What are the best tires for Washington?

Locations in Washington: 33
First Washington location opening date: WAS04 | August 21, 1987
Common vehicles: commuter vehicles, crossovers, electric cars, SUVs and pickup trucks
Major regions/cities: Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Kent, Everett, Renton, Spokane Valley, Federal Way

Road conditions: Very wet roads, heavy snowfall in eastern or mountainous regions, constant construction traffic, congested metropolitan areas

Named after America’s first president, Washington state is the nation’s most northwestern state and full of natural beauties, populous cities and vibrant multiculturalism.

Beaches, Mt. Rainier, the Cascade Mountains, Mt. St. Helens, ample national parks, lakes and rivers…Washington state has it all. Outdoor recreational enthusiasts of all types (camping, glamping, hiking and more) are drawn to see the Evergreen State.

Washington also has a robust economy with big-name employers like Boeing, Microsoft, and Starbucks drawing in tons of new employees; almost a quarter of a million new folks moved to WA in 2022 alone. This means residents are concentrated in bustling metro areas. These residents (new and old) add to the over 100 million annual tourists to the state to add additional drivers on the road.

And, with more than half of the state’s nearly 8 million residents living in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area, traffic is a significant challenge.

Where does this leave Washingtonians when searching for the perfect tire for their vehicle? We’ve asked our experts and found out what the best tires are for Washington!

BEST CAR TIRES FOR WASHINGTON

Your average person probably thinks about Washington state being cool, cloudy and rainy. Although mostly true, there are great degrees of precipitation across the state with the eastern side of the Cascade mountains being drier, but receiving heavier snowfall.

For this reason, the preferred tire type in Washington state is either an all-season or an all-weather tire.

(Or, check out our list for the best all-season tires to get some ideas!)

All-weather tires are like souped up all-seasons with extended capability throughout the year. It will not replace a true winter tire but offers better light winter traction and performance in lower temperatures than is typical. Check out our list of the best all-weather tires for some ideas!

Cody Wood, manager of the Bremerton Discount Tire store, says his customers tend to use all-wheel drive vehicles due to the frequent wet, rainy and winter weather conditions they encounter. His top pick on the best car tire for Washington then is the Michelin CrossClimate2. You’ll see this tire everywhere, including his wife and son’s vehicles. The extreme all-season capability is very useful when traveling through mountain passes and is one of the most top-rated car tires available. It includes a three-peak mountain snowflake severe weather designation and a robust 60,000-mile warranty. Dry, wet or light snow is no problem and it comes in a wide range of available sizes, from your coupe and sedan to your minivan or SUV.

Cory Nelson, manager of the Wenatchee Discount Tire store, agrees. Many of his customers come in asking for the Michelin CrossClimate2 by name. “Actually, Michelin branded tires are probably our best sellers,” he notes. His store is east of the Cascade Mountains and sees quite a bit of snow accumulation compared to the coast. His customers choose all-weather over all-season tires due to this, preferring the extended capability throughout the year.

If you want another option, specifically for your crossover like a Subaru Outback or Subaru Crosstrek, he says to check out the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W. Although this tire is most frequently seen on larger vehicles and is actually an all-terrain tire, it does come in smaller crossover sizes and is well worth the investment. It boasts amazing wet, winter and wear capability with a tough, stable tread pattern. It also features stone drilling resistance for when things get rough. The projecting sidewall bites through snow, mud, rock and dirt. It’s an excellent option for the outdoor enthusiast who finds themselves at the trailhead more often than not.

For another Falken branded tire for your crossover, Cory recommends the Falken Wildpeak AT Trail. It doesn’t have a severe weather rating, but it offers great performance on almost all surface conditions. The aggressive look and tread design are also appealing. Rugged upper sidewalls offer off-road protection and its crossover specific design means it’ll perform the way your vehicle requires. It delivers superior wear performance thanks to an optimized tread design and exceptional wet and dry grip via its 3D Canyon Sipe tech. It is topped off with a 65,000-mile warranty.

Cody in Bremerton also suggests Washingtonians consider the Michelin Defender 2. He finds the handling a little smoother and quieter compared to the CrossClimate2. However, the Defender 2 isn’t an all-weather tire so that may impact your decision. It does include Michelin's EverTread 2.0™ for ultra-long tread life and MaxTouch 2.0™ for tire size specific construction and optimization. It’s also offered in a wide range of sizes, including CUV sizes. Quiet, evenly wearing and with applause-worthy wet braking distances, it’s an obvious choice for the commuter in the PNW. It offers a huge 80,0000-mile tread warranty, to boot.

