What are the Best Tires for Oregon?

Locations in Oregon: 11
First Iowa location opening date: Portland ORP01 | 1985
Common vehicles: Lots and lots of crossovers, 4x4 capable vehicles, SUVs, pickup trucks
Major regions/cities: Portland, Salem, Eugene, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Bend, Medford, Springfield, Corvallis
Road conditions: Generally poor due to potholes, frequent and heavy rain, icy and snowy mountain passes, congested city centers

The final destination for the famed Oregon Trail, the state of Oregon is rich in natural beauty and consequence. Such sights as Mount Hood and Crater Lake National Park are a heavy draw for tourists, recent transplants and Oregon natives alike. And with a bustling economy fueled by hydroelectric power, fishing, agriculture and the powerhouse lumber industry, it’s an appealing new home for many.

In fact, Oregon’s population of 4.2 million residents is a whopping 11% boost over its count in the 2010 census. And 60% of the Beaver State’s population resides around the Portland metropolitan area. That’s a lot of people (and a lot of cars) in one place!

Pair this with a climate that brings some driving challenges, and you have an interesting equation to solve when it comes to choosing your next set of tires. What are the best car or truck tires for Oregon? What about snow or winter tires?

We’ve done all the work for you! We’ve talked to our experts and come up with the best car and truck tires for Oregon. Winter tires, too!

Side note: heavy population increases and buckets of rain mean more stresses on the road (ie potholes). Good news: we sell wheels and provide wheel repair services!

BEST CAR TIRES FOR OREGON

Oregon experiences all four seasons but endures a significant degree of rain. As such, it’s no surprise that Oregonians overwhelmingly choose all-season tires with high levels of wet traction so they can safely navigate their roads year-round.

Tony Non, a 16-year Discount Tire veteran and manager of the Tigard location in Portland, OR recommends the Michelin Defender 2. Great for wet and wintry weather conditions, this tire delivers hydroplane resistance, a comfortable and quiet ride and confident all-season performance, all backed by an 80k-mile warranty.

If you need an all-season touring tire that helps you save at the pump, John likes the Continental ControlContact Tour A/S Plus. A Discount Tire exclusive, the A/S plus delivers amazing ride quality and traction at a budget-friendly price.

Customers looking for a long wearing alternative with a comfy ride should turn to the Yokohama YK-GTX. Yokohama’s proprietary ELS Orange Oil Compound keeps this tire malleable at a wide range of temperatures, delivering relentless traction on wet and dry surfaces with its triple 3D siping and asymmetric groove arrangement.

Customers looking for “Traction rated tires” have a few options to pick from. “Traction tires” are tires that are approved for use in severe winter weather and feature the three-peak mountain snowflake rating (3PMS). While most people think first of winter/snow tires as traction tires, there’s a new breed brewing called all-weather tires.

Think of these as all-season tires that are beefed up for winter weather. They’re great to have on your car year round, and they’re backed by the 3PMS, so you can use them during light winter weather challenges. That said, there’s no true replacement for a winter tire. But don’t worry, we’ll talk about that more later!

Mike Parks at the Eugene, OR Discount Tire recommends the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail for Oregonians looking for a traction tire. It’s backed by the 3PMS rating, provides rugged, all-weather grip and comes with a lengthy 65k-mile warranty. Plus, it’s specifically built to give crossovers all-terrain grip without the added lbs of an LT tire. That’s a big plus considering the PNW’s love affair with CUVs!

Eric Piper at our Clackamas, OR location also endorses the Wildpeak A/T Trail! His store is located close to the mountains and often has customers who need tires that can handle winding roads and winter passes. “They’re super popular for crossovers and even smaller pickups,” he said.

Tony’s Portland Discount Tire has trouble keeping the Goodyear Assurance Weatherready in stock because it’s so popular. Another traction rated tire, it features the 3PMS rating. It has a soybean oil-infused rubber compound for flexibility at lower temps and hydrophobic properties to keep you planted in any weather. The 60k-mile warranty is nothing to sneeze at, either.

In our Salem, OR Discount Tire, John Gerdberding suggests the Michelin CrossClimate2 for passenger vehicles and crossovers. It offers year round traction, a severe weather rating and fantastic grip on wet, summer or winter roads thanks to its extreme silica tread compound and full depth 3D siping.

BEST TRUCK TIRES FOR OREGON

Considering the terrain and inclement weather, it’s not surprising most truck drivers in the Beaver State choose all-terrain tires. Tony says many drivers pick AT tires simply for the rugged looks, while others need off-road grit for work and play.

