Buy Tires on Sale in Montana: But Not Until You've Read This Guide!

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Driving and buying tires in Montana

Montana, also known as the Treasure State for its history of metal mining, and Big Sky Country for its epic vistas, is a driver's paradise. With a great network of roads and a very small population, you don’t need to worry about traffic jams out here. A more pressing issue is wildlife on the road, so watch out for deer, mountain lions, moose, and bears while motoring in the Treasure State. The weather can also be changeable in Big Sky Country, so make sure to outfit your vehicle with solid tires, suited to the terrain and season.

When looking for the best tires for Montana, check out United Tires, where we stock thousands of high-quality used and great-value new tires. With our price match policy and free FedEx shipping, you’ll be guaranteed to get the best deal, whichever tires you choose.

The most popular cars and tires in Montana

The most popular car model

Ford F Series*

*Source: World Population Review

The most popular color of the car

White

*Source: WATE 6

The most popular tire model

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

*Source: utires.com sales department

The average budget to buy 2 used tires

$140.95

*Source: utires.com sales department

Montana tire shops and key auto facilities

Montana Auto Museum

1106 Main St, Deer Lodge, MT 59722

46.3914922

-112.7387159

Piccadilly Museum of Transportation

20 W Broadway St, Butte, MT 59701

46.0134512

-112.5386411

Big Sky Speedway

11298 Roundup Rd, Shepherd, MT 59079

46.0029905

-108.4756796

Gallatin Speedway

2290 Tubb Rd, Belgrade, MT 59714

45.78338

-111.1438247

Lost Creek Raceway

595 Galen Rd, Anaconda, MT 59711

46.139887

-112.8992657

Mission Valley Super Oval

1113 N Reservoir Rd, Polson, MT 59860

47.6451519

-114.1393824

Electric City Speedway

2801 Old Havre Hwy, Black Eagle, MT 59414

47.5314628

-111.2860269

costco

Costco Tire Center

3220 N Reserve St, Missoula, MT 59808

46.8957827

-114.0397085

Did you know that…

A disproportionate number of the country's supercars and classic cars have Montana plates

And no, this isn't because Montana motorists have a special affinity for these luxury vehicles, or because the roads here are so amazing for driving these high-performance cars (although they really are!). Unfortunately, it's all because of much baser reasons. The state has no sales tax, so buying a supercar here can be quite a bit cheaper than in other states - and if your car costs around $1 million that can be a huge saving. Big Sky Country also has very lax emissions laws, so classic cars that don't meet emissions standards in other states can be registered here.

Key cities of Montana

Billings Missoula Great Falls Bozeman Rio Rancho Butte-Silver Bow Helena Clovis Kalispell

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Automotive Montana at a glance

When talking about cars and roads in Montana, you’ll rarely mention traffic jams or pollution - more common topics are weather conditions and the local wildlife, which play a much more prominent role for motorists here than in most of the rest of the country.

Highway wildlife crossings

In the Treasure State, highway wildlife crossings are becoming increasingly popular as a way to reduce collisions between vehicles and animals. These crossings can take many different forms, from bridges and tunnels to culverts and fencing. By providing a safe passage for animals, wildlife crossings help to reduce the number of accidents on the road. In addition, they also help to preserve habitats by allowing animals to move freely between different areas. As a result, wildlife crossings can play an important role in protecting both human and animal life, as well as keeping the roads safe for everyone.

Innovation with ultimate mobility vehicles

While Montana isn’t known for vehicle manufacturing, Korean automotive manufacturer, Hyundai plan to open its innovative New Horizons Studio in Bozeman, Montana. This new facility will be dedicated to designing and building Ultimate Mobility Vehicles (UMVs). The facility will be located at Montana State University's Innovation Campus and will include a research, development, and lab center. This center will focus on robotics and wheeled locomotion technology with the aim of redefining vehicular mobility.

UMVs are designed for a variety of applications including natural resource management, disaster management, all-urban and rural logistics, construction, mining, and space resource development. The new facility in Bozeman will support prototyping, field testing, and application development for UMVs.

Choosing the right tires for driving in Montana

Where to buy new tires in Montana?

With a small population and huge area, Big Sky Country isn’t home to that many big box stores. In fact, the only major chain in the state selling tires is a single branch of Costco Tire Centre. This means when you need new tires you’ve got the choice of the small selection at your local store or shopping online. On our website, you’ll get one of the largest selections of tires available online, delivered to your door by FedEx for free. With our price match policy, you’ll also be sure of getting the best price, no matter what tires you need.

Costco Tire Center

3220 N Reserve St, Missoula, MT 59808

Where to buy used tires in Montana?

Without many major population centers, the options for buying high-quality used tires in the Treasure State are somewhat limited. While there are smaller local stores in most cities they are not ideal if you are looking for something specific.

