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There are many benefits of getting new tires. Not only do they increase your car’s performance, but they allow you to get more mileage out of a tank of gas and generally make driving your car feel better. Perhaps most importantly, they help protect you and your loved ones on the road.
While tires may not be the most fun or exciting thing to purchase, if you want to keep your Mazda CX-5 in the best condition, you should inspect your tires regularly and buy new ones when they show signs of wear. Aging tires hide invisible dangers, so it’s critical that you replace them with only the highest quality substitutes.
Find the right tire for you at Goodyear Tires. They offer a wide range of high performance car tires, SUV, passenger and 4x4 tires online.
So what is the best set of tires for your Mazda CX-5? If you’re not satisfied with the factory tires and want to try something new, you’re in luck. We’ve done the homework for you and researched the top options, so you don’t have to. We’ve also put together a handy buyer’s guide that will answer all your tire buying questions.
Bottom Line Up Front
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Continental CrossContact LX20: Best Overall
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Goodyear Assurance Maxlife: Best Quality
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Michelin Premier LTX: Outstanding Product
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Hankook Dynapro ATM: Superb Choice
We’ll cut right to the chase. After conducting extensive research, we can tell you that the best tires for Mazda CX-5 are the Continental CrossContact LX 20.
The Continental all-season tires topped our list thanks to their excellent performance in all conditions, smooth and quiet ride, and lengthy tread warranty. We were also impressed by the increased fuel economy that these tires offer, as well as the 60-day trial period.
If you’re not satisfied with the factory tires and looking for new tires for your Mazda CX-5? You can't go wrong with these Continental CrossContact LX20 tires!
Different Types of Tires for Mazda CX-5
We can break down the different types of tires for the Mazda CX-5 into three main categories: summer, winter, and all-season. Other types like all-terrain tires and high performance tires are also commonly purchased, but for this guide, we’re going to talk about the three most common ones.
Summer
Summer tires are for use in higher temperatures. Tires designed for summer grip the road well in warm conditions when you’re driving at high speeds, and they are also adept at handling dry and wet roads braking in the heat. Summer tires are not appropriate for cold weather and snow like snow tires, where they lose their traction. Summer tires are common in sports cars and performance driving.
Winter
Winter tires are for use in cold temperatures, where their deeper tread and long slits (or sipes) bite into snow and ice and offer outstanding traction in these conditions. Cold weather tires use rubber that is formulated to maintain flexibility in freezing temperatures.
As with summer tires, winter tires’ performance becomes compromised in warmer conditions. We can mainly see the difference in braking ability, which reduces significantly on cleared roads in hotter temperatures.
All-season
All-season tires come in sizes that fit all kinds of cars, and they are the most popular option for the average car owner because you can leave them on all year. All-season tires generally feature long treadwear and provide excellent year-round traction. They deliver consistent performance but don’t stand out in any particular way.
How to Find the Best Tires for Mazda CX-5
To find the best tires for Mazda CX-5, we evaluated the options based on the following features. It’s critical to understand each of these features and how they affect your vehicle before purchasing new tires for your car. We’ll take a closer look at them in the review portion of this article.
Price
Tires come in many different price points, so be sure you’re clear on how much you want to spend before you start looking. Keep in mind that your safety is dependent upon the quality of your tires, so this is not an area to skimp on.
Size
Your tires should be the correct size for your vehicle. You can find size information in the car owner’s manual, or on the tire itself, which is a series of letters and numbers. We’ll explain how to read a tire sidewall in the next section.
Weather
Consider the weather in your area before buying set of tires. As we mentioned, there are three types of tires, and some individuals choose to buy according to season. Changing out tires every season can be somewhat problematic because it’s expensive.
Since this practice tends to be cost prohibitive, unless you live in an area with extreme summer or winter temperatures, we recommend using all-season tires. All-season tires are a safe bet for most people, and they provide features comprehensive enough for everyday use.
Tire Tread
Tire tread is what makes tires better suited to one season and not another. Know the weather conditions in your area and buy treads suitable for that type of weather.
Fuel Economy
It’s always good to think about what you can do to improve fuel economy, and tires are one great way to make fewer visits to the gas station. You won’t notice dramatic results, but some tires can help you see up to a 10 percent difference.
Bear in mind that increased fuel economy may come in exchange for performance, and many other variables contribute to better gas mileage, so don’t let this be a deciding factor. A simple way to improve fuel economy without buying new tires is to keep them adequately inflated.
Handling
Aside from providing a comfortable ride, tires should help a car handle smoothly and brake adequately. Noise is part of smooth handling, and tires shouldn’t be too noisy, especially on long trips. Excessive sound is a problem in lots of models, regardless of price, most notably in studded and winter versions.
