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

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Driving and buying tires in Madison

Madison may be the state capital of Wisconsin but it’s not the biggest city in the state. However, it probably has the most nicknames of any city we’ve heard of. Our favorite is Madtown, but others include the City of Four Lakes, Mad City, and Lake City. The peculiar layout of the city, in between four lakes, makes driving around fun and sometimes challenging, so here at United Tires, we’ve pulled together all the information you need to make your driving experience as smooth as possible.

We’ve also put together details of the tires you’ll need for Madtown, and when to switch them out for the snow. If you’re looking to upgrade your tires or get ready for the changing seasons, you’ll find the best selection of new and used tires in Madison, WI on our website. With savings of up to 50%, we also send them to you for free using FedEx, so you’ll get amazing value on whatever tires you need.

The most popular cars and tires in Madison

The most popular car model

Toyota RAV4*

*Source: Madison.com

The most popular color of the car

Black

*Source: iSeeCars

The most popular tire model

Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring A/S

*Source: utires.com sales department

The average budget to buy 2 used tires

$133.60

*Source: utires.com sales department

Madison tire shops and key auto facilities

costco

Costco Tire Center

2850 Hoepker Rd, Sun Prairie, WI 53590

43.1678824

-89.2759314

Midwest MicroCar Museum

103 Crescent St, Mazomanie, WI 53560

43.175781

-89.7945369

angell

Angell Park Speedway

315 Park St, Sun Prairie, WI 53590

43.1780928

-89.2137989

madison

Madison International Speedway, Inc

1122 Sunrise Rd, Oregon, WI 53575

42.9074838

-89.3320743

Jefferson Speedway

W8135 US-18, Cambridge, WI 53523

43.0050338

-88.9406962

walmart

Walmart Auto Care Center

4198 Nakoosa Trail, Madison, WI 53714

43.1110243

-89.31495

Did you know that?..

In the early 1900s, Madison had special days for driving cars

The first car came to Madtown in around 1902, and there are photos of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Zimmerman driving their automobile from this year. It was a locomobile steamer, which was a steam-powered car. As cars became more popular in the city in the early 1900s, special days were set aside for pleasure drives and scenic drives around the four lakes. The Park and Pleasure Drive Association organized these special days for cars to take over the roads normally used by horse-drawn vehicles.

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Automotive Madison at a glance

Being a university town Madtown has always been home to car drivers rather than car makers, and this is evident in their great car-related events and even the history of cars in the city.

Classic car shows

Madtown and the surrounding areas are home to several major classic car events. The Cars on State Classic Car Show is held in the downtown area during the summer. There are six blocks of classic cars on display as well as a great local farmer’s market. You can learn about this event on the Downtown Madison official website.

Another major classic car event is held in Jefferson, a short drive away from Madtown. Twice a year Madison Classics hosts the Spring and Fall Auto Swap Meets and Car shows, the largest events of their kind in the midwest. These events are a chance for classic car enthusiasts to source spare parts, buy cars, and see some of the most beautiful classic cars on the roads today. You can find out more about these three-day spectaculars on the Madison Classics official website.

Car racing history

On 16 July 1878, the first ever city-to-city automobile race in Wisconsin took place between Green Bay and Madison. The route was 200 miles long and ran through some very rural areas of the state. There were a total of 7 cars that entered the race, with only 2 actually starting - one from Green Bay and the other from Oshkosh. The average speed for the race was around 6 miles per hour.

The car from Oshkosh was the winner, arriving in Madison 33 hours, and 27 minutes after leaving Green Bay. However, they probably won by default as the car from Green Bay broke down before the end of the race.

Despite the slow speeds, the race was a major event at the time and attracted a lot of attention. Today, the race is remembered as an important moment in automobile history.

Two wheels instead of four

With Madison being a university city, and driving around downtown being notoriously congested thanks to the isthmus, cycling is very popular in Madtown. The City has an excellent network of bicycle paths, with more under construction, a bike sharing scheme, and a bike center where cyclists can charge e-bikes, clean their bikes, and store them. This can be very convenient for commuters who come into the city by car but then use their bikes to get around. You can read more about Bike Madison on the City of Madison's official website.

Choosing the right tires for driving in Madison

Where to buy new tires in Madison?

