No tire does it all. That's what Consumer Reports found in its latest tests of 34 all-season and all-terrain SUV and pickup truck tires. CR's tests revealed big differences in all-weather performance, tread life and even fuel economy.

The General Grabber HTS, $105, earned the top spot among all-season tires and the Pirelli Scorpion ATR, $163, rated highest among all-terrain tires, based primarily on impressive grip in dry and wet conditions. (Prices vary depending on the retailer, location and tire size.)

In addition, the Michelin Latitude X-Ice, $128, was top-rated among the four winter tires CR tested, delivering excellent snow traction and very good grip on ice while keeping tire noise low.

All tires were tested in (P)265/70R17 size, commonly used on trucks. CR experts expect that most results will be comparable for other sizes of these models. Tests were performed on a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and an '07 Chevrolet Suburban.

Most of the all-season tires CR tested performed very well in braking, handling and hydroplaning resistance. The tires produced a wide range of tread life and rolling-resistance ratings. But the fact that a number of all-season models with very good tread-life ratings ranked near the bottom in overall performance shows that it's necessary to look at the big picture when choosing tires. The best choice for an SUV or pickup truck depends on its design and how the vehicle will be used.

Save gas with right rubber

The tires drivers choose can affect fuel economy. That's because different models have varying degrees of rolling resistance, a measurement of how much energy it takes to roll a tire down a road. According to government estimates, a tire's rolling resistance accounts for about 5 percent of the fuel a vehicle consumes.

To show how rolling resistance affects gas mileage, CR used the Chevrolet Silverado test truck to measure the highway fuel economy of the tires with the best and worst rolling resistance. The Silverado got 2.4 mpg better highway mileage with the Goodyear Wrangler SR-A all-season tire (with the lowest rolling resistance) than with the General Grabber AT 2 all-terrain tire (with the highest rolling resistance). That is a difference of about $300 a year.

All-season vs. all-terrain

All-season tires, like those found on passenger cars, are designed to wear well and to provide good performance under a variety of roads and weather. All-terrain tires generally have a deeper, more open tread pattern than all-season tires for off-road grip.

Many all-terrain tires scored lower in handling and rolling resistance than all-season models.

For the first time, CR included tread-life ratings for all-season and all-terrain truck tires. These indicate a model's wear potential, as evaluated on a 16,000-mile test. Results show that the fastest-wearing models are predicted to wear out at about 40,000 miles; those with the best wear potential will last for almost 90,000 miles.