Ryan Docherty, manager of the Bellevue Discount Tire store, likes the Defender 2 because it’s a cost-effective, long-lasting tire with excellent wet traction (super important) and a high mileage warranty. His customers trend towards this tire, but for another solid option, he directs them to the Yokohama YK-GTX. He really likes recommending this tire because it has nothing but the best reviews from customers (and him, personally). It’s very reasonably priced, very safe, fuel efficient and quiet. “It has basically everything you’re looking for,” he advises. An optimized contact patch pairs with closed outside shoulder ribs, wide spaced grooves and a high silica compound to give excellent wet and dry traction. It has a 70k mile warranty and pairs all-season and performance oriented features in the tread design.

Ryan also recommends the Continental Control Contact Tour A/S Plus because it handles so well in winter (for an all-season tire, that is). “If you need something more aggressive with bite (like for mountain passes) but don’t want or need a true winter tire, this does pretty well, even on ice,” he explains. His mother-in-law uses this tire for her habitual road trips from Texas to Washington. It features aggressive tread to evacuate light snow effectively and has a proven track record of lasting for miles to come. It includes a robust 80,000-mile warranty, too.

To be clear, if your region experiences true winter conditions, Discount Tire strongly recommends dedicated winter tires for the safest drive possible.

BEST TRUCK TIRES FOR WASHINGTON

Washington residents are some of the biggest outdoor enthusiasts in the nation and their proximity to gorgeous recreation and nature means that they frequently need vehicles with AWD or 4WD to manage.

Cody Wood’s Bremerton customers frequently prefer crossovers and other larger vehicles like pickups and SUVs to navigate mountain passes, snow and other obstacles. “Three-peak mountain snowflake severe weather designations are a must when tire shopping,” he says. His customers specifically seek out tires that are rated for severe weather.

He suggests the Goodyear Wrangler UltraTerrain AT. It’s a very popular selection with his customers due to its capability in severe weather with Goodyear’s TractiveGroove Technology (great for mud, rocks and light snow).Off-road, it offers excellent traction and durability with a long-lasting, tough tread compound that resists chunking and minimizes weak points. An optimized void ratio self cleans mud and sand. It’s comfortable on the road, too, thanks to Goodyear’s advanced computer modeling tech. Ryan, manager of the Bellevue Discount Tire store, loves this tire. “I’ve had it on three (different) trucks and love them. They’re excellent in snow, and not noisy. They’re hands down one of the best in snow and wear really well. They also do great in rain.”

Corey’s Wenatchee, Washington customers by and large favor the BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 (the KO3 is now available in select sizes). About 15-20% of his store’s sales are from BFGoodrich tires, and with good reason. They’re considered one of the best in the industry, with a rugged carcass, excellent handling in cold weather and stable handling both on and off-road. BFG’s signature Serrated Shoulder Design maxes out grip in mud, snow and over rocks (especially when aired down). Customers also appreciate its 50k-mile warranty. Its sidewall resists bruising and boasts a serious toughness boost with BFG’s CoreGard Technology. Although not a proper winter tire, their ability to handle cooler temps compared to other all-terrain tires makes them a popular option for Washington state.

Ryan over at the Bellevue Discount Tire store agrees. Although he doesn’t have quite so many truck customers, his enthusiast customer-base loves the BFG KO2. “They trust the brand and don’t even argue about the price. They’ll come in asking for it everytime.”

All store managers agree that outdoor enthusiasts all love the Falken Wildpeak AT/4W. Replacing the hugely popular AT/3W, it focuses on wear, wet and light winter performance. Projecting sidewall elements help grip and grab terrain for better traction. It includes a 60-65,000-mile warranty. “It’s hugely popular,” Ryan explains. “We’ve seen a big uptick in demand in the past three to five years. It’s a great all-terrain tire with an aggressive look but it’s not so noisy. It is good for the highway.”

Looking for an all-terrain that fits most budgets? Cody points to the Pathfinder AT, a Discount Tire exclusive tire. If you’re not regularly crawling over large and difficult obstacles or going into the deep-woods, then this is an excellent option. You’ll find it offers responsive handling, precise steering control and a comfy ride via its pitch-optimized tread block arrangement. Zig-zag circumferential grooves help boost not only all-season traction but also off-road terrain grip. It is topped with a 50-55,000-mile warranty too.

Don’t need an all-terrain tire for your pickup or SUV at all? If you need a highway-terrain tire for Washington state, look no further than the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2. Ryan personally loves this tire as it’s a great commuter option for your pickup. “I commute 90 miles a day and this is my first recommendation for highway-terrain due to comfort, ride and longevity. It does very well in snow and ice conditions. I used them in Montana!” Ryan says that the Defender LTX M/S2’s proficiency is due to its excellent, quality construction and SipeLock Technology, which uses hundreds of 3D sipes to bite into water and light snow. “Rain proficiency is important,” he advises customers to consider as Washington sees plenty of it. This tire has a 50-70,000-mile warranty.

DO I NEED SNOW TIRES IN WASHINGTON?

