255/65R18 tires

255/65R18 is the 18-inch size on GM's three-row crossovers: the Chevrolet Traverse LS and LT since 2009, the 2007 to 2016 GMC Acadia and the early Buick Enclave. It is also the base and XLT size on the 2020-on Ford Explorer. Below are real prices for 147 tires in stock, three picks with the specifications behind them, and why the load index on these vehicles is higher than the size suggests.

What 255/65R18 tires cost

Prices are per tire, before mounting and balancing. A set of four in the mid range comes to roughly $612 to $832, and a brand rebate can take another $50 to $110 off, see this month's deals.

See every 255/65R18 tire in stock at SimpleTire

A 111 load index on a crossover

Three-row crossovers are heavy, and the tires in this size carry a 111 load index, 2,403 pounds per tire. All three of our picks are listed at 111, so they all meet it. A tire in the same size with a lower index, if you find one, would not meet the placard on these vehicles. With a full load of passengers and a trailer behind a Traverse or Explorer, run the pressures the placard gives for a loaded vehicle.

At about 31.1 inches, this is a tall size for a crossover. It rides comfortably and resists pothole damage better than the 20-inch options on the same models.

Enclave and Acadia years to check

The Buick Enclave used this size in its early years and on some later front-drive versions, but tiresize.com lists the 2012 Enclave on 255/60R19 or 255/55R20. The Acadia used it through 2016; the redesigned 2017 model uses other sizes. If your vehicle is close to the edges of the year ranges below, check the placard first.

For a three-row family vehicle the best tire is usually a quiet highway or touring all-season with a long warranty. All three picks here are all-seasons, with warranties from 60,000 to 80,000 miles.

What the numbers on the sidewall mean

A 255/65R18 tire is 255 millimeters wide, its sidewall is 65 percent of that (about 6.5 inches tall), and it mounts on a 18-inch wheel. That works out to an overall diameter of roughly 31.1 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 111H on the Atturo AZ600 and Cooper Endeavor Plus (2,403 lb per tire, rated to 130 mph) and 111T on the Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra (2,403 lb per tire, rated to 118 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.

Atturo AZ600, $132.96. A crossover all-season listed as 111H, which meets the 111 placard of these SUVs. The retailer gives a 60,000-mile warranty and no published UTQG grade. A set costs $531.84 before mounting.

Cooper Endeavor Plus, $204.99. Cooper's crossover touring tire, with a 65,000-mile warranty, 680 A A treadwear and a 45-day satisfaction guarantee. It is listed as 111H in this size and is the safe default for a Traverse or Explorer.

Bridgestone Alenza A/S 02, $278.96. The listing behind this pick in this size is currently Bridgestone's Alenza A/S Ultra, with an 80,000-mile warranty per the retailer, rather than the Alenza A/S 02, for which tiresize.com lists 65,000 miles in this size. Read the full model name on the listing before you order.

What 255/65R18 tires cost across the whole range

Of the 184 tires listed in this size, 147 are in stock today. The lowest price is the Roadtrack Terrena HT at $118.96, a 111H tire. The median is $180.99; a third of the tires cost $152.96 or less, and the top five percent start above $267.72. 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 Atturo AZ600, our budget pick here at $132.96, is also stocked in 225/60R18 ($103.99), 235/60R18 ($110.99), 225/55R17 ($94.99) and 225/60R17 ($98.96). The Cooper Endeavor Plus, our mid-range pick here at $204.99, is also stocked in 225/55R18 ($167.99), 235/55R18 ($178.99), 235/60R18 ($179.99) and 215/65R17 ($139.99). 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 Atturo AZ600 and Cooper Endeavor Plus, carries the 3PMSF symbol; for that, look at the all-weather and winter tires.

Vehicles that came with 255/65R18

• Chevrolet Traverse (2009-2024, LS/LT)
• GMC Acadia (2007-2016)
• Buick Enclave (2008-2017)
• Ford Explorer (2020-2024, base/XLT)

Other years and wheel packages of the same models came on 255/55R20, 235/70R16 or 245/65R17 instead, so read the placard inside the driver's door before you order.

Which type of 255/65R18 tire?

Frequently asked questions

How much do 255/65R18 tires cost?

Expect $119–$153 per tire for a budget brand, $153–$208 for a mid-range tire like the Cooper Endeavor Plus, and $208–$268 for a premium tire like the Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra. A set of four therefore starts at about $476. Add roughly $15 to $45 per tire for mounting and balancing.

What vehicles use 255/65R18 tires?

255/65R18 is original equipment on Chevrolet Traverse (2009-2024, LS/LT), GMC Acadia (2007-2016), Buick Enclave (2008-2017) and Ford Explorer (2020-2024, base/XLT), 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 255/65R18 tire?

For most drivers our mid-range pick, the Cooper Endeavor Plus, 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 A/S Ultra is worth the extra. On a tight budget the Atturo AZ600 is a sound choice.

Can I replace just one or two 255/65R18 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.