What are the Best Tires for Kansas?

Locations in Kansas: 9
First Kansas location opening date: Olathe KSK01 | February 2, 2015
Common vehicles: sedans, passenger vehicles with some off-road capability, pickup trucks, SUVs
Major regions/cities: Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, Olathe, Topeka, Lawrence, Shawnee, Manhattan, Lenexa, Salina
Road conditions: Generally good but potholes due to freezing/snowy conditions, plenty of mud, dirt and gravel country roads but open interstate highways; severe storms

Home to Dorothy (and her little dog, too), the University of Kansas (and all their famous alumni), a tumultuous climate and more wheat than you know what to do with, the state of Kansas offers drivers a unique landscape to navigate.

Kansas roads are often troubled by extreme heat, rain, ice, snow and the threat of tornadoes. Although they don’t have the usual traffic jams of more heavily populated states, the Wheat State still requires careful consideration when choosing the right tires. Whether you’re trekking across dirt and gravel roads or commuting around Topeka or Wichita, the right tires will make your job much easier (and safer)!

But where to start? We’ve asked our home field experts what the best car and truck tires are for Kansas for you. Don’t forget your winter tires, too!

Are your wheels in shoddy shape? We sell and repair wheels and rims for every occasion!

BEST CAR TIRES FOR KANSAS

Predictably, the most popular car tire type in Kansas is the all-season tire. It offers the best balance of wet and dry traction with the most tread flexibility across temperatures above 45F.

Gary Pugh, 15-year Discount Tire veteran who helped start up Discount Tire’s entrance into Kansas has this to say:

“When shopping for tires, it’s a fantastic thing to do your own investigation for what you’re looking for. But since we have the best tire data in the US and we know how to use it, we can advise our customers with the best choice. Our expertise and experience can help you get better results. I ask our customers to keep an open mind when they come into the store and seriously consider our recommendations!”

The best car tire in Kansas is, after all, the one that keeps you safe!

Gary manages the Bauer Farm location in Lawrence, KS and his customers love the Michelin Defender 2. It’s his most requested tire, probably because it offers a plethora of features, including a long projected service life, class-leading ride comfort, excellent all-season traction and an 80k-mile mile warranty.

He also likes the Continental ControlContact Tour M A/S. Comparable to the Michelin, it’s the embodiment of “bang for your buck”.

Michael Fisher from the Kellogg Web Discount Tire in Wichita, KS agrees, adding that the Continental does better on dirt roads due to its slightly more aggressive tread. This is appealing to a good number of Kansans who have to contend with dirt or gravel country roads or driveways on a regular basis.

Cody Burnett, a 10-year veteran and manager at the Manhattan, KS Discount Tire location suggests the Nokian Encompass AW01 to contend with the unpredictable Kansas weather. The AW01 is a true all-weather tire and features the three-peak mountain snowflake rating. That means serious grip all year round. On top of that, it’s built tough. With cut and puncture resistance, a quiet ride and traction for days, it’s easy to see why it’s highly recommended.

If you need an all-season touring tire with across the board performance, Gary suggests the Yokohama YK-GTX. With dry, wet and light winter traction and a stable ride, it delivers controlled handling while resisting uneven treadwear. Its 70,000-mile warranty is the icing on the cake.

Kansans on a budget can rest easy because Discount Tire offers amazing value tires that won’t break the bank.

Chad Tindle from the Shawnee Mission Discount Tire in Kansas City, KS suggests the Arizonian Silver Edition All Season. With a 60,000-mile warranty, this Discount Tire exclusive offers an all-star performance with a long-lasting tread life, a quiet ride, precise steering response and dependable traction.

If you contend with less than perfect roads, Michael recommends the Falken Pro G5 A/S. It has the same mileage warranty but holds up better on Kansas dirt roads. Its tread compound offers confident performance in summer and winter.

Although Cody in Manhattan, KS tends to see mostly truck customers (“We’re a truck store, 100%!”), he directs car drivers to the Kumho Solus Majesty 9 TA91. Another exclusive tire, it offers a long-lasting tread and strong grip at a bargain.

BEST TRUCK TIRES FOR KANSAS

With its dirt, gravel and muddy country roads and heaps of agricultural and worksite related driving conditions, it’s no wonder most truck drivers in Kansas prefer all-terrain tires.

Chad in Kansas City says his customers really like the Cooper Discoverer ATP II for its dynamic performance in both worlds: on and off-road. Gary agrees that truck owners will get the most out of a hybrid tire like this Cooper that gives both off-road traction and on-road comfort.

