What are the best tires for West Texas?

Locations in West Texas: 19
First West Texas location opening date: TXW01 | July 20, 1992
Common vehicles: pickup trucks, large SUVs, electric vehicles, crossovers
Major regions/cities: El Paso, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, Socorro, Big Spring, Horizon City, Plainview

Road conditions: Dry, rugged terrain with occasional snowfall, rural roads but congestion and construction in city centers

Texas is so big we had to split it up. Check out our recommendations for the best tires in East and Central Texas!

2.3 million residents occupy the wide open plains of West Texas. That’s a lot of motorists on their way to and through Dallas, Big Bend National Park, Fort Davis and more.

The dry landscape quilted with agricultural homesteads, oil refineries, and cities makes for an interesting (and huge!) drive. Choosing the right tire to get you safely from the big stretch between point A and point B is the number one concern for tire shoppers in West Texas.

So, what’s the best tire for driving in West Texas? We’ve asked our in-the-field experts for their recommendations. Check them out!

BEST CAR TIRES FOR WEST TEXAS

According to Amarillo Discount Tire store manager Brandon Beghtel, all-season tires are king in West Texas. Snow doesn’t stick around, even in cooler months, and the wind chill doesn’t keep the temps low for too long.

All-season tires offer excellent performance across a range of conditions while delivering long-lasting mileage. They also tend to come with the highest mileage warranties!

Best premium car tires for West Texas

Brandon’s number one passenger car tire? The Michelin Defender 2. This tire earns high marks all around, including:

• Great weather handling (wet and dry)

• Comfortable ride quality

• Fuel efficient

• Long-lasting tread

• Quiet, highly optimized tread

• 80,000-mile tread warranty (huge!)

The Continental ControlContact Tour M A/S is another excellent option for West Texans. It’s a premium touring tire designed especially for premium coupes, sedans, minivans, and even crossovers. Other features to take note include:

• EV compatible

• Boosted tire wear

• Fuel efficient

• Enhanced wet and dry handling

• 70-80,000-mile warranty

(Check out our blog on the best tires for electric vehicles while you’re at it)!

Jesse (JJ) Paschal, senior assistant manager at the Early, TX Discount Tire store, notes that customers are shopping for car tires with mileage in mind. Drivers tend to commute great distances for work, school, stores and more. “The miles add up quick,” he adds.

Though JJ also likes the Michelin Defender, he points to the Michelin Agilis CrossClimate, which offers extensive weather-related traction and handling. It’s packed with features, including:

• Comfy touring capabilities

• All-weather traction backed by three-peak mountain snowflake designation

• Huge range of available sizes, even work vans, trucks, or SUVs

• Excellent wet stopping distances

• Tough construction

For a sporty performance crossover, SUV, or pickup, the Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 is the way to go with:

• Superior handling

• Long-lived tread

• Quiet, comfortable ride (you should still dodge potholes)

• 70,000-mile warranty

• Great option for your Chevy Tahoe, Lexus RX450H or Mazda CX-9

Best mid-range car tires for West Texas

JW Alexander, manager of the S 1st Abilene, TX Discount Tire store, recommends the Yokohama YK-GTX. Comparable to the Defender 2, the lower price is a great point of interest. Other features include:

• Sporty performance-based tread

• Responsive, high speed handling

• Excellent tread life and treadwear

• 70,000-mile warranty

Brandon has had great luck with the Falken Pro G5 A/S in West Texas. They are affordably priced and deliver premium performance despite being a middle-of-the-road option. It features:

• Specialized all-season tread compound

• Forceful traction and powerful handling

• Huge range of sizes

• 60,000-mile warranty

• Quiet on-road performance and comfy drive

Best budget car tires for West Texas

The best tires for West Texans on a budget, according to Brandon, are either the Sentury Touring or the Sentury UHP for sportier vehicle trims.

The Sentury Touring includes:

• 40,000-mile warranty

• Wear-resistant all-season tread

• Flexible all-season tread (Temp drops in the morning? No problem.)

The Sentury UHP includes:

• 40,000-mile treadwear warranty

• Circumferential grooves to resist hydroplaning

• Specialized tread pattern for highway speeds and commute

• Reliable wet and dry grip

• Sporty spirit

• Great for sporty compact cars and crossovers

BEST TRUCK TIRES FOR WEST TEXAS

Surprising nobody, Texas leads the nation in pickup truck sales volume, though smaller population states like Montana overtake them when it comes to total vehicle share compared to population.

Best highway-terrain or towing truck tires for West Texas

Many pickups never see a speck of dust on their treads (Brandon calls them “pavement princesses”) but instead are designated people and toy haulers. For this, he recommends the Michelin LTX M/S2.

