255/50R20 tires

255/50R20 is the 20-inch size of the big three-row crossover. The Ford Explorer Limited and Sport used it from 2011 to 2019, the Volkswagen Atlas SEL Premium from 2018, the Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring and Signature from 2016, the Acura MDX from 2022 and the Honda Pilot Touring and Elite from 2023. Below are real prices for 205 tires in stock, three picks with their size-specific specifications, and how to choose between a highway tire and a sport all-season.

What 255/50R20 tires cost

Prices are per tire, before mounting and balancing. A set of four in the mid range comes to roughly $716 to $1,028, and a brand rebate can take another $50 to $110 off, see this month's deals.

See every 255/50R20 tire in stock at SimpleTire

All three picks are extra-load 109

In this size every one of our picks is an XL tire rated 109, or 2,271 pounds per tire, which matches the weight of a large three-row crossover with a family on board. That is a good thing, but it changes how pressure works. An extra-load tire reaches its full rating only at a higher pressure, so use the placard figure for your vehicle and do not drop below it for a softer ride; a heavy crossover on soft XL tires wears the outer shoulders and runs hot on long summer trips.

Highway comfort or sport handling

The Firestone is a highway all-season built for SUVs and light trucks, with a compound designed for low rolling resistance and a 700 treadwear grade. The Bridgestone is an ultra-high-performance all-season, sharper to steer and stronger in hard braking, but with a 500 grade and, per the listing for this size, a 40,000-mile warranty. For an Explorer Limited or Pilot Elite used for school runs and road trips, the highway tire is the better fit; for an Explorer Sport or CX-9 Signature driven briskly, the sport tire suits the car's tuning.

What the numbers on the sidewall mean

A 255/50R20 tire is 255 millimeters wide, its sidewall is 50 percent of that (about 5.0 inches tall), and it mounts on a 20-inch wheel. That works out to an overall diameter of roughly 30 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 109W on the Milestar Weatherguard AS710 Sport (2,271 lb per tire, rated to 168 mph), 109V on the Firestone Destination LE3 (2,271 lb per tire, rated to 149 mph) and 105H on the Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S (2,039 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, $188.95. An extra-load 109W all-season with 11/32 inch of tread, graded 580 A A, and a 70,000-mile warranty according to the listing for this size. Strong figures for the lowest price here; independent test data is scarce.

Firestone Destination LE3, $262.99. Firestone's highway tire for SUVs, built for low rolling resistance, here an XL 109H with a 700 A B grade and a 70,000-mile warranty. Firestone also offers a 90-day buy-and-try guarantee on sets of four. Our pick for most families.

Bridgestone Alenza, $279.97. Bridgestone's sport all-season for SUVs, original equipment on the BMW X5 and X7. In this size it is an XL 109V graded 500 A A; the listing shows a 40,000-mile warranty. The choice for the Sport and Signature trims.

What 255/50R20 tires cost across the whole range

Of the 244 tires listed in this size, 205 are in stock today. The lowest price is the Atturo AZ600 at $120.96, a 109H tire. The median is $227; a third of the tires cost $178.99 or less, and the top five percent start above $375.29. 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 $188.95, is also stocked in 245/60R18 ($164.99), 235/70R16 ($120.96), 235/55R20 ($185.95) and 235/40R19 ($139.99). The Firestone Destination LE3, our mid-range pick here at $262.99, is also stocked in 245/65R17 ($193.96), 235/70R16 ($158.63), 235/55R20 ($212.99) and 265/60R18 ($218.99). 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.

None of our picks in this size, the Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S, carries the 3PMSF symbol; for that, look at the all-weather and winter tires.

Vehicles that came with 255/50R20

• Ford Explorer (2011-2019, Limited/Sport)
• Volkswagen Atlas (2018-2024, SEL Premium)
• Mazda CX-9 (2016-2024, Grand Touring/Signature)
• Acura MDX (2022-2024, 20 in)
• Honda Pilot (2023-2024, Touring/Elite)

Lower trims of these crossovers use 18- or 19-inch wheels, and some later models moved to 21s; check the placard for your trim and year.

Which type of 255/50R20 tire?

Frequently asked questions

How much do 255/50R20 tires cost?

Expect $121–$179 per tire for a budget brand, $179–$257 for a mid-range tire like the Firestone Destination LE3, and $257–$375 for a premium tire like the Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S. A set of four therefore starts at about $484. Add roughly $15 to $45 per tire for mounting and balancing.

What vehicles use 255/50R20 tires?

255/50R20 is original equipment on Ford Explorer (2011-2019, Limited/Sport), Volkswagen Atlas (2018-2024, SEL Premium), Mazda CX-9 (2016-2024, Grand Touring/Signature), Acura MDX (2022-2024, 20 in) and Honda Pilot (2023-2024, Touring/Elite), 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 255/50R20 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 Alenza Sport A/S is worth the extra. On a tight budget the Milestar Weatherguard AS710 Sport is a sound choice.

Can I replace just one or two 255/50R20 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.