There’s a moment every vehicle owner dreads: the day you look down at your tires and realize the tread is worn dangerously thin. It’s not just a maintenance task; it’s a critical safety decision that often comes with a gut-punch of an expense. My journey began there, staring at the balding rubber on my crossover, a vehicle that serves as a daily commuter, a weekend family hauler, and a light-duty workhorse. The dilemma was immediate and familiar. Do I shell out a small fortune for the big-name brands promising peerless performance, or do I venture into the world of budget-friendly tires, haunted by whispers of compromised safety and noisy rides? The challenge is finding that elusive sweet spot: a tire that delivers all-season security, a comfortable ride, and long-term durability without emptying your wallet. Failing to find this balance means either overpaying for features you don’t need or, worse, underpaying and putting yourself and your loved ones at risk every time you get behind the wheel.
- Designed for ultra premium performance, safety and high mileage without the premium cost.
- Modern, advanced tread patterns provide nimble handling in both wet and dry conditions without comprising on fuel economy, quiet, and comfort.
What to Consider Before Investing in All-Season Performance Tires
An All-Season Performance tire is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for year-round driving confidence. This category of tire is engineered to solve the problem of seasonal tire changes for the vast majority of drivers in moderate climates. They are designed to provide a reliable grip on dry summer roads, effectively channel water away in a downpour to prevent hydroplaning, and offer competent traction in light snow and slush. The main benefit is versatility. You get one set of tires that can handle a wide spectrum of conditions, delivering a balanced blend of performance, comfort, and longevity without the hassle and expense of owning separate summer and winter sets.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the daily grind: the commuter, the parent running errands, the family taking a road trip. It’s for drivers of sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and vans who demand safety and reliability in changing weather conditions but aren’t pushing their vehicles to the absolute limits on a racetrack. Conversely, this type of tire might not be suitable for those who live in areas with severe winter weather, where dedicated winter tires are non-negotiable for safety. It’s also not for the high-performance sports car owner who prioritizes maximum summer grip above all else and would be better served by a UHP summer tire. For those extremes, specialized tires are the only real alternative.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Tire Size & Load Capacity: Getting the size right (e.g., 235/65R17) is non-negotiable for safety and proper fitment. Beyond that, pay close attention to the service description. For the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial, the “108V XL” is critical. The “108” is the Load Index, meaning each tire can support 2205 pounds, and “XL” signifies an “Extra Load” construction with reinforced sidewalls. This is crucial for heavier vehicles like SUVs and crossovers. The “V” is the speed rating, safe up to 149 mph, indicating a robust build.
- Tread Pattern & Compound: A tire’s tread is its signature. Look for designs with deep, wide circumferential grooves, which are essential for evacuating water and preventing hydroplaning in wet conditions. The specific pattern of the tread blocks and the use of sipes (tiny cuts in the tread) determine grip in various conditions. The compound, or the rubber mixture itself, is formulated to remain flexible in the cold but firm in the heat, which is the secret to true all-season performance.
- Construction & Durability: Don’t just look at the outside. A tire’s internal construction dictates its toughness and lifespan. The number of plies in the tread and sidewall indicates its resistance to punctures and impacts. An “Extra Load” (XL) rating, as mentioned, points to a sturdier build. Always check the manufacturer’s treadwear warranty, like the 60,000-mile warranty on this Crossmax model, which is a strong indicator of the manufacturer’s confidence in its durability.
- Noise & Comfort: The most capable tire in the world can be a miserable companion if it produces a constant drone on the highway. Manufacturers use multi-pitch tread patterns and other noise-canceling technologies to ensure a quiet ride. The tire’s ability to absorb minor road imperfections also contributes significantly to overall driving comfort, turning a jarring commute into a smooth journey.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial stands out in several areas, particularly its robust construction and comfort-oriented design. You can explore its detailed specifications here.
While the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. Just as the right tire is the critical interface connecting your vehicle to the pavement, the right gear is essential for any performance-oriented activity. For a broader look at how meticulous engineering impacts performance, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide on a different kind of performance product:
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- Mick Jagger, James Fox (Actors)
- Precise and Responsive Operation: Windshield wiper switch for accurate response with every switch. Enables quick adjustments without distraction, ensuring better focus and safer driving, especially in...
Unboxing the Crossmax CHTS-1: A First Look at a Budget Contender
When the set of Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial tires arrived for our test vehicle, the initial impression was one of substance. There’s a certain heft and presence to them that you don’t always find in the budget tire segment. The rubber compound felt pliable yet durable to the touch, and the signature scent of new tires filled the garage—a smell that always signals a fresh start for a vehicle. Visually, the CHTS-1 tread pattern is what immediately grabs your attention. It’s a directional design that looks both modern and functional. The four broad, circumferential grooves are deep and pronounced, promising serious water evacuation. What truly surprised us, however, was the overall aggressive look and feel. It has the visual cues of a premium touring tire but with a deeper, more robust tread depth (a substantial 11.1/32nds) that borders on what you might see on a highway-terrain tire. This isn’t a flimsy, basic tire; it’s clear from the first touch that it was designed to be a workhorse.
