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Driving and buying tires in Des Moines

Des Moines is one of the fastest-growing cities in the midwest and is a large insurance and financial sector hub. It’s also a great city to visit and is a haven for both beer and wine lovers with its breweries and vineyards. But make sure you don’t drive when visiting those particular attractions! The rest of the time it’s a great city to drive around and we take the guesswork out of hitting the road here with the United Tires automotive guide to Des Moines.

Our guide includes both serious and fun information to keep you safe on the roads, as well as vital tire information to make sure you stay safe, especially in Des Moines’ icy winters. At UTires.com you’ll find tires to suit every season in this great city, as well as the information and advice you need to make the best choice when you buy tires online. Every tire is sold at the lowest possible price including free FedEx delivery to your Des Moines home or business.

The most popular cars and tires in Des Moines

The most popular car model

Ford F-150*

*Source: Des Moines Register

The most popular color of the car

Black

*Source: iSeeCars

The most popular tire model

Sailun Atrezzo SH406*

*Source: utires.com sales department

The average budget to buy 2 used tires

$133*

*Source: utires.com sales department

Des Moines tire shops and key auto facilities

Iowa Events Center - All Iowa Auto Show

730 3rd St, Des Moines, IA 50309

41.591978

-93.6249188

Bridgestone Agricultural Tire Factory

4600 NW 2nd St, Des Moines, IA 50313

41.6427299

-93.6252354

Central Campus, formerly the Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant

1800 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

41.5840519

-93.6440783

Warren County Speedway

1400 W 2nd Ave, Indianola, IA 50125

41.3572659,-93.5799201

-93.5799201

costco

Costco Tire Center

7205 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266

41.5623854

-93.8082607

walmart

Walmart Auto Care Centers

5101 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320

41.537189

-93.5964291

Des Moines has a long history of mobile libraries

Des Moines has a long history of bookmobiles and mobile libraries. Way back in 1937, a trailer full of books would go around schools, offices, playgrounds, and community buildings. Proper bookmobiles operated around the city in converted busses from 1946 to 1981, with the fleet peaking at 32 bookmobiles. Today a multi-media outreach van has taken the place of the busses and was recently refurbished, hitting the streets as the Rotary Rosie Reader Van.

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Automotive Des Moines at a glance

Driving in Des Moines is usually a breeze. Traffic isn’t too heavy and most drivers are pretty polite. Of course, you’ll always encounter a few people who seem unsure of the rules of the road, but compared to many other cities of comparable size, driving here is very straightforward. Until winter hits, of course. Icy roads always make for dangerous driving, especially for those who are used to balmier climes. But as long as you have your wits about you you’ll love driving around this growing midwestern city.

All Iowa Auto Show

Every March Des Moines holds the All Iowa Auto Show where you can go to see the latest domestic and imported vehicles ranging from family cars, trucks, SUVs, and luxury cars. This popular event takes place every March at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines.

Car and tire manufacturing

Des Moines has a long history of both car and tire manufacturing. In fact, it may even be home to the first “horseless carriage” in the nation, when William Morrison released his Morrison Electric Buggy in 1890 to much amazement. In total, only 12 of these vehicles were made, which is not so much of a surprise when they sold for $3,600 each (over $115,000 in today’s money).

After the Morrison Electric Buggy, there were several other car manufacturing companies in the city. Lagerquist Automobile Company had their Hawkey and the Monarch Machine Company created the Monarch. The Des Moines Automobile Company made a few cars way back in 1902 and the Mason Motor Car Company operated from 1906 to 1915.

Des Moines was even home to a Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant for a few years from 1920 to 1932 and while the building went through various hands it’s now the Central Campus of Des Moines Public Schools.

Still operating today is the Bridgestone Tire Factory, which opened back in 1945. Today it’s home to Firestone agricultural tires, producing almost all of Firestone’s construction, agriculture, forestry, and off-road tires that are sold in the US each year.

If you’re looking for some long-distance truck tires from Firestone, or alternatively some agricultural tractor tires you’ll find them all at the lowest prices online in the United Tires online tires sale. They’ll be sent to you completely for free, wherever you are in Des Moines, using the premium logistic partner FedEx.

