Cars are king in the USA, so it’s not surprising that road trips used to be the de facto method of vacationing back in the day. They fell out of favor when airfare became more affordable and it became more common to travel further for vacation.
But quarantine has given people incentive to explore both nearby places and traditional routes, like Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and this country’s numerous national parks. In fact, the road trip is again a booming pastime in the US!
Long distances or frequent weekend trips mean that your vehicle’s tires are more important than ever.
And when it comes to choosing the best tires for long distance driving, we’re definitely the experts.
(By the way: do you have your road trip checklist ready?)
ROAD TRIP TIRES
One of the best things about our top road trip tires is that they also make excellent daily driver options. That’s because a well-rounded traveling tire will prioritize tread life and good wet and dry traction, while including big warranties.
If a tire’s fuel efficient, too, then that’s an additional bonus!
This means that you should be choosing long lasting tires that can handle a wide range of climates and road conditions. It’s not surprising then that the best road trip tires are all-season all-season tires or all-weather tires. They perform well nearly year-round in a flexible range of temperatures whether the roads are soaked or baking in the summer sun.
Are you ready for our picks for the best tires for road trips?
BEST TIRES FOR ROAD TRIPS
Below we’ve included our top five tires for road trips. The list is composed of both passenger car and SUV/light truck options with good warranties, a trusted pedigree and reliable performance.
Michelin Defender 2
A new favorite, the Michelin Defender 2 packs in the features for your next road trip! This all-season touring tire scores top marks in all categories and includes a considerable 80,000-mile warranty.
It boasts EverTread 2.0, a next generation ultra-long life tire tread compound to keep your tires rolling mile after mile. You can experience shorter wet and dry stopping distances than previous iterations and handle roads (rain or shine) via its SipeLock™ tech for surefooted grip in any weather. This tire has ALL the sipes!
The Defender 2 is designed with comfortable, quiet and long-lasting service in mind. It’ll be comfortable on its first mile (and last) with a smooth, quiet experience thanks to Michelin’s Piano™ Acoustic Tuning tech.
Plus, it’s available in a huge range of tire sizes, even for larger modern rims that are common on road trip vehicles today! No matter if you’ve got a Honda Accord or Civic, Toyota Camry or Corolla, Subaru Outback or Forester, this tire has you covered!
Continental ControlContact Tour A/S Plus
Exceptional performance, reliability and all-season handling is yours with the Continental ControlContact Tour A/S Plus.
Customers who demand only the best from their tires often turn to the ControlContact Tour A/S Plus. Fuel efficient, Continental’s EcoPlus™ tech and low rolling resistance utilizes Tg-F polymers with advanced +Silane additives to help you save at the pump, stop shorter in wet conditions and extend your tire’s tread life.
And you can’t forget about its famous comfort band that absorbs bumps and road shocks so you can enjoy your ride every time. Full-depth siping and a symmetrical five rib-tread makes this an excellent option for drivers with passenger cars, small CUVs and even minivans!
This all-season touring and performance tire wraps up nicely with a 70 to 80k-mile warranty.
Goodyear Assurance MaxLife
With a robust 85,000-mile warranty, it’s easy to see the appeal of the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife if you’re planning your next road trip.
This tire is an excellent tire to go the distance thanks to its TredLife™ technology that boosts wear and traction, giving you confident year-round performance for miles to come. Plus, with its built-in and easy-to-read wear gauges, keeping tabs on your tires is easier than ever.
An all-season compound and multiple siping delivers protection in inclement weather, including hydroplaning resistance. Its optimized tread pattern offers impeccable handling via notched intermediate ribs and semi-closed shoulders.
Much loved for its good value, reliable performance and secure handling in all-seasons, the Assurance MaxLife is an understandably popular tire. It comes in a huge range of tire sizes, too. Everything from a Chevy Volt to a Dodge Caravan can take advantage of this tire’s well reviewed performance.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S2
The Michelin Defender line of tires is one of the best known, most reliable and all-around capable tire lines perhaps ever created. And it’s easy to see these qualities in the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2.
Long lived, comfortable and predictable in a wide range of weather conditions, this all-season performance tire gets a lot of deserved attention from our customers. They love its quiet, smooth ride with on-point acceleration and braking capabilities. Its Evertread rubber compound effectively resists wear and tear (even under heavy loads and bad road conditions).
Plus with its MaxTouch Construction tech that reduces road noise, vibration and harshness, you’ll also get the most fuel mileage out of your tires. This is a great choice for any SUV or light pickup truck, whether you’re going for a short day trip or an extended, cross-country road trip.
Got a Ford F-150, Chevy Suburban or Tahoe? What about a Toyota 4Runner, Tundra or Tacoma? This tire fits ‘em all!
Plus, it’s backed by a generous 50 to 70k-mile warranty.
Bridgestone Dueler LX
The Bridgestone Dueler LX is an all-season tire with a serious degree of luxury, comfort and performance for your SUV or truck.
If you’re heading through different regions with different climates, then this tire should be a top contender!
Luxury comfort, unbeatable highway performance, confident weather grip and a long mileage? Yes, that’d be the Dueler LX. This tire delivers high degrees of all the necessary things for a safe, dependable tire.
The Dueler LX will last thanks to its silica-enhanced tread compound to resist uneven treadwear. And you’ll enjoy controlled handling and stability via full-depth 3D interlocking sipes, wide shoulder blocks and a semi-solid rib design.
Bridgestone backs the Dueler LX with a 70,000-mile limited treadwear warranty for P-metric sizes and 50,000-mile limited treadwear warranty for LT sizes.
And don’t worry if you don’t see a tire that perfectly suits you. We stock the biggest inventory of the most affordable tires from the best brands in the industry, so rest assured we have the right tire for you.
Want to know how? Use Treadwell, our smart tire buying guide to easily find the best tires for you, your vehicle and your budget!
And even if you don’t need new tires, be sure to take advantage of our complimentary tire inspection service before your trip. We’ll help you make sure your tires are safe and in good health before you leave.
Ready to get rolling? If you buy and book online, you’ll 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.