What are the best tires for Ohio?

Locations in Ohio: 16
First Ohio location opening date: OHC03 | June 14, 1999
Common vehicles: Big mix of crossovers, SUVs, trucks and EVs and high-end models
Major regions/cities: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Dayton, Canton, Lorain, Parma, Hamilton, Youngstown
Road conditions: Hot summers, cold winters, huge population boost leads to increased drivers and traffic, potholes, urban, suburban and rural road types

With the seventh biggest population in the United States, tons of tourist attractions (Lake Erie, museums galore, competitive sports and of course Cedar Point), plus a rich history (in almost anything, really), the state of Ohio has a lot going on.

Heavily populated city centers, the three C’s (Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland), are surrounded by sprawling suburbs and vast rural areas for agriculture and forests. These are intercut by interstate highways full of tourists, students and thousands of new and old residents alike making their way. With ample roads, bypasses, in-state and out-of-town drivers and weather obstacles to contend with, Ohio has a lot going on. And many wonder what is the best tire for them in Ohio to cope.

We’ve done all the leg work for you and consulted with our in-store experts about the best tires for Ohio. Whether you have a commuter sedan, family friendly SUV or work truck, we’ve got the best tire recommendations for all of Ohio right here.

Would you rather just start shopping for yourself?

BEST CAR TIRES FOR OHIO

As a true four season state, it’s no wonder then that the most popular car tire in Ohio is an all-season tire.

Joe King, manager of the Lancaster, OH Discount Tire store explains that his customers tend to require reliable commuter tires since they’re frequently on highways, traveling high speeds, between Lancaster and Columbus on a daily basis.

Noah Rodgers, manager of our Hamilton, OH Discount Tire, finds his customers are drawn to the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus for this reason. It’s a top-tier all-season tire that’s perfect for commuting. This all-season tire comes with a performance and touring-oriented tread, with a robust 70-80,000-mile warranty and a host of nice-to-have features like EcoPlus™ tech for shorter stopping distances, an extended tread life and better fuel efficiency. Customers also like the comfort band which helps absorb bumps and shocks so you can enjoy a cushy ride.

But another fan favorite at his store is the Yokohama YK-GTX. This performance-based all-season tire comes with a 70k-mile warranty and is favored due to its prowess with wet handling. Noah’s part of Ohio gets tons of rain, so drivers want good hydroplane resistance, which the YK-GTX does pretty well, thanks to its angled grooves within the circumferential grooves (perfect for water displacement).

Aaron Cian’s customers out at the Beavercreek, OH Discount Tire also come in asking for the Yokohama. His store has a good mix of families, students and military personnel who all want the best bang for their buck.

(That reminds us, did you know we offer a military discount?)

That’s probably why his customers are also moving toward an emerging tire category, called the all-weather tire. Basically an all-season ramped up to 200%, all-weather tires include three-peak mountain snowflake severe weather designations, souped-up treads and construction to handle more inclement weather further into the cooler seasons. Aaron says that traction is a prime concern for his customers and since southern Ohio’s climate can be so temperamental, you’ll want to be ready for anything. You also may not need to change your tires, depending on your area’s weather patterns.

That’s why he suggests the Nokian Encompass AW01. Nokian is well known for their winter tires and they’ve definitely utilized their know-how to create a confident option. This multi-season powerhouse can handle almost anything outside of a true winter storm. Its tread handles light snow (SnowClaws anyone?), wet roads, dry pavement and more with a surprisingly luxurious ride via the Silent Sidewall Technology.

Aaron sees tons of requests for Nokian and Yokohama, but also a strong demand for tires from the Michelin tire catalog. If you want an all-weather option from Michelin, we suggest the Michelin CrossClimate2 which features a 60,000-mile warranty, V-formation tread design for confident wet and dry weather handling, and severe weather rating.

If you live in parts of southern Ohio where winters are mild, or you just want your ride to wear non-winter tires for as long as possible, an all-weather tire may be a good option for you.

(Go ahead and check out our blog on the best all-weather tires!)

BEST TRUCK TIRES FOR OHIO

Ohio has just under the national average of pickup truck ownership, but that doesn’t mean they’re a rare sight. With a handful of major cities (the three C’s, remember?) and ample suburbs, there’s still millions of acres of agriculturally viable land to work. And blue-collar workers by and large prefer to utilize pickups for their job and commute alike.

