All-Terrains For The Road, Recovering Subarus, And Flying With Fake Service Dogs

Vol. 2

What Are The Best All-Round Tires For SUVs?

George emailed to ask what tires he should fit to the 2021 Lexus GX 460 he just bought on my recommendation. He says his driving is 90 percent on pavement, and has heard good things about the Michelin Defender LTX. 

That GX is probably the vehicle I recommend most to my friends and readers. Sold in other markets as the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, it has several of the features that make the full-fat Land Cruiser so special—KDSS and full-time four-wheel drive—in a more manageable, affordable package. It’s about the same size as a 4Runner, but unlike that vehicle, the GX is sold complete with both a motor and transmission, and an interior. Given the extremely high prices 4Runner’s fetch both new and used, paying a small premium for a vehicle that doesn’t require you to kick your legs through a hole in the floor in order to get up to highway speeds, and which doesn’t feel like a rental car from the early 2000s inside, is well worth it. 

I recommend…