What are the Best Tires for Colorado

Locations in Colorado: 55
First Colorado location opening date: COD02 & COD04 | October 1, 1980
Common vehicles: Crossovers, SUVs, 4WD, AWD and 4x4 vehicles, EVs and pickup trucks
Major regions/cities: Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Durango, Fort Collins, Pueblo, Thornton
Road conditions: Harsh road surfaces, potholes, construction and traffic with inclement weather like rain, ice and heavy snowpack

With a population of nearly six million residents and steady growth each year, traffic and congestion has certainly become the standard state of things in Colorado. Plus, there’s the state’s notorious extremes when it comes to weather! But with tons of outdoor recreation, a young, hip vibe, comfortable summer weather and breathtaking natural splendor that draws in tourists and new residents by the millions, the Centennial state offers an interesting mixture of urban driving conditions, off-road adventures and environmental challenges.

On top of that, Colorado’s roads are made from a granite aggregate composite, which creates a rough, sandpaper-like surface that’s really rough on your tires!

This begs the question for residents: how do I safely navigate the challenges of driving in Colorado, and what tires are best for that?

We’ve taken the guesswork out of tire shopping for you and put together our list of the best tires for Colorado, backed by tested data and on-the-ground expertise!

BEST CAR TIRES FOR COLORADO

By and large, Coloradans with passenger cars prefer all-weather tires. This emerging tire type is a ramped up all-season tire with enhanced functionality in a wider range of weather, including light winter conditions like ice and snow. To be clear: all-weather tires are not designated winter tires; their performance allows you to keep them on for a longer period of the year, but they can’t replace true winter tires.

All-weather is not an official tire category yet, but with the increase in popularity, we won’t be surprised if it becomes one soon.

According to Ty, the manager of the 28th St Discount Tire in Boulder, CO, Boulder residents prefer all-weather tires due to the overlap in extreme temperature differences. His customers tend towards hybrids, electric vehicles, wagons, crossovers and 4x4 capable vehicles. His store’s most common size is 225/55R16.

The most popular tire his customers come in asking for? The Nokian Encompass AW01 by far! This all-weather tire comes from Nokian, a brand well known for their winter tires. The AW01 offers nearly year-round control with a Dual Zone asymmetrical tread design. It’s perfect for driving in light snow dusting and minimal ice. It boasts a three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) severe weather designation, too. Customers love the smooth, confident drive in a wide range of weather and temperatures, plus its robust 60,000-mile warranty adds confidence.

A close runner up for the best all-weather tire for Colorado is the Michelin CrossClimate2. Backed by a 60k-mile warranty, the CrossClimate2 features a V-formation tread design to channel water away from the tread, giving you confident traction in wet conditions. It offers snappy, responsive handling and a PIANO noise reduction tuning system for a comfortable ride. Repeat buyers love the flexibility of this tire between cool and warm weather, rain, snow or shine!

BEST ALL-SEASON CAR TIRES FOR COLORADO

What about if you’re looking for the best all-season tires for Colorado? Carlos over in our Colorado Springs, CO Discount Tire store says his customers aren’t very familiar with all-weather tires yet, so they prefer traditional all-seasons.

His recommendation? Go for the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus!

With an absolutely huge mileage warranty of 70 to 80,000 miles, EcoPlus™tech, and high marks in safety and foul-weather performance, you can’t go wrong with this tire. A comfort band absorbs bumps in the road (great for navigating this state’s rough roads) and full depth-siping for control in inclement weather keeps your tires on the road where they belong. This is an excellent option for your electric vehicle, too, thanks to its low rolling resistance and efficiency-friendly features.

Aaron in our Broomfield, CO Discount Tire store also offers the Continental Control Contact Sport SRS+ as a great all-season option, if you’re looking to add a spirited drive to your list of must-haves. Enhanced traction in wet and snowy streets? Got it. Reinforced construction for better maneuverability and strength? Of course. Easy-to-read wear indicators to make maintenance a breeze? Naturally. It’s also backed by a hearty 50,000-mile warranty.

If you like the SRS+, Carlos in Colorado Springs points to the Yokohama YK-GTX. This all-season tire features a performance oriented tread that ticks every box for your luxury or performance sedan, coupe or crossover. Its advanced high-resin based oil compound boosts treadlife, while the tread design resists hydroplaning and delivers equitable traction in both dry and wet conditions. It comes with a generous 70k-mile warranty.

BEST BUDGET CAR TIRES FOR COLORADO

Tim, manager of the Federal Blvd Discount Tire store in Denver, CO agrees that these are all excellent options. But for Coloradans on a budget, he recommends the Sentury UHP, a value all-season tire with a 40,000-mile warranty. The UHP is a performance based tread with strong traction, responsive handling and a budget-friendly price. Circumferential grooves eject water away for enhanced wet grip. You’ll stay in control via wide shoulder blocks and a solid center rib for constant road contact.

