Locations in South Carolina: 19
First South Carolina location opening date: Greenville SCC01 | October 8, 2001
Common vehicles: four door sedans, some crossovers and midsize SUVs, some pickup trucks
Major regions/cities: Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Rock Hill, Greenville, Summerville, Goose Creek, Hilton Head Island, Sumter
Road conditions: Wet roads due to frequent rain, lots of potholes and road debris, stressed road structure due to population boom, generally free from frost or snow
With its beaches, fishing and hunting, unique cuisine, golf, rich cultural history, steady economy and no state property tax, the Palmetto State is an excellent place to live, and its booming 5.1 million population attests to that fact.
That bustling population is well employed in an array of aerospace, agribusiness, tourism and auto manufacturing industries, as well as education positions at colleges like Clemson University and the University of South Carolina.
Pair these goings-on with a humid subtropical climate prone to tropical storms, rain, unpredictable winter time temps and a maze of potholes, and you’ve got a real challenge when it comes to picking your tires! South Carolinians might wonder what the best tire is for their state, and with good reason. Having the right tire can help keep you in control, even when the weather is out of control.
We know this can be a daunting task, so we’ve done all the work for you with this guide on the best car and truck tires for South Carolina!
Side note: the population boom means more drivers and increasingly stressed roads. That leads to damage and potholes, the natural enemy of your wheels. The good news is, we sell and repair wheels, too!
BEST CAR TIRES FOR SOUTH CAROLINA
Considering the temperamental weather, it’s no surprise the most sought after rubber is the all-season tire. It offers wet and dry traction across a wide range of temperatures.
Michelin tires has had a manufacturing plant near Greenville, SC for going on half a century and there’s a Continental plant just over the North Carolina border. It’s understandable that South Carolinians prefer these brands.
Rodney Verdier, a 20-year veteran and manager at our Congaree Road Discount Tire store in Greenville, SC, says that his most requested and purchased tire is the Michelin Defender 2. Besides being from a trusted brand, this tire offers a robust 80,000-mile warranty, amazing grip in wet and light winter conditions and a comfortable ride.
A close second is the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus, an all-season tire with an equally generous 70-80k mile warranty, fuel efficient design, great traction and a budget-friendly price.
Jamal Corbitt, manager of our Longtown Commons Discount Tire store in Columbia, SC agrees with South Carolinians preference for Continental tires.
He adds that the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus is another excellent choice his performance-oriented customers repeatedly request for their high-powered sports cars and luxury vehicles. Its eye-catching tread pattern offers high levels of braking, handling and grip in dry, wet and light snow conditions.
Jamal also keeps a few sets of the Continental ControlContact Sport SRS+ in stock due to its popularity with these drivers. This Discount Tire exclusive offers a generous 50k-mile warranty, high-end all-season grip, long-lasting tread and thrilling performance.
Rodney personally prefers the Yokohama YK-GTX. He tested it and found it to be a consistent, long wearing tire with exceptional ride comfort and strong all-season grip. Plus, it’s backed by a 70k-mile warranty. Got an SUV? Rodney says the Yokohama YK-CTX is for you thanks to its 60k-mile warranty, pliable tread compound, relentless traction and SUV/crossover specific construction.
Over at the Indian Land, Charlotte, SC Discount Tire, manager Wesley Allen finds his customers enjoy an OEM option: the Bridgestone Ecopia HL 422 Plus. This original equipment tire can be found on SUVs and CUVs like the Toyota RAV4, Chevy Equinox and Honda CR-V. Customer’s love this environmentally friendly tire for its fuel efficient, all-season design, wear resistant tread, confident handling and strong braking.
On a budget? Not a problem, we have plenty of value options that don’t sacrifice performance for price.
Rodney says customers looking for a good value like the Discount Tire exclusive Arizonian Silver Edition All Season for its stellar performance, 60k-mile warranty and high-value price. For even more value, the Ohtsu FP0612 A/S gives coupes, sedans and CUVs a smooth ride and responsive handling backed by a 40,000-mile warranty.
Both Wesley and Jamal agree the Falken Pro G5 A/S is excellent for shoppers with their pocketbook in mind. Another Discount Tire exclusive, the Falken Pro G5 A/S delivers well rounded driving, reliable traction and handling and a 60k-mile warranty.
However, Jamal says the Road Hugger GTZ A/S is a dark horse customer favorite. He stocks plenty of these for customers who want an amazing deal on features that are surprisingly high end. Long tread life, low rolling resistance for fuel efficiency, reliable all-season traction, steering, handling…the list goes on!