Key Benefits
- Surprisingly robust construction with XL rating and deep tread
- Excellent value proposition, delivering performance beyond its price point
- Remarkably quiet and smooth ride for daily driving comfort
- Impressive 60,000-mile treadwear warranty provides long-term peace of mind
Potential Drawbacks
- Some user reports suggest potential for quality control inconsistencies
- Lesser-known brand may lack the long-term reputation of major players
Putting Rubber to the Road: An In-Depth Performance Analysis of the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial
A tire’s true character is only revealed on the pavement, through countless miles of varied conditions. It’s one thing to look good in the workshop, but it’s another to inspire confidence on a rain-slicked highway or a winding country road. We mounted the Crossmax CHTS-1 set on a popular mid-size crossover SUV, a vehicle that perfectly represents the target audience, and put it through its paces over several weeks of real-world driving. Here is our deep dive into its performance.
Built Tough: Deconstructing the ‘Beefed Up’ CHTS-1 Design
The standout feature of the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial is, without a doubt, its construction. In a market saturated with standard-load passenger tires, this model’s specifications read more like a light truck tire. The “XL” designation isn’t just marketing fluff; it signifies a reinforced internal structure, including a beefy 2-ply sidewall. This translates directly to a more stable and planted feel on the road, especially when the vehicle is loaded with passengers or cargo. During lane changes at highway speeds and on sweeping off-ramps, we noticed significantly less sidewall flex than the factory-installed touring tires it replaced. This stability provides a crucial sense of control and predictability.
This finding was powerfully echoed by a user who swapped out the stock Continental tires on their new Ford Maverick for this exact Crossmax model. They were specifically looking for a “beefed up” all-season tire and noted the 5-ply tread construction. This multi-ply design is a huge advantage, offering enhanced resistance against punctures from road debris and contributing to more even tread wear over the tire’s lifespan. The combination of the deep 11.1/32nds tread, the XL sidewalls, and the high load index of 108 makes this tire an exceptional choice for CUVs, SUVs, and vans that are often tasked with more than just light commuting. It feels engineered to handle the stresses of a modern utility vehicle, providing a margin of toughness that brings invaluable peace of mind.
All-Weather Confidence: Performance in Wet and Dry Conditions
An all-season tire must be a master of compromise, and the CHTS-1 handles this balancing act with impressive poise. On dry tarmac, the tire delivers a confident and responsive experience. Steering inputs are met with directness, and hard braking is stable and controlled. The solid contact patch provided by the tread blocks ensures excellent grip during everyday maneuvers. While it’s not a high-performance summer tire designed for aggressive cornering, it never feels vague or spongy; the ride is communicative and secure.
However, it’s in wet conditions where the tire truly shines and its design proves its worth. We drove through several intense rainstorms, deliberately aiming for patches of standing water on the highway. The four wide, circumferential grooves performed their job flawlessly. We could feel the tire actively cutting through the water rather than riding on top of it. Hydroplaning resistance was excellent, maintaining a secure connection to the road surface far better than many other tires in its price class. This wet-weather grip is arguably one of the most important safety features a tire can offer, and the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial delivered confidence when it mattered most. For drivers who frequently face rainy commutes, this performance attribute alone makes the tire a compelling option.
The Sound of Silence: Evaluating On-Road Comfort and Noise Levels
One of the biggest fears when opting for a budget-friendly or robustly built tire is the penalty of increased road noise. Aggressive tread patterns can often create a persistent, droning hum inside the cabin that becomes fatiguing on long drives. This is where Crossmax’s engineering pleasantly surprised us. The manufacturer highlights a “multi-pitch pattern design” intended to decrease noise, and our testing confirms this is highly effective. On smooth asphalt, the tires are nearly silent, gliding along with a refinement you’d expect from a premium touring tire. Even on coarser concrete surfaces and roads with minor imperfections, the noise level remained remarkably low.
This directly validates the feedback from one user who stated the tires “vastly improved the smoothness of the ride.” The robust construction seems to do an excellent job of damping vibrations and absorbing the harshness of uneven pavement before it can be transmitted into the cabin. The result is a serene and comfortable driving experience that significantly reduces driver fatigue. For anyone spending hours behind the wheel, whether on a daily commute or a cross-country trip, this level of quiet and comfort is a massive benefit that makes the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial feel like a much more expensive product. It successfully provides the toughness of a utility tire without the typically associated noise penalty.
Long-Term Value: Mileage, Warranty, and the Bottom Line
Performance and comfort are paramount, but for most buyers, the ultimate deciding factor is value. The Crossmax CHTS-1 builds an incredibly strong case here. The initial purchase price is significantly lower than that of its big-brand competitors, but the value proposition extends far beyond the initial transaction. The cornerstone of its long-term value is the 60,000-mile treadwear warranty. This is a powerful statement from the manufacturer, instilling confidence that the tire is built to last. A warranty of this length is highly competitive, even when compared to more expensive options.