There are plenty more value-based options for Colorado! Carlos’s customers in Colorado Springs are drawn to the Radar Dimax AS-8. This popular tire is a budget option made by Radar Tires, a carbon neutral company since 2013. It comes with an M+S rating for severe weather and ample siping to deliver fantastic grip in wet, slush and light snowy conditions. It comes with a 50 to 60,000-mile warranty.

Discount Tire’s exclusive Arizonian Silver Edition All Season is also a popular budget choice with a loyal customer following. Also with a 50 to 60k-mile warranty, the Silver Edition All Season features the strong traction and controlled handling that you’d expect from a higher priced tire. A silica-enhanced tread compound yields great performance in a wide range of weather and temps. The Low Noise Tread Pattern also delivers a pleasantly quiet ride.

The Pro G5 from Falken comes with a lengthy 60,000-mile warranty and specialized tread compound that makes it a wonderful option for both summer and late fall/mild winter. Interlocking sipes grip forcefully in wet conditions while wide outer shoulder blocks provide predictable response to steering inputs for confident highway performance, perfect for your commuter vehicle.

Finally, the Mohave Touring A/S is worth a look! Its silica-enhanced tread compound stays flexible across a range of temps and boosts traction in wet conditions. It also has an advanced tire shape that offers up responsive handling and confident highway control. It’s heavily siped for extra biting edges in light snow and rain soaked roads.

BEST TRUCK TIRES FOR COLORADO

According to Aaron in Broomfield, truck owners often come in knowing exactly what tire type, make and model they want. And unsurprisingly, pickup owners tend towards aggressive all-terrain tires, whether for looks or for off-road performance for those weekend jaunts into the wilderness.

“Off-roading is a popular pastime,” agrees Tim out in our Denver store. In general, outdoor recreation is a huge hobby for residents of the Centennial State, so off-road tires that suit that lifestyle are popular in Colorado.

Carlos’s customers over in Colorado Springs want a tire that can cater to both off-roading and daily driving needs. He shows them the Goodyear Wrangler UltraTerrain AT. It’s a great all-terrain tire that can handle Colorado’s off-road trails and towing your weekend toy. It’s backed by the 3PMSF extreme weather rating and has a durable tread compound. Its optimized void ratio provides self-cleaning in loose terrains (mud and sand, anyone?), making it perfect for the trail while staying quiet on the road.

For another off-road tire that does well on paved surfaces, he suggests the ever popular BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2. This off-road staple has a long and illustrious history with enthusiast thrill seekers thanks to its CoreGard Technology, a Baja style race tech for increased sidewall strength and damage resistance. This is a durable, strong tire with maximum traction in mud, snow and over rocks (especially when aired down). Plus, it comes with an unusual (for an all-terrain tire) 50,000-mile warranty!

Want a pickup or SUV all-terrain tire that’s a good value? Tim recommends the Pathfinder AT. With powerful all-terrain traction and a pocketbook friendly price, it’s a fantastic choice. This Discount Tire exclusive is extreme weather rated and more than capable in dry, wet and light snow conditions. A pitch-optimized tread block gives you a smooth and comfortable ride with interconnected rib tread blocks delivering responsive handling and precise steering control. While it isn’t meant for extreme obstacles, it can handle unpaved roads like dirt and gravel with ease. Plus, it includes a 55k-mile warranty.

If you tend to stay on the pavement, we have a great recommendation for you. Tim says check out the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2, an all-season performance truck tire with a robust 50 to 70k mile warranty. It scores top marks in all categories, including tread life, safety, ride comfort and handling. It’s a great option for regions where inclement weather can strike thanks to its SipeLock technology. Plus, it’s EV compatible! Give it a looksee if you have a Ford F-150 Lightning or Rivian R1T or R1S!

DO I NEED SNOW TIRES IN COLORADO?

We recommend changing over to your winter tires when the temperature drops consistently below 45F.

Driving in snow in Colorado is not fun on all-season tires. That’s because all-season tires don’t perform as well as winter tires at these temperatures. They can’t brake as well, either.

While all-weather tires are rated for severe winter weather, they’re not a sufficient replacement for dedicated winter tires when dealing with the extreme winter weather that’s common to Colorado.

In more mountainous areas, snow is heavy and plentiful. And with plenty of below freezing winter days, an ordinary tire’s rubber will stop working effectively and create a driving safety hazard.

We’re sorry to disappoint our truck, SUV and 4x4 customers but all-terrain and mud-terrain tires can’t hold a candle to true winter tires either.

But, we make switching between your winter and regular tire set easy with our winter/snow tire changeover service!

Boulder, CO store manager Ty recommends booking your tire changeover sooner rather than later:

"I recommend planning ahead so you can keep yourself safe. It can be hard to get an appointment if you wait too long. You can start changing over in September, and we do seasonal snow tire changes for free!"

