Top 11 Best Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

Last updated: December 15th, 2020 by Tire Deets

Pickup trucks today are so capable that people buy them as their daily driver. Take the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 as an example – it can provide the driver with excellent on-road dynamics, very good off-road traction, and outstanding towing and hauling capability. This all-round nature of today’s full-size pickup trucks makes them the most popular vehicle choice in the USA – everybody seems to own one. However, the same thing also makes choosing the right tires for your pickup truck a nightmare.

Unlike the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, there’s not one tire type that can satisfy the needs of every buyer. For example, if you choose a set of tires designed for on-road driving, there will be compromises in off-road driving and vice-versa. And that’s just one category – if you throw the climate and your driving style into the basket, things can get even messier. When you think about it, the best tires for Chevy Silverado 1500 should make on-road driving safe and reliable, they should also have some traction for off-road driving, and they should be able to carry big loads. That’s a very tall order, and right now, there’s no tire that can satisfy all needs – there will always be compromises.

Luckily, we are here to help. In this article, we will explain everything there is to know about tires for Chevy Silverado 1500. More precisely, you can learn why some tires are better than others for your particular needs or the climate in your area. Given the fact that not all Silverado 1500 owners use their trucks in the same fashion, we will take the best tires from each category and make a sort of Top 11 list of the best tires for Chevy Silverado 1500. There you will certainly be able to find the best Chevy Silverado tires for your needs, but also ones that are better for other people. That’s why, if you’re not familiar with tires, read the buying guide first and then jump to the list with the knowledge you acquired.

The 11 Best Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500 You Can Buy: Recommended & Reviews

1. Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Best Highway Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500

The Michelin Defender LTX M/S is the newest addition to the French manufacturer’s lineup of highway tires. It brings everything that was good with the predecessor, known as the LTX M/S2, albeit with better results in almost every category. This is a tire that will suit most Silverado 1500 owners thanks to its ability to tow and haul, yet provide the driver with high levels of traction, grip, and stability.

Thanks to the chip-resistant EverTread compound, the Defender can work in almost every weather you throw it in – dry handling is excellent both in hot and cold weather, while also being durable enough for driving on gravel roads. The MaxTouch Construction ensures that the Michelin is stable at higher speeds, responsive in the corners, and has enough braking power.

Wet traction, grip, and braking are covered with the symmetric tread design of independent tread blocks featuring high-density 3-D Active Sipes and four wide circumferential channels, that make it one of the best rain tires for Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The Defender LTX M/S is also usable in light snow, but only just. For harsh winter conditions, a proper set of winter tires is more than recommended.

Like its predecessor, the Defender LTX M/S is also one of the quietest and most comfortable tires that can tow big trailers. Oh, and it comes with an outstanding 70,000-miles treadwear warranty for T- H- & V-Speed Rated, and 50,000-mile treadwear warranty for W-Speed rated models.

2. General Grabber HTS 60

Best Highway Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500

General Tire is known for offering high-quality tires at lower prices than premium competitors, and the HTS 60 is a perfect example of that. Designed to offer a comfortable and safe driving experience, the Grabber HTS 60 offers 90% of the performance of the Defender LTX, albeit at a much lower price point.

Like its French competitors, the Grabber features a cut- and chip-resistant compound that makes it useful for driving on gravel. The vehicle-tuned tread patterns, on the other hand, improve traction and grip on the road, while the strong continuous center rib takes care of high-speed stability. The lighter-duty versions of the Grabber are also excellent in wet conditions thanks to the higher-sipe density, while the heavier-duty versions offer better stability when hauling or towing. Both versions are only slightly usable in light snow.

The Grabber HTS 60 comes with 65,000-mile treadwear warranty for S- & T-Speed Rated models, and a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty for LT Sizes & H-Speed Rated models.

3. Cooper Discoverer HTP

Best Highway Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500

The Cooper Discoverer HTP is another budget-oriented highway tire that offers very good performance throughout. On the road, the Cooper is very quiet and comfortable, almost on the level of the Michelin. Traction and grip are also very good, and the same can be said for responsiveness.