• Generous 70,000-mile warranty

• Quiet, control-based weather features

• MaxTouch construction for even handling

• Excellent cornering, braking, and acceleration

• Improved tire wear

You could also check out the Bridgestone Dueler LX, well known for its luxurious comfort, all-season features and unbeatable highway performance. Features include:

• Discount Tire exclusive option

• Long-lasting value

• Silica-enhanced treadwear resistant compound

• Confident grip with controlled handling

• 50-70,000-mile warranty

Best all-terrain truck tires for West Texas

But in general, most West Texans want all-terrain tires for their trucks to handle rough roads, work demands, oil and farming land, and so on. Plus, they want them to look good!

By far, the most popular all-terrain truck tire for West Texas is the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 (the KO3 is now available, as well). It includes:

• Severe weather designation

• Stable handling on and off-road

• Reliable wet, dry, and off-road terrain traction

• High grip in snow, mud, and rocks (especially when aired down)

• 50,000-mile warranty (rare for an all-terrain tire)

JJ over in Early, TX agrees with this pick, stating: “They’re great in a lot of different conditions and terrain.”

JJ also notes that if you want an all-terrain but don’t need something quite so heavy duty (perhaps you only need to occasionally go off-road or handle some gravel parking lots?), you should check out the Michelin LTX A/T 2.

• Nicely balanced on and off-road features

• Long service life

• Reliable all-terrain traction

• Reduced road noise and vibration

• 60,000-mile warranty

JW over in Abilene, TX points to the Cooper Discoverer ATP II for another great all-terrain truck or SUV option for West Texas. Exciting elements include:

• Stone ejector ledges

• Boosted grip and toughness

• Quiet tread pattern

• Smooth and pleasant ride (for an all-terrain)

• 60,000-mile warranty

The Nitto Ridge Grappler is also a popular tire seen out in West Texas, in large part thanks to its super-aggressive looking tread and rising popularity in the off-road community. Its best features include:

• Hybrid design (mud terrain and all-terrain)

• On-road manners of all-terrain with mud terrain grip

• Rugged terrain tire type

• Dual sidewall designs

• Auto-cleaning mud tread pattern

• Perfect for unyielding grip in soft and challenging terrain

DO I NEED SNOW TIRES IN TEXAS?

We prefer calling them “winter tires” because they do not necessarily require snow. Winter tires are designed to function in temps below 45F. They deliver reliable performance, braking and traction in slippery conditions even at these low temperatures, unlike other tire types.

All-season tires do not perform as well as dedicated winter tires. They also can’t brake as well as winter tires. Unfortunately, all-terrain and mud terrain tires can’t deal with winter conditions as well as a dedicated winter tire, either.

If you frequently travel north (say, to Colorado), it may be worth keeping a set of dedicated winter tires to keep you as safe as possible.

The Best Winter Tires for West Texas

If you do happen to need a set of winter tires, you can’t go wrong with any from the Bridgestone Blizzak family of winter tires. They are easily available in a huge range of sizes to fit everything from a Chevy Spark to your Ford F-350.

For your passenger vehicle, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 delivers confident braking, powerful traction on snow and ice and treadwear resistance.

For larger vehicles like your SUV or pickup truck, the Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2 utilizes a hydrophilic coated tread that sheds water and snow. The tread also includes bite particles to help keep its footing on slippery roads.

ARE STUDDED TIRES AND TIRE CHAINS LEGAL IN TEXAS?

No, studded tires are not legal in Texas.

Tire chains are allowed when required for safety during a time of snow, ice, or other condition that might cause slippery highways.

Very few Texans bother with tire chains, however. They may if they are traveling north to a state that may require them for specific areas, such as Colorado.

Other West Texas Wheel and Tire Services

According to JJ at the Early, TX Discount Tire store, many West Texas roads are caliche based, a rough sediment (a natural cement, actually) that is frequently used with other materials like sand, clay, silt and gravel. Caliche roads and driveways in West Texas can wreak havoc on your tires and wheels.

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. Plus, we have the largest aftermarket wheel inventory at the lowest prices if your wheel cannot be safely repaired. If your ride is ready for a style upgrade or needs a wheel fix, we can help you out with new rims!

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 to choose the best tire possible.

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!

Heading up to cooler, winter regions? Check out our pick of the best winter wiper blades!

Ready to roll with the best tires for West Texas?

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

Brandon’s Amarillo Discount Tire store also offers alignments, which are important to help your tires wear evenly and keep steering predictable.

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.

Also, if a dented rim has you down, relax: we’ve got the largest stock of affordable aftermarket rims on around!

We are eager to answer your questions or address concerns. Just give us a ring, drop by or make an appointment online. Buy and book online to save 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.