Best Tread Life, High Mileage Tires in 2026

Expected tread life is one of several factors to consider when you shop for new tires. Tread life is measured by a UTQG rating, which was developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to measure a tire’s treadwear, traction, and temperature. When reading UTQG ratings, the higher the treadwear rating, the longer it’s expected to last under normal driving conditions.

It's worth noting that tire manufacturers self-test and self-report their UTQG ratings; there is no national testing and rating organization. Also, testing takes is standardized, not based on real-world usage.   

We’ve compiled a list of some of the highest UTQG-rated tires. These tires stand apart from the competition as having higher than average treadwear ratings compared to similar tires of the same type. Again, these are self-reported by manufacturers, and treadwear is only one factor that determines a tire's quality. 

Tires That Last the Longest

In addition to materials and construction, these factors contribute to how long a tire lasts:

• Maintaining proper tire pressure 
• Regularly rotate and balance your tires.
• Avoiding aggressive driving, rapid acceleration and hard braking

Tread types that tend to last the longest (based on UTQG ratings)

The tread types that tend to have the highest UTQG wear ratings are as follows, with their average UTQG wear ratings across all brands that we reviewed*:

1. Highway touring: 720
2. All season highway touring: 608
3. Highway terrain: 591
4. Performance touring all season: 515

*Based on our analysis of more than 41,000 tires with UTQG ratings.

Brands that manufacture tires with the highest UTQG ratings

The following list includes brands that offer tire models with treadwear ratings equal to 700 or higher. Many tire makers produce tires with UTQG ratings of 700 or higher. As well, many of the tire brands listed below produce tires that have UTQG ratings below 700. These 20 brands on average produced the most makes with UTQG ratings of 700+, and are presented here in alphabetical order.

• BFGoodrich
• Bridgestone
• Continental
• Cooper
• Falken
• Firestone
• General
• Goodyear
• Hankook
• Kelly
• Kumho
• Mastercraft
• Maxxis
• Michelin
• Nexen
• Nokian
• Pirelli
• Sumitomo
• Toyo
• Yokohama

Are tires with UTQG ratings under 700 bad?

Absolutely not. Many brands offer tires with solid treadwear performance, even with ratings under 700. This article is intended to help our customers understand what UTQG ratings mean and how to use the ratings to make purchase decisions. Purchase decisions should be on several factors; in addition to tread ratings, consider:

• Your budget
• The age of your vehicle
• Local road conditions
• Manufacturer warranties
• Other customers' reviews
• Your driving style

Where to find UTQG ratings while shopping with Tire Agent

Within Tire Agent's product listings, select your tire size and verify your tire size. Scroll down to Technical Specifications, and you'll see UTQG and treadwear ratings. 

From any product page, select Select A Size.

Select the drop-down arrow under Available Sizes.

Find your size and then select View Details.

Under Technical Specifications, look for Treadwear. In this image, the Hankook Kinergy PT H737 has a treadwear rating of 860, which is exceptional (average in the category of all season touring is 546).

Featured Long Tread Life Tires

Below, we highlight 10 of the longest lasting tires for cars, SUVs, and light trucks to give you an idea of their price ranges, features and specifications. When you shop for tires online with Tire Agent, we will recommend dozens of tires for the year, make, model and trim level of your vehicle; in turn, you can compare based on numerous factors, including tread wear ratings. 

Best tread rated, best warranty, affordable

Korean tire manufacturer Hankook is one of the original equipment tire manufacturers for vehicle brands Audi, BMW, Ford, and Hyundai. Hankook's Kinergy line is one of the first sustainable tires produced with an ISCC PLUS certification that indicates it’s manufactured using eco-friendly materials. The PT H737 itself is a premium touring all-weather tire that’s built for a longer life. It’s notable for its high treadwear rating and 90,000-mile warranty.

High treadwear rating, excellent warranty

When Goodyear says “MaxLife,” they mean it. This all-season tire is designed purely around reliability and long-term savings, as it has a high treadwear rating compared with many all-season touring tires. The Goodyear brand has over 125 years in the tire industry and is one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers. The Assurance MaxLife has an impressive 85,000-mile warranty.

High treadwear rating, EV-ready

A high performance all-season tire, the Defender2 is known for superior comfort and minimal road noise. This tire also handles snow and rain surprisingly well. But, above all else, it’s built for durability and long life at its core. Michelin’s Defender2 has an 80,000-mileage warranty, a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, roadside assistance, and many sizes are marketed as EV-ready (always check specifications). Michelin is a well-established name in the tire industry, and it’s easy to see why.