One of the largest selections of premium quality, checked, and assured used tires is available on our website. Every tire undergoes an extensive check for any defects to make sure it is safe to drive on for a long while to come. All our used tires will have at least 60-99% of the life of their tread remaining, so you don’t need to worry about them wearing out either. For maximum lifespan, you can check out our driven-once tires section, full of nearly new tires. We also give you:

FedEx delivery free of charge
Advice and articles about tire choice, care, and maintenance
1-year comprehensive returns policy
Lowest price promise with price matching
Savings of up to 50%

If you ever have any questions or need any advice when selecting from our vast range, call our team of tire experts, who are happy to answer any of your questions. They can be contacted online or toll-free at 1-888-566-6214.

Buy new or used tires: United Tires shops

Address:

2720 W Grand Ave, Chicago IL 60612

Tel:

312-212-0546

Address:

3613 N Harlem Ave, Chicago IL 60634

Tel:

312-212-0546

What tires do you need for Montana weather?

The Treasure State is home to the lowest temperature in the contiguous USA, so that should tell you a little bit about the climate here. It’s known for its varied landscape, which includes mountains, forests, and plains and the weather here can be equally varied, depending on the location and time of year.

Winter daytime temperatures average around 28 °F but can dip well below zero with regular snowfall. Most cities see around 30 to 50 inches of snow each year but more mountainous areas can see up to 300 inches a year. Spring is generally milder but you can still regularly experience snow throughout the spring months. Summer sees average daytime temperatures of up to 84 °F but cools down at night. Fall brings colder temperatures and snowfall.

Summer

For the summer most people favor touring tires or all-season tires, for their comfortable drive on the pavement and durability. Although drivers of Montana registered sports and high-performance cars will turn to summer tires with their superior handling and performance at speed.

Winter

Big Sky Country is a part of the world where winter tires are almost essential, although not mandated by law. Very few people, who drive very rarely and only for short distances in the cities during winter, might be able to get away with all-season tires in the winter, be we strongly suggest you do not attempt to do this. With regular freezing temperatures from fall through to springtime, putting specific winter tires on your vehicle will enable you to drive safely no matter the weather.

Studs or chains

As Montana sees such dramatic winter weather, winter tires alone may not be enough to keep you safe on the road. Two other options for winter driving are studded tires and tire chains. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so when deciding which one is right for you it is important to consider the conditions you will be driving in and the type of road you will be driving on.

Studded Tires

Studded tires or studdable tires have metal spikes that protrude from the tread and provide a good grip on icy surfaces. They are best used in areas where snow and ice are common and the roads are less well-maintained, so if you live and mostly drive in cities and on well-maintained highways they may not be the best bet for you. Studded tires can damage pavement, so they are banned on some highways, and in the Treasure state you can legally use studded tires from 1st October until 31st May.

Tire chains

Tire chains are another option for winter driving. They consist of metal links that attach to the tire and dig into the snow or ice to provide traction. Tire chains can be used on all types of roads, including unpaved roads. One advantage is that you can keep them in your trunk and only put them on if road conditions are sufficiently bad. This means they are well suited to city drivers who occasionally need to go to more rural areas in winter. In addition, they are sometimes required on particularly treacherous mountain passes in Montana, so we recommend keeping a set in your trunk.

Best-selling tire brands in Montana

*Source: utires.com sales department, 2022

The most popular tire sizes in Montana

*Source: utires.com sales department, 2022

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DRIVERS’ MONTANA GUIDE: PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Hitting the open highway in Big Sky Country is a dream come true for many. With our guide to motoring on these open roads we’ve got you covered, from traffic updates to unspoken rules of the road, and when to switch to your winter tires.

Live traffic report

In the Treasure State, you won’t be using the traffic updates to tell you about rush hour traffic jams, but they are invaluable for warning you about adverse weather conditions or accidents:

Seasonal tire changeover

Being one of the coldest states in the country, the Treasure State is a place where seasonal tire changes are a regular part of almost every motorist's life and are recommended for everyone.

Spring to fall

When you can have your warm weather tires on depends very much on where in the state you live. If you are in a city and rarely drive out into more rural areas you may be able to keep your warm weather tires on from April until November, but in more mountainous areas you may be thinking about switching out your tires in October, or even September when the first snow falls.

Most motorists in the state choose all-season tires with mud and snow ratings, as they are great for dealing with light, unexpected snow flurries, which are a regular part of life in Big Sky Country. They’re also good for dealing with occasional muddy dirt roads, which most Montana residents will encounter from time to time.

Winter

For those in mountainous areas, you might want to use specialist ice or snow tires from September or October until April. Studded tires are also a consideration for these parts of the state, as they are specifically designed for the harshest winter driving conditions and are equipped with metal spikes that help to grip the ice or snow covering the road. In addition to providing better traction, studded tires can also help to improve fuel efficiency by reducing rolling resistance.