Choosing the right tires for driving in Des Moines

Where to buy new tires in Des Moines?

Many people prefer shopping in brick and mortar stores for certain items, and discussing the sale face to face with a sales associate. And there are plenty of new tire shops in Des Moines, Iowa where you can do just that, including the ever-present Costco and Walmart. Did you know it’s possible to get the same level of service and information when shopping for new tires online if you visit UTires.com? The team of professionals at United Tires is happy to discuss your questions and queries either over the phone (1-888-566-6214 toll-free) or online, and they’ll make sure you get the correct tires for your vehicle at the cheapest possible price. And don’t worry about getting the tires home - they will be delivered straight to your door by FedEx. All for free!

Walmart Auto Care Centers

5101 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320
3501 8th St SW, Altoona, Iowa 50009
1002 SE National Dr, Ankeny, IA 50021
1001 73rd St, Windsor Heights, Iowa 50324
6365 Stagecoach Dr, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266

Costco Tire Centers

7205 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266

Where to buy used tires in Des Moines?

The idea of used tires in Des Moines, Iowa is still relatively new but their popularity is growing. People are coming to understand the excellent value for money they bring and the opportunity you get with used tires, to choose a much higher quality set of tires than you would otherwise be able to afford. This is particularly important in a city where changing tires for winter is so strongly recommended. At United Tires you’ll discover one of the largest selections of used tires online, with tires for all seasons and vehicles. You’ll also discover:

Zero-cost delivery with FedEx - completely free-to-the-door service
Once driven tires that give the quality of new tires at a used price
A stock of 60,000+ tires and growing
2-step checks on all used tires for safety and quality
Professional tips and advice on choosing tires
Bargain used tires under $50

If this is your first time buying tires online or you’re just unsure of exactly what you need our team is on standby, waiting to take your call and discuss your driving habits, budget, and needs and match you to the best tires for you. Call toll-free at 1-888-566-6214 or chat with our team online.

What tires do you need for Des Moines weather?

The weather in Des Moines has four distinct seasons. You’ll experience hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. The average temperatures in July and August are in the high 80s, while the average temperatures in January and February are generally below freezing. However, temperatures can range from below 0 °F to over 100 °F throughout the year.

This means that the type of tires you'll need for Des Moines weather depends on the season. For spring, summer, and fall, all-season tires are ideal. They can handle a range of temperatures and provide good traction in wet conditions. They’ll even be able to cope with some early light snow or late frosts. While you might be able to get by using these in winter (and some people do) the chance of skidding increases greatly as the temperatures drop and the ice appears. If you do want to use all-season tires in winter, first check they have an M+S logo on them, and avoid driving off plowed or salted roads and during winter storms.

For the majority of people, once winter arrives, you'll want to switch to winter tires. These tires are designed specifically for use in cold weather and provide superior traction on ice and snow. So, if you're planning on driving in and around Des Moines during the winter, seriously consider equipping your car with winter tires.

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Best-selling tire brands in Des Moines*

*Source: utires.com sales department, 2021

The most popular tire sizes in Des Moines*

*Source: utires.com sales department, 2022

DRIVERS’ DES MOINES GUIDE: PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Every city has its quirks and differences so it’s good to know what driving there is like before you hit the roads. You’ll get all the details on Des Moines roads, rules, and seasonal tire changes from the United Tires motoring guide.

Live traffic report

Traffic jams aren’t a big problem most of the year but during winter it’s always a good idea to check the traffic reports before leaving your home:

Seasonal tire changeover

With four distinct seasons, including a snowy and icy winter, Des Moines is a city where we strongly recommend you perform a seasonal tire changeover. Here are our suggestions.

Spring, Summer, and Fall

For the majority of the year, probably from April to October, putting all-season tires on your vehicle is the ideal choice for most people. So in Des Moines, you might call them ‘three-season tires’. With their hard-wearing treads, these tires will deal with the wet weather and late frosts, and early snow that this city will sling at you, as well as the hottest summer days. As these tires perform best at temperatures of 45 °F and up you don’t want to rely on them in winter, if you can help it.

