For SUVs, CR puts the BF Goodrich Radial Long Trail T/A at the top of the test list and the recommended list. It earned an Excellent rating, did particularly well in snow traction, and had a list price of $165.
Next came the Yokohama Geolander H/T (Excellent, at $125, but with the worst snow traction in the group), Michelin LTX M/S (Very Good, at $205 list), Dunlop Radial Rover A/T (Very Good, at $140), and Goodyear Wrangler RF-A (Good, at $145).
When it comes to batteries, the Canadian version of CR had a much smaller list than the U.S. version, primarily because Sears doesn't sell the same lineup of batteries here.
But CR says that the nine batteries tested that are sold here can be particularly useful to the owners of various Fords.
In general, the batteries in size group 65 outperformed those in size group 75 because they're larger and have more room for the lead plates and electrolyte that create the charge necessary to start a car. Notwithstanding that, CR says, it isn't wise to buy a battery size that's not recommended for your vehicle.
In group size 65, CR says, the best choice was the Motorcraft Silver BXT-65-850, with its $120 list price. It scored an Excellent rating on the test.
Other group 65 batteries tested included ACDelco Professional 65-7YR (Excellent, at $138 list), Interstate Mega-tron Plus MTP 65 (Excellent, at $129), and Champion 1000 Performance Series Part No. 65-2 (Good, at $85).