Joe King’s customers over in Lancaster focus heavily on quality, preferring at least medium or premium-tier tires.

According to Noah in our Hamilton, OH Discount Tire store, truck owners predominantly want all-terrain tires for not only their off-road capability (dirt, gravel, worksites) but also their tough carcasses and rugged looking tread.

He says you can’t go wrong with the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, an off-roading staple across the country. Its biggest features include its severe weather handling (excellent considering Ohio’s tendency to surprise you), super strong sidewall and carcass (via CoreGard Technology) and wholesome 50k-mileage warranty. Its dependable traction in a wide range of surfaces from mud, snow and rocks (especially when aired down) make it an instant favorite to newcomers. Senior assistant manager Aaron in Beavercreek, OH has personal experience with this tire and loves how well they handle winter weather and offer on-road quiet.

The KO3 has also recently been released and is expected to become as well liked as its predecessor.

If you’re looking for a mid-level all-terrain option (either for performance or cost), Aaron suggests the Cooper Discoverer ATP II. They feature stone ejector ledges and wide off-shoulder tread blocks to reduce stone retention and provide excellent grip in mud and sand. Like the BFG, they offer a quiet on-road presence and responsive handling with a 60,000-mile warranty. If you see an ATP II out in the wild, chances are the truck’s owners are repeat customers!

Aaron also sees his customers choosing the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W for a mid-tier all-terrain option for Ohio. The Falken incorporates both touring, all-terrain and performance tread features to give you a well-rounded experience (and 50-55k mile warranty). The A/T3W focuses on the three w’s: wear, wet and winter performance. With a stabilized tread pattern, a heat diffuser (keeping the structural integrity intact) and an aggressive sidewall, it delivers unrelenting traction in a variety of conditions. First time customers are impressed and long-time fans are ecstatic at its continued prowess.

If you need a highway-terrain tire for your truck, either for commuting, towing or just pavement-centric performance, he likes the Bridgestone Dueler LX. It blends an all-season and performance-oriented tread with treadwear resistance via a silica-enhanced tread compound. Reliable in dry and wet conditions, it offers controlled highway handling with confident traction. The 50-70k mileage warranty is also a nice cherry on top!

Got a SUV? Noah’s SUV customers (with a Ford Explorer, maybe?) up in Hamilton find the Falken Pro G5 CSV or Michelin Defender LTX M/S to be perfect for their needs. The Pro G5 CSV delivers luxurious performance and comfort with double siping and jagged edging for biting grip in wet or light winter conditions. It includes a 60,000-mile warranty.

If you prefer Michelin’s high standard, you’ll be drawn to the Defender LTX M/S with its generous 50-70k mile warranty, short winter and wet braking distances and MaxTouch Construction that helps you save at the gas pump. Michelin’s EverTread rubber compound helps resist wear, even under heavy loads and severe road conditions, which is perfect for Ohio’s pothole-studded landscape. It comes in two attractive sidewall designs, too, so your ride looks and feels amazing.

On a budget for your truck tires? Noah recommends the Pathfinder AT and Pathfinder HT for your pickup’s needs. The Pathfinder AT is a Discount Tire exclusive all-terrain pocketbook friendly option with 50-55k mileage warranty, excellent off-road and weather grip and durable rubber compound. It is three-peak mountain snowflake rated, so it can handle when Ohio does its Ohio thing while still reliably offering responsive handling and steering control.

The Pathfinder HT is likewise a highway-terrain tire with well founded high reviews from our customers needing a solid on-road option at an economical price. It delivers all-season highway performance for SUVs, vans and light trucks with a stiff center treadblock for stability and handling. Durable and strong, towing and hauling are no problem. You’ll enjoy the 45-60,000-mile warranty too.

DO I NEED SNOW TIRES IN OHIO?

Ohio is a four season state with noticeable temperature and weather differences. Noah mentions the “snow belt” which is the area north of Columbus that experiences lake-effect weather patterns that intensify winter conditions. He explains that the snow belt can receive twice as much snow as south of the belt.

Even though southern Ohio doesn’t see quite so much snow, it’s still quite cold. Winter and snow tires are engineered to begin performing below 45F when other tire types lose their flexibility, and therefore compromise their ability to perform. Winter tires are founded on the ability to function in frigid temps, which is why we prefer to refer to them as “winter” instead of “snow” tires.