Being quite a small city there aren’t as many options for buying new tires in Madtown as there are in many of the larger cities in the region. However, you’ll still find a good selection of local dealers and a couple of branches each of Walmart and Costco, where you’ll see the most popular tires of the day. For a full selection at unbeatable prices visit our website where you’ll find a special section of new tires at under $100, as well as a full range of all the biggest brands and more specialist treads. And to save you even more you won’t have to pay a single cent for FedEx speedy delivery.

Costco Tire Center

2850 Hoepker Rd, Sun Prairie, 53590
2150 Deming Way, Middleton, 53562

Walmart Auto Care Centers

4198 Nakoosa Trail, Madison, 53714
2151 Royal Ave, Monona, 53713

Where to buy used tires in Madison?

As a small city there are limited options for buying quality new tires in Madtown, so shopping for tires online at our website is a great option. With a huge selection of over 60,000 used tires to choose from you’ll find exactly what you need at the lowest possible price. We compare prices daily and price match if you find a better deal so you can save up to 50%.

You won’t be cutting corners on quality as we have a thorough 2-stage checking process for every tire that gets stocked in our warehouse. We make sure it’s free of defects and has at least 60-99% of tread life remaining, so you’ll get years of wear out of our tires. We even have a selection of once-driven tires for maximum lifespan. You’ll also get:

Used tires for less than $50
Free, fast FedEx shipping
Expert advice, hints, and tips
Comprehensive 1-year return policy
Same-day shipping (if ordered before 1 p.m. on business days)

If you are looking for advice on choosing tires or have any questions, please contact our team on Live chat or email, or call toll-free: 1-888-566-6214.

What tires do you need for Madison weather?

Madison Wisconsin is a great place to live if you enjoy all four seasons. The average temperatures in Madison range from about 20 °F in winter to around 70 °F in summer. Spring and fall are both relatively mild, with average temperatures in the 50s and 60s. Winter does see quite a lot of snowfall with an average of around 38 days a year where it snows, and around 52 inches of snow each year. Overall, it’s a great place to live if you enjoy experiencing all four seasons.

However, this does mean that most citizens need two sets of tires for their vehicles, one for the warmer months and another for winter. Most people opt for all-season tires from spring to fall, as they are economical and hard-wearing. They can also cope with light snow if you choose ones marked with an M+S for mud and snow. They’re designed to cope well with driving on all types of roads, from wet to dry and from hotter temperatures to around 45 °F.

Then for winter, it’s wise to get some winter tires, to keep you and your family safe on the icy, snowy, or slushy roads. These tires are designed to perform best below 45 °F, with the special rubber mixture created to remain pliable and grippy even at low temperatures. They also have special treads which can grip well on ice and won’t get clogged up with snow.

Best-selling tire brands in Madison*

*Source: utires.com sales department, 2022

The most popular tire sizes in Madison

*Source: xxx

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DRIVERS’ MADISON GUIDE: PRACTICAL INFORMATION

With its unique layout, with the downtown area spread out along a thin strip of land between two lakes, it can make driving in Madison a novel experience. That’s why we’ve collected information on key roads, local driving habits, and when to change your tires for winter.

Live traffic report

For such a small city Madtown occasionally experiences traffic jams, especially if you are trying to get from one side of the city to the other at rush hour. So checking the traffic reports is key:

Seasonal tire changeover

With plenty of snow in winter, it’s a good idea to exchange your warm weather tires for colder weather tires in Madtown.

November to March

From around late October or early November to late March or early April it’s a good idea to put some winter tires or snow tires on your car. With Madtown being a somewhat hilly city these tires will really help you get safely up and down the hills when the roads are covered in snow, slush, or even ice. December, January, and February see the most snow so it’s especially helpful having special winter tires on your vehicle during these months.

April to October

While the exact dates will change each year, depending on the specific weather, you’re probably safe putting on warmer weather tires in April. Some people will choose to put on specific summer tires which are made from a rubber compound that grips the roads really well in temperatures above 45 °F. This makes them ideal for a sporty style of driving, and so they are particularly popular with owners of sports cars or high-performance cars, as they allow for faster acceleration and braking, as well as tighter cornering.

For the more average driver, all-season tires might be a better choice as they are generally more hard-wearing than summer tires and can cope with a little bit of early fall or late spring snow.

