Locations in Georgia: 43
First Georgia location opening date: Woodstock, GA GAA01 | August 8, 2001
Common vehicles: Pickup trucks, muscle cars, passenger sedans
Major regions/cities: Atlanta, Columbus, Augusta, Macon, Savannah, Athens, Sandy Springs, South Fulton, Roswell and Johns Creek
Road conditions: Humid subtropical climate, moderate and heavy rain, coasts are susceptible to severe storms leading to flooding and road debris; generally well maintained roads, but with heavy traffic and construction in some areas
One of the original 13 colonies, Georgia is a powerhouse, with Hollywood cinema filming locations and a booming population. All of this makes Georgia an interesting place to live and drive. With its humid subtropical climate, mountain-capped northern border, coastal containment and sweltering southern end, it might seem like an impossible task to choose the right tire for your life in the Peach State.
And you’re not the only one on the road, either. Georgia offers the largest land area east of the Mississippi River and is the eighth most populous state, with over 10.5 million residents according to the 2020 census. Most of these residents call major cities home, but Georgia boasts 17 cities with populations of over 50,000, meaning Georgia’s drivers are primarily urban and suburban-centered.
We’ll get you taken care of and help you find the right tire for your budget, your commute and your vehicle. For your convenience, we’ve broken down the best car and truck tires for Georgia below.
BEST CAR TIRES FOR GEORGIA
In general, the state is hot, humid and prone to lots of rain. This makes it tempting to turn to using summer tires year round. However, summer tires may not be the best choice for your 365 day commuter tire.
First, summer tires tend to be performance oriented and focus on handling, cornering and stability at high speeds. While they have excellent wet and dry traction, they were designed to be used seasonally. Therefore, their tread and service life are not expected to last as long as our customers prefer.
Second, Georgia does experience temperature drops in the winter, often down to 40F or lower in the northern end of the state. While summer tires are great in the warmer months, they aren’t safe to use near or at freezing temperatures.
For that reason, Discount Tire recommends all-season tires for your year round tire option. They offer the best wet and dry weather traction at a wide spectrum of ambient temperatures. They’ve also come a long way in terms of performance, longevity and cost.
Check out our blog for more info on Summer Tires vs. All-Season Tires!
Mitchell Banks, a three year Discount Tire veteran at the McDonough Atlanta store recommends the Michelin Defender 2, a three-punch combo with dependable all-season traction, class-leading comfort and a very long projected service life from one of the best brands in the business. By and large, this is the most popular and most purchased car tire in Georgia.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2019 report on state climates, Georgia received between 45-80” of rain in 2019 across the state. So, wet traction is certainly a top concern.
Tristan Perez, a six-year Discount Tire veteran and assistant manager at the Abercorn Village store in south central Savannah recommends the Michelin CrossClimate2. This is an all-season and performance oriented tire with amazing wet and dry grip (even in light snow) that maintains its integrity across a range of temps, so no matter what you and your car are covered. It’s also designated as a severe weather tire with a Three-Peak-Mountain-Snowflake rating so you can have extra bad weather confidence.
Georgia roadways are home to quite a few trucks (personal and work), coupes, sedans and muscle cars. Despite their popularity in the rest of the country, CUVs and SUVs seem to make up a smaller scope of the Georgia auto market.
If you do happen to be looking for a crossover or perhaps SUV tire that best suits wet weather, you can turn to the Yokohama YK-CTX. Developed with safety in mind, it delivers extremely short braking distances on both wet and dry roads. Its long service life, value and mileage warranty also make it very attractive.
Tristan notes that the Michelin brand and its tires are quite popular with his customers thanks to their long lasting tread, good mileage warranty and safety features.
You can check out our picks of the best all-season tires out there to get some more ideas!
Best Truck Tires for Georgia
The roadways in the Peach State are often thought to be well maintained but when they’re bad, they’re bad. Road debris from traffic, construction and storms, plus the searing heat, take a toll on the streets (and therefore your tires).
Add in the fact that most trucks need to be able to manage soft road surfaces like gravel, dirt and mud in addition to highway terrain, and you can see why all-terrain tires for trucks are the de facto option in Georgia.
Mitchell recommends the Toyo Open Country A/T III, an all-terrain and all-season truck tire with an aggressive appearance, rugged construction, excellent wet traction and value price. You can explore more other Toyo Open Country tires on our Buyer’s Guide!
For severe weather, rugged wear resistance and awesome traction, Mitchell also recommends the Michelin Defender LTX M/S.
If you’re looking for something that offers great on-the-road manners, comfort and off-road prowess, Steven Williams from the Valdosta Discount Tire store recommends the Nitto Ridge Grappler. A four-year veteran, Steven finds that customers enjoy the Grappler’s prowess in clay and water terrain, ideal for work and personal trucks that need to depart from the pavement.
DO I NEED SNOW TIRES IN GEORGIA?
In general, the answer is probably not.
With its subtropical climate, your chance of experiencing true snow in Georgia is pretty slim. In Atlanta for example, the average is 1.4 inches and this isn’t a yearly expectation, either. Ice in the coldest months is a concern and if it does snow, roads are usually closed down anyway.
Snowfall is a possibility if you travel to the northern edge of the state, near the Blue Ridge Mountains (which is part of the Appalachians). This area can get up to 4-18” a year in addition to other winter weather like ice and sleet.
This area is not as heavily populated, but if you live in this part of Georgia then snow tires should be a consideration.
When you’re ready to upgrade the tires on your vehicle, start with Treadwell, our smart tire buying guide. Treadwell finds the ideal tire for you using your driving style, vehicle and even region of Georgia to help make the right recommendation for you. Customers who buy and book an appointment online wait less time in-store!
If you have more questions or want to upgrade your wheels or tires, give us a ring, drop by or make an appointment online.
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