The Cooper is very good in wet conditions thanks to the serpentine sipes and biting edges, especially when it comes to traction and braking. That said, while the Cooper is usable in light snow, there are all-season tires that are better.

On the positive side, this tire comes with an excellent 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is better than most competitors in the same price bracket.

4. Kumho Road Venture APT KL51

Best Highway Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500

The Kumho is another excellent low-cost option for those that aren’t ready to spend a fortune on tires. It comes with a very good 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, which may seem low when compared to other tires on this list, but that’s still very good for the price.

Perhaps more importantly, the Road Venture offers a very safe and reliable driving experience. It is responsive enough in the corners and stable at higher speeds. It also works in wet conditions – hydroplaning resistance is very good. Interestingly, the Kumho also works in light snow, albeit certainly not like an all-weather tire.

Comfort and quietness are other advantages of the Kumho, close to the levels achieved by the best premium highway tires. That said, the Kumho isn’t available in load range E trim like some of its competitors.

5. Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus

Best Touring Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500

If you don’t need the towing capacity of highway tires, a set of Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus tires will do an excellent job. These tires can be still used for towing of smaller trailers and most hauling jobs you need – you just won’t have the ability to tow the biggest of trailers.

What the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus lacks in terms of carrying capacity, it certainly gains in terms of comfort. This is probably the quietest tire for Chevy Silverado 1500 right now, and also one of the most comfortable over bumps. Another great advantage of the Bridgestone is the durability – every model available comes with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, the best in the business.

As usual for an all-season Bridgestone tire, the Dueler has excellent handling capabilities in dry and wet conditions, regardless of the temperature. Braking is also very good, as is high-speed stability. That said, even though the Dueler is usable in light snow, it’s far from a good choice.

6. Yokohama Parada Spec X

Best Sporty Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500

For those that own a powerful V8 version of the Silverado 1500 and want to add to the driving enjoyment, the Parada Spec X is an excellent option. This is a Street/Sport truck all-season tire that provides outstanding driving experience. It is almost as responsive as a passenger high-performance tire, improving the dynamics of any Silverado you throw them in. Grip and traction are also excellent, while braking performance is second to none. The Yokohama is also one of the best tires in wet conditions, thanks to the wide circumferential center groove and sweeping lateral grooves.

Despite the focus on performance, comfort is actually very good, and bumps aren’t as pronounced in the cabin like in other sporty tires. The Yokohama is also quiet enough on the highway, but light snow traction leaves us wanting for more. It also doesn’t come with any treadwear warranty.

7. Goodyear Wrangler HP All Weather

Best Sporty Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500

The Goodyear Wrangler HP All Weather is one of the few all-weather street/sport tires on the market right not. We think that it is a very good option for buyers that want a set of tires that will work throughout the year, even in harsh wintry conditions. When compared to all-season sporty tires, the Goodyear Wrangler has much better traction in light snow, and it also offers better performance in cold conditions overall.

That said, the Goodyear loses some points in warm conditions. Responsiveness isn’t its biggest forte, which makes the overall feeling a bit poorer, but that is expected from an all-weather tire. Luckily, traction, grip, and braking are still very good, almost on-par with all-season street/sport tires. Perhaps more importantly, the Wrangler resists hydroplaning like a real champion – it’s one of the best rain tires for Chevy Silverado 1500 out there. Comfort is also very good, both ride quality and quietness.

That said, the Goodyear doesn’t offer any warranty on the Wrangler HP All Weather, which is a shame.

8. Falken Wildpeak AT3W

Best All-Terrain Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500

While most highway tires work on gravel and in some light off-roading, they’re still incapable when things become dirty, literally. The Falken Wildpeak AT3W is an excellent option for drivers of Silverado 1500 that want the added capability of off-road traction. 