In more urban, or low land areas of the state standard snow or ice tires should be used from October or November until around March, depending on the snowfall that year. These tires are designed for use on ice and snow, and they can provide a significant increase in traction when the mercury plummets.

Driving Laws

Some of the driving laws in Montana may come as a surprise to people from out of state. Here are a few key rules of the road:

Speed limits in the state vary depending on whether it is daytime or nighttime, as winding, hilly roads are more difficult to navigate after dark. These limits depend on the type of road and vehicle.
Cell phone use is not banned in Big Sky Country, although some cities have enacted local laws against texting while driving. Whatever the law says, we strongly advise against using your phone out of hands-free mode, while driving.
Child seats are required only for children aged 6 years and below 60 pounds. Above that, they can legally use adult seat belts.
Careful and prudent laws are in place meaning that you have to take into consideration the weather, traffic, road conditions, and visibility when driving. So, for example, you should drive slower in bad weather.
No stop signs are common with an unusually large percentage of intersections in the state being open intersections. At these intersections remember to yield to the vehicle to your right.

You can read more about these, and other state laws on the Montana Department of Justice's official website.

Unspoken Road Rules

With the quieter roads of Big Sky Country, the local lore here isn’t about merging in traffic or watching out for speeding drivers. It’s all much more rural and friendly:

Wave to your fellow road users - you won’t look out of place at all being friendly!
Keep a shovel ready for unexpected snowfall. And if you happen to be shoveling your driveway, why not do your neighbors’ driveways too?
Manners matter even on the roads - let people out and don’t cut anyone up.
Keep alert for animals on the roads. As well as not wanting to hurt or kill the wildlife, running into a deer or bear can be dangerous to you and damaging to your vehicle.
Expect the unexpected - especially when it comes to the weather and keep an emergency kit in the trunk of your car with warm gear, supplies, and a shovel, in case you get stuck in the snow.

Window tint laws

Window tints are great for keeping the glare out of your vehicle and cooling things down on sunny days. But make the tint too dark and it can become dangerous as it reduces visibility. In Montana, they allow comparatively dark tints, compared to many other states. Full state guidelines can be found on the official Montana Laws website, and here are the key details:

Front windshield tinting can only be carried out over the AS-1 line.
Front side window tinting only needs to allow in 24% of light (a VLT of 24%)
Rear and rear side windows only need to let in 14% of light (a VTL of 14%)
Reflective tints are not allowed on the windshield and must have a reflective value of no more than 35% on all other windows.

Discover more about the benefits of car window tinting and the many options available to you. Read reviews, get valuable pro-tips, and be the first to know about the new products by top manufacturers!

Helmet laws

Until 1977 helmets were required for all motorcycle riders and passengers in Big Sky Country, but this law was repealed due to concerns for ‘personal freedoms’. Today only riders and passengers below the age of 18 need to wear a helmet.

Roads and highways

Being a very large state with a small population Big Sky Country has a very large number of rural roads with some areas and small communities only served by rural roads. However, there is still a robust Interstate and US route network in the more populous areas of the state. At present, there are no toll roads in the Treasure State.

Interstates

The state has 3 main Interstates and 2 auxiliaries, mostly towards the south of the state:

I-15 is the second longest interstate highway in Montana, stretching for almost 400 miles from the Idaho state line north, to the Canadian border. It runs through cities like Butte, Helena, and Great Falls before reaching the Canadian border north of Shelby. If you continue to take this highway south you’ll eventually reach the Mexican border in California.

I-90 is the longest interstate highway in Montana, running for more than 550 miles, east to west, from the Wyoming border to the Idaho border. It runs through major cities like Billings and Missoula before reaching the Idaho border near Cabinet Gorge Reservoir. The I-90 is the longest Interstate in the country, going all the way from Seattle to Boston.
I-94 runs roughly east to west, starting in Billings and heading west to the North Dakota border. It runs through small cities like Forsyth and Miles City before reaching the Wyoming border near Glendive. It then continues east to the Canadian Border in Michigan.
I-115 is an extremely short auxiliary interstate highway that runs for less than 2 miles to the west of Butte, connecting to the I-15 and the I-90.
I-315, also known as BL 15 is a short business loop Interstate highway in Great Falls. It runs for less than 6 miles looping away from the I-15 to go through the downtown area of the city.