Drivers who enjoy a sportier style of driving and who drive a performance vehicle might choose to spend the warmer months with a set of summer tires on their car. With special rubber additives, these tires stick to the road beautifully in the heat allowing your vehicle to handle and corner like a dream. But once temperatures drop the rubber in them hardens so they are a big no-no for any sort of winter driving.

Winter

Des Moines, Iowa, is known for its cold, snowy winters. The city averages nearly 40 inches of snow each year, and temperatures often dip below freezing. This can make getting around town a challenge. Winter weather can be treacherous, so it's important to be prepared before heading out onto the roads. Snow and ice can make driving conditions very dangerous, so we recommend putting on winter tires from November to April. According to Iowa State regulations, you can even use snow chains or studded tires in these months if you really need to drive in the most treacherous ice and snow.

Driving Laws

Des Moines, Iowa is a vibrant and thriving city with a lot to offer its residents. The city also has some important traffic and driving laws that are designed to keep everyone safe on the roads.

Pedestrian crosswalks: drivers must yield to pedestrians who are crossing at marked crosswalks.
Turn signals: motorists must use turn signals when making turns or changing lanes.
Turns on red: Right turns at a red light are only permitted if the car has first come to a complete standstill. Left turns on red are not permitted at any time.
Stop signs and red lights: motorists are required to come to a complete stop at all red lights and stop signs.
Red lights: right turns on red are permitted unless a ‘No turn on red’ sign is posted.
Emergency vehicles: Always yield to emergency vehicles when their lights are on. This includes ambulances, fire engines, police cars, and other emergency vehicles.

By following these and other traffic laws, drivers can help to keep Des Moines' streets safe for everyone.

Unspoken Road Rules

Everywhere has its own unspoken rules of the road and Des Moines is no exception. Here are four to watch out for:

Signaling: People here love to leave it to the last moment to put on their turn signal.
Bicycles everywhere: This is a popular city for cyclists so watch out for them when you’re driving.
Yellow lights: In some places, a yellow light means slow down. Here it’s just the opposite!
Wrong lanes: People have a bad habit of being in the left lane and suddenly deciding to turn right. Keep an eye out for this tricky behavior.

Parking rules

In Des Moines, there are many places you can’t park and this can also depend on the time of year. All general city parking information can be found on the official City of Des Moines website. And here are a few key rules to remember:

No parking on crosswalks, in highway tunnels, or in front of any driveways.
Double parking is not allowed anywhere.
Disrupting traffic with parking is not allowed.
Snow routes are no parking zones when there is at least 1 inch of snow, to allow snow plows through.
Odd-even parking takes place in some residential streets when there is snow, so alternate sides of the street can be cleared each day.

You can find more information about snow removal alerts and rules on the City of Des Moines Public Works Department website.

Window tint laws

Every state has different rules about tinting your vehicle windows and those for Des Moines and Iowa are among the more straightforward in the country.

These regulations only apply to the windshield and the front side windows of your vehicle, meaning that the rear and back side windows can have whatever tint you like. So for the windshield and the front side windows, there are regulations but they are pretty clear (pun intended) as those windows have to let at least 70% of light in, so tints must have a 70% light transmittance value.

If you need any other details on these rules you’ll find them on the Iowa DOT website. Want to be updated on the latest tinting industry trends? Learn about the new products by the top brands, get car window tinting pro tips, read expert articles, and much more!

Roads and highways

Like many midwestern cities, Des Moines is laid out on a neat grid system. The city streets are designated east and west depending on which side of the river they are on.

If you're looking to get around Des Moines, you'll also need to know a little bit about the city's highways. I-235, I-35, and I-80 are the three interstate highways that run through Des Moines. US 6 and US 69 are both US highways that also go through the city. Each highway serves a different purpose and goes to different parts of the city.

I-235 is a short stretch of highway that goes through the heart of metro Des Moines, Windsor Heights, and West Des Moines before meeting up with I-35 and I-80 on the western edge of the city.
I-35 runs north to south through the city, splitting from the I-235 and going round the northwest of the city. This highway connects Des Moines with Minneapolis and Kansas City.
I-80 goes east to west connecting the city to Omaha to the west and Chicago to the east. It joins with the I-35 through the metropolitan area.
US 6 starts just west of Des Moines and goes from west to east through the north of the city before heading off to Iowa City.
US 69 goes through the city center from north to south passing by the East Village before heading north to Minnesota.

