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A one-lane gravel road under autumn hardwoods in the Great Smoky Mountains.

The Overland Directory

Tires in Virginia

Tire and wheel shops that understand load ratings, airing down and what a loaded overland vehicle asks of its tires.

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Rich Mountain Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Tires in Virginia

5 listings

  1. Outlaw Motorsports Culpeper, VA Culpeper shop on Braggs Corner Road selling and fitting wheels and tires, lift and leveling kits, truck caps and diesel performance parts, installing everything it sells.
  2. Auto Xtras Lynchburg, VA Lynchburg vehicle accessory shop with a 6,000 square foot showroom, fitting Jeep and truck lift and leveling kits, wheel and tire packages, lighting, remote starts and backup cameras.
  3. 4-Wheel Drive Specialty Co. Richmond, VA Richmond four wheel drive shop selling tires and custom wheels and doing lift kit installation, differential and axle repair, alignments, transmission rebuilds and engine diagnostics.
  4. Davis Offroad Richmond, VA Richmond off road truck shop fitting lift and leveling kits, wheels and tires, bumpers and truck accessories, with custom fabrication and its own line of steering and step kits.
  5. Xtreme 4x4 Center Roanoke, VA Roanoke shop installing suspension and leveling kits, tires and wheels and Jeep and truck accessories, and building custom four wheel drive vehicles, operating since 1996.

Virginia by the numbers

Acres of federal land 1
2.3M
9.1 percent of Virginia. The Forest Service holds 1,674,033 of them and the BLM 805
Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia 2
5,729 ft
Grayson and Smyth counties. Our own reading of the USGS elevation surface at the summit is 5,708 feet
Acres of national forest 5
1.8M
The George Washington and Jefferson, across seven ranger districts and 23 Wildernesses
Miles of open road on the national forest 5
1,700 mi
Plus nearly 2,200 miles of trail and more than 200 developed recreation sites
Federal campgrounds a vehicle can reach 4
64
37 Forest Service, 16 Park Service and 11 Corps of Engineers; 15 are first come only
Average yearly precipitation 46
43.5 in
Under 40 inches in parts of the central mountains, about 50 inches on the tidewater coast
Peters Mill Run and Taskers Gap, the largest OHV system in the state 11
36 mi
Open to full-size four-wheel drives, on a permit that starts at $5 a day
Miles of forest road Helene hit 8
900 mi
Along with nearly 190,000 acres of forest and more than 820 miles of trail

Tyres for wet rock, and what the law says about studs

Virginia grip is wet grip. The trails open in April and run to early January, and the forest closes its largest OHV system from the first Monday in January through March precisely because of freezing and thawing. Anything you drive here in spring or autumn is driving on soaked clay and slick rock.

The law is short. Section 46.2-1044 bans any stud or cleat projecting beyond the tread, then permits chains when snow or ice would make a vehicle slide, and permits studded tires only on vehicles at or under 10,000 pounds gross, projecting no more than a sixteenth of an inch, covering no more than three percent of the traction surface, and only between October 15 and April 15. There is no traction law to comply with beyond that.

The full guide to overlanding Virginia

What a good tire shop does

Tires are the only part of the vehicle that touches the ground, and on a loaded rig they work close to their limits. A good tire shop starts with load rating and size, then tread. It will also tell you when the tire you want will rub, need different wheels or throw off your gearing.

Expect help with

  1. 01Choosing a tire by load, terrain and season
  2. 02Wheels with the right offset and load rating
  3. 03Mounting, balancing and tire pressure sensors
  4. 04A matching full-size spare
  5. 05Alignment, rotation and repairs

How to choose tires for overland travel

Tread pattern is the last decision, not the first.

  1. 01Match the load rating to your real axle weights, not to the badge on the fender.
  2. 02All-terrain tires suit most overland travel. Mud-terrains are louder, heavier and wear faster, and earn it only in real mud and rock.
  3. 03Buy five. A matching full-size spare that you rotate in is worth the money when the nearest tire shop is a day away.
  4. 04Check the wheels too. Wheels have load ratings, and the wrong offset stresses bearings and rubs.
  5. 05Ask whether the shop can move or reprogram your tire pressure sensors.

What to have ready before you ask for a quote

A tire quote is quick when the shop knows what the tire has to carry.