Long-lasting all-season tire

The Defender T+H is a touring all‑season tire known for a comfortable ride and good efficiency, often helping support solid miles‑per‑gallon performance. It delivers reliable traction in dry and wet conditions and is designed with long tread life in mind. The “T+H” refers to two possible speed ratings for this tire — T (up to 118 mph) and H (up to 130 mph) — indicating the maximum tested speeds the tire can handle at its load rating. Michelin backs the Defender T+H with an 80,000‑mile limited warranty, a 60‑day satisfaction guarantee, and roadside assistance (terms vary by retailer).

Long tread life, mud and snow tire

This long-lasting all-season Michelin tire is meant for SUVs, trucks, and vans. It has excellent dry and wet road performance and is optimized for road comfort and durability. You won’t have as much success off-road with this tire, as it’s built around road performance, but you’ll have a tough time finding a longer lasting tire that works well with larger vehicles within its category. This tire has Michelin’s 70,000-mile warranty (depending on size), 60-day satisfaction guarantee, and roadside assistance.

Fuel economy + high treadwear rating

This all‑season tire is built for SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks, with a quiet, comfortable highway ride and improved fuel efficiency compared with its predecessor. It performs well in wet and dry road conditions, though it’s not designed for serious off‑road use. Many sizes are backed by an up to 80,000‑mile limited treadwear warranty.

High treadwear, better handling

The TrueContact Tour 54 is a touring all‑season tire built for balanced performance, comfort, and long tread life. It delivers confident handling in both dry and wet conditions and is engineered for everyday driving rather than performance or off‑road use. Many sizes are marketed as EV‑ready, and the tire is backed by an 80,000‑mile limited warranty.

All-season touring tire

Some models of Yokohama's AVID Ascend come with UTQG ratings as high as 740 or 800, which are above average for touring all-season tires. Many of AVID Ascend modesl come with an impressive 85,000-mile limited warranty.

High tread rated all-terrain tire

The only tire on our list that’s explicitly designed for crossover SUVs, the Wildpeak AT Trail is a great all-season choice that’s not only comfortable but also durable. The Falken WildPeak is the OEM for several crossover SUVs and has a good on-road MPG record for an all-terrain tire. This tire has a 65,000-mile warranty.

Longest lasting truck tires

This all-terrain tire is tough, blocky, and durable. It offers some of more capable off-road options among our list. The Open Country A/T III is unique in that it carries a UTQG rating that's higher than typical aggressive all-terrain tires. Note that this tire is meant for trucks, SUVs, and other off-road vehicles that need larger sizes. The Open Country A/T III has a 65,000-mile warranty.

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Common Questions About Long Life Tires

Are UTQG ratings reliable?

UTQG ratings are generally reliable, but it’s worth noting that although the standards are established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the treadwear portion of the tests are conducted by the tire manufacturers themselves on a government-specified course. The tire brand compares the tested tire’s performance to a “control tire” that always has a UTQG rating of 100. A tire rated at 300 can be expected to last 3 times as long as the control tire. That said, since testing is self-reported and not independently verified, results can vary across brands — so UTQG ratings are best used as a guideline, not a guarantee.

What is considered a “good” treadwear rating?

A “good” treadwear rating is one that’s at or above the average for its tread type. If a highway touring tire has a UTQG rating of 800, the average is currently 720, so that would be an above-average tire. Remember that different tread types will have different averages. 

Why do some off-road and all-terrain tires have lower UTQG ratings?

Off-road and all-terrain tires have lower UTQG ratings compared to highway touring and other on-road tires. This is because off-roading tires use softer, more flexible rubber compounds and more aggressive tread designs. UTQG ratings don't reflect real-world off-road treadwear; it reflects how fast they wear on standard paved roads. An on-road tire is much easier to predict the lifespan of because the conditions it will be driving on are better known, potholes aside! 

How accurate is UTQG in predicting how long my tires will last?

The UTQG rating of a tire isn’t the single best indicator of how long your tires will last, though it is a useful comparative tool. Additionally, look at the tire’s treadwear warranty, which is listed in miles. A tire with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty suggests that the manufacturer is confident that it will last for 60,000 miles based on normal driving and proper maintenance. If it wears down in under 60,000 miles, the tire manufacturer may compensate you for a prorated amount, based on miles remaining. Learn more about how treadwear warranties work. 

Why bother making tires with low treadwear ratings?

Lower treadwear ratings are made for a few reasons: Affordability, style, and use cases. Ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires, for example, may have a low treadwear ratings because they're made with softer compounds for better grip. Other budget brands may sacrifice longevity to make their tire more affordable. We generally recommend getting the best tire for your budget, to save you money and time in the long run for your commuter vehicle. That's why we offer several tire and wheel payment options, so you don't have to sacrifice quality for price.  

*Prices are subject to change and based on availability, size, materials, and other factors. Prices do not reflect discounts. 

Photo 135474411 | Sergiy Goncharov | Dreamstime.com