’s imperfections into the car. It’s a trade-off, but many of the top contenders for the best 8/60R18 tires for performance on a budget in 2025 have gotten very good at minimizing these drawbacks.
Should I buy tires online or from a local shop?
Both options have their merits. Buying online can often give you a wider selection and lower prices. You can easily compare dozens of models and read hundreds of reviews. However, buying from a local shop provides a personal touch, and they can often handle the entire process—mounting, balancing, and disposal of your old tires—for a bundled price. My strategy is usually to research heavily online to pick the exact model I want, and then price-check between online retailers and my trusted local tire shop, factoring in the total cost with installation.