Locations in Idaho: 7
First Idaho location opening date: Hayden IDN01 | May 21, 2009
Common vehicles: sedans, crossovers, SUVs, 4x4 pickup trucks
Major regions/cities: Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Coeur d’Alene, Twin Falls, Rexburg, Post Falls
Road conditions: Tons of potholes and gravel, minimal traffic even in urban centers, icy and snowy winters and mild warmer months
Idaho isn’t just about potatoes (although there are plenty of those). Called the Gem State, its magnificent natural beauty attracts tourists across the country and the globe to its national parks. And with a booming economy complete with lumber, mining, forestry, manufacturing and science and technology industries, Idaho offers several attractive hubs for employment and comfortable living.
In addition to its urban centers, Idahoans face driving challenges consisting of large swathes of open country, mountain passes, country roads and wet, wintery weather. Choosing the right tires to help you navigate your commute is vital. Whether you’re rolling into work in Boise, heading up for a ski weekend at Baldy or working a job site in Meridian, the right tires will help you get there safely and comfortably.
We can help you make the right decision for you, your vehicle and your budget. We’ve asked our local experts on the best car, truck and winter tires for Idaho and gathered them below. Let’s get rolling!
Thanks to Idaho’s chip sealing method of repairing its uncountable potholes, Idahoans have to contend with some abrasive roads that wreak havoc on wheels and tires. But we have good news: we offer the largest stock of aftermarket wheels and repair services, too!
BEST CAR TIRES FOR IDAHO
Idaho’s varying climate makes the all-season tire the ideal and most commonly recommended tire type. Regions across the state experience different degrees of humidity, rain and dryness, so the all-season’s flexibility earns it its due regard.
Wes Galbirath at the Idaho Falls and Ammon Discount Tire says his customers prefer the Continental ControlContact Tour A/S Plus. With a robust mileage warranty for up to 80,000 miles, fuel efficient technology and reliable all-season grip, it’s easy to see why.
Great for your commuter car, but what about the driver with a passion for thrill-seeking? Wes says not to worry: Continental has your back with the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus. This UHP all-season tire offers exhilarating performance on dry, wet and snowy surfaces. Plus, it’s backed by a lengthy 50k-mile warranty!
Taylor over at the West Overland Road store agrees that the Continental line of all-season tires are a great option. He finds, however, the best car tire for Idaho is the Michelin Defender 2. His customers love the huge mileage warranty (80k miles!), reliable all-weather performance, braking and handling plus its quiet, comfy ride.
Eli Roberts, manager of the Garden City Discount Tire store in Boise says his favorite is the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail!
While this all-terrain tire might not seem in line with the all-season picks, it’s actually 3PMS-rated, meaning it delivers true all-weather grip. Eli recommends it because it can handle the pavement and Idaho’s abundant country gravel and dirt roads. And with the Gem State’s bustling outdoor community, enthusiasts love the off-road grip it provides.
”It goes on everything; it comes in a huge range of sizes,” he points out, meaning your sedan, crossover and small SUV can enjoy its adventurous spirit. It’s purpose-built to give CUVs and AWD sedans all-terrain grip without the heft of a traditional LT AT tire!
Idahoans looking to get the most out of their budget will like the Arizonian Silver Edition All Season according to Wes. He says customers looking for a highly rated tire that offers great all-season traction without the premium tire price will enjoy the Arizonian. This Discount Tire exclusive features a 60,000-mile warranty, a long-lasting tread, quiet ride and controlled grip.
Taylor’s customers come in asking for Cooper branded tires because they offer value and high rated performance.
But if you’re looking for an outright steal, you’ll love the Sentury UHP. With a fantastic price point, it features an optimized tread for wet and dry grip.
BEST TRUCK TIRES FOR IDAHO
According to Wes, truck drivers in Idaho use their pickups for a variety of tasks, including off-roading (for work and play), long hauls and towing. In the end, the best truck tire in Idaho is the one that fulfills all your needs while keeping you safe.
When considering touring and towing, Wes recommends the Cooper Discoverer HTP II for your truck in Idaho. Well liked, the Discoverer HTP II offers fuel efficient performance paired with superb treadwear. It delivers excellent ride comfort over a variety of surfaces, wet and dry traction and handling and quiet in-cabin experience.
For most other applications though, the most popular truck tires in Idaho tend to be all-terrain tires that offer off-road grip, durability and some weather dependability.