Driving Laws

Driving laws can vary slightly by state or by city, so here are 5 you should be aware of in Madison:

Drink driving:, The blood alcohol limit for drivers 21 and over is 0.08%, while for drivers under 21 no alcohol is allowed.
Speed limits: Unless there are signs stating otherwise speed limits are

70 mph on freeways
65 mph on rural interstates
55 mph on highways and freeways
35 mph within city and village limits
25 mph in business and residential districts
15 mph in school zones, safety zones, and loading zones.

Seatbelts: All passengers and drivers need to wear seatbelts.
Passing: No overtaking is allowed on a road with a solid line down the middle. You can only pass on a road with a dashed central line.
Carpool lanes: Carpool lanes are marked with a white diamond and HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) plus a number. The number indicates the minimum number of people in a vehicle to use that lane.

You can read all the relevant laws in the Motorists’ Handbook on the Wisconsin Department of Transport's official website.

Unspoken Road Rules

Madtown locals like to joke that there are two seasons here - winter and road construction, but here are a few other things you should know about driving here, from a local’s point of view:

Game day: With it being a university town, when there’s a big Badgers game traffic can be a problem, especially around the University area.
Hesitant or polite: While many Madtown drivers would say they are polite, others would call them hesitant. So remember to keep your cool and try not to get annoyed at slow or uncertain drivers.
Beltline blues: The one road that many locals will complain about is the Beltline. Watch out for fast and aggressive drivers here.
Downtown: With the unusual layout of the downtown area expect to see some uncertain visitors or tourists having issues with the road layout, so try and avoid this area during peak times and holidays or on University open day weekends.
Speeds: Most locals will go between 5-10 mph over the posted speed limits, so be aware of this.

Parking rules

Madtown is a reasonably easy city to park in, with plenty of options for parking. Here are some rules and tips you should know about if you need to park in the city:

Parking meters: You’ll find 1,300 metered parking spaces in the downtown area with rates ranging from $1.10 - $2 per hour. Time limits for parking will be posted by the meters, as they are intended for short-term parking.
Garages and lots: There are 12 city-owned lots downtown if you want to park for longer with rates ranging from $0.50 to $2 per hour.
Free street parking: You can park in metered spaces for free from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. and all day on Sundays.
University parking: There are permits available for visitors, as well as faculty and students. Full details can be found on the official website of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

You can learn all about parking in the city on the City of Madison's official website.

Window tint laws

In Madison, window tinting rules are governed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The rules are as follows:

The front windshield may only be tinted above the AS-1 line.
The front side windows must allow at least 50% of light to pass through.
The rear side windows and rear window may be tinted, but the tinting must allow at least 35% of light to pass through.

There are a few exceptions to these rules: if the vehicle has factory-installed tinting that meets the legal requirements, or if the vehicle is equipped with certain types of aftermarket glass that meet the legal requirements. In addition, medical exemption forms are available for people who have certain medical conditions that require them to have their windows tinted.

Learn more about the many different types of tints, colors of tints, and the latest regulations on vehicle window tinting.

Helmet laws

Helmets offer a great level of protection in case of an accident but are not always required. Here are the helmet laws for Madison:

Motorcycle helmets are only required for drivers and passengers under 18 or a rider with a learner’s permit.
Bicycle helmets are not required by law for any adults or children although they are strongly recommended for all cyclists by the City of Madison.

Roads and highways

For such a small city Madtown has several major highways running around the city including the Beltline which circles around the south of the city and connects with other major highways. The Beltline helps motorists avoid the downtown isthmus area, where traffic can get backed up.

Freeways and highways

There are 3 Interstates and 3 major US Highways that go around the city:

