I have always had good luck with general grabbers, they are in the lower middle price range, but WELL worth the money. Like most tires, they handle great on dry pavement, but in the snow/rain is where they outshine most higher priced tires. Read the reviews and surveys on tirerack, you won't be disappointed!

 

I have General HTS Grabbers on my Avalanche, and will probably get another set for that truck for summer use.

When the Wranglers on my Patriot wear out, I think I am going to replace them with the Hankook Optimo 727 for summer use. As you said, MANY GREAT reviews.

Another link to a review...

 

I just put a set of General Altimax HP on my wife's MBZ this morning. The ride quality has improved dramatically. However when my GY LS2 wear out on my Patriot, I'm going with Yokohama Geolander AT/S.

 

The 727's are a good passenger car all weather tire. Seeing as that( i.e. passenger car tires )is almost all that is available in the OE 17" tire size for the Patriot's it is a good choice. You have to upsize to 225's to start finding true light truck/SUV class tires other than a few very rare options in the OE 215 sizes. This was a very poor decision on the part of Jeep(Chrysler )IMO.

There are no General Grabbers available in the OE Patriot 17" tire sizes just FYI for those recommending them. Not in any of the models( HTS, AT2, GW, etc... ). They start at 225 - 235 for section width and go up.

 

these will fit.

Grabber HTS(Highway All-Season)

225/65R17 102T Load Index 102 = 1874lbs (850kg) per tire
Speed Rating “T” = 118mph (190kph) $135.00 (ea.)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Grabber+HTS

 

You can read my thread here, i have the 727's and love them, have 20000kms on them now. They are great on the freeway and around town. Wet traction is great. Cant comment on snow traction but they are rated good in the snow. One thing about these tires is that they are quiet!

 

you can also get the 727's in 215/65/17 size as well, im in canada and bought mine from www.tiretrends.com

 

If the OP considers upsizing to 225/6517's I would recommend Firestone Destination LE's over the Grabber HTS tires.

 

The 727 do get good reviews. Very good at Consumer Reports. What is striking to me is how well they performed in Consumer Reports in the snow traction and ice braking category. The 727's get 'very good' in both. This is very rare, in fact it is the only tested tire that gets 'very good' in both those categories. This is what I think make these tires unique.
I wasn't disappointed with the stock SRA's either to be honest. The SRA's are definitely more aggressive then the 727's, and a good choice in the stock size.
I think the 727's and the SRA's are the two best stock size tires for the patriot.
If you go up to 225's then you have some true All Terrain tire options (Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S $122 on tire rack, Pirelli Scorpion ATR $194 on tire rack).
I was concerned with snow traction so I went with the Goodyear Fortera TripleTred 225R65 17. It has the 'mountain and snowflake' symbol designating it as a winter traction tire. Another good winter traction tire that can be run year round is the nokian wrg2.

 

The 727 do get good reviews. Very good at Consumer Reports. What is striking to me is how well they performed in Consumer Reports in the snow traction and ice braking category. The 727's get 'very good' in both. This is very rare, in fact it is the only tested tire that gets 'very good' in both those categories. This is what I think make these tires unique.
I wasn't disappointed with the stock SRA's either to be honest. The SRA's are definitely more aggressive then the 727's, and a good choice in the stock size.
I think the 727's and the SRA's are the two best stock size tires for the patriot.
If you go up to 225's then you have some true All Terrain tire options (Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S $122 on tire rack, Pirelli Scorpion ATR $194 on tire rack).
I was concerned with snow traction so I went with the Goodyear Fortera TripleTred 225R65 17. It has the 'mountain and snowflake' symbol designating it as a winter traction tire. Another good winter traction tire that can be run year round is the nokian wrg2.

 

**update** no hankook

I talked to the guy that runs a local tire distributer and said that because the
Patriot is a little higher a car tire might not wear right. He said to stick with the SRAs or upsize to the225/65-17. Pluses/minuses to doing this? Recommondations (including the Firestone Grabbers earlier mentioned)?

 

I talked to the guy that runs a local tire distributer and said that because the
Patriot is a little higher a car tire might not wear right. He said to stick with the SRAs or upsize to the225/65-17. Pluses/minuses to doing this? Recommondations (including the Firestone Grabbers earlier mentioned)?

30000kms on my tires now and still no problems with wearing funny. Not saying the person that said the above is totally wrong but to be honest I don't think that is right. Regardless of the height of a vehicle I can't see how that would affect the wear pattern that much.

My 727's vs the SRA's are night and difference, I only got 60000kms out of the SRA's and once they were about 1/2 worn they were rather noisey. Each to their own though I'd still try to get a set of Hankook's

 

Hmmm - "The Optimo H727 is Hankook’s Standard Touring All-Season tire developed for the drivers of coupes, sedans, minivans and crossover vehicles..."

 

Got a set o the 727's right after I got my Riot on the recommendation of tirerack.com. Rides like a dream, great in the rain...getting 30 mpg hwy. Get 'em.

 

Here is another thread about 727s.
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80356

 

i put on Hankook Optimo's 48,000 miles ago - the only tire shop around the high desert in ca here that had a set of four 215/65r17 - $650 with a 120 mail in rebate - then i just had two swamped out prorated and a fan belt replacement all for $250 - the did handle good but for 100,000 warrantied tires - they should not have burned up so quick - plus the sidewalls srarted dry rotting - then again the sun's UV's are powerfull in the South West... Will be replacing the other two in a couple of pay periods....