Mike at the Eugene, OR location notes the massive popularity of the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W. These all-terrain tires prioritize three things; wear, wet and winter performance. Wear resistant, they perform beautifully off-road and in wet and winter conditions.

John in Salem, OR says habitual off-road warriors often turn to the BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2. A powerhouse of all-terrain royalty, the KO2 has a 50k-mile warranty, the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating, a sturdy build and max grip in mud, snow and rocks (especially when aired down).

John suggests the Nitto Ridge Grappler as an alternative for drivers who want off-road grip matched with unique, eye-catching style. Its iconic and ultra-rugged tread pattern offers premier off-road traction and capability, making it a popular option for those looking to go beyond the pale.

If you like hunting or venture on paths less traveled (think: mud and dirt), then Eric in Clackamas, OR says you’ll love the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro. This aggressive tire offers puncture resistance and mud release dimples to keep your tread clean (and full of traction). And its 3-2 block pattern adds off-road grip and on-road stability.

For an out and out mud-terrain tire, John likes the Nitto Trail Grappler M/T. It has a high void tread design for serious grip and self-cleaning capabilities, while its 3-ply build offers puncture/wear resistance. It also features Nitto’s dual sidewall designs, so you can pick the look that’s right for you.

Want maxed out highway performance with serious chutzpah in bad weather? You need the Michelin Defender LTX M/S. The peak of pickup performance, it delivers admirable all-season traction, dynamic steering response and a long lasting tread life. Backed by an M+S rating, the LTX MS provides shorter stopping distances in winter/wet weather. Plus, it’s backed by a robust mileage warranty for up to 70k miles.

Back in Clackamas, Eric’s most popular truck tire is the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac. Drivers are reassured by its supremacy off-road and in foul weather—some LT sizes can be studded.

DO I NEED SNOW TIRES IN OREGON?

You might think you can get away without winter tires this cold season, however, winter driving safety cannot be emphasized enough. And the fact is, winter tires (sometimes called “snow” tires) provide the safest winter driving experience.

According to Tony, a significant portion of drivers in the Beaver state rely on their all-season tires throughout the year, hoping to save money and avoid a winter tire purchase.

While this is understandable, winter tires brake better in temperatures below 45F. Safety in winter boils down to temperature, which affects your tire’s pliability. If it doesn’t stay flexible, the tread pattern and siping can’t do their job effectively. That’s why all-season tires don’t perform as well as winter tires. Even if you have all-weather tires with the 3PMS rating, non-winter tires’ tread compounds aren’t formulated to handle the sub-freezing temps of winter weather. Even all-terrain and mud tires perform poorly compared to winter tires.

The best tires in Oregon are the ones that can keep you safe!

Snow or no, Oregon winter temps definitely require winter tires for safe driving performance, particularly from October to mid-March, according to Eric at the Clackamas Discount Tire. Especially with drivers venturing up the mountains for skiing, hiking and other outdoor activities, having a set of winter tires is truly necessary. In fact, many of those mountain passes require winter tires or at least traction tires with the three-peak mountain snowflake rating!

John’s clients (frequent skiers and wilderness enthusiasts) lean towards studdable tires for security on ice. Studded tires are legal in the state of Oregon from November 1 through March 31. He likes anything from the Nokian Hakkapeliitta line but the Hakkapeliitta 10 and the Hakkapeliitta 10SUV are favorites. The Hakkapeliitta 10 comes studded and 10SUV is studdable while offering extreme comfort even in extreme weather. Both are veritable princes of the powder with grip on ice, slush and wet roads.

For long lasting winter eminence, Tony urges drivers to try the Michelin X-Ice Snow. Not only does it perform well in ice, snow and slush, it’s also fuel efficient! Confidently trek city streets and two lane highways with traction for days with its 40k-mile warranty.

When the winter tire rush comes at Mike’s store in Eugene, OR, he stocks up on Bridgestone Blizzak tires. Well liked for its studless tread design and Multi-Cell technology that provides glue-like grip, Mike recommends the Blizzak WS90. Delivering confident handling, powerful grip and short braking distances, all backed by long tread life and a modest price point, the WS90 should be at the top of your winter tire list.

For your light truck, SUV or CUV, Mike recommends the Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2. Unique grooves and bite particles in its tread compound give adhesive grip for braking on snow, slush and even sheer ice.

Flush with choice? No problem. Get a concrete start with Treadwell, our smart tire buying guide. It’ll help you find the right tire for your driving needs, budget and vehicle type.

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!

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