This is one of the best all-terrain tires for driving on gravel, rocks, sand, and mud thanks to the deepest tread in the category. It’s also very durable as well, thanks to the aggressive upper sidewall.

Apart from off-road prowess, the Falken also comes with heat diffuser technology that keeps the tires cool during towing or hauling very heavy loads, critical for stability and safety. Grip and traction are also very good in both dry and wet conditions, as is light-snow traction – unlike most competitors, the Wildpeak AT3W comes with the 3PMSF symbol. That said, noise can be an issue on the highway.

9. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2

Best All-Terrain Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is another excellent option for those that go off-roading often. It provides the driver with very high levels of traction on almost every surface, including gravel, rocks, sand, and mud. There’s a reason why it’s so popular with off-roaders around the world. The T/A KO2 also has a Sidewall Armor for extra durability and loose object rejection for added peace of mind.

The BFGoodrich also comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, one of the best results for an all-terrain tire. It is also usable on the road with good levels of grip and traction, and very good braking performance. Light snow traction is covered with the 3PMSF rating. In the end, the BF Goodrich is also very quiet and comfortable for an all-season tire.

10. Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2

Best Winter Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500

While some all-season tires and most all-weather tires can work in lighter winter conditions, they’re still no substitute for a proper winter tire. If you’re serious about safety in the winter, there’s no better tire than the Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2. It might be expensive, but it offers the best snow traction of all truck winter tires, and also the best handling in freezing weather, both in dry and wet conditions. The Michelin is also completely usable on ice, and it even comes with an outstanding 40,000-mile treadwear warranty. That said, Michelin doesn’t offer versions for heavy towing.

11. Falken Ziex S/TZ05

Falken isn’t a company that is often synonymous with truck and SUV tires. However, the latest push for sportier handling among truck makers opened the door for performance tires for these vehicles. And, right now, one of the best sporty tires for the Chevy Silverado is arguably the Falken Ziex S/TZ05.

Falken’s Street/Sport all-season truck tire does many things right, and it all starts with the handling. For owners of the Silverado with larger wheels, this is one of the most enjoyable tires around.

Behind the wheel, the Ziex S/TZ05 feels responsive without being too direct, which translates into a smooth driving experience.

Moreover, the tire cuts corners like a real performance product. Grip and traction levels are outstanding on dry surfaces, while braking is top-notch.

The Ziex S/TZ05 performs excellently on wet surfaces as well, giving the driver excellent traction and hydroplaning resistance. High-speed stability is first-rate on both dry and wet tarmac – no complaints there.

I was also surprised by how quiet this tire is given large dimensions. The ride quality isn’t as impressive, but it isn’t bad either.

The biggest downside of the Falken Ziex S/TZ05 is the winter traction. The tire does provide some traction on light snow, but I wouldn’t call it safe or reliable. Also, ice traction is almost non-existent.

On a more positive note, the tire comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is excellent for the price.

Best Tires for Chevy Silverado 1500: Buyer’s Guide

1. Highway and Touring tires are the Best Choices for Most Silverado 1500 Owners

As their name implies, highway tires are designed specifically for use on the highway. They are similar to touring and grand-touring tires for passenger cars and minivans, albeit with higher capacity for towing and hauling. Thanks to their strong and durable construction, highway tires are an excellent choice both for mid-size and full-size pickup trucks.

The biggest reason why highway tires are the best choice for most people is that truck owners use their vehicles mostly on the road. Even some owners that use their vehicles for off-roading, still drive the majority of time on the pavement. Highway tires are designed precisely to offer reliable handling on the street and comfortable driving experience.

The best highway tires offer high levels of traction and grip on the street, both in dry and wet conditions. They also provide the driver with strong braking performance during panic stops and excellent high-speed stability. As a matter of fact, highway driving is where they really show their strengths. On top of that, these tires will give you the safest driving experience with a trailer attached, or a lot of cargo on-board.