US routes

There are 10 main US route highways in the Treasure State:

US 2 goes from east to west through the north of the state from North Dakota to Idaho.
US 12 also known as the Lewis and Clark Highway, goes from east to west through the center of the state.
US 20 runs for a short distance through the state from east to west, from the Idaho state line to Yellowstone National Park.
US 87 goes from north to south through the middle of the state from Wyoming to US 2 near Havre.
US 89, also known as the Kings Hill Scenic Byway, goes from the Yellowstone National Park north to the Canadian border near Glacier National Park.
US 93 goes from south to north in the west of the state, going from the Idaho state line to the Canadian border near Eureka.
US 191 goes from north to south through the center of the state, running from the Canadian border to Yellowstone National Park.
US 212 runs from east to west through the south of the state running concurrently with the I-90 for a while.
US 287 goes south to north from Yellowstone National Park up to the US 89 in Choteau
US 310 crosses from Wyoming near Bridger and heads north to the I-90 in Laurel.

Scenic routes

Big Sky Country is a road-trippers dream destination with miles of roads passing through untouched landscapes, with breathtaking scenery. Home to many great national parks the Visit Montana website has collated a few of the best scenic routes and road trips between their parks.

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Best tires for Montana

Being such a rugged state the most popular vehicles in Big Sky Country are big, tough pickup trucks and SUVs, that are actually used off-road, unlike trucks in many other states. These sorts of vehicles can benefit from using all-terrain tires or even mud terrain tires.

Which type of rugged tire you select depends on how much you drive on the pavement, with all-terrain tires giving a great balance between on and off-road performance. Mud terrain tires however are designed for rocky, muddy, sandy, or gravelly terrain, with their large treads and deep channels designed to eject rocks and mud to prevent spinning out. While you can drive them on the road it’s not recommended for long distances as they have reduced comfort and fuel economy on the pavement and are not as comfortable as other types of tires.

When looking for these sorts of tires you can save a lot by buying a used set and all our used mud or all-terrain tires have been fully quality checked so you know exactly what you’re getting, ensuring you get a quality product and save some money.

Buy tires in Montana and save up to 50%!

With the changeable weather, outdoor lifestyle, combined with city living, Montana drivers are more likely than most to need a second set of tires for their vehicle, and that’s where we come in. With savings of up to 50% our used tires are known for their quality as well as their price, so they can save you a lot when buying extra tires. Need a spare or don’t want to spend more than a hundred bucks on tires? Check out our used tires under $50, or the new tires under $100 sections!

The stringent quality checks that all our used tires undergo ensure they are safe and in good condition, and we specify exactly how much tread is left for every used tire we sell. This means you know how long you can expect to safely use your tires and our 1-year returns policy gives you even more reassurance.

We check tire prices on a daily basis to make sure our prices are the lowest online and if you find a better deal we’ll match it. For any questions about our tires, returns policy, or price matching contact us at 1-888-566-6214 (toll-free) or chat with us online.

Other tire websites

Set of 4 used tires

Tread Depth

0/32

11/32

Average Price

$546.65

Based on pricing for set of 4 new 245/55/18 on other tire websites

Other
tire
websites

Based on pricing for set of 4 new 245/55/18 on other tire websites

Set of 4 used tires

Tread Depth

0/32

9/32

11/32

Average Price

$246.65

Based on pricing for set of 4 used 245/55/18 on utires.com

Savings
$215.65

Based on pricing for set of 4 used 245/55/18 on utires.com

You can always find great deals like that in our used tire shop — both offline and online. Outfit your ride with a spare, with run flat tires, with tires for pretty much every kind of vehicle and occasion! Shop for tires now and get the best deals in Montana

Useful Links

FAQ

Where to buy tires in Montana?

In the Treasure State with its small population, the best place to find a great selection of tires is online, at the United Tires website. With a stock of in excess of 60,000 tires, both new and used, you’ll find everything you need here, from truck tires to off-road tires and winter tires. Shipping is totally free too and all orders are sent out with FedEx. They’ll even get shipped out the same business day if you order by 2 p.m. All the used tires on our site have undergone extensive checks to make sure they are in great condition and will give you many miles of safe driving and our prices are unbeatable.

When are studded tires legal in Montana?

Studded tires are only legal in Montana during the winter months, from October 1st through May 31st. This is because they can damage pavement, so using them during the summer months is not allowed.

If you're driving in Montana during the winter and you want to use studded tires, make sure to make a note of how old they are. Each tire should only be used for up to six years from its date of manufacture, after which point it needs to be replaced. So if you have studded tires that are older than six years, visit our website for great value replacements.

Do I need winter tires in Montana?

While winter tires are not legally required in Montana, they are strongly recommended by most experts. Winter tires provide much better traction and handling on freezing winter roads, and can make all the difference between a safe journey and an accident. In Montana, winter driving conditions can be very treacherous. If you don't have winter tires on your vehicle, you're taking a big risk every time you hit the road. So if you're planning to drive in Montana during the winter months, make sure your vehicle is equipped with the best possible tires for the conditions. It could save your life.

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