  1. 01Vehicle, current tire size and wheel size
  2. 02Lift height, if any
  3. 03Loaded weight, or a list of what is on the vehicle
  4. 04Where you drive most: pavement, gravel, rock, sand, snow
  5. 05A budget range for five tires

Questions people ask

What does load range mean?

It describes how much weight a tire can carry at a given pressure. Heavier builds, vans and truck campers usually need a higher load range than the vehicle came with. The tire's sidewall and the placard in the door jamb are the places to start, and a tire shop can work through the numbers with you.

How big can I go?

Every platform has a size that fits at stock height, a size that fits with a modest lift, and a size that needs trimming and gears. Tell the shop your lift and wheels and ask what fits without rubbing at full steering lock and full compression.

Should I air down?

On washboard, sand and rock, lower pressure gives a better ride and more traction and is easier on the vehicle. It also means you need a way to air back up before pavement. How low depends on your tire, your weight and your speed, so ask your tire shop and start conservatively.

How high is Virginia?

From Chincoteague at 3 feet to Mount Rogers at 5,729. Altitude decides what your engine, your brakes and your lungs have to work with, and how late in the year the passes open.

Towns

  1. Marion On I-81 in Smyth County, where VA 16 leaves the interstate and runs south into the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. 2,188 ft
  2. Norton Small independent city in the Clinch Ranger District. The Forest Service lists the High Knob tower here, reached by SR 619 and then Forest Road 238. 2,133 ft
  3. Damascus On US 58 in Washington County, one of the five counties of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail both run through town. 1,953 ft
  4. Staunton Where I-81 meets I-64 and US 250 crosses the valley. A sensible place to service a vehicle before the Blue Ridge. 1,390 ft
  5. New Castle County seat of Craig County. The Forest Service route to the Potts Mountain Jeep Trail leaves SR 311 and runs past the Pines Campground. 1,357 ft
  6. Harrisonburg On I-81 at the foot of the North River Ranger District. US 33 heads west from here toward the Rocky Run ATV loop. 1,325 ft
  7. Waynesboro At Rockfish Gap, where Skyline Drive ends at its mile 104.6 entrance and the Blue Ridge Parkway begins at milepost 0. 1,294 ft
  8. Covington On I-64 in the James River and Warm Springs district country, the closest services to Lake Moomaw and the campgrounds around it. 1,242 ft
  9. Lexington I-81 and I-64 again, in the middle of the Glenwood-Pedlar country. Parts and tires before the forest roads east of town. 1,054 ft
  10. Roanoke The forest supervisor’s office is here, at the point where I-81 meets US 220 and the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses the mountain above the city. The best place in southwest Virginia to have work done before a trip. 923 ft
  11. Buena Vista On US 60 where the road climbs east to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Valley services below the Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District and its South Pedlar trails. 831 ft
  12. Luray On US 211 below Thornton Gap, the mile 31.5 entrance to Skyline Drive. Valley services on the west side of the ridge. 805 ft
  13. Woodstock On I-81 in the Shenandoah Valley. One of the towns where the Lee Ranger District’s OHV permits are sold, which matters because they are not sold at the trailhead. 782 ft
  14. Front Royal North end of Skyline Drive at mile 0, where I-66 meets US 340 and US 522. Fuel inside the park is sold at one wayside only, so fill up here. 563 ft
  15. Virginia Beach Southern end of the state’s coast. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park are here, and neither allows a visitor to drive in. 10 ft
  16. Chincoteague Eastern Shore town at the gate of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, the only place in Virginia this page lists where a vehicle may be driven on the beach. 3 ft