Highway tires are also the most comfortable tires for Silverado 1500. They have the best ride quality of any other type of truck tire, which is amazing given their towing capabilities. Perhaps even more amazing is the quietness of the best highway tires – driving at 70mph with the Silverado and a set of these tires will be as silent as in a luxurious car.

Last, but certainly not the least, highway tires are also the most durable type for pickup trucks. They not only have strong construction that can withstand a lot of weight, but also an extremely durable tread. The best highway tires have treadlife warranties of 70,000-miles and 80,000-miles, which is almost double than any other tire type. In other words, they are the most reliable and cost-effective choice in the long run.

That said, if you don’t need the carrying capacity of highway tires, there are some excellent touring options designed for trucks and SUVs. These tires aren’t capable of towing big trailers, but they might be even better on the road when the truck isn’t full.

2. But What If I Want Sporty Handling?

Thanks to the rising popularity of pickup trucks, manufacturers started producing high-performance versions of their models. These sporty trucks have powerful V8 or turbocharged V6 engines upfront that can shred any tire you throw on your pickup. On these vehicles, highway tires are not sufficient – they simply don’t have enough traction or grip for fast driving.

Luckily, most premium tire manufacturers offer street/sport truck tires. These tires are much better for fast and aggressive driving than highway tires. They offer much better traction on the road, excellent for powerful versions of the Silverado 1500. Also, the grip will be much better, as well as braking performance. As expected, high-speed stability will also be improved when compared to highway tires, and on top of that, street/sport tires are also more responsive and ultimately better to drive.

After pointing out all their advantages, it seems like highway tires shouldn’t be the first choice for trucks, doesn’t it? Not so fast. Street/sport tires maybe offer much better performance, but they are also much worse in the comfort department. Ride quality will be much worse, while noise goes up few decibels on the highway. Street/sport truck tires also don’t last as long as highway tires – most of them don’t even come with a treadlife warranty. If that wasn’t enough, these tires are also much more expensive to buy in the first place.

3. What About Off-Road Driving?

If you’re serious about off-roading, then you’ll want either all-terrain tires of mud-terrain tires. The former tires are designed to offer good off-road capability combined with good highway stability, while mud-terrain tires are designed to offer the best possible traction for off-roading. In our opinion, all-terrain tires will suffice for most Silverado owners, especially because the Chevy is not a hardcore off-road vehicle.

The best all-terrain tires will give the driver more than enough traction on slippery surfaces, such as sand, mud, rocks, and gravel. All-terrain tires are also much quieter and more comfortable than mud-terrain tires, which makes them a better choice overall. That said, highway tires are still a much better choice for driving on the street than all-terrain tires.

4. And What About the Climate?

Right until now, we divided tires depending on the needs of the driver and the terrain they’re used on. However, tires are also classified depending on the climate they’re used in. Most Silverado 1500 tires today are all-season tires. This means that they can be used throughout the season, from the scorching hot summer sun to the freezing cold of the winter. All-weather tires are a version of all-season tires geared more towards winter driving, especially snow. They’re still not a substitute for winter tires, but much better than all-season tires in freezing conditions (and slightly worse in warm conditions).

However, even though there are useful in both conditions, there will still be compromises. For example, even the best all-season tire on the market isn’t useful in severe wintry conditions with a lot of snow, nor as responsive as a summer tire in the hottest summer days. In other words, summer tires will offer a much better driving experience in the summer, both in dry and wet conditions, while winter tires are much, much better for driving in snow.

With all that said, all-season tires should be the first choice for driving in the spring, summer, and fall. They can even work in areas with mild winters, which makes them a very good all-year option for drivers in the south. Drivers in northern or colder areas, though, should still replace their all-season tires with winter ones when the weather starts to deteriorate.

Final Words

As you can see from the list above, every tire has its own use, advantages, and disadvantages. To get the most out of your new tires, always choose Chevy Silverado tires that suit your driving needs, the roads in your area, and of course the climate. Only then you’ll be completely satisfied with the performance your new tires provide.