235/70R16 tires

235/70R16 is the size of the first wave of American crossovers and compact trucks. The 2001 to 2011 Mazda Tribute, the 2006 to 2012 Ford Escape, the 2003 to 2008 Honda Pilot and the 2011 Ford Ranger in 16-inch two-wheel-drive form all used it. Below are real prices for 247 tires in stock, three picks with their size-specific specifications, and the one-set-all-year option for owners in the snow belt.

What 235/70R16 tires cost

Prices are per tire, before mounting and balancing. A set of four in the mid range comes to roughly $444 to $556, and a brand rebate can take another $50 to $110 off, see this month's deals.

See every 235/70R16 tire in stock at SimpleTire

Escape, Tribute and the first Pilot

The Escape and Tribute are mechanical twins, small enough that a standard-load tire is plenty; the first-generation Pilot is a three-row SUV with more weight on each corner. Our budget pick is an extra-load 109T tire in this size, rated for 2,271 pounds, and the Firestone is a standard-load 106T, which is still well above what an Escape needs. On the all-wheel-drive versions, replace all four tires at once. These vehicles are now old enough that the date code on the sidewall matters: a spare or a lightly used set may look fine and still be too old to trust.

One all-weather set instead of two

Owners who keep an older SUV or a two-wheel-drive Ranger for winter errands often do not want to pay for a separate set of winter tires. An all-weather tire carries the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol, so it is rated for severe snow, but it is built to be left on all year. In this size our premium pick is exactly that kind of tire. It is not as strong on ice as a dedicated winter tire, but on a rear-wheel-drive Ranger it is a large improvement over an ordinary all-season.

What the numbers on the sidewall mean

A 235/70R16 tire is 235 millimeters wide, its sidewall is 70 percent of that (about 6.5 inches tall), and it mounts on a 16-inch wheel. That works out to an overall diameter of roughly 29 inches. Every replacement has to match all three numbers, and the load index and speed rating on the placard inside the driver's door have to be met or exceeded.

In this size our picks are marked 109T on the Milestar Weatherguard AS710 Sport (2,271 lb per tire, rated to 118 mph), 106T on the Firestone Destination LE3 (2,094 lb per tire, rated to 118 mph) and 106H on the Bridgestone Weatherpeak (2,094 lb per tire, rated to 130 mph). The first number is the load index, the letter the speed rating; a tire with equal or higher values than your placard is fine, a lower one is not.

Our guide on reading a tire size walks through the markings, and this one lists every load index and speed code.

Our three picks, side by side

One tire at each price level from what the retailer stocks in this size, with the mileage warranty and UTQG grades as published by the manufacturers and their retailers. Treadwear is the number to compare: it is a relative wear rate, so 700 should last roughly twice as long as 350 on the same car.

Milestar Weatherguard AS710 Sport, $120.96. Milestar's touring all-season, here in an extra-load 109T construction graded 720 A A with 11/32 inch of tread. The listing gives an 80,000-mile warranty for this T-rated size. Exceptional numbers for the price; there is little independent test data.

Firestone Destination LE3, $158.63. Firestone's highway tire for SUVs and light trucks, designed for low rolling resistance. In this size it is a 106T graded 700 A B with a 70,000-mile warranty, and Firestone backs sets of four with a 90-day buy-and-try guarantee.

Bridgestone Weatherpeak, $144.96. Bridgestone's all-weather tire, rated for severe snow with the 3PMSF symbol and warranted for 70,000 miles. The retailer is not stocking it in 235/70R16 today; when it returns, it is the year-round choice for the snow belt.

What 235/70R16 tires cost across the whole range

Of the 339 tires listed in this size, 247 are in stock today. The lowest price is the Lionhart Imara H/T at $89.08, a 106T tire. The median is $123.96; a third of the tires cost $110.96 or less, and the top five percent start above $204.99. Those are per-tire prices before mounting and balancing, which adds $15 to $45 per tire at most shops, read from the retailer's feed Nov 13, 2026.

The same tires in neighboring sizes

The Milestar Weatherguard AS710 Sport, our budget pick here at $120.96, is also stocked in 245/60R18 ($164.99), 255/50R20 ($188.95), 215/55R16 ($106.96) and 215/70R16 ($108.99). The Firestone Destination LE3, our mid-range pick here at $158.63, is also stocked in 245/65R17 ($193.96), 255/50R20 ($262.99), 265/60R18 ($218.99) and 235/55R20 ($212.99). The Bridgestone Weatherpeak, our premium pick here at $144.96, is also stocked in 215/60R17 ($211.96). Useful if your vehicle came with a different wheel package, or if you are comparing an upsize: the same tire usually costs more per inch of wheel, not per inch of rubber. Prices per tire, from the retailer's feed Nov 13, 2026.

Winter on an SUV in this size

Most SUVs in this size are all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, which is enough to satisfy Colorado's Passenger Vehicle Traction Law on the 126 miles of I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison, in force from September 1 to May 31, as long as the tires have at least 3/16 inch of tread. A two-wheel-drive version must instead be on tires marked M+S, 3PMSF or rated all-weather by the manufacturer. Fines start at $130. Four driven wheels help you pull away, not stop: a heavy SUV on worn all-seasons needs much more road to brake on snow than the same vehicle on a tire with the 3PMSF symbol, so in the snow belt choose the tire, not just the drivetrain.

Vehicles that came with 235/70R16

• Ford Escape (2001-2012)
• Mazda Tribute (2001-2011)
• Honda Pilot (2003-2008)
• Ford Explorer (2002-2005, XLS)
• Mercury Mountaineer (2002-2005)
• Ford Ranger (1998-2011, 2WD 16 in)

Other years and trims of these vehicles used 15-, 17- and 18-inch wheels; the Pilot and Escape changed sizes between generations.

Which type of 235/70R16 tire?

Frequently asked questions

How much do 235/70R16 tires cost?

Expect $89–$111 per tire for a budget brand, $111–$139 for a mid-range tire like the Firestone Destination LE3, and $139–$205 for a premium tire like the Bridgestone Weatherpeak. A set of four therefore starts at about $356. Add roughly $15 to $45 per tire for mounting and balancing.

What vehicles use 235/70R16 tires?

235/70R16 is original equipment on Ford Escape (2001-2012), Mazda Tribute (2001-2011), Honda Pilot (2003-2008), Ford Explorer (2002-2005, XLS), Mercury Mountaineer (2002-2005) and Ford Ranger (1998-2011, 2WD 16 in), among others. Always confirm with the sticker inside your driver's door, because trim levels and wheel packages can change the size.

What is the best 235/70R16 tire?

For most drivers our mid-range pick, the Firestone Destination LE3, is the sweet spot of price and tread life. If you keep the vehicle a long time or drive in heavy rain and snow, the Bridgestone Weatherpeak is worth the extra. On a tight budget the Milestar Weatherguard AS710 Sport is a sound choice.

Can I replace just one or two 235/70R16 tires?

On a front- or rear-wheel-drive car, yes: replace in pairs on the same axle and put the newer pair on the rear. On all-wheel-drive vehicles most makers want all four replaced together, or a new tire shaved to match, because a difference in circumference strains the drivetrain.