best Tires for Mazda Cx 5
Mazda made an impressive SUV with their CX-5, with engaging handling and a sporty feel all while keeping the whole crossover family friendly. A potent platform such as the CX-5 has quite a few options as far as tires are concerned, especially seeing how nuanced tires are nowadays. You could enhance the already sporty feel of the Mazda CX-5, or you could consider that the CX-5 is sporty enough and go more towards comfort and plush.
And this is just a brief example, because the CX-5 could delve on a bit of gravel due to the potential AWD, remain a city dweller, or become a long-distance cruiser. As such, let’s delve a bit into what tires suit the Mazda CX-5 the most.
Best All-Season tires for the Mazda CX-5
1,Continental CrossContact LX25
Continental are the kings of overly specialized tires, usually making a basic but solid tire and creating many derivatives out of that base, each with a goal in mind. The CrossContact LX25 has a lot of engineering behind, noticeable at a first glance at the complex tread pattern.
The tread pattern is symmetrical, but the tire blocks are pretty distinct compared to other tires. The center rib is quite simple, but it has many small sipes which aid at removing the water just on the contact patch. Same can be said about the tire blocks themselves, having a multitude of small sipes to aid their distinct parallelogram shape. A similar story can be seen on the shoulders too, so expect a very potent tire as far as driving in the wet is concerned.
The grooves are generous, both straight and true for direct water evacuation but also angular allowing the tire to ever so slightly drive in the snow. These sipes also assist at noise reduction, along with some circumferential ribs just between the tire blocks and tire shoulders. The rubber compound is compliant, quite soft and long-lasting, facts backed up by a minimum treadlife warranty of 65,000 miles.
Where the tire starts to lose some of its footing is on its winter performance, not being able to drive on anything more than a small bit of snow. Due to the overall softness and generous tread depth, the tire also feels a bit squishy. As such it loses some points in handling due to feeling slightly off-putting.
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2.Goodyear Assurance MaxLife
Ride Quality: 9 Noise Comfort: 7 Handling: 8 Traction: 9
One of the most durable tires on the market fits the Mazda CX-5 quite well. The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife frames the CX-5s sportiness, being quite a rigid tire but still remaining comfortable for such a long-lasting tire.
The tread pattern is simple and direct. It is fully symmetrical, with a 3-rib configuration down the center of the tire and no real tire blocks to speak of. This gives the Assurance MaxLife plenty of feedback, while also providing good traction on dry surfaces. Water evacuation is good thanks to the generous grooves, and local water ejection should be alright.
The rubber compound is where the tire is shining quite a bit brighter. The Assurance MaxLife sports an 85,000 miles treadlife warranty, which is quite rare especially when we look at how comfortable the tire is for such a long treadlife.
Where the tire loses some points is in the winter department, not having the greatest traction on snow. There’s quite a bit of noise generated from the tire; a general complaint of owners who will have to probably get used to it seeing how long it lasts. Also, a significant amount of those warranted miles exists because the tire blocks are quite tall, making the tire feel somewhat squishy.
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3.Cooper Tires Discoverer Enduramax
Ride Quality: 7 Noise Comfort: 8 Handling: 9 Traction: 8
Cooper Tires made quite a peculiar tire with the Discoverer Enduramax. They decided to use the toughness of an all-terrain tire on an all-season tire. This translates into a tire with very good feedback and feel, comparable to cheap sport tire options.
The tread pattern is quite simple, having generous tread blocks with a few sipes here and there showcasing good traction on tarmac and decent traction in the wet. Winter performance should be quite good, presenting a few small teeth on the tire block’s side which aim at improving the snow grip, along with a few zigzag sipes which should also assist it.
The compound is quite tough, and the sidewalls are durable thanks to the usage of light truck steel belts, making the overall tire quite solid in turns with little lateral deformation. This makes for a fun tire from a dynamic point of view, suitable for the Mazda CX-5.
Its disadvantages are comfort, seeing how it’s based on an all-terrain tire. Not off-putting, just apparent. Traction also isn’t fantastic, extreme temperatures are putting this tire at a big disadvantage. Wet performance could be somewhat better.
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Best Touring All-Season Tires for the Mazda CX-5
1.Michelin CrossClimate 2
Ride Quality: 9 Noise Comfort: 7 Handling: 8 Traction: 10
The Michelin CrossClimate 2 is one of the all-weather tire kings, being capable of driving in all kinds of situations and on many kinds of surfaces. If you live in a climate where the winters are snowy and the summers are warm, then the CrossClimate 2 is the tire for you.
The tread pattern is very specialized, and mostly a mix of the best features which makes a tire good in a particular realm. The V-type tread pattern helps with winter grip massively. The small sipes on each tire block that composes the V helps at local water evacuation, while the V itself does a good job at ejecting water towards the outside of the tire.
The compound is quite rigid, which helps with the summer traction. The on-center feel is quite substantial, thanks to the V-type pattern which makes the tire highly directional. Handling is good, it being very confident in all kinds of turns and on many types of road surfaces.
Where the CrossClimate 2 is lacking is noise attenuation. The tire is overall quite noisy and cruising on it happens to let a soft hum inside the cabin. Also, local water ejection isn’t the greatest, even if it’s helped by some small sipes. Without them the tire becomes a hydroplaning mess. Price is also a point of concern, being one of the most expensive tires out there.