Jamal finds that Discount Tire’s rebates often have a big impact on what purchase customers ultimately make, especially if they’re aiming for a tire with national brand recognition like Michelin.
BEST TRUCK TIRES FOR SOUTH CAROLINA
Pick up trucks aren’t as common as passenger vehicles like sedans, crossovers and SUVs in South Carolina. However, it’s just as important that trucks have the proper tires for their use as their smaller counterparts.
South Carolina truck tires need to have all-season capabilities that can handle storm soaked-roads while standing up to the Palmetto state’s infamous potholes. “Definitely a ‘whole’ lotta potholes,” Wesley jokes. Traction is top priority!
For touring and highway use, you can’t beat the Michelin Defender LTX M/S for all-around utility and well rounded capability. Jamal, Wesley and Rodney all agreed on this first choice for the best truck (or SUV) tire for South Carolina. WIth a robust mileage warranty (50-70k miles), wear-resistant tread, amazing winter/wet braking and controlled handling, this is the highway tire to beat.
Wesley’s pickup customer’s tend to be business owners who need tires for their fleet. He says the Michelin Agilis Crossclimate is ideal for these drivers. Its heavy duty construction protects against curb damage and other dangers, and it has a 10-19% longer life under heavy loads compared to three leading competitor tires. With its 3PMS rating and impressive dry, wet and snow traction, it’s perfect for South Carolina.
While off-roading isn’t that popular in the Palmetto state, some drivers venture off-road for work in rural areas and west towards the mountains. And of course many drivers just really love the aggressive look and durability of all-terrain tires.
Rodney’s top selling truck tire for South Carolina is the BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2. This AT favorite has a rugged tread design that performs as good as it looks. Strong and damage resistant, it offers stable handling both on and off-road. Add in a 50k-mile warranty and severe weather rating, and you can see why drivers love it.
Jamal points to the Nitto Ridge Grappler as an irresistible alternative. Notorious for its almost reptilian carcass and rough ‘n tough tread pattern, the Ridge Grappler is loved for its unique look, while its stone ejectors and self-cleaning tread design keep debris from bogging it down or damaging it.
The best budget all-terrain tire for South Carolina is the Discount Tire exclusive Pathfinder AT. This customer fave has all the style and grit of more expensive all-terrains without the sticker shock. With the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol, it delivers grip for any weather or terrain, and it’s backed by a 50 to 55k-mile warranty.
DO I NEED SNOW TIRES IN SOUTH CAROLINA?
Do you need winter/snow tires in South Carolina? It depends on how frequently temps drop (and stay dropped). It’s easy to scoff at snow tires in the Palmetto State; after all, snow is mostly infrequent. But “snow tires” are really “winter tires”, because most of their design is actually about performance in cold temperatures.
We recommend switching to winter tires when the weather turns consistently cold (below 45F), even if your region doesn’t see much snow or ice.
You should change to winter tires if temps drop and stay below 45F.
Your typical all-season tire’s tread compound just can’t cut it at lower temps. Winter tires retain traction in sub-zero temps, so you can brake, accelerate and turn with ease. Compared to all-season tires, winter tires perform better and brake shorter below 45F. If your area experiences serious cold, it’s in your best interest to invest in a set.
That said, winters in South Carolina tend to be mild enough that many drivers stick with their all-season tires. Jamal’s winter tire customers tend to be military members shipping their vehicles overseas, while Wesley’s store has never even stocked winter tires.
When Rodney’s customers want winter tires, he suggests the Nokian Hakkapeliitta line. The R3 offers long-lasting wear, puncture resistance and impeccable traction in the worst weather. The Hakkapeliitta LT3 is a 10-ply studdable winter truck tire that offers rugged durability, high tow capacity and impressive traction in bad weather.
Another dependable option is the Bridgestone Blizzak family. We like the WS90 for its fantastic traction on ice and snow. For your SUV or pickup, pick the DMV2, which gives drivers confident control on the slick stuff like ice and slush.
Don’t worry if you’re new to this: we’re a great resource for winter tire changeover and installation information. You can schedule a winter tire changeover right here!
Lots in a sea of good choices? We understand. Find your heading with Treadwell, our smart tire buying guide that recommends the ideal tire for your driving needs, vehicle and budget.
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 online wait less time in-store!
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