When you combine this warranty with the tire’s deep starting tread of 11.1/32nds, the picture of long-term savings becomes crystal clear. A deeper tread naturally means a longer potential lifespan before replacement is necessary. Over the course of our testing, we observed no signs of premature or uneven wear. The total cost of ownership appears to be exceptionally low. You’re getting a tire with premium features—robust XL construction, a quiet ride, excellent wet traction—and a long projected lifespan for a budget price. This combination is exceedingly rare and represents the core appeal of this tire. For a tire that promises this level of longevity and performance, you can see the surprisingly competitive price right now.
What Other Drivers Are Saying
Our positive experience with the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial is largely corroborated by the broader community of drivers. Many users highlight the same key benefits we discovered. One driver of a van noted that the tires “look so good and vastly improved the smoothness of the ride,” adding that they “definitely recommend if you can’t afford the higher dollar tires.” This sentiment of high quality for the cost is a recurring theme, with another reviewer simply stating they appeared to be of “muy buena calidad” (very good quality).
The most insightful feedback came from the Ford Maverick owner, whose detailed account of seeking a “beefed up all-season” perfectly encapsulates the tire’s niche. Their research and satisfaction confirm our findings about its robust 5-ply tread and 2-ply XL sidewall, positioning it as an ideal upgrade over standard OEM tires. However, it’s important to present a balanced view. We did find an isolated but notable report from one user who claimed, “Both tire have bubbles.” While this appears to be an outlier, it serves as a reminder that quality control can be a concern with any brand. We advise all buyers to thoroughly inspect their tires upon delivery and ensure they are mounted and balanced by a reputable professional who can spot any potential defects before installation.
How Does the Crossmax CHTS-1 Compare to the Competition?
While the Crossmax CHTS-1 is a strong contender, it exists in a crowded marketplace. Understanding how it stacks up against notable alternatives is key to making an informed decision. We looked at three other popular tires to see how they compare.
1. Forceum OCTA 235/55R19 105V All Season Performance Tires
- Treadlife: N/A
- Tire Only
The Forceum OCTA is another player in the budget-friendly all-season performance space, making it a direct competitor to the Crossmax. Like the Crossmax, it aims to deliver year-round traction and a comfortable ride without a premium price tag. The OCTA features a distinctive tread pattern with a solid center rib for stability and angled grooves for water evacuation. It might be preferred by a driver looking for a slightly different aesthetic or whose vehicle requires its specific sizing (like the 19-inch model shown). However, the Crossmax CHTS-1 appears to have a distinct advantage with its documented “beefed up” XL construction and deeper starting tread, likely giving it an edge in durability and load-carrying capacity for heavier SUVs and crossovers.
2. HANKOOK Ventus V12 evo 2 Summer Tire
- Hankook Ventus V12 evo 2 Summer Radial Tire - 245/40R18 Y
- The Package Height of the Product is 9.7 inches
This comparison highlights a critical difference in tire categories. The Hankook Ventus V12 evo 2 is an Ultra-High Performance *Summer* tire. It is not an all-season tire. For a driver in a warm climate who prioritizes thrilling performance, sharp steering response, and maximum grip on dry and wet summer roads, the Hankook is unequivocally the superior choice. Its specialized tread compound and design are built for speed and handling. However, it is entirely unsuitable for cold temperatures, snow, or ice, where its compound would harden and lose grip dangerously. The Crossmax CHTS-1 is for the driver who needs year-round versatility and is willing to trade the ultimate edge of summer performance for all-weather safety and competence.
3. Lionhart LH-Five P255/30R22 95W
- This product is not for sale in the state of Arkansas
- Item Package Dimension: 29.53L x 9.45W x 5.51H inches
The Lionhart LH-Five represents another segment of the market: the Ultra High Performance (UHP) All-Season tire, often geared towards the cosmetic and performance upgrade market. Available in large rim diameters like the 22-inch model here, it’s designed for drivers of customized cars, trucks, and SUVs who want an aggressive, low-profile look combined with sharp handling characteristics. While it offers all-season capability, its focus is on responsive steering and cornering grip. This performance often comes at the cost of ride comfort, tread life, and noise levels when compared to the Crossmax. The Crossmax CHTS-1 is the pragmatic choice for comfort and longevity, whereas the Lionhart LH-Five is for the enthusiast who prioritizes style and sporty handling.
The Final Verdict: Is the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial the Right Tire for You?
After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is clear: the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial is a formidable contender that dramatically over-delivers for its price point. Its defining characteristic is its surprisingly rugged construction, which provides the durability and stability of a light truck tire without sacrificing the quiet, comfortable ride of a premium touring tire. The excellent wet-weather performance provides a crucial layer of safety, and the generous 60,000-mile warranty solidifies its status as an outstanding long-term value.
While the brand may not have the household recognition of its pricier rivals, and isolated quality control issues are worth noting, the overall package is incredibly compelling. We wholeheartedly recommend this tire to any owner of a crossover, SUV, or van who is looking for a safe, durable, and comfortable all-season solution that won’t break the bank. It is the perfect choice for the pragmatic driver who values substance and performance over a name brand.
If you’ve decided the Crossmax All Season 235/65R17 108V XL CHTS-1 Radial is the right fit for your vehicle and your budget, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API