Unfortunately, relying on your all-season tires in winter time is dangerous as they do not perform as well as a true winter tire. They also cannot brake as well in winter conditions.

Many truck and SUV drivers are lulled into a false sense of security with their all-terrain or mud-terrain tires. Unfortunately, all-terrain and mud-terrain tires do not compare to dedicated winter tires.

You also shouldn’t rely on your 4WD or AWD drivetrain to help you stop in winter conditions!

Many of Noah’s customers eke by winter by using severe weather rated all-weather tires year-round and avoid the need to change to a winter set. This is acceptable if the winter turns out to be mild, as it does some years in Ohio. However, Discount Tire strongly recommends keeping a set of winter tires to ensure maximum levels of safety when temps drop regularly below 45F, regardless if there’s snow, ice, slush or rain.

And we make switching between your winter and regular tire set easy with our winter/snow tire changeover service! Some of our stores even offer tire storage! You can also choose to properly store your tires yourself.

THE BEST WINTER TIRES FOR OHIO

Feel free to check out our picks for the best winter tires on our blog!

But if you’re looking for the best winter tires for Ohio, Aaron says a great place to start (and end) your journey is with a set of Bridgestone Blizzaks or Nokian Hakkapeliittas. These two tire families consistently outscore other winter tires and offer top notch winter protection and confidence. These tire families also offer a model for everybody, whether you’re looking for spiffy sporty performance in the powder or ice traction for your truck/SUV.

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is an excellent winter tire option in Ohio because it blends touring and performance features with a winter ready tread in a huge array of sizes. Whether you have a coupe, sedan, crossover or even a minivan, the Blizzak WS90 is available to you. You can expect a snappy steering response and stellar traction and stopping power.

If you want something heavy duty for an SUV or pickup truck, we definitely recommend the Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2. Multi-cell rubber compounds work in tandem with a hydrophilic coating to evacuate water and snow from the tread to yield confident control, braking and traction in ice, slush and snow. A customer raves that they’re “unstoppable”!

For advanced winter tire utility, go the studded route with the Nokian Hakkapelitta 10 Studded tire. The Hakkapeliitta 10 uses state-of-the-art studding tech for strategically placed traction in even the worst of the worst conditions. If you want unprecedented cornering, braking and lane-changing performance without breaking a sweat, this is the tire for you. It is also EV capable with Eco Stud 10 eco-friendly studs for improved ice grip and reduced road wear while also being environmentally friendly. Some sizes even come in run-flat technology. It comes in an SUV version, too!

Your sporty ride also needs a pair of winter shoes, so Aaron points to the Pirelli P Zero Winter. Its asymmetrical tread design can tackle the high demands of winter weather and deliver a spirited driving experience. Braking, cornering and traction are categories of no concern here. It’s built in sizes specifically for your high-powered sedan or coupe.

One last recommendation: the Michelin X-Ice Snow. This Michelin offering comes with a rare winter tire category warranty (40,000-miles). It features two types of full-depth interlocking sipes and thousands of extra biting edges to create a claw-like effect on snow and ice which works in tandem with Michelin’s Flex-Ice 2.0™ tread compound for great traction across freezing temps. These tires give customers confidence and safety in inclement winter weather, from dry light powder to deep snow and ice.

ARE STUDDED TIRES AND TIRE CHAINS LEGAL IN OHIO?

Few average Ohio drivers prefer or even bother with either studded tires or snow chains. Ohio is fairly flat and tire chains are speed restricted; a proper winter tire will be perfectly acceptable.

If you are traveling out of state to areas that may require them, such as mountain passes or severe weather regions, we recommend checking with that state’s rules about their use.

Other Ohio Wheel & Tire Services

If you’re having trouble making a decision, we recommend Treadwell, our smart tire buying guide. It matches you with the best tires for what, where and how you drive. Get personalized tire recommendations in a minute or less!

With the heavy snow, ice and salt on the roads, your wheels may need some TLC. Don’t worry, many of our Discount Tire stores offer wheel repair services! Plus, we have the largest aftermarket wheel inventory at the lowest prices. If your ride is ready for a style upgrade, we can help you out with new rims!

It’s always 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, and we’ll install your new wiper blades for free during your wheel or tire service!

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

Ready to roll with the best tires for Ohio?

Do you have more questions or want more help? 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!

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