Knowing which highway to take will help you get around Des Moines quickly and easily. So plan your route ahead of time and enjoy your trip!

Scenic routes

While Des Moines is a pleasant city to drive around it’s great to get out of the city sometime. And what better way to do that than with a scenic drive.

You can find several great drives around Des Moines on the Travel Iowa website.

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Best tires for Des Moines

We can all agree that the most important thing when it comes to a set of tires is their condition. Driving on tires that are old and worn, with low tread is asking for trouble. So for your safety, at United Tires we recommend checking your tire tread and pressure regularly and replacing your tires when they no longer pass the penny test - put a penny in the tread with Lincoln upside down, and the tread should cover at least up to Lincoln’s forehead. You can read more about safe tread depths on the United Tires website.

So when it comes to replacing your old tires, in Des Moines, the pickup truck is king, with most people choosing to drive trucks over cars. This means that for most residents of the city, a set of light truck tires is the ideal purchase for their beloved Ford or Chevrolet (the two most popular makes in the city). At UTires.com you’ll discover tires for every make and model of truck, suited to all types of driving. You can choose from quality checked used tires and discounted new tires, all at the best prices and to make life easier for you, FedEx will deliver the tires to you, completely free of charge.

Buy tires in Des Moines and save up to 50%!

With Des Moines being a city where you generally need to have two sets of tires to be able to safely drive year-round, the cost can quickly add up, especially if your family has two or three vehicles. With United Tires high quality used tires you can afford to get a second set of tires for all your vehicles without breaking the bank.

Every used tire on the UTires website has gone through an extensive two-step check, using specialist equipment and the eagle eyes of our tire team, looking out for any signs of damage, age, and defects. This means that all the used tires we sell are completely safe to drive on and will last a good amount of time.

You’ll not only save money buying used tires and the best prices, with our price promise but also get free shipping. At United Tires we partner with FedEx to ensure our customers get their tires quickly and without any hassle. And if you order before 1 p.m., we’ll ship your tires out to you that 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 Des Moines

Useful Links

FAQ

Where to buy tires in Des Moines?

There are many places to buy tires in Des Moines including big-box retailers like Walmart Auto Care Center and Costco Tire Center. For a good discount tire, Des Moines you can also shop online with one of the largest tire shops in the country, United Tires. With a selection of in excess of 60,000 new and used tires, you’ll be spoilt for choice. With options to search by car make and year, tire brand, and many more, it’s easy to find precisely the right tire for your car, truck, or SUV.

What tires are best for Des Moines?

The best tires for Des Moines are pickup truck tires, as these are the most popular vehicles in the city, according to an article in the Des Moines Register. Ford and Chevvy top the list of the most popular trucks and a full selection of tires for all brands of pickup trucks can be found at great prices on the United Tires website. They will even get shipped to your home or place of work in Des Moines for free, with the shipping pros at FedEx.

Do I need winter tires in Des Moines?

Yes, winter tires are strongly recommended for everyone who drives in Des Moines in the winter. Temperatures in the city can remain below zero for long periods of time so the roads can be snowy and icy for much of the winter, making driving conditions hazardous without the correct tires on your vehicle.

There are three main types of winter tires: snow tires, ice tires, and studded tires. Snow tires are designed for traction in snow and slush. They have deeper treads than regular tires and often have a special compound that stays flexible in cold weather.

Ice tires are designed for traction on icy surfaces. They often have metal studs that bite into the ice and provide good traction. Studded tires are similar to snow tires, but they have even deeper treads and more aggressive tread patterns. They also have metal studs that provide good traction on snow and ice. All three types of winter tires can help improve traction and safety on slippery roads.

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Need help

In making the right choice?

Our team of professionals is here to help. Let us know your concern and we will quickly solve it. Just give us a call or go to our live chat.

Call us: 1-888-566-6214