How to Read a Tire Sidewall
We mentioned that the information regarding tire specs appears on the tire sidewall, and at first glance, the jumble of numbers and letters won’t appear to make any sense. We’re going to break down the elements of the sidewall information to give you a better idea of what it all means. We’ll use an example number of P235/75R15 105S.
Size
When you see the letter “P” this is referring to the size of your tire. Our example number is P235/75R15. This combination tells us the tire’s width, diameter, and the tire’s height as compared to width.
Load Index
The next number is the load index, which refers to the weight the tire can carry safely. It comes directly after tire size, and in this case, the load index number is 105. These numbers generally range from 70 to 126.
Speed Rating
Your tire’s speed rating comes directly after the load index, and a letter represents it. It refers to the maximum speed the vehicle can safely reach in relation to the load index. In the case of our example, the letter “S” represents the speed rating. Law doesn’t require that this number appear, so you may not find it on all tires.
Traction and Temperature Score
Traction and temperature score measures wet-stopping capabilities, as well as temperature resistance. Traction is rated on a scale of AA to C, with AA being the highest score and C the lowest. Likewise, temperature resistance scores range from A to C.
Treadwear Grade
Treadwear grade is a measure of the wear of the tire. Companies use controlled conditions to test tire wear, and in a perfect world, a tire rated at 400 should last twice as long as one with a 200 grade, but this measure is not always reliable.
One reason treadwear grades are not always reliable is that manufacturers use different control conditions to test tires. Since there’s no standard, it’s challenging to compare across brands, which is why you should take this measure with a grain of salt.
Manufacture Date Code
A manufacture date code gives you invaluable information about when the tire was manufactured. Checking this date is critical because, even if you are not driving on them, tires only last so long. Buy only recently made tires, which will last much longer than unused tires that are years old.
The Best Tires for Mazda CX-5
Now comes time for the fun part—our picks for the best tires for the CX-5 Mazda model.
We’ve included a range of tires that will satisfy the needs of a diverse group of car owners. So whether you live in an area that has extreme temperatures or you drive many miles to get to and from work, whatever your situation may be, you can find the tire that’s for you on this list.
1. Continental CrossContact LX20
Continental is a German tire brand that was founded in 1871. With years of experience in the auto industry, they’ve been able to produce a variety of excellent products, and the CrossContact LX20 is undoubtedly one of them. The Crosscontact LX 20 is an all-season tire targeted mainly for road use and some occasional light off-roading.
The Continental CrossContact LX20 EcoPlus touring, all season tire manufactured for SUVs. Continental offers a 70,000 mile treadwear warranty with this tire model.
Key Features:
- EcoPlus Technology
- Smooth Response Technology
- Traction grooves
This tire delivers fantastic performance in all seasons, as well as a quiet and comfortable ride. Even though the treadwear is engineered with rubber compounds that make it more robust, this sturdy design does not adversely affect fuel economy—in fact, the opposite is true thanks to EcoPlus Technology.
EcoPlus Technology used in the manufacture of this tire increases fuel efficiency and lowers CO2 emissions. The savings you’ll see at the gas pump are thanks to the Tg-F polymers used in the CrossContact tires, so if getting better gas mileage is a concern, these tires are a step in the right direction.
CrossContact LX 20 handles rough terrain easily, and it supplies above-average wet-traction braking performance. With a 70,000-mile tread warranty, this is a tire that you can be confident in no matter what the situation. This model is popular, well regarded, and loved even though they’re a bit pricey.
Pros:
- The Continental Crosscontact LX 20 Comes with a 60-day road test to try out the tire before committing
- Impressive tread-life warranties
- Eco-friendly design helps you save money at the pump
Cons:
- Lack of performance options in common sizes
2. Goodyear Assurance Maxlife
Goodyear is a giant in the world of tire companies, so our list would not have been complete without a pick from this well-established brand. Goodyear delivers everything car owners want: lots of performance options, above-average tread life warranties, and fantastic quality.
Goodyear is a well-established brand, and these tires really stand out as being an excellent choice!
Key Features:
- All-season reliability
- Easy tread depth readings
- TredLife Technology
Assurance Maxlife is another all-season tire, and this one made our list for being an excellent all-around choice. One standout feature is the tread wear gauge on this tire, which is a simple way for drivers to tell if it’s time to change their tires. And TredLife Technology significantly lengthens the life of your tire, which is a great bonus.
Goodyear also stands out in their tread-life warranties. While they don’t offer the highest ones on the market, their tread-life warranties are consistently above average. Assurance Maxlife is no different, coming in at 85,000 miles.
Car owners will also be glad to know that Goodyear offers a 30-day road test trial. If at the end of the trial you are dissatisfied with the performance of your Goodyear tires, you can return them—a good thing considering these are not the most economical of tire choices.