The Falken Wildpeak A/T4W is very popular at Michael’s store. Many of his customers not only live off dirt roads but also need off-road-ready vehicles for work. Customers like the A/T4W for its aggressive look, 60k-mile warranty and prominent wear, wet and winter performance features.

Michael personally runs Nitto Ridge Grapplers on his vehicles, and he likes them a lot. He has only had good experiences, probably due to their quiet, on-road manners, aggressive looks, rugged grip and dual sidewall designs for a custom feel. The Nitto and Falken are the two most popular tires at his store.

For the top highway terrain pick, Gary likes the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2. With a robust warranty up to 70k miles, shorter winter and wet weather stopping distances, quiet and comfy ride and reliable all-season performance, it’s easy to see why.

Cody’s store is located near some rough terrain, so his customers contend with sharp, unfriendly tire conditions. “We’re a road hazard store,” he laughs. His truck customers need super durable and rugged tires to battle the flint rock in the area.

They have a couple of options, such as the BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2. An off-roading enthusiast favorite, the 50k-mile warranty is an appealing start. Its slew of off-road dominating features make it an excellent choice. Plus, the 3PMS rating means you can count on it in any weather. Most importantly: it uses CoreGard Technology to resist bruising and splitting, even on rocky trails.

The Goodyear Wrangler UltraTerrain AT is another popular option. Like the BFG, it boasts a severe weather rating, all-terrain grip and puncture resistance. It features advanced computer modeling tech to deliver a comfortable on-road experience. Its long-lasting durable tread compound resists chunking and minimizes weak points.

But Cody’s favorite would have to be the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT. It’s the most popular truck tire at his store. Brand new, it has already proven its toughness against the flint rock obstacles in his area.

Kansans with trucks looking to save some money have a number of great options. Gary offers the Corsa Highway Terrain Plus. Whether you’re looking for on-road comfort or off-road grit, there’s a Corsa tire for you. Another popular budget option is the Pathfinder AT.

DO YOU NEED SNOW TIRES IN KANSAS?

With its unpredictable weather and often freezing winter temps, we at Discount Tire recommend that Kansans make the yearly change to winter tires.

Kansas gets its fair share of snow and ice, with up to 40 inches of snowfall per year, depending on where you are in the state (according to Kansas State University). But the fact is, the sub-freezing temps are a bigger concern. Winter tires (also called “snow tires”) brake better below 45F. They’re engineered specifically to stay flexible and perform in cold temps compared to other tire types. Their tread patterns also tend to provide superior accelerating, cornering and braking—very important on sleet, hail, ice and snow covered roads.

Lots of customers try to avoid the cost of winter tires and the hassle of changing them out by opting for all-season tires. But Discount Tire cautions against relying on these to get you through the winter; all-season tires don’t perform as well as winter tires. And to all of our customers with 4x4 rigs: even all-terrain and mud tires perform poorly compared to winter tires.

(Did you know we can handle your winter tire changeover for you? Schedule an appointment, kick back and let us do all the hard work!)

Gary’s customers like the Michelin X Ice Snow for its stopping power (up to 8.85 feet shorter than the competition’s leading tire), severe weather rating (both 3-Peak and M+S rated) and its 40k-mile warranty, a rarity for winter tires. Cody finds these tires have consistently good feedback from his customers.

Widely regarded as the elite in winter tires, Chad recommends the Nokian Hakkapeliitta line. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 in particular is a customer favorite for its dominance in the harshest winter weather, its run-flat technology (in some sizes) and studdable capabilities. Remember: studs are legal in Kansas between November 1st and April 1st.

Cody’s customers also like Blizzak winter tires, specifically the Blizzak WS90. Seamless control and performance, excellent ice and snow traction and serious stopping power, it’s a great option. Got a truck or SUV? Choose the Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2 for winter touring power!

Speaking of price, if you’re budget-conscious, Gary says to consider Hankook I Pike winter tires. For sedans, coupes, vans and crossovers, the Hankook Winter I Pike W419 is a good choice. For your pickup or SUV, the Hankook I Pike X is the way to go.

If you’re not sure where to start even with all of these fine suggestions, don’t sweat it. Get your footing with Treadwell, our smart tire buying guide designed to help you find your ideal tire based on your vehicle and 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 book and buy online first wait less time in-store!

For more information on this and other tire and wheel services, check out our YouTube Channel or reach out to us on X, Facebook and Instagram.