Locations in North Carolina: 37
First North Carolina location opening date: Gastonia, NC NCC01 | September 10, 1999
Common vehicles: Sedans, muscle and performance vehicles, crossovers, SUVs and pickup trucks
Major regions/cities: Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Cary, Wilmington, High Point, Concord
Road conditions: severe weather including hurricanes and flooding, storm debris, construction and rough roads
Home of pork barbecue, Krispy Kreme, “first in flight” aeronautical history, Duke University and a pleasant climate, the state of North Carolina is home to almost 10.5 million residents.
North Carolina’s major populated areas are urban centers like Charlotte and Raleigh, which tend to have congested, construction-studded roadways. Generally the roads are pretty good, if not uncomfortably crowded with commuters. Less urban roadways have less hassle and road damage but your mileage may vary.
One of the original thirteen colonies, North Carolina boasts great success in banking, financing, technology and agricultural markets, leading to a steadily increasing population. Thanks to this, residents have probably noticed that urban roadways have become congested and a bit more crowded while rural towns have emptied. This paired with some extreme seasonal weather and road conditions in an otherwise fine subtropical climate make it important for North Carolinians to get the right tires.
Don’t worry if choosing the safest and most appropriate tire for you and your vehicle is making your head spin. We’ve done the legwork for you and compiled the best car and truck tires for the state of North Carolina!
BEST CAR TIRES FOR NORTH CAROLINA
Outsiders may assume North Carolina has a humid, constant tropical or subtropical climate like its southern neighbors. However, the state does cool off significantly in the winter months, which are fraught with cold, windy and rainy weather. With that in mind, you may want to avoid summer tires, unless you plan to replace them in the late fall.
Instead, by and large, the tire type with the most utility is the all-season tire.
Michelin, Yokohama and Continental brands are the most requested and recommended. Popular brands for budget shoppers who want all-season performance include Hankook and Toyo. Drivers in the Tar Heel state need tires that offer them long-lasting value and excellent traction on frequently rain soaked roads.
Andrey Kvothchenko, a 12-year Discount Tire veteran and manager at the Northlake Discount Tire store in Charlotte recommends the Michelin Defender 2 for your passenger cars. North Carolinians will love its class-leading traction, ride comfort and extremely long projected service life from one of the best brands in the business.
Other top tier options are the Yokohama CTX (traction, comfort and value for crossovers!) and the Yokohama YK-GTX (performance level traction for coupes, sedans, crossovers and minivans!). The Pirelli Scorpion Verde A/S is ideal for performance-based SUVs or crossovers.
George Antall, a 20-year Discount Tire veteran at the Franklin Square Discount Tire store in Gastonia, NC suggests the Continental Contact Sport SRS+. It’s a favorite with luxury car and crossover drivers who love its generous 50k-mile warranty, ultra-high performance handling and traction and long lasting tread. This paired with Discount Tire’s suite of complementary services makes for an excellent deal. George hopes that customers can see the, “value of doing business with us and our available free services such as flat repairs, balancing and rotation and tire pressure checks!”
John Kovach, a 20-year veteran at the Raleigh, NC Discount Tire store, finds that his customers love Continental tires. “Continental passenger car tires fly off our shelves; they’re very popular because the tire’s excellent testing results in safety.” With weather that can go from 70F and sunny to the low 40s and dreary rain in one day, confident traction and safety no matter the road conditions are key.
On a budget? You’re not alone. Robert McDonald, a 7-year Discount Tire veteran and senior manager at the Western Boulevard Discount Tire in Jacksonville, NC says that a popular value tire his customers ask for is the Arizonian Silver Edition All Season, a Discount Tire exclusive. It’s attractive price point, high performing all-season capabilities and quiet driving comfort make it an appealing option.
Back in Charlotte, Andrey recommends the Hankook Kinergy GT H436 for customers looking to get everything without paying a premium price. This grand touring tire offers long-lasting comfort and year-round driving confidence. Plus, some sizes are available with run flat tech, giving you extra peace of mind!
John in Raleigh reports that the Sentury Touring tire flies off his shelves at his store. Customers love the price, traction, all-season performance and value.
BEST TRUCK TIRES FOR NORTH CAROLINA
Like anywhere, you’ll find plenty of pickup trucks on North Carolina’s roadways. Unlike in other parts of the nation, there isn’t a very big off-roading community with needs for truck tires with aggressive tread for rough terrain.
Instead, many pickup owners turn to all-terrain tires purely for that rugged, ready to go look. Some truck owners also use their trucks for work purposes and require light off-roading capabilities in dirt, sand, gravel and mud.
In Gastonia, NC, George Antall sees lots of pickup trucks, both light and heavy duty duallys, that require work related and enthusiast type tires. The three most popular truck tires he sees requested are the BFGoodrich All Terrain KO2, Michelin Defender LTX M/S and Nitto Ridge Grappler.
The BFGoodrich has a pedigreed history of off-roading excellence and is a solid option with amazing traction. If you’re looking for another enthusiast-centric tire, the Nitto is an excellent balanced option with good street performance in addition to off-road prowess. Michelin tires are a preferred brand in North Carolina, with superb on-road manners and comfort paired with severe weather capabilities.
John in the Raleigh store also sees customers requesting the Nitto Ridge Grappler thanks to its aggressive look that really sets off a truck’s overall aesthetic.
He also suggests the Pathfinder AT if you’re looking for an all-terrain tire with a budget price point. It also boasts the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating, a comfy ride, responsive handling and great all-season traction. The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W is another all-terrain option with a mid-grade price point that he has a hard time keeping in stock due to its high demand! This tire prioritizes wear, wet and winter performance, so it’s an all around reliable option.
Robert in the Jacksonville Discount Tire store finds his customers are looking for pure looks with their pickup tires. For this, he recommends the Goodyear Ultraterrain AT and the Toyo Open Country A/T III.
They both feature an aggressive tread/sidewall design with the benefit of some serious wet/dry traction and durable tread compounds. The UltraTerrain AT features a self-cleaning tread and a lower price point. The Toyo offers a generous 50-65,000-mile warranty and improved wet and snow stopping distance.
DO I NEED SNOW TIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA?
In short: not usually!
The Tar Heel state does get a little bit of snow in the western end, up in the lower toes of the Appalachian Mountains. However, snow usually amounts to less than 4-5” a year. The state does experience cool or cold temperatures and frequent rain which can lead to icy streets.
However, we find that snow tires are generally not necessary and choosing the right all-season tire with good severe weather features is sufficient. These are sometimes called all-weather tires.
If you are still concerned, please contact your local Discount Tire store to discuss what’s best for you and your area with us!
If you’re still feeling a little lost or overwhelmed with our picks for the best tires in North Carolina, we understand! Treadwell, our smart tire buying guide, can find the ideal tire for you using your driving style, vehicle, budget and even region of North Carolina.
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 and book an appointment online wait less time in-store!)
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