Passes, high roads and summits

  1. Mount Rogers The highest point in Virginia, with no road to the top. Our own reading of the USGS surface at the summit is 5,708 feet 5,729 ft
  2. Whitetop Mountain The Forest Service calls the road to this summit the highest public road in the state. Our reading at the summit is 5,530 feet 5,525 ft
  3. Whitetop Mountain Road, Forest Road 89 Whitetop Road to the Whitetop Mountain observation site, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area 5,525 ft
  4. Elliott Knob High ground west of Staunton, in the Augusta County part of the national forest. Our own reading, because no agency publishes an elevation for it 4,464 ft
  5. High Knob and Forest Road 238 SR 619 above Norton to the High Knob tower, Clinch Ranger District 4,227 ft
  6. Hawksbill The highest peak in Shenandoah National Park, per the park’s own statistics. Our reading at the summit is 4,027 feet 4,051 ft
  7. Potts Mountain Jeep Trail, Forest Road 5036 SR 311 by way of VA 615, VA 611 and VA 617, past the Pines Campground on the Eastern Divide Ranger District 3,820 ft
  8. Forest Road 57 to Comers Rock VA 21 south of Wytheville to the Comers Rock campground and picnic area on Iron Mountain 3,800 ft
  9. Skyline Drive Front Royal to Rockfish Gap, along the crest of the Blue Ridge 3,680 ft

Pass, road and summit elevations are the figures published by the agency that manages them. Town elevations are the town’s or county’s own figure where it publishes an exact one; the rest are from the U.S. Geological Survey (3D Elevation Program at the place’s official coordinates), retrieved September 18, 2026. Every source is listed at the foot of the page.

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Sources for this page

47
  1. Congressional Research Service. Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data (R42346), Tables 1 and 2, data as of September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey. Elevations and Distances in the United States, online edition. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey. Geographic Names Information System and 3D Elevation Program point query. Elevation of the 3DEP surface at the GNIS coordinates of the named place, rounded to the nearest foot. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  4. Recreation.gov. Recreation Information Database (RIDB) full export, campgrounds a vehicle can reach in Virginia. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  5. USDA Forest Service, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. About the Area. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  6. USDA Forest Service, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Camping and Cabins, including the dispersed camping rules. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  7. USDA Forest Service, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Visitor Maps and Guides, Motor Vehicle Use Map. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  8. USDA Forest Service, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Disaster Recovery, George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  9. USDA Forest Service, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. George Washington and Jefferson National Forest Issues Fire Restrictions. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  10. USDA Forest Service, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  11. USDA Forest Service, Lee Ranger District. Peters Mill Run/Taskers Gap Trail System. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  12. USDA Forest Service, Lee Ranger District. Little Fort Campground. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  13. USDA Forest Service, Eastern Divide Ranger District. Potts Mountain Jeep Trail (Forest Road # 5036). Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  14. USDA Forest Service, Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District. South Pedlar ATV Trail System. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  15. USDA Forest Service, North River Ranger District. Rocky Run Trail (Forest Trail #426). Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  16. USDA Forest Service, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Whitetop Mountain Observation Site. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  17. USDA Forest Service, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Comers Rock Recreation Area. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  18. USDA Forest Service, Clinch Ranger District. High Knob Tower. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  19. USDA Forest Service, Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District. Sherando Lake Recreation Area. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  20. National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park. Park Statistics. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  21. National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park. Driving Skyline Drive. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  22. National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park. Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  23. National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park. Winter in Shenandoah. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  24. National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park. Operating Dates and Hours. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  25. National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park. Camping. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  26. National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway. Getting Around. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  27. National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway. Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  28. National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park. Colonial Parkway. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  29. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Off-road vehicles. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  30. National Park Service, Assateague Island National Seashore. Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) Use. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  31. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Rules and Policies. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  32. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. False Cape State Park. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  33. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Rules and Policies. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  34. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Virginia State Parks. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  35. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Camping and campgrounds. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  36. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. General Park Rules and Regulations. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  37. Virginia Department of Forestry. State Forests. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  38. Virginia Department of Forestry. 4 PM Burning Law. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  39. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Access Permit. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  40. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Agreements Expand Opportunities for Wildlife-Related Recreation in Southwest Virginia. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  41. Code of Virginia. § 46.2-915.1. All-terrain vehicles and off-road motorcycles; penalty. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  42. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Licensing Guide VLIC-3.205, Non-Conventional Vehicles: Title Requirements, revised July 1, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  43. Code of Virginia. § 46.2-1044. Cleats, etc., on tires; chains; tires with studs. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  44. Virginia Department of Transportation. Highways: VDOT’s transportation system. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  45. Virginia Department of Transportation. Virginia Byways. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  46. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. State Climate Summaries 2022: Virginia. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  47. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Corps Lakes Gateway: Virginia projects. Retrieved September 19, 2026.

Reviewed September 19, 2026. Conditions, closures and rules change; check with the managing agency before you travel.

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