This is especially true for Coloradans living close to the mountains where cold, snowy weather starts sooner and tire shops become inundated with a winter time rush.

The Best Winter Tires for Colorado

Without a doubt, the most preferred winter tires in Colorado are from the Bridgestone Blizzak and Nokian Hakkapeliitta families of tires. They’re the gold standard; you can’t go wrong with your choice here. When asked about winter tires and the Hakkapeliitta and Blizzak lines, Aaron over in Broomfield commented: “Those are the hot dogs!”

In fact, Ty calls the Blizzak winter tire line, “the Kleenex of winter tires,” meaning they’re practically synonymous with “winter tires” at this point. And we can see why, if the Blizzak WS90 is any example! This winter tire is suitable for a wide range of cars from your coupe, hatchback, crossover and wagon. The WS90 gives you more of everything: more control, more traction in ice and snow and more peace of mind. It’s a stellar winter tire pick.

For your SUV, light truck or even crossover, the Blizzak DMV2 is the way to go. It offers advanced control for braking in snow and slippery, slushy roads with reliable traction. Ice a concern? Not any more. After one season on a set, you won’t ever go back to wincing along on just all-season tires!

The Nokian brand is world renown for their winter tires as they’re developed in the harshest northern territory in the world for extreme cold weather performance. The Hakkapeliitta 10 is a superb option with a spirited performance oriented design. Some sizes include run-flat tech, too, for extra peace of mind. It’s perfect for your sporty vehicle like Mercedes, Audi or BMW makes. Got an SUV? Check out the Hakkapeliitta 10 SUV!

At Carlos’s store in Colorado Springs, the Blizzak family of tires is preferred but he has also had an excellent experience with the Falken Winterpeak F-Ice 1 Studdable on his own personal vehicle. Carlos said, “They’re amazing! Great performance for snow.” This tire uses 4D Nano Tech to allow the tread to remain flexible at low temperatures and is rated for extreme weather conditions. Snow and ice competence paired with ejecting snow and water are just some of its many features.

If price point is a concern for you, don’t worry. Tim has the perfect recommendation for you: the GT Radial Icepro 3 Studdable. This studdable tire gives you confident winter driving, all season long. It comes in a wide range of sizes for passenger vehicles, including crossovers. A high silica compound keeps your tires performing, even in low temperatures, all without sacrificing mileage. You’ll enjoy constant road contact via wide tread grooves that eject slush and ice from the tire’s tread. Got an SUV? No problem, the IcePro SUV 3 has you covered.

ARE STUDDED TIRES AND TIRE CHAINS LEGAL IN COLORADO?

Yes, studded tires are legal without restriction in Colorado.

Unlike many other states, studded tires are legal year-round in Colorado, so people tend to keep them on their vehicles longer than is typical. According to Ty, studs are notorious for biting away at bare roads and in part contributes to the Centennial State’s poor driving surfaces. Remember to change out to your warm weather tires when the weather is consistently above 45F!

Only commercial vehicles are required to use tire chains in specifically marked areas where posted necessary. Passenger vehicles do not require tire chains in these areas unless explicitly stated. These areas may instead require severe weather designated tires, such as the three-peak mountain snowflake. Areas where you’ll see restrictions are typically mountain passes where you can experience severe road conditions.

Both cable and link type tire chains are allowed in Colorado. Make sure they’re sized and installed correctly. Check out our video on how to install tire chains!

While tire chains are helpful in an emergency, they aren’t the most popular option as they require some effort to install and can only be used at low speeds. In an emergency without true winter tires or even studded tires, however, they are a safe bet. We explore the topic: are studded tires better than chains here. If you’re unsure, talk with your Discount Tire store associate about what will work best for you and your vehicle.

Do you need a set of tire chains for your next winter wonderland trip?

Other Colorado Wheel & Tire Services

Too many good options to choose from? Try Treadwell. It’s our smart tire buying guide that’s designed to help you find the right tire based on your unique driving needs.

If your wheels have seen better days and need repair, turn to us at Discount Tire. Some of our stores offer wheel repair services! Plus, we have the largest stock of aftermarket wheels at the lowest prices in the industry. If your ride is ready for a style upgrade, we can help you outfit it in new rims!

And because Colorado has some pretty extreme weather conditions, it’s a good idea to check your windshield wiper blades before you hit the road. We recommend changing wiper blades every 12 months. Need new wiper blades? You’re in luck. We stock a full supply of high-quality, low-priced windshield wipers!

Check out our pick of the best winter wiper blades, too!

Ready to roll?

Carlos, our senior assistant manager at our Colorado Springs store would like to remind our customers that:

"Whenever you’re in need of any type of tire, Discount Tire’s definitely going to get you taken care of so you can get back on the road again!"

If you have other questions or want to upgrade your wheels or tires, just give us a ring, drop by or make an appointment online! Customers who buy their products online and book an appointment ahead of time wait less time in-store!