I-39/1-90: These two Interstates run together for the entire length of their way through the Madison city limits to the east of the city. The freeway enters the city from the south coming from Beloit and Illinois and then runs concurrently with I-94 from the east side of the city. The three Interstates head north with the I-39 splitting off from the other two just south of Portage.
I-94 enters Madison from the east coming from Milwaukee and then joins with the I-39/I90, skirting around the east of the city before heading north through Wisconsin Dells. It finally splits from the I-90 in Tomah, before heading north to Minneapolis.
US 12 otherwise known as the Beltline in the Madtown area is a 6-8 lane freeway that runs around the south of the city from east to west. This highway connects to the I-39, I-90, and I-94 within the city limits. It runs concurrently with the US 18, US 12, and US 151 as the beltway before heading north to Eau Claire, Menomonie, and then on into Minnesota. To the south, it crosses over to Illinois at Richmond.
US 18 is an east-west highway that runs along with the Beltline in the city limits. To the east, it goes to Jefferson, Waukesha, and Milwaukee, and to the west Dodgeville and Prarie Du Chien, then into Iowa.
US 151 is known as Verona Road to the west of the city, where it comes from Iowa and goes through Platteville and Dodgeville, and then joins with US 18. It becomes a part of the Beltway to the south of the city before heading east and then splitting off the Beltway at Park Street where it goes north through the downtown area. It continues to head northeast as the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officers’ Highway to Fond du Lac.

Downtown traffic hot spots

With the unusual city layout, there are several points in the isthmus area that can be traffic hot spots. Roads where you might encounter traffic jams include:

Fitch Court
John Nolan Drive
Midland Street
Park Street
Railroad Street
South Paterson Street
Whitney Way
US-12 East

Scenic routes

While you’ll find lots of greenery in and around the city of Madison, you’re also spoilt for beautiful drives just a short distance from the city limits. The official Destination Madison website has compiled a list of their 6 favorite drives, within 60 miles of the city.

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Best tires for Madison

The very best tires for your Madtown vehicle depend on what you drive, when you drive, and where you drive:

What: with the large farming community in the surrounding Dane county the best tires might not be car tires. You might need tractor tires, all-terrain tires, or pickup truck tires, to cope with more rural conditions.
When: Depending on the time of year you might need tires to cope with ice and snow, or warm and wet roads. For winter ice tires or snow tires could be your best friend, keeping you and your loved ones safe as you drive around Madtown.
Where: If you drive long distances on highways regularly you might find that highway tires are right for you. Conversely, if you regularly like to leave the pavement and get adventurous, you might find rugged terrain tires are more suitable for your vehicle.

Whatever tires you need you’ll find them on our website. With our comprehensive search tools, you can find exactly what you need by searching by car make, tire brand, rim size, and much much more.

Remember, our team is here to help and answer any questions you might have, either by phone (toll-free) at 1-888-566-6214 or online.

Buy tires in Madison and save up to 50%!

Buying used tires is a great way to save money and get a high-quality product. Our uncompromising quality checks make sure that only the best, safest tires end up on our shelves and on your car! We check every single tire both with special tools and manually, to ensure they have plenty of tread life (60-99%) and no flaws or defects.

You’ll also save big on delivery fees, which can quickly mount up. With our special agreement with FedEx, we’re able to offer completely free shipping straight to your door. And if you order by 1 p.m. on a business day we’ll even send your tires out the same day.

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

There are always great deals to be had in our online used tire shop. Whether you’re looking for tires for your new passenger car or decade-old pick-up truck we have sizes and prices to suit! Shop at Utires.com for used tires in Madison

Useful Links

FAQ

Where to buy tires in Madison?

For every tire you will ever need, at the best prices, the United Tires online tires shop is the best bet for discount tires Madison, WI. With a gigantic stock of more than 60,000 tires including a huge selection of high-quality used tires, and new tires from all the top brands we have exactly what you need at the best prices. With a price promise and stringent quality checks on all used tires you know you’re getting the best value possible, all with free FedEx shipping to your front door.

What tires are best for Madison?

All-season tires are generally your best bet for driving in Madison, Wisconsin. As you know that the weather here can be unpredictable. One day it could be sunny and warm, and the next day there could be heavy rain. That's why all-season tires are your best bet for the warmer part of the year. They are made especially to work well in lots of different conditions, including wet weather, light snow, and even a small amount of off-roading. Plus, they tend to last longer than other types of tires.

However, for the colder part of the year, you probably should think about switching to winter tires for improved traction and safer driving. Winter tires are designed to perform well in cold temperatures and provide extra grip on snowy and icy roads.

Do I need winter tires in Madison?

Yes, winter tires are a very good idea in Madison Wisconsin. The temperatures can dip well below freezing and the snow and ice can make driving conditions very treacherous. Winter tires provide much better traction and handling on slippery roads, so they can help you avoid accidents and getting stuck. They're definitely worth the investment if you plan on doing any driving in Madtown during the winter months.

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In making the right choice?

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