Despite the price, we highly recommend the Goodyear Assurance Maxlife for its stellar list of features.
Pros:
- More performance options per tire size
- TredLife Technology lengthens tread life for up to 30 percent more miles
- Tread wear gauge makes determining whether or not tire requires replacement simple
Cons:
- High price
3. Michelin Premier LTX
Michelin Premier LTX’s claim to fame is that it’s an all-season tire that stands up to use in all conditions—even as it wears. This French giant has created an outstanding product that delivers where it counts. Boasting excellent traction and road grip, we can see why this tire is so popular.
The Michelin Premier LTX has EverGrip Technology, and tons of other great features. Definitely a top tire option!
Key Features:
- EverGrip Technology
- Hydroplaning resistance
- Shorter stopping
Michelin created the Premier LTX with EverGrip Technology, which provides excellent grip even as the tire ages. On new tires, these grooves are invisible, and they slowly start to appear as the tire wears. Over time, the grooves widen, and new ones form, and the result is phenomenal wet/dry traction that you would expect from a new tire.
Premier LTX also utilizes sunflower oil and increased amounts of silica in the tire compounds. These materials aid flexibility in cold weather, and the rubber blends are what give them spectacular adherence capabilities in wet conditions. These tires provide drivers with above-average stopping power, even when the tires are worn.
All of these great features come with superior comfort and noiselessness. For the average user looking for tires that conserve their traction and performance abilities throughout its lifespan, the Premier LTX will serve you just fine, though you may want to look for something else if heavy snow conditions are in your tire’s future.
Pros:
- Provides outstanding gripping, traction, and cornering
- You can use it in mild snowy weather
- Offers noiseless, comfortable, and smooth ride
Cons:
- Not adequate for use in heavy snow conditions
4. Hankook Dynapro ATM
Our last pick for is the Hankook Dynapro ATM. We had to include a tire for the driver who requires a little something more from their car, so if your CX-5 Mazda model sees off-road use regularly, the Dynapro ATM is a superb choice for CX-5 and many other vehicles, like the Toyota 4Runner. Hankook has done an excellent job crafting a tire that can handle more robust applications.
If you use your car off-road regularly, you should definitely consider the Hankook Dynapro ATM tires!
Key Features:
- Reinforced under-tread gauge
- Jointless bead wire
- Reinforced carcass and rubber gauge
- Zigzag block edge
- Puncture resistant
This all-season tire has got a tough tread pattern that helps give your vehicle a smooth ride, regardless of whether you’re driving in the city or off road. It’s designed to handle various situations, including wet and dry weather, and it can also help prevent hydroplaning.
The zigzag pattern on the edge of the tire allows it to grip the road in icy conditions, while the deep patterns disperse heat to make it last even longer. This tire is right at home no matter where you take it, so if you need to drive in mud, gravel, or sand, the Dynapro ATM will respond just fine—all while staying quiet.
We also like that the thicker tread on this tire makes them puncture resistant, which helps to prevent tread and sidewall damage, especially off the highway. If you’re looking for a tire that can balance your daily needs with the occasional demands of light off-roading, this Hankook model may be just what you need.
Pros:
- Available in a wide variety of sizes
- Highly rated
- Outstanding user reviews
- Impressive responsiveness
- Long last tread
Cons:
- May be too robust for some applications
Comparing the Options
| Product | Tire Type | Treadwear Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Continental CrossContact LX20 | All-season | 70,000 miles |
| Goodyear Assurance Maxlife | All-season | 85,000 miles |
| Michelin Premier LTX | All-season | 60,000 miles |
| Hankook Dynapro ATM | All-season | 50,000 miles |
FAQ’s About Mazda CX 5 Tires
What should the tire pressure be on a Mazda CX 5?
The tire pressure should always be 33psi which is equal to 230 kPa and 2.3 bar.
How many miles do tires last?
If you take good care of your car, the tires can last approximately 50.000 to 70.000 miles, depending on the roads you drive on every day.
What is the difference between a touring tire and an all-season tire?
You definitely know that all-season tires are made for all year round, but the main difference in comparison to touring tires is that the last provide better performance and handling of the vehicle and definitely contribute to a much comfortable ride than the all-season tires.
The Continental CrossContact LX20 EcoPlus touring, all season tire manufactured for SUVs. Continental offers a 70,000 mile treadwear warranty with this tire model.
Final Thoughts
We hope you found this review and buyer’s guide useful in beginning your search for the best tires for Mazda CX 5. While the number of great options available may feel overwhelming, as long as you understand the fundamentals of tire buying, you’ll have all the tools necessary to make the right decision.
Find the right tire for you at Goodyear Tires. They offer a wide range of high performance car tires, SUV, passenger and 4x4 tires online.