To keep up with the rough off-road terrain (and rough highway terrain, thanks to those potholes) Taylor over in Boise, ID recommends the BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2. A staple of the off-road community, it offers a well rounded list of performance features. It has a 3-peak mountain snowflake rating for severe weather, enhanced on and off-road traction for mud, snow, rocks and pavement and a significant 50k-mile warranty. The carcass resists bruising and splitting, even in the roughest conditions.
Wes also suggests the Goodyear Wrangler UltraTerrain AT, an all-terrain that’s great for your light truck or SUV that needs aggressive traction in deep mud and snow. Also rated for severe weather, it can comfortably handle Idaho’s adverse weather. The optimized void ratio keeps the tread clean and clear from sand and mud, allowing you to power through even deep, loose surfaces. It’s also a rugged tire with a durable anti-chunking compound and puncture resistant carcass.
A new tire that Eli in Garden City Boise likes to recommend is the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss M/T. Top of the line, it offers high-grade off-road performance. Thanks to its PowerPly XD construction, it has some serious puncture resistance against even the most fearsome trails. Mud scoops and angled shoulder scallops clear mud and propel the tire forward. Its asymmetrical tread pattern delivers a reasonably well-mannered on-road ride (for a mud terrain tire).
For a balance of cost and performance, Taylor says to turn to the Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT. A great option for your pickup truck, SUV or even CUV, it offers fantastic on and off-road capability. With minimal road noise and all-terrain traction, your vehicle can conquer those potholes and country roads with ease. And with Cooper’s Dual Tread Technology that makes hauling heavy loads over long distances and harsh terrain a reality, it’s an attractive jack-of-all-trades tire.
Wes says if you need off-road performance with winter traction to choose the Falken Wildpeak AT3W. With a 50k-mile warranty, severe weather rating and an aggressive sidewall design, this tire is a steadfast option. Plus, the heat diffuser prevents overheating while towing or hauling, making it a great option for your truck. And because it’s a Falken, you know it’s a high-value option!
The Discount Tire exclusive Pathfinder AT also offers a value price, winter traction, considerable off-road capability and on-road manners. You’ll need to move fast, though: this well reviewed all-terrain truck tire is hard to keep on the shelves due to its awesome balance of features and price.
DO I NEED SNOW TIRES IN IDAHO?
Yes, we recommend you make the yearly change to winter tires in Idaho, as this state experiences a true winter with snow, frigid temperatures and ice. The Gem State also averages 10 inches more snow than the total US average, quite a bit of which is located in higher elevations and the mountains. Winter tires (sometimes referred to as “snow tires”) are built to perform in temps below 45F and provide traction in snow and ice.
You should change to winter tires when temperatures are consistently below 45F.
Relying on your all-season tires is a mistake as they don’t perform as well as winter tires in sub-freezing weather. They also don’t brake as well as winter tires. For peace of mind come the cold season, you can’t beat a set of winter tires.
Unfortunately, all-terrain and mud-terrain tires don’t perform as well as winter tires, either.
Luckily, Idahoans understand the need to make the switch every season, choosing to equip their vehicles with either studded or studless winter tires.
Did you know that Discount Tire can help make the change to winter tires for you? Chill out and relax while we KO your winter tire changeover!
When it comes to winter tires in Idaho, you can’t go wrong with either the Bridgestone Blizzak or Nokian Hakkapeliitta line of tires. Any of these tires are terrific options but we’ve listed a few top contenders right here.
For your passenger vehicle, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is perhaps the most recommended. It features amazing traction in both ice and snow. It has stopping power and control you can rely on, evaporating those fears of fishtailing immediately.
For your SUV or light truck, the Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2 is the way to go. With a hydrophilic coating and multi-cell rubber compound mixture in the tread, water and snow are channeled away from the contact patch, giving you impressive winter traction. Bite particles grab onto slick and even sheer ice!
For a top of the line studded option, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 is a crowd favorite. Engineered for the most severe weather conditions possible, it has an optimized tread that keeps your ride planted, even in icy, slushy and snowy conditions. It’s a studded tire too, to give you additional control when traveling through those hard to traverse mountain passes. Plus, it comes with run-flat technology in some sizes!
If there are too many good options to choose from, try starting with Treadwell. It’s our smart tire buying guide designed to help you find the right tire based on your unique driving needs.
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 tires and wheels and book their appointment online wait less time in-store!
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