Although many parts of the Evergreen State don’t see much or any snowfall, Discount Tire recommends switching to winter tires when things cool down. This is because “snow” tires are actually more about winter temperatures rather than just snow. The rubber in regular tires will seize up and prevent weather related features like siping from performing at 100% at temperatures at or below 45F.

This is why all-season tires do not perform as well as dedicated winter tires. All-season tires also can’t brake as well as winter tires.

For our 4x4, SUV or pickup owners: all-terrain and mud-terrain tires are not as good as dedicated winter tires. Even though many of these tires come with a severe weather designation, they will still not function as well in very low temperatures compared to dedicated winter sets.

This is why we prefer the term “winter tire” instead. Snow is not the primary consideration in its construction.

“There are tons of benefits once you bite the bullet and get a set,” advises Ryan, manager of the Bellevue Discount Tire store. You will save money in the long run because your non-winter set will last longer since they’re not putting on so many miles for the whole year. Also, severe cold is not great for non-winter tire rubber compounds and prolonged winter use will hurry its retirement.

The Best Winter Tires for Washington

As you can imagine, Washington residents would do well to invest in a set of winter tires. Since Washingtonians tend to embrace the outdoors 365 days of the year, they’ll need them to get through some mountain passes and difficult driving areas. According to Cody, manager of the Bremerton Discount Tire store, residents and travelers alike will see weather dependent driving requirements in some areas. They may see “traction device required,” which means vehicles must be equipped with severe weather rated tires, studded or studless winter tires and in harsh conditions will require tire chains.

“In extreme cases, they just close the highway,” he adds.

So, what are the best winter tires for Washington state?

You can’t go wrong with any option from the Bridgestone Blizzak family of winter tires. Dependable and breaking records in nearly every category, the Blizzak family of tires is a solid bet. They also come in a huge range of sizes. For your passenger vehicle, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is for you. They’re well-priced and offer shortened braking distances and boosted treadwear.

For your larger vehicle, check out the Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2. It delivers sure-footed traction, even on sheer ice. The tread design and pattern repels water away from your tire’s contact patch.

If you prefer Michelin branded tires, check out the Michelin X-Ice Snow. It boasts excellent stopping power, great long-lasting winter traction and fuel efficiency. “Our customers also really like it because it offers a rare (for a winter tire) mileage warranty,” Cody points out. It offers a 45,000-mile warranty. Ryan from the Bellevue store notes that they grip very well in icy conditions, wonderful in the rain and function very well in very cold conditions.

If you want the best of the best, he suggests looking into the Nokian Hakkapeliitta line of winter tires. Engineered for the most aggressive and severe winter weather on the planet, Hakkapeliitta tires offer studded and non-studded wintertime excellence. They do come in limited sizing but it’s worth checking into if you tend to head up the mountains with some frequency.

If you want to look into studdable options that aren’t quite so premium (read: premium pricing), Cory offers the Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw. This studdable option offers excellent snow-on-snow traction via Cooper’s Snow-Groove technology. A winter grip tread compound, notched tread blocks with lateral grooves and 3D siping round out this winter time wonder. With studs, many customers gloat over this tire’s extreme levels of effortless traction.

“Don't forget that you need to remove your studded tires after April 1st,” Cory reminds customers.

ARE STUDDED TIRES AND TIRE CHAINS LEGAL IN WASHINGTON?

Yes, studded tires are legal in Washington state from November 1st to March 31st.

Yes, tire chains are legal in Washington state. There are some areas that require them, such as mountain passes, even if you have an AWD capable vehicle.

There is no individual exception or “out of state waiver” to studded tire dates. Studded tires must be removed by the end of the day on March 31st to avoid a fine. The Washington State Department of Transportation advises motorists to monitor weather closely, use approved traction tires and carry chains if necessary when traveling in the mountains.

Other Washington Wheel & Tire Services

Anything can happen out on the road.

That’s why we encourage you to add our Certificates to your tire purchase. These are our tire buying guarantee that replaces your tire for free in the event of tire damage (either due to a road hazard or manufacturer’s defect) that we can’t safely repair.

Our stores also offer wheel repair services. And we have the largest aftermarket wheel inventory at the lowest prices. If your ride is ready for a style upgrade or needs a wheel fix, we can help you out with new rims!

Don’t forget 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!

Let us help you keep you and your vehicle as safe as possible with our suite of tire services, including flat repair, rotation and balancing, tire air pressure checks and more!

We advise drivers to check their air pressure frequently. Correct air pressure is an important factor in the safety of your vehicle and your passengers. Tire air pressure also affects fuel efficiency and treadwear. Air pressure is also affected by temperature.

Ready to roll with the best tires for Washington?

Still not sure what tire works best for you? Use Treadwell, our smart tire buying guide that matches you with the best tires for your vehicle in less than a minute. It takes into account what, where and how you drive so you’re sure that you’re choosing the best tire possible.

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