Choosing · guide
How to find the longest-lasting tires for your size
Step 1: Start from your exact size
Use the size on your door-jamb placard (how to read it). Our size pages rank every NHTSA-graded line for a size. Example: 225/65R17 has 35 graded lines in NHTSA’s file with a median treadwear grade of 540; the highest grade filed is 700.
| Highest treadwear grades filed for 225/65R17 | Treadwear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackhawk HISCEND-H HT01 | 700 | A | B |
| Nexen TOUR CUV A/S | 700 | A | B |
| Continental ContiCrossContact LX | 680 | A | B |
| Hercules ROADTOUR XUV | 680 | A | A |
| Falken WILDPEAK A/T AT3W (T rating) | 660 | B | B |
| Sumotimo ENCOUNTER AT2 | 660 | B | B |
Source: NHTSA ratings API, pulled 2026-10-25. Where a line has several records for this size the lowest grade is used for ranking, as on the size page.
Step 2: Treat treadwear as a shortlist
Higher grades mean slower wear on the government course, but they are not mileage (why). Browse the higher bands: 500–599, 600–699, 700–799, 800 and up.
Step 3: Read test claims by who ran them
Michelin’s 2022 press release reports a treadwear test in exactly this size, 225/65R17 on 2021 Toyota RAV4s, estimating life from the most-worn groove: Defender2 94,400 miles, TrueContact Tour 59,400, Assurance MaxLife 51,900, Alenza AS Ultra 47,700; it says actual on-road results may vary (Michelin North America). It is a maker’s test of its own product. It is useful because all four lines have NHTSA grades between 700 and 840, so the grades alone would not have predicted the spread. Read it as a lead to check against independent tests, not a verdict. Table and arithmetic: treadwear vs. warranty.
Step 4: Compare warranties, with conditions
Warranty miles are a ceiling, pro-rated, conditional on rotation and age, and often vary by speed rating (details). Examples with maker facts on our line pages: Michelin Defender 2, Continental ProContact TX.
Step 5: Convert to cost per mile and plan the upkeep
Use real quotes and your own mileage expectation in the cost-per-mile method, and protect the result with pressure, rotation and alignment. If you drive in snow, check the season guide first; winter tires are outside UTQG.
Other sizes: 235/55R19, 245/45R18, 265/70R17, 215/65R16.
FAQ
What is the best way to find long-lasting tires for my size?
Shortlist lines by NHTSA treadwear grade for your exact size, compare maker mileage warranties for your speed rating, check test claims for who ran them, and compare cost per mile from real quotes.
Does the highest treadwear grade always mean the longest-lasting tire?
No. In Michelin’s own 225/65R17 test, four lines with NHTSA grades between 700 and 840 had estimated lives from 47,700 to 94,400 miles. Treadwear is best used as a shortlist, not a prediction.
How many tire lines have a treadwear grade for 225/65R17?
35 lines in the NHTSA file we downloaded, with a median grade of 540.
Are manufacturer test results reliable?
They are the maker’s own tests of its own products and typically say actual results may vary. Use them as a lead and look for independent confirmation.
Look up real ratings
- 225/65R17 tires ranked by treadwear35 graded lines
- 235/55R19 tires ranked by treadwear32 graded lines
- 245/45R18 tires ranked by treadwear33 graded lines
- Michelin Defender 2Treadwear 840 median
- Continental ProContact TXTreadwear 500 median
Sources
- Michelin launches Defender 2 tire (press release, Sept. 14, 2022), Michelin North America. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- 49 CFR § 575.104 Uniform tire quality grading standards, U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- TireWise: Tire Safety Ratings and Awareness, NHTSA. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- Mileage Warranty (support article, updated June 12, 2026), Continental Tire. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- Reading a Tire Sidewall, Tire Industry Association. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
NHTSA ratings are from the dataset we publish. Maker statements are the makers’ own claims. We make no price claims. Found an error? See About & corrections.
Keep reading
- Treadwear rating vs. mileage warrantyTreadwear vs. mileage
- How to calculate tire cost per mileBuying math
- What does a tire treadwear rating mean?UTQG basics