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2.Vredestein Hitrac All Season
Ride Quality: 8 Noise Comfort: 8 Handling: 8 Traction: 10
The Vredestein Hitrac All Season is a true grand touring tire, bringing a lot of overall comfort to the table. A very composed package, with good wet and dry traction, and a substantial treadlife warranty of 70,000 miles.
The tread pattern showcases big angular tread blocks broken apart by small sipes which will help at local water evacuation. The center rib also showcases small zigzag sipes which further enhance the water evacuation, assist in driving at lower temperatures all while providing good on-center feel. Water evacuation should be good, thanks to some generous grooves which also present themselves on the tire’s shoulders.
These sipes also do a good job at absorbing the tire’s noise, and when they are coupled to a compliant and soft compound the resulting comfort is stellar. Traction on dry surfaces is really good, and it’s helped by the usage of steel belts reinforced with polyamide that allows the tire to also have good lateral grip.
Winter performance is however quite poor, not showcasing significant amounts of snow grip but doing alright in dry and wet winters. Extremely warm temperatures are also quite damaging to the tire, making it reach its limits quite a bit sooner. Overall, small gripes for such a good tire.
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Best Winter Tires for the Mazda CX-5
1.Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Ride Quality: 8 Noise Comfort: 6 Handling: 9 Traction: 9
40,000 miles treadlife warranty on a winter tire is quite rare, so if you’re living in a place where it snows heavily for multiple months in the year get a set of Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV. These are highly competent in the winter, providing you with good traction even when rocks are cracking due to coldness.
The tread pattern is interesting, being a V-type pattern composed out of multiple smaller tire blocks. These have plenty of angular edges which allows the tire to get a grip on snow, be it packed or freshly fallen. The tire blocks themselves have many zigzag sipes which further improve snow traction all while allowing the slightly tougher compound to flex in temperatures below freezing.
The compound uses a so called “inclusion technology” which makes each tire block rougher, enhancing traction even further and providing some necessary ice traction. Road feedback is good thanks to the individual tire blocks and due to the V-type pattern, not feeling numb or lackluster. The sidewalls are also quite soft, making the ride quite plush and composed.
However, the X-Ice Snow SUV isn’t the greatest as far as noise generation is concerned, thanks to the same V-type tread pattern. Rolling resistance number isn’t great due to that inclusion technology which also increases the rolling resistance, not just longitudinal and lateral friction. The tire is also quite expensive, being one of the priciest tires out there.
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Best All-Terrain Tires for the Mazda CX-5
1.Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail
Ride Quality: 9 Noise Comfort: 7 Handling: 8 Traction: 8
The Wildpeak A/T Trail is one of the few all-terrain tires that the Mazda CX-5 can even reliably use. Now, don’t think that you can go rock climbing in your Mazda CX-5, but gravel roads, dirt, and a bit of snow are tasks that an AWD Mazda CX-5 can comfortably tackle. Its ground clearance isn’t all that bad, so if you also pair it with a decent set of all-terrain tires you could go where many Jeeps have never been before.
Falken developed an all-terrain tire which is highly usable on regular pavement, thanks to a generous contact patch, a decent amount of small sipes which evacuates water locally and thick grooves to expel water completely. Winter traction is quite okay thanks to the many angular edges and the ability to deflate the tire a little bit more thanks to its tougher sidewall.
Wear is good, proven by a 65,000 miles warranty. Even so, the compound is quite soft which makes the tire quite comfortable, especially if you can afford the extra fuel if you choose to deflate the tires a little bit and make them even softer. Overall, quite a potent all-terrain tire capable of being used locally, during winter, or on any mild gravel road.
Cons are plenty, sadly. Without deflating the tire, the experience is quite rough, noise is obtrusive, and the tire’s performance isn’t out of this world. It is in the grand scheme of things an odd ball between an off-roading tire and an off-road tire, striking a good balance between the two but sacrificing on both sides of the spectrum to deliver this package. Also, the softer compound won’t fair particularly well during the summer months when driven on tarmac.
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Best Tires for the Mazda CX5: Buying Guide
An all-season set should suffice for the regular Mazda CX5 user
All you need to consider in depth is your climate and what you want to extract from your trusty Mazda. Always think about the climate first, then your wishes because the rubber compounds are more restrictive than certain performance traits. Temperatures play a key role in the tire’s overall ability, so even if you’re picking one of the most capable all-season tires out there, driving them in torrid heat will make the car feel horrendous.
As such, think carefully about your climate, its temperature and how often it rains or snows, and pick a few tires accordingly. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it provides a solid baseline concerning most environments where your CX5 could be used and the best tires for that particular scenario. If your personal region is more extreme for a regular all-season, pick a dedicated set for the winter, for summer, or for both.
If you live somewhere where the temperatures vary quite sharply, consider getting two dedicated tire sets for your Mazda CX-5
There’s no reason to be frugal concerning two sets of tires and considering that one good set of all-seasons are sufficient if you see such temperature extremes. By buying two mediocre dedicated sets of tires, you’ll probably end up saving a bit of money in the end. This is because you can get a tire with better rolling resistance in the summer, all while splitting the wear across 2 sets of tires.
If you enjoy off-roading, feel free to off-road your Mazda CX-5 as long as you are properly equipped
The Mazda CX-5 isn’t all that bad for off-road usage, even if it doesn’t immediately appear to be. A good set of all-terrain tires can make the CX-5 very capable of handling milder off-road courses and roads, and it does it quite reliably. If that’s a plan of yours, you could even pick an all-terrain tire as a dedicated winter tire if the winter is milder, getting even more usage out of the tire.
